High speed multi-channel data acquisition chip

This paper describes the design and performance of a very high speed, low power multichannel data acquisition chip implemented using Gallium Arsenide (GaAs) technology. The mixed analog-digital circuit uses source coupled MESFET logic for analog components and GaAs merged logic for digital components. The design of n-bit flash analog-to-digital converter requires only 2^(n-1) comparators as compared to (2ⁿ-1) comparators for a standard n-bit flash converter. The data acquisition chip dissipates 185.6 milliwatts of power with conversion time of 0.85 nsec. The results validate appropriateness of design technology and techniques used for mixed analog-digital circuit design on a single chip