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SNR of an ideal ADC (Read 4970 times)
Vivek Chandrasekhar
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SNR of an ideal ADC
Dec 11th, 2004, 1:35pm
 
Hi,
Digital output of an ideal 4 bit  ADC was computed using Verilog AMS.This digital output was stored in a .dat file.
I calculated SNR of this  ideal 4 bit  ADC  using Matlab code .  My SNR value of 18dB doesnot seem to match the ideal value of (1.76+6.02n where n is resolution of ADC) 25.78dB for a 4 bit ADC. I am using a sampling frequency of 2.5 GHz and input frequency of 500MHz.
I would be greatful to anyone who could help me solve this problem.
Thanks
Vivek
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sheldon
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Posts: 751

Re: SNR of an ideal ADC
Reply #1 - Dec 28th, 2004, 4:40pm
 
Vivek,

   Simulating ADC dynamic performance is non-trivial. The
results are dependent on the setup of the simulation. You
will need to use the same methodology that designers use
when testing data converters on the bench. The best place
to look for information is AD/Maxim/BB. You will need to
search for information on coherent sampling. Here is one
useful link from Maxim,

        http://japan.maxim-ic.com/tools/calculators/index.cfm/calc_id/appnote3190


To summarize the issues, you need to do two things:

1) Control the time span used for the FFT data record so
    that it contains an integer number of periods of the
    clock and input signal. This will eliminate spectral
    leakage so you won't need to use windowing functions.

NOTE: Everybody uses windowing function on the testbench.
It can't be helped since it is impossible to perfectly
synchronize the clock and input. However, it can be helped
when simulating so don't do it! Windowing functions can
mask the actualy characteristics of the ADC.

2) Make the ratio of the input signal to the clock signal ,
  depend on the prime number for example. 17 periods of
  the input to 256 periods of the output. If you use even
  numbers, for example, 1MHz input for a 10MHz, sample
  rate, then the noise shows up at the harmonics of the
  beat frequency, e.g., 2MHz, 3MHz, ...
  So the SNR will be correct but the SFDR will be incorrect.
 
3) The simulation you are performing only inlcudes the
    quantitazation noise of the ADC, so you should see
    the SNR match the ideal value. I have checked this
    for 10 bit ADCs and the theory matches simulations.

                                                        Best Regards,

                                                           Art Schaldenbrand
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sheldon
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Re: SNR of an ideal ADC
Reply #2 - Jan 1st, 2005, 7:28pm
 
Vivek,

   Just wanted to add a little more for your specific case.
1) Choose an input level just below the full scale input. For
    example, if the full scale input is 1Vpp, the typical input
    level is -1dBfs, 1 dB below full scale, or 0.89125V.  The
    signal needs to be large enough so that you measure the
    full dynamic range, but not so large that you overload the
    the ADC. Or you need to compensate for the input level,
    that is, if the input is -6dBfs, then the actual SNR should
    be 6dB greater than the measured SNR(ideally).

2) For your case assuming a 256 point FFT, you need to
   run a simulation that is 256 * ( 1 / 2.5e9) = 102.4ns +
   alpha, alpha allows start-up transients to to settle and
   selecting the correct point in the sampling period for
   the FFT.

3) You need to offset the data points in the FFT so that
   the reconstructed analog has settled to its final value.
   For example, allowing 1 period to settling startup
   transients and 390 ns, sampling period is 400ns,  for
   the analog to settle, then the first time should be
   790ns for the FFT and the transient simulation should
   be at least 103.19ns  long.

4) For a sampling frequency of 2.5GHz, a target input
   frequency of 500MHz, and a 256 point FFT, the input
   frequency should be something like 47/256 * 2.5GHz,
   or 458.984375MHz.

                                                        Best Regards,

                                                            Sheldon
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