Configurable Multiple Value Encoders using Semi Floating-Gate

This thesis presents a new multiple-valued encoder with re-configurable radix. The proposed circuits utilize serial cyclic D/A conversion and semi floatinggate (SFG) inverters for compact design and a high functional capacity per device. A re-configurable radix is not supported by existing SFG inverter based multiple-valued encoders which make use of parallel binary weight D/A conversion. The study covers least significant bit-first (LSB), least significant bit-first with alternate bit inversion (LSB ABI) and most significant bit-first (MSB) digital input codes. The serial cyclic D/A converters with LSB and LSB ABI input codes are implemented in a double-poly 0.35um AMS process. Measured results are provided and analyzed using standard static D/A converter performance measures. Circuits are tested using the practical radices 4, 8 and 16. Experimental results demonstrate that serial cyclic D/A converters using SFG inverters are feasible. Compared to related work on cyclic D/A conversion, the proposed circuits feature both a reduced number of devices and a reduction in the required die area. Several new techniques are identified for extending the resolution beyond radix 4, 8 and 16 MVL applications. This includes an error correction algorithm called least significant bit-first with alternate bit inversion (LSB ABI), a sample and hold clock scheme and a Dual Data-Rate (DDR) mode of D/A converter operation. The techniques are implemented on a chip and measured results are provided. The thesis also includes simulation work on several new SFG based circuits. A ternary serial D/A converter, a MSB-first serial D/A converter and a multiple-valued frequency divider which features re-configurable modulus.