Title :
Design, fabrication, and evaluation of 2- and 3-bit GaAs MESFET analog-to-digital converter IC´s
Author :
Upadhyayula, L.C. ; Curtice, Walter R. ; Smith, Rene
Author_Institution :
RCA Laboratories, Princeton, NJ
fDate :
1/1/1983 12:00:00 AM
Abstract :
the analog-to-digital converter (A/D) is a critical component of a signal processing system. GHz-rate A/D´s will be required in many future systems. While Si bipolar based A/D´s can easily meet 4-6-bit resolution requirements, excessive power dissipation (1 W per bit) limits their operation to 100-400-MHz sampling rates. Recently, GaAs MESFET´s have demonstrated high frequency operation with relatively low power dissipation. This paper describes the design of 2- and 3-bit A/D´s using GaAs MESFET´s. Monolithic integrated A/D circuits were fabricated and successfully operated at gigahertz sampling rates. This sampling rate is the highest reported for any A/D technology at room temperature. The power dissipation is 150-200 mW per bit. With further improvements in comparator sensitivity, the design can be extended to 4-bit A/D for GHz rate operation.
Keywords :
Analog integrated circuits; Analog-digital conversion; Fabrication; Gallium arsenide; MESFET integrated circuits; Power dissipation; Sampling methods; Signal design; Signal processing; Signal resolution;
Journal_Title :
Electron Devices, IEEE Transactions on
DOI :
10.1109/T-ED.1983.21061