A/D-converter performance evolution

This work analyzes the performance evolution over time for monolithic A/D-Converter (ADC) implementations reported in scientific publications. The work is based on an exhaustive search of IEEE journals and conferences central to the field from 1974 to spring 2012, and thus represents a near-exhaustive survey of reported scientific ADC data. Using the full set of historical data, empirically observed evolution trends are analyzed for all key performance parameters, including linearity, thermal noise, sampling jitter, and effective resolution. Evolution of power efficiency in terms of two commonly used figures of merit is also investigated. Performance parameters that appear to be in saturation have been identified. The results can be used to predict the state-of-the-art specifications of future ADCs. About the document This document is an almost exact replica of a Converter Passion article spanning a series of blog posts published in mid 2012. As the intention with this document is to present these blog posts in a more organized and reader-friendly format, it has not been revised to reflect results reported during the second half of 2012. It is the author's opinion that most, if not all of the results from this survey still apply, even if the state-of-the-art for some parameters have been nudged slightly. Visit Converter Passion for the latest development of some key parameters. The original online content was published here: You are not allowed to make it available for download on a web site or other network – put a link to the original instead. You are however welcome to pass the PDF file along to colleagues and friends in other ways, e.g., by emailing them a link to the original download. To the best of our knowledge the information in this document is accurate according to the information known to ADMS Design and the author at the time the original content was written. There is no warranty whatsoever regarding the usefulness of this information for any particular purpose. By using or redistributing any of the information in this document, the user acknowledge that such use or redistribution is entirely at the user's own risk, and that the user will hold ADMS Design AB, Converter Passion, and the author harmless from any claims arising from such use or redistribution. If anything in this document appears to be incorrect, questionable or misleading, the reader is encouraged to give feedback to [email protected].