A fast, robust algorithm for estimating effective bits of an A/D converter

One of the most important performance indicators of an A/D converter is the effective bit. The effective bit of an A/D converter measures the average power of the noise generated in the process of analog to digital conversion. Three major methods for estimating A/D effective bit are minimum mean square error sine fitting algorithm, 4-parameter estimation algorithm, and the FFT method. Each method has its own strength and weakness. In this paper we propose a new algorithm which draws on the strength of the 4-parameter estimation algorithm and a modified FFT method. With this new algorithm, user can easily automate the process without worrying about various constraints imposed by the previously published algorithms. Extensive simulations have shown that the new algorithm is fast, robust, and gives accurate results