Smart, flexible, and future-proof data converters

This paper shows a vision on the future of AD and DA converters. Digitization of systems shifts the physics-related problems to the analog front-end, which is becoming a major bottleneck. Instead of the conventional system-function oriented structure we foresee the front-ends to become dictated by the conversion function including all associated signal conditioning. This conversion will take place in a close and concerted cooperation of analog and digital sub functions. Boundaries between signal conditioning and converter sub functions and between analog and digital will fade. It is further argued that current trends show a lot of conflicts for the future, and that a vision-based approach and new concepts are required to find a way out. The smart converter concept is proposed as a way to overcome the problems and to provide flexible and future proof converters. The way to smart converters is illustrated with research activities in which the author is involved.