A pipelined analog-to-
digital converter (ADC) (30) with improved precision is disclosed. The pipelined ADC (30) includes a sequence of stages (20), each of which includes a sample-and-hold circuit (22), an analog-to-
digital converter (23), and the functions of a digital-to-analog converter (DAC) (25), an
adder (24), and a
gain stage (27) at which a residue
signal (RES) is generated for application to the next stage (20) in the sequence. A multiplying DAC (28) performs the functions of the DAC (25),
adder (24), and
gain stage (27) in the stage (20), and is based on an
operational amplifier (29). Sample capacitors (C10, C20) and reference capacitors (C122, C222) receive the analog input from the sample-and-hold circuit (22) in a sample phase; parallel capacitors (C121, C221) are provided to maintain constant circuit
gain. Extended reference voltages (VREFPX, VREFNX) at levels that exceed the output range (V0+, V0−) of the
operational amplifier (29) are applied to the reference capacitors, in response to the digital output of the analog-to-
digital converter (23) in its stage (20). The reference capacitors (C12, C22) are scaled according to the extent to which the extended reference voltages (VREFPX, VREFNX) exceed the op amp output levels (V0+, V0−). The effects of
noise on the reference voltages (VREFPX, VREFNX) on the residue
signal (RES) are thus greatly reduced.