Tutorial: Managing Offset and Flicker Noise

A large number of circuits require DC accuracy and low noise at low frequencies. Sensor interfaces are a good example, but comparators, ADC's, and many other blocks need it too. This tutorial will provide a review of techniques to achieve low offset and flicker noise. Techniques such as chopper stabilization, correlated double sampling, auto-zero, digital startup calibration, and digital background calibration will be reviewed. Implementation examples will be shown and noise and aliasing and other artifacts will be analyzed. Techniques to master these artifacts will be discussed. The ideas will then be taken into the mixed signal domain.