Full-speed testing of A/D converters

Abstract

Improved computer-aided analog-to-digital converter (ADC) characterization methods based on the code density test and spectral analysis using the fast Fourier transform are described. The code density test produces a histogram of the digital output codes of an ADC sampling a known input. The code density can be interpreted to compute the differential and integral nonlinearities, gain error, offset error, and internal noise. Conversion-rate and frequency-dependent behavior can also be measured.