Hardware Podcasts

ADC Chip Design with Anthony Wall

The Amp Hour · 28 Feb 2022 · 1h 28m · Episode 579

What this episode covers

Anthony Wall, a PhD student at Tyndall National Institute in Cork, Ireland, discusses his design of a current-to-digital converter (ADC) based on a current-starved ring oscillator. He explains the technical challenges of integrating transimpedance amplifiers and large resistors on 65nm silicon, leading to his use of ring oscillators for time-domain conversion. Wall details the process of using Europractice multi-project wafers to tape out his design at TSMC, navigating long lead times and DRC/LVS checks, and successfully testing the chip despite initial delays. The conversation also covers the history of Ireland's semiconductor industry, driven by tax incentives and geographic advantages, and the evolving landscape of open-source EDA tools and chip fabrication for startups.

Most relevant to

early-stage companies

Topics

Mentioned

Companies
Tyndall National Institute, Europractice, TSMC, Intel, Analog Devices, Qualcomm, Xilinx, Skywater
Tools
Cadence, KiCad, Falstad

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