Multi-layer time-interleaved analog-to-digital convertor (ADC)

1. A method, comprising:

in an electronic device:

sampling in a first level, at a particular main sampling rate, an input RF signal;

sampling in a second level an output of said first level, via a plurality of second-level branches, wherein each of said plurality of second-level branches samples at a second sampling rate that is reduced compared to said main sampling rate; and

processing in a third level, each output of said plurality of second-level branches via a corresponding one of a plurality of third-level branches, wherein each of said plurality of third-level branches comprises a plurality of sub-branches, and each of said plurality of sub-branches:

samples at a third sampling rate that is reduced compared to said second sampling rate; and

applies analog-to-digital conversion (ADC).

2. The method according to claim 1 , comprising applying low-noise amplification to said input RF signal in said first level.

3. The method according to claim 1 , comprising setting said second sampling rate and/or said third sampling rate by configuring clock signals driving said plurality of second-level branches and/or said plurality of third-level branches based on and/or relative to a clock signal applied in said first level.

4. The method according to claim 3 , comprising reducing, based on number of said plurality of second-level branches, a frequency of each clock signal driving said plurality of second-level branches relative to a frequency of said clock signal applied in said first level.

5. The method according to claim 4 , comprising, for each one of said plurality of third-level branches, reducing a frequency of each clock signal driving each of plurality of sub-branches of said one of said plurality of third-level branches, relative to a frequency of a clock signal driving a corresponding one of said plurality of second-level branches, based on a number of said plurality of sub-branches.

6. The method according to claim 1 , comprising holding output signals of each of said first level, said plurality of second-level branches, and said third-level sub-branches of said plurality of third-level branches, during non-read periods as determined based on an applicable sampling rate.

7. The method according to claim 6 , comprising holding said output signals using grounding logic.

8. A system, comprising:

one or more circuits for use in an electronic device, the one or more circuits being operable to:

sample in a first level, at a particular main sampling rate, an input RF signal;

sample in a second level an output of said first level, via a plurality of second-level branches, wherein each of said plurality of second-level branches samples at a second sampling rate that is reduced compared to said main sampling rate; and

processing in a third level, each output of said plurality of second-level branches via a corresponding one of a plurality of third-level branches, wherein each of said plurality of third-level branches comprises a plurality of sub-branches, and each sub-branch:

samples at a third sampling rate that is reduced compared to said second sampling rate; and

applies analog-to-digital conversion (ADC).

9. The system according to claim 8 , wherein said one or more circuits are operable to apply low-noise amplification to said input RF signal in said first level.

10. The system according to claim 8 , wherein said one or more circuits are operable to set said second sampling rate and/or said third sampling rate by configuring clock signals driving said plurality of second-level branches and/or said plurality of third-level branches based on and/or relative to a clock signal applied in said first level.

11. The system according to claim 10 , wherein said one or more circuits are operable to reduce, based on number of said plurality of second-level branches, a frequency of each clock signal driving said plurality of second-level branches relative to a frequency of said clock signal applied in said first level.

12. The system according to claim 11 , wherein said one or more circuits are operable to reduce, for each one of said plurality of third-level branches, frequency of each clock signal driving each of a plurality of sub-branches of said one of said plurality of third-level branches, relative to a frequency of a clock signal driving a corresponding one of said plurality of second-level branches, based on a number of said plurality of sub-branches.

13. The system according to claim 8 , wherein said one or more circuits are operable to hold output signals of each of said first level, said plurality of second-level branches, and all third-level sub-branches during non-read periods as determined based on an applicable sampling rate.

14. The system according to claim 13 , wherein said one or more circuits are operable to hold said output signals based on grounding logic.

15. A system, comprising:

a radio frequency (RF) receiver implemented on a single chip, the RF receiver comprising:

a first sampling module that is operable to sample in a first level, an input RF signal, at a particular main sampling rate;

a plurality of second-level sampling modules, wherein each of said plurality of second-level sampling modules is operable to sample in a second level, an output of said first level, at a second sampling rate that is reduced compared to said main sampling rate;

a plurality of third-level sampling modules, wherein:

each of said plurality of third-level sampling modules is operable to samples in a third level, at a third sampling rate that is reduced compared to said second sampling rate; and

said plurality of third-level sampling modules is configured into a plurality of sub-sets, each of said plurality of sub-sets corresponding to one of said plurality of second-level sampling modules; and

a plurality of third-level analog-to-digital conversion (ADC) modules, wherein each of said ADC modulates is associated with a particular one of said plurality of third-level sampling modules.

16. The system according to claim 15 , wherein said RF receiver comprises a low-noise amplifier for amplifying said input RF signal in said first level.

17. The system according to claim 15 , wherein said RF receiver comprises a buffer for buffering an output of said first level and/or a plurality of second-level buffers, wherein each of said plurality of second-level buffers is operable to buffer an output of a corresponding one of said plurality of second-level sampling modules.

18. The system according to claim 15 , wherein said RF receiver is operable to set said second sampling rate and/or said third sampling rate by configuring clock signals driving said plurality of second-level sampling modules and/or said plurality of third-level sampling modules, relative to a clock signal driving said first sampling module.

19. The system according to claim 18 , wherein said RF receiver is operable to:

reduce, relative to a frequency of said clock signal driving said first sampling module, a frequency of each of clock signals driving said plurality of second-level sampling modules, based on a number of said plurality of second-level sampling modules; and

reduce, for each one of said plurality of third-level sampling modules, a frequency of a clock signal driving said one of said plurality of third-level sampling modules, relative to frequency of a clock signal driving one of said plurality of second-level branches associated with one of said plurality of sub-sets comprising said one of said plurality of third-level sampling modules, based on said one of said plurality of sub-sets.

20. The system according to claim 15 , wherein said RF receiver is operable to perform at least some of digital processing of outputs of said plurality of third-level ADC modules, said digital processing comprising filtering and decoding to extract desired signals or data.