“Split ADC” Calibration for All-Digital Correction of Time-Interleaved ADC Errors

The ldquosplit analog-to-digital converter (ADC)rdquo architecture enables fully digital calibration and correction of offset, gain, and aperture-delay mismatch errors in time-interleaved ADCs. The calibration of
M
interleaved ADCs requires 2
M
+ 1 half-sized ADCs, a minimal increase in analog complexity. Each conversion is performed by a pair of half-sized ADCs, generating two independent outputs that are digitally corrected using estimates of offset, gain, and aperture-delay errors. The ADC outputs are averaged to produce the ADC output code. The difference of the outputs is used in a calibration algorithm that estimates the error in the correction parameters. Any nonzero difference drives a least-mean-square feedback loop toward zero difference, which can only occur when the average error in each correction parameter is zero. A simulation of a 4 : 1-time-interleaved 16-bit 12-MSps successive-approximation-register ADC shows calibration convergence within 400 000 samples.