Optimal Low-Frequency Filter Design for Uncertain 2-1 Sigma-Delta Modulators

Variability in the analogue components of integrators in cascaded 2-1 sigma-delta modulators causes imperfect cancellation of first stage quantization noise, and reduced signal-to-noise ratio in analogue-to-digital converters. Design of robust matching filters based on low-frequency weighted convex optimization over uncertain linearized representations are mathematically very complex and computationally intensive, and offer little insight into the solution. This letter describes a design method based on formal optimization of a low-frequency uncertain linearized model of the modulator, and leads to a simple intuitive result which can shed light on the more complex models. Simulation results confirm the optimal properties of the filter.