The DTCM characterization approach for the qualification of dynamic non-linearities within A/D channels

The behaviour of both stand-alone ADCs and entire A/D acquisition channels under time-varying input excitations exhibits non-idealities which are peculiar to the dynamic operation and can not be described by the characteristics of the static response. In addition, even the common dynamic parameters suggested by the current standards usually fail to separately qualify the purely-dynamic non-linearities from all other perturbation effects on the system response. In this paper, the features of the Discrete-Time Convolution Model are discussed by pointing out the properties of the general approach from which it derives, with particular emphasis to the capability of separately describing all the system non-idealities on the basis of their nature. It will be shown how the DTCM characterization methodology and the set of related model parameters represent a suitable resource towards the separate qualification of dynamic non-linearities in A/D channels.