A behavior-oriented simulation tool for design and optimization of sigma-delta ADCs

In this paper, a behavior-oriented simulation tool is proposed for the designing and optimizing of sigma-delta ADCs. We show how this kind of simulation tool can be used in a top-down design flow in the mixed-signal system design. The imperfections of the analog cells as integrators, comparator, and the CpAMPs are analyzed in detail, which guides the design towards high performance. Besides, the modeling, simulation, and design of a second-order sigma-delta modulator are presented as a proof for the effectiveness of the simulation tool. A peak SNR of 91.5 dB, a 15 bit resolution, and a 57 m W power dissipation are obtained through HSPICE simulation. Currently chip is in the fabrication phase.