Integrated Circuits for Quantized Analog Signal Processing

This thesis presents the new concept of Quantized Analog Signal Processing, which is a method to expand the dynamic range of an analog system by using multiple units covering different portions of the rail-to-rail input range. This allows amplification of full-swing signals at the input, without saturating the overall output. Another benefit of the proposed system is the ability to linearize the input-output transfer characteristics of a quantized amplifier, irrespective of the linearity properties of a single unit. In the first chapter of the thesis, a theoretical formulation is developed for the thermodynamic minimum power limits of analog circuits by using prior literature. Then it is shown that the quantized analog signal processing can allow expanding this thermodynamic limit beyond what has been theoretically possible with any prior analog architecture. In Chapter 2, theoretical and behavioral simulations are performed on a quantized voltage amplifier, to support the claims of Chapter 1. Chapter 3 presents an RF receiver integrated in a 65nm CMOS, with the quantized-analog RF front-end. Experimental results show that the receiver has an unprecedented power efficiency in the analog signal path for a given dynamic range. The last chapter presents an upgraded version of the receiver, with extra added features, and on-chip delta-sigma ADCs, which is designed in 28nm CMOS.Ph.D.2019-11-19 00:00:0