CAREER: Improving analog/digital interfaces to CMOS signal processing systems

该计划的目标是CMOS技术的进步和新技术中模数转换器的引入之间日益扩大的差距。使用深度亚微米数字CMOS工艺，工程师可以在集成电路上放置数亿个晶体管。这使得片上系统（SOC）集成成为一种真正的可能性，有望实现无处不在的宽带无线通信和普适计算等新应用。数字设计科学为构建庞大的数字系统提供了概念和工具。然而，问题是所有soc都需要一些模拟功能，特别是模数转换电路（adc）。挑战是在相同的芯片上实现模数转换，并采用与数字处理相同的CMOS技术。这项研究涉及开发新的模数转换技术，利用深亚微米CMOS的能力。研究目标是识别和利用亚微米数字CMOS的优势。研究人员研究了利用MOS器件尺寸缩小和速度提高、互连能力增强和数字处理能力增强的方法、架构和概念。快速，简单的电路，辅助冗余，并行和数字处理的探索。分析了这些新方法的局限性。相比之下，当前的范例试图通过专门的过程选择和巧妙的设计来延长旧设计技术的寿命。一种更简单的混合信号设计方法使新工程师和研究人员更容易变得富有成效。通过引入混合信号和模拟设计的新本科和研究生课程，通过向代表性不足的群体推广，并通过继续教育，增强了这项工作的影响。

This program targets the growing gap between the advancement of CMOS technology and the introduction of analog-to-digital converters in new technologies. Using deep sub-micron digital CMOS processes, engineers can put hundreds of millions of transistors on an integrated circuit. This makes System-on-a-Chip (SOC) integration a real possibility, promising new applications such as ubiquitous broadband wireless communications, and pervasive computing. The science of digital design has delivered the concepts and the tools to build huge digital systems. However, the problem is that all SOCs require some analog functions and in particular analog-to-digital conversion circuits (ADCs). The challenge is to implement analog-to-digital conversion on the same die and in the same CMOS technology as the digital processing. This research involves the development of new to analog-to-digital conversion techniques that take advantage of the capabilities of the deep sub-micron CMOS.The research objectives are to identify and to utilize the strengths of sub-micron digital CMOS.The investigators study methods, architectures and concepts that take advantage of the shrinking size and increasing speed of MOS devices, the increasing capability of interconnect, and the growing digital processing capability. Fast, simple circuits, aided by redundancy, parallelism, and digital processing are explored. The limitations of these new approaches are analyzed. In contrast, the current paradigm seeks to extend the life of old design techniques though specialized process options and clever design. A simpler approach to mixed-signal design makes it easier for new engineers and researchers to become productive. The impact of this work is enhanced through the introduction of new undergraduate and graduate courses in mixed-signal and analog design, though outreach to under-represented groups, and through continuing education.