On the possible improvements of pipeline A/D converters parameters

The results of analyses devoted to the improvement of parameters of pipeline analog-to-digital converters (ADCs) using a new method for computing output codes are presented and discussed. The proposed method is based on two main modifications of principles of conventional pipeline ADCs operation. Firstly, it assumes that the values of the gains of inter-stage amplifiers can be set to the arbitrary values, in particular different than integer powers of two. Secondly, it uses, in the digital part of ADC, a simple iterative algorithm for the calculation of output codes instead of the conventional method which combines the output bits produced by subsequent stages of the pipeline ADC. The proposed method creates the possibility to improve parameters of the pipeline ADC beyond the parameters achievable by the conventional pipeline ADCs with comparable internal analog components and their imperfections.