Reconfigurable ADC Architecture for Resolution and Data Rate Tradeoffs
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional analog-to-digital converters (ADCs) have a fixed architecture, limiting their reconfigurability and ability to adapt to varying application requirements such as resolution, input-swing range, data rate, and signal-to-noise ratio after fabrication.
Innovation Solution
A configurable ADC system that includes a microprocessor, control register, and interconnect circuits allowing dynamic reconfiguration of analog and digital integration orders, feedback connections, and modes of operation, enabling the implementation of various ADC types like cascade-of-integrators-feedback and multi-stage noise shaping.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional fixed-architecture ADCs are used, then the device is simple to manufacture, but the adaptability to different application requirements is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic reconfigurability by allowing the ADC architecture to change its operational parameters (integration orders, feedback connections, mode of operation) after fabrication through control register programming, transforming a static device into a dynamically adaptable one
Solution Approach 2:
The configurable ADC is designed to perform multiple ADC types (cascade-of-integrators-feedback, multi-stage noise shaping, and other architectures) within a single device, enabling one component to fulfill multiple conversion functions that would traditionally require separate dedicated ADCs
2Adaptability or versatility
If fixed-architecture ADCs are used, then the device complexity is low, but the ability to adapt resolution, input-swing range, data rate, and signal-to-noise ratio is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables adaptation of specific performance parameters (resolution, input-swing range, data rate, signal-to-noise ratio) by changing the configuration settings through control registers, allowing the same hardware to optimize its parameters for different application requirements without physical modification
3Adaptability or versatility
If conventional ADCs with pre-selected tradeoffs are used, then the manufacturing process is simple, but the post-fabrication flexibility is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates configurable interconnect circuits and control registers during fabrication that enable post-fabrication programming, so the device is manufactured with built-in reconfiguration capabilities that can be activated later through software control without requiring additional manufacturing steps
Data Source
AI summary
A configurable analog to digital converter (ADC) includes a plurality of analog units to integrate an input signal. The analog units are coupled together to generate a plurality of discrete-time signals responsive to the input signal and are further coupled to a plurality of bus segments via a plurality of interconnect circuits. Each interconnect circuit is configured to selectively couple the analog units to any of the bus segments.