METHOD FOR CALIBRATING AN ANALOG-TO-DIGITAL CONVERTER FOR A DIGITAL-TO-ANALOG CONVERTER TEST SYSTEM

摘要

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CALIBRATING AN ANALOG-TO-DIGITAL CONVERTER FOR A DIGITAL-TO-ANALOG CONVERTER TEST SYSTEM A method and apparatus for exciting the analog input of an analog-to-digital converter and examining the output by means of analysis with histograms to determine the amplitude probability distribution of each digital output value. The amplitude probability density functions corresponding to accurately known excitation signals may then be processed to obtain in a description of the transfer characteristic for the analog-to-digital converter to be calibrated In a particular embodiment the excitation signals applied to the analog input of the analog-to-digital converter are pairs of signals representing accurately known rising and decaying exponential signals, and particularly exponential signals which are complementary to one another. Histograms of the digital response to the analog excitation signals are then constructed which correspond to amplitude density functions. The histograms may be processed in a manner which produces the transfer characteristic of the converter under test which is independent of the dynamic characteristics of the excitation signals, thus eliminating the need for accurate knowledge of the parameter values the testing circuit.