Overview >> ADCs and DACs
| The Objective | The goal of this project is to develop ultra-high-speed A/D converter (ADC) and D/A converter (DAC) components in IHP technology (Speed: 1-50 Gigasamples per second, Resolution: 3-12 bit). These converters are key components for upcoming fibre-optical links beyond 40Gb/s, for measurement systems, high frequency synthesis and wideband telecommunication at 1-100 Gb/s. The basic research in this project creates expertise for various related activities such as 100GET and EsaDac (a current project on a challenging DAC for space applications). It is also intended as a starting point for other projects which need data converters at ultra high speed and low power dissipation. |
| IHP’s Contribution | IHP helps to push the envelope of the three main data converter parameters in the Gigahertz range towards higher performance: Speed, resolution and low power dissipation. Focus is on converters which are needed for wideband communication systems. Together with Georgia Tech (Prof. Cressler, USA), IHP has improved the state of the art in SiGe Track-and Hold amplifiers [1-2] which are critical components of ADCs. Foundations for wide-band data processing [3] and digital correction of analog RF performance [4] have been made. In DACs at 20 GS/s and more, IHP has joined the leading group [5-7] and is now working to push the performance limits. Based on these results, other data converter activities aimed at 20-40 GS/s have started in the framework of the 100GET project. In addition, a radiation-hard DAC with high-end performance for space applications is under development at IHP for the European Space Agency (ESA). The latter is based on the radiation-proven SiGe BiCMOS technology SGB25VD and the experience of IHP with radiation-hard designs and libraries. |
| Funding | To a large extent, this development is covered by the basic research funding of the IHP. The EsaDac project is funded by ESA. |
| Project Partners | Georgia Institute of Technology, advICo GmbH, Kayser-Threde GmbH, European Space Agency |
| Selected Publications |
[1] Yevgen Borokhovych et al.: A Low-Power, 10Gs/s Track-and Hold Amplifier in SiGe BiCMOS Technology, Proc. of ESSCIRC 2005, Grenoble, Sep. 2005, pp. 263 - 266 (PDF: 95 KB)
[2] Yuan Lu et al.: An 8-bit, 12 GSample/sec SiGe Track-and-Hold Amplifier Proc. of BCTM 2005, Santa Barbara, Oct. 2005, pp. 148 - 151 (PDF: 390 KB) [3] Hans Gustat and Johannes Borngräber: NOR/OR Register Based ECL Circuits for Maximum Data Rate Proc. of BCTM 2005, Santa Barbara, Oct. 2005, pp. 90 - 93 (PDF: 870 KB) [4] Hans Gustat: A DC - 10 GHz Amplifier with Digital Offset Correction Materials Science in Semiconductor Processing, 8, 439 (2005) (PDF: 258 KB) [5] Samiran Halder et al.: A 10GS/s 2Vpp Emitter Follower Only Track and Hold Amplifier in SiGe BiCMOS Technology, Proc. of ISCAS 2006, Island of Kos, Greece, May 2006 (PDF: 678 KB) [6] Samiran Halder, Hans Gustat: A 30 GS/s 4-Bit Binary Weighted DAC in SiGe BiCMOS Technology, Proc. BCTM 2007, 46 (2007) (PDF: 704 KB) [7] Samiran Halder, Hans Gustat, J.-Christoph Scheytt: A 20 GS/s 8-Bit Segmented Current Steering DAC in SiGe BiCMOS Technology Microwave Technology and Techniques Workshop 2008, ESA, ESTEC Noordwijk, May 06-07, 2008, The Netherlands. (PDF: 443 KB) |
| External Links |
http://www.celtic-initiative.org/Projects/100GET, http://www.esa.int |