[Discuss-gnuradio] Implementing A/D in FPGAs

[Steve Schear]

As you probably know Hollywood is frantically searching for an effective 
means to plug the "analog hole" between consumer video components.  A while 
back they formed the Content Protection Working Group 
http://www.cptwg.org.  I came across an interesting article today on that 
web site and thought and thought it could stimulate some discussion for 
future board designs.

The article, "Myths and Misconceptions about Hardware 
Hacking," 
http://www.cptwg.org/Assets/Presentations/ARDG/ARDGHardware_hack05-28-03.pdf 
offers some interesting insight into the current capabilities and trends of 
hardware hackers.  A particularly interesting item is the easy with which 
relatively high performance Flash A/D converters can be constructed using 
external resistors and the LVDS comparators inside the FPGAs.  A 6-bit, 10 
MHz+, design is offered.  Is anyone on the list able to offer a competent 
analysis of how practical this is for some of the applications being 
discussed on list?  How far can one reasonably extend this to higher bit 
depth and speed?  Is it cost/performace effective?

steve


"A Jobless Recovery is like a Breadless Sandwich."
-- Steve Schear