Low-Cost Direct Digital Synthesis-Based On-Chip Waveform Generation for Analog/Mixed Signal BIST Applications
Waveform generation as part of on-chip built-in self-test (BIST) circuitry often necessitates sufficient linearity without expensive hardware overhead. Achieving high linearity is critical for accurate signal generation, especially in applications requiring high precision, such as biomedical and ins...
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MDPI AG
2025-02-01
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| Series: | Metrology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2673-8244/5/1/8 |
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| author | Emmanuel Nti Darko Isaac Bruce Ekaniyere Oko-Odion Kushagra Bhatheja Saeid Karimpour Degang Chen |
| author_facet | Emmanuel Nti Darko Isaac Bruce Ekaniyere Oko-Odion Kushagra Bhatheja Saeid Karimpour Degang Chen |
| author_sort | Emmanuel Nti Darko |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Waveform generation as part of on-chip built-in self-test (BIST) circuitry often necessitates sufficient linearity without expensive hardware overhead. Achieving high linearity is critical for accurate signal generation, especially in applications requiring high precision, such as biomedical and instrumentation applications. Currently, achieving the high linearity and precision required in signal generators often relies on costly hardware such as automated test equipment (ATE). This paper presents a DAC-based arbitrary waveform generator (AWG). We use a low-cost DAC and a fully digital on-chip testing and calibration approach to nullify the effect of the DAC’s non-linearity on the generated waveform. The ultra-low cost and high linearity benefit of the proposed waveform generator makes it highly suitable for integration into resource-constrained systems. The proposed approach is validated using simulation results of the small-area DAC designed in TSMC 0.18 μm technology and the testing and calibration algorithms implemented in MATLAB. The DAC, designed with a matching accuracy at only the 5-bit level, is able to generate a signal with an ENOB of 12 bits alongside an SFDR and THD surpassing 100 dB. This high level of signal purity is consistently maintained across 100 Monte Carlo simulations, demonstrating the robustness of the architecture against PVT variations as well as random mismatches. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-e456d39e222a4e9a9929d1f117ccaf25 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2673-8244 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Metrology |
| spelling | doaj-art-e456d39e222a4e9a9929d1f117ccaf252025-08-20T01:49:01ZengMDPI AGMetrology2673-82442025-02-0151810.3390/metrology5010008Low-Cost Direct Digital Synthesis-Based On-Chip Waveform Generation for Analog/Mixed Signal BIST ApplicationsEmmanuel Nti Darko0Isaac Bruce1Ekaniyere Oko-Odion2Kushagra Bhatheja3Saeid Karimpour4Degang Chen5Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USADepartment of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USADepartment of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USADepartment of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USADepartment of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USADepartment of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USAWaveform generation as part of on-chip built-in self-test (BIST) circuitry often necessitates sufficient linearity without expensive hardware overhead. Achieving high linearity is critical for accurate signal generation, especially in applications requiring high precision, such as biomedical and instrumentation applications. Currently, achieving the high linearity and precision required in signal generators often relies on costly hardware such as automated test equipment (ATE). This paper presents a DAC-based arbitrary waveform generator (AWG). We use a low-cost DAC and a fully digital on-chip testing and calibration approach to nullify the effect of the DAC’s non-linearity on the generated waveform. The ultra-low cost and high linearity benefit of the proposed waveform generator makes it highly suitable for integration into resource-constrained systems. The proposed approach is validated using simulation results of the small-area DAC designed in TSMC 0.18 μm technology and the testing and calibration algorithms implemented in MATLAB. The DAC, designed with a matching accuracy at only the 5-bit level, is able to generate a signal with an ENOB of 12 bits alongside an SFDR and THD surpassing 100 dB. This high level of signal purity is consistently maintained across 100 Monte Carlo simulations, demonstrating the robustness of the architecture against PVT variations as well as random mismatches.https://www.mdpi.com/2673-8244/5/1/8waveform generationBISTATEDAClow costhardware synthesizable |
| spellingShingle | Emmanuel Nti Darko Isaac Bruce Ekaniyere Oko-Odion Kushagra Bhatheja Saeid Karimpour Degang Chen Low-Cost Direct Digital Synthesis-Based On-Chip Waveform Generation for Analog/Mixed Signal BIST Applications Metrology waveform generation BIST ATE DAC low cost hardware synthesizable |
| title | Low-Cost Direct Digital Synthesis-Based On-Chip Waveform Generation for Analog/Mixed Signal BIST Applications |
| title_full | Low-Cost Direct Digital Synthesis-Based On-Chip Waveform Generation for Analog/Mixed Signal BIST Applications |
| title_fullStr | Low-Cost Direct Digital Synthesis-Based On-Chip Waveform Generation for Analog/Mixed Signal BIST Applications |
| title_full_unstemmed | Low-Cost Direct Digital Synthesis-Based On-Chip Waveform Generation for Analog/Mixed Signal BIST Applications |
| title_short | Low-Cost Direct Digital Synthesis-Based On-Chip Waveform Generation for Analog/Mixed Signal BIST Applications |
| title_sort | low cost direct digital synthesis based on chip waveform generation for analog mixed signal bist applications |
| topic | waveform generation BIST ATE DAC low cost hardware synthesizable |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2673-8244/5/1/8 |
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