Digital techniques for improving the accuracy of data converters

This article provides a tutorial overview of some recently developed method s for enhancing the accuracy and linearity of data converters (analog-to-di gital as well as digital-to-analog) by introducing auxiliary digital circui try which calibrates, cancels and/or corrects the errors introduced by the unavoidable inaccuracy of the analog components used in the conversion. Sim ple but practical examples are used to illustrate the various improvement t echniques. Using the described methods, the inherent accuracy and linearity of the data conversion can be extended from about 10 bits to 16 bits and m ore.