CAD TOOLS FOR DATA CONVERTER DESIGN - AN OVERVIEW

This paper presents an overview of the recent advances in modeling, si mulation and structured synthesis that are pushing ahead the capabilit ies and efficiency of CAD tools for integrated data converter design. First, a hierarchical design methodology and a common framework with s tandardized interfaces are shown to be essential to create a design en vironment that is flexible enough to cover a nide range of specificati ons and applications, The different approaches for data converter mode ling and simulation are then reviewed and compared, ranging from purel y electrical simulators to state-of-the-art behavioral analog-digital simulators, In particular, it is shown how behavioral models of data c onverters are emerging as a powerful solution for complex system simul ations with highly reduced computational requirements. Next, the key s teps in the automatic synthesis of data converters are discussed, and state-of-the-art synthesis systems are compared and illustrated with s ome practical design examples. Finally, the progress in tools for test ing and design for testability of data converters is described.