Mixed Signal

Direct digitization using superconducting data converters Direct digitization is the ultimate enabler for future wireless communications. It refers to the ability to bring the digital domain as close to the antenna as possible, on both the receive and transmit ends of the radio transceiver system. It’s a goal that remains just out of reach for systems based on traditional semiconductor technology and conventional data converters. Through the use of superconducting microelectronics technology and new, high-performing analog-to-digital and digital-to-analog converters, however, direct digitization is firmly in reach. By Jack Rosa n an ideal configuration, the RF signalIwould be directly converted to digital, with-out the necessity of analog conversion to a lower IF or baseband signal before digital processing. The barrier, however, is tha