Abstract: A laser module designer can use a fixed resistor, mechanical pot, digital pot, or a digital-to-analogconverter (DAC) to control the laser driver's modulation and bias currents. The advantages of a programmablemethod (POT or DAC) are that the manufacturing process can be automated and digital control can be applied(e.g., to compensate for temperature). Using POTs can be a more simple approach than a DAC. There can be aslight cost advantage to using a POT, but this is usually not significant relative to other pieces of the design.Using a DAC can offer advantages, including improved linearity (translating to ease of software implementationand ability to hit the required accuracy), increased board density, a wider range of resolutions, a betteroptimization range, ease of use with a negative voltage laser driver, and unit-to-unit consistency
This unique guide to designing digital VLSI circuits takes a top-down approach, reflecting the natureof the design process in industry. Starting with architecture design, the book explains the why andhow of digital design, using the physics that designers need to know, and no more.Covering system and component aspects, design verification, VHDL modelling, clocking, signalintegrity, layout, electricaloverstress, field-programmable logic, economic issues, and more, thescope of the book is singularly comprehensive.
Differential Nonlinearity: Ideally, any two adjacent digitalcodes correspond to output analog voltages that are exactlyone LSB apart. Differential non-linearity is a measure of theworst case deviation from the ideal 1 LSB step. For example,a DAC with a 1.5 LSB output change for a 1 LSB digital codechange exhibits 1⁄2 LSB differential non-linearity. Differentialnon-linearity may be expressed in fractional bits or as a percentageof full scale. A differential non-linearity greater than1 LSB will lead to a non-monotonic transfer function in aDAC.Gain Error (Full Scale Error): The difference between theoutput voltage (or current) with full scale input code and theideal voltage (or current) that should exist with a full scale inputcode.Gain Temperature Coefficient (Full Scale TemperatureCoefficient): Change in gain error divided by change in temperature.Usually expressed in parts per million per degreeCelsius (ppm/°C).Integral Nonlinearity (Linearity Error): Worst case deviationfrom the line between the endpoints (zero and full scale).Can be expressed as a percentage of full scale or in fractionof an LSB.LSB (Lease-Significant Bit): In a binary coded system thisis the bit that carries the smallest value or weight. Its value isthe full scale voltage (or current) divided by 2n, where n is theresolution of the converter.Monotonicity: A monotonic function has a slope whose signdoes not change. A monotonic DAC has an output thatchanges in the same direction (or remains constant) for eachincrease in the input code. the converse is true for decreasing codes.
ANALOG INPUT BANDWIDTH is a measure of the frequencyat which the reconstructed output fundamental drops3 dB below its low frequency value for a full scale input. Thetest is performed with fIN equal to 100 kHz plus integer multiplesof fCLK. The input frequency at which the output is −3dB relative to the low frequency input signal is the full powerbandwidth.APERTURE JITTER is the variation in aperture delay fromsample to sample. Aperture jitter shows up as input noise.APERTURE DELAY See Sampling Delay.BOTTOM OFFSET is the difference between the input voltagethat just causes the output code to transition to the firstcode and the negative reference voltage. Bottom Offset isdefined as EOB = VZT–VRB, where VZT is the first code transitioninput voltage and VRB is the lower reference voltage.Note that this is different from the normal Zero Scale Error.CONVERSION LATENCY See PIPELINE DELAY.CONVERSION TIME is the time required for a completemeasurement by an analog-to-digital converter. Since theConversion Time does not include acquisition time, multiplexerset up time, or other elements of a complete conversioncycle, the conversion time may be less than theThroughput Time.DC COMMON-MODE ERROR is a specification which appliesto ADCs with differential inputs. It is the change in theoutput code that occurs when the analog voltages on the twoinputs are changed by an equal amount. It is usually expressed in LSBs.
Radio Frequency Integrated Circuit Design
I enjoyed reading this book for a number of reasons. One reason is that itaddresses high-speed analog design in the context of microwave issues. This isan advanced-level book, which should follow courses in basic circuits andtransmission lines. Most analog integrated circuit designers in the past workedon applications at low enough frequency that microwave issues did not arise.As a consequence, they were adept at lumped parameter circuits and often notcomfortable with circuits where waves travel in space. However, in order todesign radio frequency (RF) communications integrated circuits (IC) in thegigahertz range, one must deal with transmission lines at chip interfaces andwhere interconnections on chip are far apart. Also, impedance matching isaddressed, which is a topic that arises most often in microwave circuits. In mycareer, there has been a gap in comprehension between analog low-frequencydesigners and microwave designers. Often, similar issues were dealt with in twodifferent languages. Although this book is more firmly based in lumped-elementanalog circuit design, it is nice to see that microwave knowledge is brought inwhere necessary.Too many analog circuit books in the past have concentrated first on thecircuit side rather than on basic theory behind their application in communications.The circuits usually used have evolved through experience, without asatisfying intellectual theme in describing them. Why a given circuit works bestcan be subtle, and often these circuits are chosen only through experience. Forthis reason, I am happy that the book begins first with topics that require anintellectual approach—noise, linearity and filtering, and technology issues. Iam particularly happy with how linearity is introduced (power series). In therest of the book it is then shown, with specific circuits and numerical examples,how linearity and noise issues arise.
Abstract: This application note illustrates an intermediate 8V switching power supply for an automotive radio and infotainment system.The design withstands the complete automotive input voltage range (including cold crank and load dump conditions), assuring a stable8V supply for common subsystems such as a CD driver, LCDs, and a radio module in modern infotainment systems. To avoiddisturbance in the AM and FM bands, the switching power supply runs at a fixed frequency of 2MHz, enabling an ideal solution forradio systems.
