Problems and Solutions: How Applications Drive Data Converters (and How Changing Data Converter Technology Influences System Architecture)

There is a common debate in the circuits world about whether the market drives technology advances (embodied by Edison?s observation that ?necessity is the mother or invention?) or whether technical breakthroughs actually create new markets (embodied by the new invention looking for a ?killer app?). Converter innovation over the last 50 years has seen tremendous contributions from both technology push and market pull forces. Reflecting on data converter evolution through the lens of the converter market applications provides some interesting perspectives as to how we got here and may even offer some insights about what might come next.