Tutorial: Calibration Techniques in ADCs

Digitally assisted ADCs have become mainstream. Fine geometry processes and the insatiable need for higher resolution ADCs at higher sample rates have made sophisticated digital assistance a necessity. In this tutorial, we cover some of the advanced calibration techniques for high-speed and high-resolution ADCs. These include techniques to correct for inter-stage gain and settling errors, amplifier non-linearity, memory, DAC and reference errors. The tutorial will discuss the advantages and limitations of the different approaches, some of the practical considerations, and some state-of-the-art examples.