High-performance analog-to-digital converters

As a consequence of the continuing scaling of semiconductor integrated circuit technology, digital means of processing, storing, and transmitting signals are rapidly displacing analog alternatives across a broad range of applications. Compared with analog implementations, digital systems offer higher resolution, noise insensitivity. and enhanced flexibility. They are also earierto both design and test, and are more readily amenable to design automation. Programmable general purpose digital signal processors have been available for some years, and design tools that aid in the automated generation of efficient application specific processors are becoming available.