Fourth-Order Cascaded $\Sigma \Delta$ Modulator Using Tri-Level Quantization and Bandpass Noise Shaping for Broadband Telecommunication Applications

Abstract

This paper presents a 14-bit cascaded sigma-delta modulator for broadband telecommunication applications. The modulator is a 2-1-1 cascaded architecture that employs a resonator-based topology in the first stage, three tri-level quantizers, and two different pairs of reference voltages. As shown in the experimental result, for a 2.5-MHz signal bandwidth, the modulator achieves a dynamic range of 86 dB and a peak signal-to-noise and distortion ratio of 78.5 dB with an oversampling ratio of 16. The proposed modulator including reference voltage buffers and bandgap circuitry dissipates 62.5 mW from a 2.5-V supply. The active area is 1.2-mm2 in a 0.25-mum CMOS technology.