How Quantization and Thermal Noise Determine an ADC's Effective Noise Figure

Abstract:Thefollowingapplicationnoteprovidesaninsightintothemathematicaldefinitionsofquantizationandthermalnoise,parameterswhichcansignificantlyaffectthesignal-to-noiseratio(SNR)andsignal-to-noiseplusdistortion(SINAD)specificationsofanalog-to-digitalconverters(ADCs)inRFreceiverapplications.ItconcludesbycomparingtheirimpactontheeffectivenoisefigureforaNyquistandoversamplingADC.Maxim>AppNotes>A/DandD/ACONVERSION/SAMPLINGCIRCUITSBASESTATIONS/WIRELESSINFRASTRUCTUREHIGH-SPEEDSIGNALPROCESSINGKeywords:quantizationnoise,thermalnoise,noisefigure,ADC,analogtodigitalconverter,NyquistADC,Sep09,2002oversampling,signaltonoiseratio,SNR,signaltonoiseanddistortion,SINAD,noisepowerdensity,RF,receiver,highspeedADCs,analogdigitalconverAPPLICATIONNOTE1197HowQuantizationandThermalNoiseDetermineanADC'sEffectiveNoiseFigureAbstract:Thefollowingapplicationnoteprovidesaninsightintothemathematicaldefinitionsofquantizationandthermalnoise,parameterswhichcansignificantlyaffectthesignal-to-noiseratio(SNR)andsignal-to-noiseplusdistortion(SINAD)specificationsofanalog-to-digitalconverte