A pipelined analog-to-digital converter for low temperatures

A pipelined analog-to-digital converter optimized for low-temperature operation is presented. The advantages of operating CMOS devices at low temperatures are numerous. In addition, at the circuit and system level, the advantages include lower interconnect line resistance and reductions in noise and electromigration. The goal of this study was to explore how much performance enhancement can be achieved for the converter optimized for operation at -70°C and 77 K. The performance improvement compared to room temperature operation is verified through measurements.