Code probability distributions of A/D converters with random input noise

The specific architecture of an A/D converter influences the code probabili ty distributions that result from random input noise. In particular, the ou tput codes of successive approximation A/D converters have a spiked distrib ution, and its variance is half that of the corresponding input noise. In a ddition, the distribution has a small bias. These and other related results are derived, and are qualitatively supported by measurement data on a real 16-bit A/D converter.