imec's novel ADC promises faster sampling rates

The analogue-to-digital and digital-to-analogue converters (ADCs/DACs) are like the equals sign in mathematics.

Joris Van Driessche

The equals sign is taught as showing two sides of an equation being the same. But really, it is a gateway between two worlds. The same applies to the ADC and DAC, which equate between the analogue and digital worlds.

Progress in wireline communications, whether client-side optics or coherent optical modems at 800 gigabits and soon 1.6 terabit, means converters must sample at higher rates.

In February, at the IEEE International Solid-State Circuits Conference (ISSCC) in San Francisco, imec detailed a proof-of-concept chip design that promises to advance high-speed ADCs.

Click to read more ...