1-1-1 MASH ΔΣ time-to-digital converters with 6 ps resolution and third-order noise-shaping

Two 1-1-1 MASH ΔΣ time-to-digital converters (TDCs) are presented in this paper. Third-order time domain noise-shaping has been adopted by the TDCs to achieve better than 6 ps resolution. Following a detailed analysis of the noise generation and propagation in the MASH ΔΣ structure, the first prototyping TDC has been realized in 0.13μm CMOS technology. It achieves an ENOB of 11 bits and consumes 1.7 mW from a 1.2 V supply. In the second MASH TDC, a delay-line assisted calibration technique is introduced to mitigate the phase skew caused by the large comparator delay, which is the main limiting factor of the MASH TDC's resolution. The demonstrated TDC achieves an ENOB of 13 bits and a wide input range of 100 ns. This TDC shows a temperature coefficient of 176 ppm° C within a temperature range of -20 to 120° C. It consumes only 0.7 mW and occupies 0.08 mm ² area (core).