Application of DfT techniques to a 20GHz superconductor delta ADC
Advances in the mobile communication industry require very high-speed ADCs for their implementation. In the near future, state-of-the-art semiconductor ADCs cannot fulfill the requirements in frequency and resolution. Superconductor technology is promising for the implementation of this application. The testing of these converters is difficult, as usually extremely high performance instruments are required. In addition, the interfacing between device and signal generation/test equipment is very critical. Following the current trend of test-resource partitioning, our basic approach has been to reduce or omit the interfacing at high speeds and effectively down-rating the required test equipment. We have adapted existing DfT techniques to the superconductor technology. In its ultimate form it could result in built-in-self-test.
analog-to-digital converter testing software-defined radio software radio superconductor devices rapid single flux quantum circuit testing built-in-self-test josephson junction