# ADC Chip Design with Anthony Wall

- Show: [The Amp Hour](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour)
- Published: 2022-02-28
- Length: 1h 28m
- Episode: 579
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2022-02-28-adc-chip-design-with-anthony-wall
- Listen: https://theamphour.com/579-adc-chip-design-with-anthony-wall/

## Summary

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.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2022-02-28-adc-chip-design-with-anthony-wall#t=0) Introduction: Anthony Wall and Tyndall National Institute
- [4:54](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2022-02-28-adc-chip-design-with-anthony-wall#t=294) History of Ireland's Semiconductor Industry and Tax Incentives
- [17:11](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2022-02-28-adc-chip-design-with-anthony-wall#t=1031) Technical Challenges: TIAs, Resistors, and Ring Oscillators
- [27:58](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2022-02-28-adc-chip-design-with-anthony-wall#t=1678) Ring Oscillator Mechanics and Non-Linearity Correction
- [42:15](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2022-02-28-adc-chip-design-with-anthony-wall#t=2535) Tape-out Process: Europractice, TSMC, and Multi-Project Wafers
- [50:50](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2022-02-28-adc-chip-design-with-anthony-wall#t=3050) IC Design vs. PCB Design: PDKs, DRC, and LVS Checks
- [1:06:29](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2022-02-28-adc-chip-design-with-anthony-wall#t=3989) Hierarchical Chip Design and Digital/Analog Separation
- [1:16:03](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2022-02-28-adc-chip-design-with-anthony-wall#t=4563) Career Paths: PhD, Startups, and Open Source EDA

## Topics

- [Analog & power electronics](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/analog-and-power-electronics)
- [PCB design & layout](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pcb-design)
- [Chips, FPGAs & semiconductors](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/chips-and-fpgas)
- [EDA & CAD tools](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/eda-and-cad-tools)
- [Starting a product company](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/starting-a-company)
- [Careers & education](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/engineering-careers-and-education)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Tyndall National Institute (company)
- Europractice (company)
- TSMC (company)
- Cadence (tool)
- KiCad (tool)
- Falstad (tool)
- Intel (company)
- Analog Devices (company)
- Qualcomm (company)
- Xilinx (company)
- Skywater (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Episode 67: A Conversation with Aart de Geus on EDA and the Future of Silicon Design](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-circuit/2024-05-13-episode-67-a-conversation-with-aart-de-geus-on-eda-and-the-future-of-silicon-des) (The Circuit)
- [The Spark Gap - Episode 29](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-spark-gap/2015-03-25-the-spark-gap-episode-29) (The Spark Gap)
- [454: Printf Hello](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2023-07-06-454-printf-hello) (Embedded.fm)
- [029 - Old Timey Name Droppin'](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/unnamed-reverse-engineering-podcast/2019-10-17-029-old-timey-name-droppin) (Unnamed Reverse Engineering Podcast)
- [The Spark Gap - Episode 44](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-spark-gap/2015-12-25-the-spark-gap-episode-44) (The Spark Gap)

## Citing this page

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