Optimizing Clock Signal for ADC: Simple Setup and Considerations

If absolute clock frequency accuracy is not a major concern and only one ADC is needed, it is possible to use a 3V canned oscillator from vendors like Saronix or Vectron. This oscillator can be placed near the ADC and directly connected to it. If there is any distance between the oscillator and the ADC, it is recommended to use source termination to minimize ringing that may occur even over a short distance. It is important to ensure that the clock does not exceed the power supplies, as this can negatively impact performance. Additionally, if the clock source is not sinusoidal, it is not advisable to filter the clock signal with a narrow band filter, as this can introduce phase noise due to the rise and fall time artifacts present in typical digital clock signals.