Delta Sigma ADC - Documentation

Delta-Sigma ADC
October 2009
Reference Design RD1063
Introduction
The Delta-Sigma ADC reference design targets the implementation of an analog-to-digital converter in a Lattice
PLD. The design can be implemented with few PLD resources and is flexible enough to meet a variety of application requirements. The Delta-Sigma ADC is an excellent choice for monitoring the various sensors and power rails
in a system.
Features
• Parameterized Bit Precision
• Adjustable Sampling Frequency
Overview
The Delta-Sigma ADC is implemented using an analog comparator, low-pass RC filter, Successive Approximation
Register (SAR) technique and a Delta-Sigma DAC. An analog input signal is tracked and converted to a digital
value. Users are able to enter parameter values to define the bit precision and sampling rates of the ADC.
Figure 1. ADC Functional Block Diagram
SAR Done
Sample
Control
Analog
+
RC Filter
-
Successive
Approximation
Register
(SAR)
Register
Digital OUT
- DAC
Feedback Signal
In Figure 1, the following logic blocks are implemented in the PLD:
• Successive Approximation Register
• Delta-Sigma DAC
• Sample Control
• Output Register
• SAR Done Flag
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rd1063_01.0
Lattice Semiconductor
Delta-Sigma ADC
Parameter Descriptions
Table 1. Parameter Descriptions
Parameter Name
Description
ADC_WIDTH
This parameter defines the width of the ADC.
DAC_SET_WIDTH
This parameter defines the register width for holding the count of SAR updates during successive
approximation. A 4-bit register will accommodate SAR updates for an ADC up to 16 bits wide.
DAC_SETTLE_TIME
DAC_WIDTH
This parameter defines the time for the DAC output (output of the RC low-pass filter) to settle.
Settle Time = (Clock Period) x 2^(DAC_SETTLE_TIME)
This parameter defines the width of the DAC. The converter precision is calculated based on the
value of this parameter.
Signal Descriptions
Table 2. Signal Descriptions
Signal Name
Direction
Description
clk
Input
ADC operating clock signal
rstn
Input
ADC active low reset signal
analog_cmp
Input
Data received from the output of the analog comparator
analog_out
Output
DAC 1-bit digital output signal to the analog RC filter
digital_out
Output
Digital representation of the analog signal that is converted by the ADC. Bus width is defined
by the ADC_WIDTH parameter [ADC_WIDTH-1:0].
sar_done
Output
Active high flag, indicating the digital output value of the ADC is valid.
Successive Approximation Register (SAR)
The SAR function block has a critical role in the architecture of this ADC. It is responsible for approximating the voltage level of the analog input signal and evaluating its approximation by monitoring the output of the analog comparator.
SAR begins the operation by providing a digital value to the DAC, representing half of the VCCO level. MSB is set
high and all less significant bits are low. After the output of the RC low-pass filter has settled, SAR will evaluate the
output of the analog comparator. If the output of the analog comparator is logic high, then SAR will set the next
most significant bit high to force the output of the RC filter to a higher level. If the output of the analog comparator is
logic low, then SAR will set the most significant bit low and the next most significant bit high to force the output of
the RC filter to a lower level. This procedure is executed until the LSB is updated by SAR approximations. At the
end of the procedure, SAR has approximated the analog input signal with half the LSB accuracy.
Figure 2 illustrates the SAR approximation for a 6-bit ADC. It takes six successive approximations to approximate
the analog input signal with half the LSB accuracy.
The SAR must complete all six approximations in order to achieve one sample of the analog input signal.
The sampling frequency of the ADC is defined by the time it takes the RC low-pass filter to settle, the number of
SAR approximations and the operating clock frequency. The relationship of these variables is expressed by a formula later in the document.
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Lattice Semiconductor
Delta-Sigma ADC
Figure 2. Successive Approximation
RC Filter
Output
Analog
Input Signal
VCCO
VCCO/2
1
2
3
4
5
6
DAC Output
Note: VCCO = Voltage level of the VCCIO bank of the PLD.
Delta-Sigma DAC
The function of the Delta-Sigma DAC is to receive a digital value from SAR and output a train of pulses to the RC
low-pass filter. The digital value is represented by the average density of the pulses. The function is achieved by
calculating the difference (delta) between the DAC output and DAC input digital values. A second adder is used to
integrate (sigma) the differences calculated by the delta adder.
