A/D Converters Learning Using Software Tools

This paper presents a methodology to aid the ADC circuit learning process, that is, how they work, especially the advanced architectures such as pipeline and sigma-delta converters, which have special characteristics and properties, for example: multistage synchronization, latency, oversampling, modulation, noise shaping, filtering and decimation. The presented learning methodology combines practical simulation examples of real circuits in order to understand their working principles and also to do their dynamic and static test from the simulation results. Special attention must be paid to the use of standards terminology, definitions and testing methods, mainly: IEC 62008, IEC 60748-4, IEEE Std. 1241-2000 and IEEE Std. 1658. The utilized software tools are OrcadPSpice, C compiler, Excel and QuartusII. This type of methodology saves time in the laboratory and aids the self learning and is more universal because a laboratory with special hardware systems is not necessary.