ADC IP Block Design And Verification

Abstract

This thesis navigates the realm of VLSI design with a focal point on Analog-to-Digital Converter (ADC) Intellectual Property (IP) blocks. Beginning with exploring the realm of semiconductor intellectual property, the research highlights the evolution of IP cores and their pivotal role in VLSI chip production. Delving deeper, the thesis elucidates the imperative need for IP designs in VLSI, emphasizing their reusability, legal implications, and substantial impact on reducing time-to-market for products.

The investigation revolves around the design lifecycle in VLSI, focusing on ADC IP blocks as pivotal components. Exploring the Flash ADC architecture, the study dives into the intricate analog front-end design, emphasizing the Threshold Inverter Quantization (TIQ) methodology, its principles, advantages, and challenges. Moreover, the digital back-end design phase scrutinizes the priority encoder implementation, leveraging Verilog/SystemVerilog for efficient translation of analog data to digital formats.

Critical to this study is the exploration of mixed-signal simulations, meticulously integrating analog and digital domains using Cadence Spectre and AMS tools. Detailed analyses encompass transient simulations, DC/AC analysis, Monte Carlo simulations, and sensitivity analyses, ensuring robustness and accuracy across the entire ADC system.

The thesis converges on the amalgamation of analog mixed-signal verification and integration phases, stressing functional, timing, noise, and power consumption verifications. Challenges spanning precision, power, layout complexities, and technology scaling are meticulously navigated to optimize ADC IP block performance and reliability.

This study unravels the complexities of ADC IP block design within the VLSI domain, highlighting the intricate interplay between analog and digital realms, underscoring the significance of IP cores in advancing VLSI semiconductor designs, and addressing critical challenges in achieving high-performance ADC IP blocks.