Abstract:
An asynchronous SAR ADC to convert an analog signal into a series of digital pulses in an efficient, low power manner. In synchronous SAR ADC circuits, a separate and cumbersome clock signal is used to trigger the internal circuitry of the SAR ADC. Instead of triggering the components of the SAR DAC synchronously with a clock signal, the asynchronous solution uses its own internal signals to trigger its components in an asynchronous cyclic manner. Further, in order to increase efficiency and guard against circuit failures due to difficulties arising from transient signals, the asynchronous SAR ADC may also include a delay circuit for introducing a variable delay to the SAR ADC cycle.