CMOS Digital-to-Analog and Analog-to-Digital Converter Design

The course begins with an overview of data conversion systems followed by the analysis and design of basic building blocks of data converters: CMOS (complementary metal oxide semiconductor) sampling circuits, operational amplifiers, comparators and sample-and-hold architectures. With these fundamental concepts clarified, the course then continues with the basic principles of architectures of digital-to-analog converters, focusing on advantages, disadvantages and performance tradeoffs of various topologies. Following that, instruction covers basic types of analog-to-digital converters, focusing on design issues, sources of errors and performance improvement techniques. These include offset cancellation, digital correction and calibration techniques. The course concludes with a design project where participants apply their skills to design and characterize a simulated CMOS data converter circuit.