The ADC701 input voltage is converted to a current through
the input scaling resistors (Figure 2), and this current is
applied to the summing junction (virtual ground) of error
amplifier A1. The current output of the DAC (0 to 2mA) is
also applied to the summing point. If bipolar operation is
selected, the 10V reference output is applied to input D,
creating a 1mA offset current which sums with the input
current.
THEORY OF OPERATION
The ADC701 uses a three-step subranging architecture,
meaning that the analog-to-digital conversion is performed
in three passes which constitute coarse, medium and fine
approximations of the input signal. Refer to Figures 1 and 2
for simplified block diagrams of the system.
Before the input signal is presented to the ADC, it must be
sampled with high linearity and low aperture error by the
sample/hold amplifier.
1kΩ
In the SHC702, the sampling switch is placed at the sum-
ming junction (virtual ground) of a high speed FET ampli-
fier (Figure 1). This arrangement maintains constant charge
injection independent of the signal amplitude, which is
critically important for good linearity performance. The
sampling switch itself is a high speed DMOS FET whose
gate is driven from a fast-slewing control signal, thus mini-
mizing the time aperture between the fully closed (sample
mode) and the fully open (hold mode) states of the switch.
The signal voltage is held across the feedback capacitor,
forcing the op-amp to maintain a constant output voltage for
the duration of the A/D conversion. Feedthrough from the
input, already low due to the MOSFET’s low capacitance, is
further reduced by clamping the summing point to ground
with another FET.
CHOLD
1kΩ
Analog
Input
–
+
Analog
Output
Hold
Hold
Switch and
Clamp Drive
Signal
Conditioning
FIGURE 1. Simplified Block Diagram of the SHC702.
Ref Ref Input
Input
D
Input
A
Input
B
Out In
C
5kΩ
5kΩ
5kΩ
5kΩ
Input
Scaling
Network
High Speed PGA
Attenuator
Rf
–
+
A1
X32
X32
Buffer
DAC
Error
Amp
10V
DAC
Reference
Register
PGA Control
Lines
VIN
7 Bit
Adder
(Digital Error Correction)
Flash ADC
ADC
Timing and
Output Register
Control Logic
Flash ADC
Reference
Generator
ADC
Output
Convert
Command
Hold
Command
Data
Strobe
FIGURE 2. Simplified Block Diagram of the ADC701.
®
7
ADC701/SHC702