Radiation-Tolerant, High-Speed, Low-Power ADC (2007032)

Hittite is developing a radiation-tolerant (300 krad), high-speed (2Gs/s), high-resolution (12-bit), low-power (<3W without demultiplexer) analog to digital converter (ADC) for satellite communications and other wide band digital receiver applications. No available ADC offers this combination of performance, power, and radiation tolerance. A combination of innovative design and advanced SiGe BiCMOS technology will be used to meet the performance and power goals in an ADC that is radiation tolerant by design and technology. The ADC will reduce the size, weight, power, and cost of digital receivers by moving data conversion closer to the antenna, eliminating intermediate RF and IF stages. During Phase I, a conceptual design is being developed and key cells simulated. Critical, mixed-signal cells will be designed and fabricated at IBM under its ITAR-compliant, Trusted Foundry contract with DoD. These cells will be evaluated and refined under the Phase II Option, then integrated with digital logic to form a complete ADC. The ADC will be fabricated, packaged, tested, and delivered under the Phase II Option. ADC refinement and space qualification will follow in Phase III.