An Ultra-Low Power ADC for Distributed Sensor Networks

摘要

A successive approximation ADC targeted for use inrndistributed sensor networks is presented. The individualrnnodes in these sensor networks are very energyrnconstrained. Typical use of the individual nodes willrninclude long periods of idle time in a low power standbyrnmode followed by a period of activity that may includernsampling of the sensors, computation, andrncommunication. The ADC reported here consumes onlyrn3.1 μW, resulting in 31 pJ/8-bit sample at 1V supply withrna maximum sampling rate slightly over 100 kS/s. Thernstandby power consumption at 1 V supply is 41 pW. Thernμ-power consumption makes this one of the lowest powerrnADCs ever reported.