This paper proposes a performance model for design of pipelined analog-to-digital converters (ADCs). This model includes the effect of overdrive voltage on the transistor, slewing of the operational amplifier, multi-bit structure of multiplying digital to analog converter (MDAC) and technology scaling. The conversion frequency of ADC is improved by choosing the optimum overdrive voltage of the transistor, an important consideration at smaller design rules. Moreover, multi-bit MDACs are faster than the single-bit MDACs when slewing occurs during the step response. The performance model of pipelined ADC shown in this paper is attractive for the optimization of the ADC's performances.

In this paper, we discuss the effects of switch resistances on the step response of switched-capacitor (SC) circuits, especially multiplying digital-to-analog converters (MDACs) in pipelined analog-to-digital converters. Theory and simulation results reveal that the settling time of MDACs can be decreased by optimizing the switch resistances. This switch resistance optimization does not only effectively increase the speed of single-bit MDACs, but also of multi-bit MDACs. Moreover, multi-bit MDACs are faster than the single-bit MDACs when slewing occurs during the step response. With such an optimization, the response of the switch will be improved by up to 50%.