Pipelined ADC Gain Error Detection via Switched Circuit Units
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for detecting interstage gain error in pipelined analog-to-digital converters (ADCs) heavily depend on signal matching, leading to area and speed penalties when accuracy is increased.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus using multiple circuit units and analog multiplexing circuits to control signal paths of predetermined circuit elements, allowing for accurate interstage gain error detection with infinite precision without introducing side effects.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If signal matching is heavily depended on for interstage gain error detection, then measurement accuracy is improved, but area penalty and speed penalty occur
Solution Approach 1:
The detection circuit is segmented into multiple independent circuit units, each handling a specific portion of the detection task. This segmentation allows the system to achieve high measurement precision through multiple measurements while avoiding the area and speed penalties of monolithic high-precision circuits, as each unit can be optimized independently and operates in parallel.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs periodic switching of circuit elements through analog multiplexing circuits that sequentially connect different predetermined circuit elements to the amplifier's input and output nodes. This periodic action enables multiple measurements to be taken over time, achieving high detection accuracy without requiring all measurement components to be present simultaneously, thus reducing area and speed penalties.
2Measurement precision
If signal matching is heavily depended on for interstage gain error detection, then measurement accuracy is improved, but speed penalty occurs
Solution Approach 1:
By dividing the detection function across multiple circuit units that can operate in parallel, the system achieves high measurement precision without sacrificing speed. Each circuit unit performs measurements independently, and their results are combined to achieve the final high-precision detection, thereby avoiding the speed penalty that would result from sequential high-precision measurements in a single unit.
Solution Approach 2:
The periodic switching mechanism uses analog multiplexing circuits to rapidly connect different circuit elements in sequence. This periodic action enables multiple measurements to be performed quickly by time-multiplexing the measurement process, achieving high accuracy without requiring slow sequential processing of all measurements in a single circuit path.
3Measurement precision
If area penalty is increased to improve measurement accuracy, then interstage gain error detection precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The circuit units use predetermined circuit elements that are identical to elements already present in the ADC stages, making these elements serve dual purposes: both normal ADC operation and gain error detection. The analog multiplexing circuits also serve multiple functions by selectively connecting different elements for different measurement configurations, thereby improving measurement precision without proportionally increasing device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The detection method temporarily discards the normal signal path during measurement phases by using analog multiplexing to redirect signals through predetermined circuit elements for gain error detection. After measurement, the circuit recovers its normal operating configuration. This approach allows high-precision detection using existing circuit elements without permanently increasing device complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for detecting interstage gain error of pipelined analog-to-digital converter (ADC) with infinite precision and an associated apparatus such as a detection circuit are provided. For any stage among multiple stages in a pipeline of the pipelined ADC, the detection circuit may include multiple circuit units of predetermined circuit elements, with each predetermined circuit element being an identical element which is identical to a series of predetermined elements belonging to a predetermined element type within the any stage. During coupling the predetermined circuit elements to an input node and an output node of an amplifier in turn, analog multiplexing circuits respectively integrated into the multiple circuit units may control signal paths of the predetermined circuit elements by coupling only one of the predetermined circuit elements to the input node of the amplifier while coupling remaining predetermined circuit elements to the output node of the amplifier at the same time.