High-Performance Analog-to-Digital Converters

Ovation is committed to becoming a military supplier of high speed analog-to-digital converters (ADC). In this work, we propose to undertake an extensive research and development effort to demonstrate an advanced 2-4 GHz 6-8 effective bit ADC with a spurious free dynamic range of 60-85dB. We intend to achieve this goal through a comprehensive effort that integrates recent advances in materials growth, device technology, circuit design, packaging, and testing. In particular, we propose to employ carbon doped Npn HBT's grown on InP and the revolutionary Transferred-Substrate HBT process recently demonstrated at the University of California, Santa Barbara. A team that includes investigators from both Ovation and the University of California, Santa Barbara has been assembled to meet the challenge of this project. We believe the proposed approach has the potential to realize an ADC that operates at 10 GHz with 6-8 effective bits and 85dB of spurious free dynamic range. Our ultimate goal is to demonstrate ADC's at or above 10 GHz by the end of Phase II, and provide the critical infrastructure necessary to manufacture, package, and test these components for a variety of military and commercial customers.