ADC Simulation, Software, and Behavioral Models

Analyze ADC Performance Online	Configure Eval Boards and Predict ADC Performance	Customize Input Waveforms and ADC Analysis
ADIsimADC™ accurately models the typical performance characteristics of many of our High Speed Converters. There are three tools that use these models, giving designers consistent results at different stages of the design and evaluation process. More info ...
Online ADC Analysis Advanced online product selection tool Vary input amplitude and frequency Single tone or two-tone FFT analysis Amplitude and frequency sweeps Generate a list of ADCs that meet your signal processing requirements More info ...	ADC Analyzer™ Configure ADC evaluation boards with HSC-ADC-EVALB data capture kit. Analyze data from HSC-ADC-EVALB Use ADIsimADC™ offline Amplitude and frequency sweeps Single tone or two-tone FFT analysis More info ...	VisualAnalog™ Configure ADC evaluation boards with HSC-ADC-EVALC or HSC-ADC-EVALB data capture kit Analyze data from HSC-ADC-EVALC Model ADC performance with complex input waveforms Plot I & Q constellations Create customized power calculations NPR ACPRL More info ...
	SPI Controller Allows the user to control advanced features on high speed ADCs with SPI capability. A complete list of features can be found in the specific product's datasheet. Generates end use C source code Generates assembly code for PIC12F629 Uses standard USB port interface Works with HSC-ADC-EVALB and HSC-ADC-EVALC data acquisition kits. More info ...

What's New?

For designers who are selecting or evaluating high speed ADCs, VisualAnalog™ is a software package that combines a powerful set of simulation and data analysis tools with a user-friendly graphical interface. Many designers are familiar with ADCAnalyzer - a tool that models ADC performance with varying input frequencies and sample rates. VisualAnalog takes this concept further by allowing designers to customize their input signal and data analysis. An input signal can be constructed from sine waves, noise sources, and vector data to see how an ADC will perform in real world conditions. The data analysis functions are expanded from the basic FFTs that are available in ADCAnalyzer as well. Customizable calculations allow designers to predict adjacent channel power ratio (ACPR) and display I/Q constellation plots on simulated ADC outputs or data collected from evaluation boards.

Simulating the Effect of Blockers on Data Converter Performance in Wideband Receivers
(ECN magazine, September 01, 2007)
There are many different standards for wireless communications equipment in use today. One of the more challenging aspects of multi-carrier receiver design is trying to maintain receiver sensitivity in the face of large amplitude interference. WCDMA, GSM 900, and other standards require receivers to minimize the impact of in-band blockers. In order to maintain receiver sensitivity the ADC must have good SNR, SFDR, and IMD at the frequencies and amplitude levels appropriate for your design. Selecting the right ADC for a multi-carrier, spread spectrum receiver is challenging but simulation tools can make it less difficult.

Files used in this article:
CDMA2K Data File (.txt, 728,588 bytes)
VisualAnalog™ Canvas File (.vac, 24,476 bytes)

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ADIsimADC

ADIsimADC™ is Analog Devices' Analog-to-Digital Behavioral Model that accurately models the typical performance characteristics of many of our High Speed Converters. The model faithfully reproduces the errors associated with both static and dynamic features such as AC linearity, clock jitter, and many other product specific anomalies.

There are three ways to use ADIsimADC™. For simple product selection, a web-based application allows you to analyze ADC performance online. This tool requires no downloads and allows you to graph specific performance plots. ADC Analyzer™ is a downloaded tool that runs the behavioral models and configures evaluation boards. VisualAnalog™ takes this concept further by allowing designers to customize their input signal and data analysis. An input signal can be constructed from sine waves, noise sources, and vector data to see how an ADC will perform in real world conditions.

Analyze ADC Performance Online

For simple product selection, a simple web based application is accessible from the product pages of devices that are supported by ADIsimADC™. This tool requires no downloads and allows control of the test conditions and 'design' specific performance plots. Results are graphed which greatly reduces the uncertainty of how a part will perform in an application. The tool also allows input of desired operating conditions and required performance levels and it will recommend suitable devices to the user.

