| CODE | MNE5013 | ||||||||||||
| TITLE | Signal Conditioning and Data Converters | ||||||||||||
| UM LEVEL | 05 - Postgraduate Modular Diploma or Degree Course | ||||||||||||
| MQF LEVEL | 7 | ||||||||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | 5 | ||||||||||||
| DEPARTMENT | Microelectronics and Nanoelectronics | ||||||||||||
| DESCRIPTION | This study-unit aims at giving the student a comprehensive overview of the design of analogue building blocks typically encountered in the processing of baseband signals as well as aspects of high resolution over-sampling data converters. The study-unit covers the following topics: 鈥� Advanced Current Mirrors and Op Amps: advanced current mirrors; op amp design methodology; compensation of op amps; operational transconductance amplifiers (OTAs); folded-cascode op amps; current-mirror op amps; fully differential op amps; common-mode feedback circuits; current-feedback op amps; 鈥� CMOS Comparators: characterisation of comparators; speed of multi-stage comparators; CMOS two-stage comparators, clocked/latched comparators, offset cancelling techniques; 鈥� Continuous-Time Filters: introduction to Gm-C filters; bipolar transconductors; CMOS transconductors; BiCMOS transconductors; MOSFET-C circuits; tuning circuitry; dynamic range performance; 鈥� Switched Capacitor Circuits: switched-capacitor integrators; first-order filters; biquad filters; charge injection; switched-capacitor gain circuits, auto-zeroing and double-sampling techniques; 鈥� Oversampling converters: noise shaping and predictive converters, signal transfer function, noise transfer function, noise reduction factor, stability issues, dynamic range, multi-stage topologies. Study-Unit Aims: The study-unit considers analysis and design of analogue signal conditioning circuits such as op amps, operational transconductance amplifiers, comparators, linear active filters and switched-capacitor circuits as well as data conversion topologies. Learning Outcomes: 1. Knowledge & Understanding: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: Understand and analyse the operation of fundamental analogue building blocks including operational transconductance amplifiers (including Miller, cascoded, symmetric, fully differential) continuous-time and clocked comparators, linear active filters and switched-capacitor circuits. With regards to amplifier design, frequency compensation techniques will be discussed including dominant pole and feed-forward compensation techniques. The students will also be able to understand and analyse over-sampled analogue to digital converters taking into account the stability constraints imposed by high-order topologies. Both high order loops and low-order multi-stage noise shaping topologies will be considered. These are fundamental building blocks in analogue and mixed-mode integrated circuits/systems. 2. Skills: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: Design and optimise fundamental analogue building blocks such as operational transconductance amplifiers, comparators and switched-capacitor circuits to meet given specifications. This will be achieved via thorough theoretical analysis as well as hands-on experience using industry-standard Cadence tools where a typical CMOS sigma-delta converter will be designed and simulated starting from component-level, using a standard CMOS process. Analogue simulation results will be compared with those obtained through MATLAB high level simulation. In this way students can understand the effects of non-idealities of analogue circuit building blocks (such as finite gain and clock feed-though) on the over-all converter performance. This process will help the students to achieve the necessary skills to optimise analogue circuitry for different constraints such as low voltage, low power, high accuracy or speed applications. Main Text/s and any supplementary readings: Main Texts: - K.R. Laker and W.M.C. Sansen, "Design of Analog Integrated Circuits and Systems", McGraw Hill ISBN 0-07-113458-1. - D.A. Johns and K. Martin, "Analog Integrated Circuit Design", ISBN 0-471-14448-7. - F. Maloberti, 鈥淒ata Converters鈥�, ISBN: 9780387324852. |
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| RULES/CONDITIONS | Before TAKING THIS UNIT YOU ARE ADVISED TO TAKE MNE3109 | ||||||||||||
| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Lecture and Tutorial | ||||||||||||
| METHOD OF ASSESSMENT |
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| LECTURER/S | Ivan Grech |
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The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints. Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice. It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2025/6. It may be subject to change in subsequent years. |
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