Mixed-Domain Adaptive Blind Correction of High-Resolution Time-Interleaved ADCs

Abstract

Blind mismatch correction of time-interleaved analog-to-digital converters (TI-ADC) is a challenging task. We present a practical blind calibration technique for low-computation, low-complexity, and high-resolution applications. Its key features are: dramatically reduced computation; simple hardware; guaranteed parameter convergence with an arbitrary number of TI-ADC channels and most real-life input signals, with no bandwidth limitation; multiple Nyquist zone operation; and mixed-domain error correction. The proposed technique is experimentally verified by an 400 MSPS TI-ADC system. In a single-tone test, the proposed practical blind calibration technique suppressed mismatch spurs by 70 dB to 90 dB below the signal tone across the first two Nyquist zones (10 MHz to 390 MHz). A wideband signal test also confirms the proposed technique.