A Global-Local Optimization Approach for Asynchronous SAR ADC Design

TL;DR

This paper introduces a system-level optimization framework combining global and local methods to automate the design of asynchronous SAR ADCs, achieving high performance across various resolutions and frequencies.

Contribution

It presents a novel integrated optimization approach that overcomes the limitations of block-level methods in ADC design, reducing manual effort and improving performance.

Findings

Achieved competitive performance in 12 design cases

Effective handling of high-dimensional and expensive simulations

Demonstrated applicability across diverse ADC resolutions and frequencies

Abstract

This paper presents a system-level optimization framework for automated asynchronous SAR ADC design, addressing the limitations of block-level methods in terms of suboptimal performance and manual effort. The proposed approach integrates a fast global optimizer with a multi-fidelity local optimizer to efficiently handle high-dimensionality and expensive simulation cost. Experimental results from 12 design cases, covering 7- and 12-bit resolutions and a frequency range of 100 kHz to 250 MHz, demonstrate highly competitive performance compared with prior works.