Configuration of ADC data rates across multiple physical channels

An electronic device, comprising an analog-to-digital converter (ADC), wherein the ADC comprises:

• a set of N unit ADCs, wherein a given ADC in the set of N unit ADCs has a common architecture, and the set of N unit ADCs is configured to provide an aggregate data rate;
• and
• control logic coupled to the set of N unit ADCs, wherein the control logic is comprises:
• memory storing program instructions;
• and
• a processor, coupled to the memory, configured to execute the program instructions, wherein, when executed by the processor, the program instructions cause the ADC to perform one or more operations comprising:
• selecting subsets of the set of N unit ADCs having different data rates from the aggregate data rate, wherein a given data rate of a given subset comprises a variable data rate that corresponds to an integer multiple of an inverse of N times the aggregate data rate.

A method for selecting one or more subsets of a set of N unit analog-to-digital converters (ADCs), comprising:

• by an ADC that includes the set of N unit ADCs:
• receiving input signals;
• analyzing the input signals to detect a predefined criterion or to determine a predefined characteristic in at least one of the input signals;
• and
• using program instructions executed by a processor in the ADC, selecting the one or more subsets of the set of N unit ADCs having different data rates from an aggregate data rate of the set of N unit ADCs, wherein a given data rate of a given subset comprises a variable data rate that corresponds to an integer multiple of an inverse of N times the aggregate data rate.