CAD tools for data converter design: an overview

This paper presents an overview of the recent advances in modeling, simulation and structured synthesis that are pushing ahead the capabilities and efficiency of CAD tools for integrated data converter design. First, a hierarchical design methodology and a common framework with standardized interfaces are shown to be essential to create a design environment that is flexible enough to cover a wide range of specifications and applications. The different approaches for data converter modeling and simulation are then reviewed and compared, ranging from purely electrical simulators to state-of-the-art behavioral analog-digital simulators. In particular, it is shown how behavioral models of data converters are emerging as a powerful solution for complex system simulations with highly reduced computational requirements. Next, the key steps in the automatic synthesis of data converters are discussed, and state-of-the-art synthesis systems are compared and illustrated with some practical design examples. Finally, the progress in tools for testing and design for testability of data converters is described.