Exploiting time resolution in nanometre CMOS data converters

The challenges of analog electronics in nanometer CMOS have motivated the search for new data converter architectures. This paper is a in introductory survey of new options to implement data converters seizing the high speed digital logic featured by the newest technologies. Classical comparator based ADC's may replaced by ring oscillators or pulse width modulators which are then sampled by Time to Digital Converters (TDC), bridging analog design with custom digital design. Continuous time sigma delta modulators can be enhanced replacing the quantizer by some kind of voltage to time encoder and a high speed sampling digital device. The paper will be supported by some chip examples.