scene brings higher performance and lower cost to new

markets. Figure 1 shows an example of how high speed

12-bit converters are becoming affordable for the first

time to a new range of applications. At the same time, the

new converters achieve better dynamic performance with

high frequency input signals. This means that more system

designers are facing the challenge of using high

performance ADCs. In this article, we will talk about some

of the problems designers encounter, how to recognize

their symptoms and how to avoid them. We will focus

on the particular case of the LTC1410, a 1.25Msps,

12-bit ADC. The same considerations become important

in higher resolution ADCs at lower speeds. Conversely,

lower resolution ADCs will need this same attention at

higher speeds.