The voltage increments, Vi, that can be generated by the DAC are calculated by the following formula:
Vi = VCCO / 2^(DAC_WIDTH)
As an example, for an 8-bit DAC and VCCO = 3.3V, the volt increment Vi is 12.89mV.
Continuing with the 8-bit DAC example, the tables below show the relationship between the DAC digital input value
and the 1-bit digital output characteristics.
Table 3. Increasing DAC Digital Input
DAC Digital Input
DAC Output Frequency
DAC Output Duty Cycle
128
clk / 2
1/2
192
clk / 4
3/4
224
clk / 8
7/8
240
clk / 16
15/16
248
clk / 32
31/32
252
clk / 64
63/64
254
clk / 128
127/128
255
clk / 256
255/256
Note: clk = ADC operating clock signal.
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Lattice Semiconductor
Delta-Sigma ADC
Table 4. Decreasing DAC Digital Input
DAC Digital Input
DAC Output Frequency
DAC Output Duty Cycle
128
clk / 2
1/2
64
clk / 4
1/4
32
clk / 8
1/8
16
clk / 16
1/16
8
clk / 32
1/32
4
clk / 64
1/64
2
clk / 128
1/128
1
clk / 256
1/256
Note: clk = ADC operating clock signal.
The highest DAC Output Frequency is for DAC Digital Input of 128, which is half the VCCO value. The lowest DAC
Output Frequency is for DAC Digital Input of 1 or 255, which are one Vi from the DC values of ground or VCCO
respectively.
The DAC Output Frequency and Duty Cycle are required for calculating the settling time of the RC low-pass filter.
The longest settling time will occur when DAC Digital Input is half the VCCO.
Sampling Frequency
The sampling frequency is adjustable to meet the needs of specific applications. The sampling frequency is calculated by the following formula:
Sampling Frequency = (clk) / (2^(DAC_SETTLE_TIME) x ADC_WIDTH)
Where:
clk = ADC operating clock signal
DAC_SETTLE_TIME value must be set to guarantee the RC filter has settled
ADC_WIDTH value defines the width of the converter
RC Filter Design
The main design consideration when selecting the resistor and capacitor values are the voltage ripple and settling
time.
The voltage ripple at the output of the low-pass filter must be lower then 1/2 Vi. SAR approximates the analog input
signal with half the LSB accuracy, or half Vi. The RC values can be calculated by the following formula:
1/2 Vi = 1 / (1+2 x  x FDAC x RC)
Voltage ripple will decrease by choosing relatively high RC values. However, there is a trade-off between lower voltage ripple and settling time. High RC values will cause long settling time. The settling time is modeled by the fundamental current-voltage relationship of the capacitor:
VN = VO + 1/C  idt
Where:
i = Current flow through the capacitor
dt = Time delta
C = Capacitor value
VO = Output Voltage of RC network
VN = Next Output Voltage of RC network
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Lattice Semiconductor
Delta-Sigma ADC
Substituting current with voltage/resistance ratio and dt with TON and TOFF, the two equations needed to model
the settling time are:
VN = VO + ((VDAC – VO) / (RC)) x TON for VDAC = VCCO
VN = VO + ((VDAC – VO) / (RC)) x TOFF for VDAC = 0V
Where:
VDAC = DAC 1 bit digital output signal (VCCO or 0V)
TON = Time frame VDAC = VCCO
TOFF = Time frame VDAC = 0V
VCCO = Voltage level of the VCCIO bank of the PLD
The longest settling time will occur when the DAC Digital Input is half the VCCO. To model the longest settle time,
use FDAC = clk / 2 and half the duty cycle.
Implementation
Table 5. Performance and Resource Utilization1
Device
Speed Grade
Utilization
fMAX (MHz)
I/Os
Architecture
Resources
-5
59 LUTs
148
13
N/A
MachXO™2
1. The parameter settings for this implementation include: ADC_WIDTH = 8, DAC_SET_WIDTH = 4, and DAC_SETTLE_TIME = 8.
2. Performance and utilization characteristics are generated using LCMXO2280C-5FT256C, with ispLEVER 7.2 SP2 software. When using
this design in a different device, density, speed, or grade, performance and utilization may vary.
Technical Support Assistance
Hotline: 1-800-LATTICE (North America)
+1-503-268-8001 (Outside North America)
e-mail:
[email protected]
Internet: www.latticesemi.com
Revision History
Date
Version
October 2009
01.0
Change Summary
Initial release.
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