Virtual Evaluation Boards

ADC Analyzer™ software which is provided with the hardware evaluation boards also incorporates ADIsimADC™. For the first time, the behavioral models can be evaluated independently or in conjunction with a real evaluation board. The virtual evaluation board allows most of the same test that can be run on a real evaluation board to be simulated without the need for any of the equipment. Just download ADC Analyzer™ and the product model files. It's that easy.

• ADC Analyzer™
• Product model files are available for download. See Table Below

VisualAnalog™

For designers who are selecting or evaluating high speed ADCs, VisualAnalog™ is a software package that combines a powerful set of simulation and data analysis tools with a user-friendly graphical interface. Many designers are familiar with ADCAnalyzer – a tool that models ADC performance with varying input frequencies and sample rates. VisualAnalog takes this concept further by allowing designers to customize their input signal and data analysis. An input signal can be constructed from sine waves, noise sources, and vector data to see how an ADC will perform in real world conditions. The data analysis functions are expanded from the basic FFTs that are available in ADCAnalyzer as well. Customizable calculations allow designers to predict adjacent channel power ratio (ACPR) and display I/Q constellation plots on simulated ADC outputs or data collected from evaluation boards. VisualAnalog™ is also used as a controller for a new data capture board (HSC-ADC-EVALCZ).

• VisualAnalog™ (Rev. 1.2.5.1) (exe, 5,291,734 MB)
• VisualAnalog™ User's Guide (pdf, 2,175,422 bytes)
• Product model files are available for download. See Table Below

SPI Controller

The high speed ADC SPI program (SPIController.exe) allows the user to control advanced features on high speed, analog-to-digital converters (ADCs) with SPI capability. A complete list of features can be found in the specific product's data sheet and in Interfacing to High Speed ADCs via SPI® (pdf, 1,633,101 bytes).

• High Speed ADC SPI Control Software (pdf, 599,590 bytes)
• Microsoft .NET Framework 2.0 is required by parts of this program and should be installed if not already on the target machine.

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3^rd Party Tools

Once a device has been selected, one of the tools listed below may be used to perform a system level simulation. Because the same model files are used throughout the process, from web application through 3rd party simulation, consistent results are achieved and the flow is seamless from part selection through final design verification. Other 3rd party tools are in development and will be available in the future.

		National Instruments ADIsimADC plug-in for National Instruments SignalExpress interactive measurement software. By using ADIsimADC with NI SignalExpress, you can apply custom inputs to the models and perform interactive signal chain analysis on a large selection of ADI's ADCs. You can also seamlessly transition between simulating and physically evaluating your component signal chain to verify real-world performance against simulation results. For more information about the ADIsimADC plug-in step for NI SignalExpress, contact National Instruments. Download ADIsimADC plug-in for NI SignalExpress (8/17/05) (zip, 8,338,212 bytes)
		Applied Wave Research Visual System Simulator (VSS) from Applied Wave Research, Inc. (AWR). For additional information about VSS, please contact Applied Wave Research, Inc.
		The MathWorks ADIsimADC may be used with Matlab on a PC platform. Instructions and the appropriate device driver files need to be downloaded. Matlab Support (3/2007) (zip, 241,984 bytes)
		C/C++ Resource C/C++ Support (3/2006) (zip, 98,744 bytes)
		Agilent Technologies ADI's high speed ADC models are compatible with Agilent Technologies' Advanced Design System (ADS). Agilent's ADS enables fully standard-compliant evaluations for all wireless systems including 4th Generation (4G) systems, WiMAX and many other RF solutions. This can eliminate costly re-specification and re-design steps. For more information about ADS contact Agilent. Agilent Technologies support (4/2008) (zip, 1.19 MB)

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Product Model Files

Download the complete set of product model files.
(4/2008 zip, 8,565,742 bytes)

* These models should be used with the latest dynamic link library ('DLL'). While files are compatible, use of the new 'DLL' will provide the most accurate jitter results.

**The models are Product Model Files (PMF) as opposed to ADC files. The "adimodel.dll" cannot import PMFs. Currently, these models are only supported by VisualAnalog v1.2.5 or newer.

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