Reconfigurable Data Converters communication and sensing (JCAS), or integrated sensing and communication (ISAC) as per 3GPP terminology, requires transceivers that can communicate,
sense, calibrate, scan, and sleep using shared hardware.
Such reconfigurable data converters are emerging as a complementing technology for next-generation adaptive semiconductor systems. Unlike traditional “hard-wired” analog-to-digital and digital-to analog converters, reconfigurable converters dynamically adjust resolution, sampling rate, bandwidth, filtering, power consumption, and
calibration behavior in response to changing workload and signal conditions. This capability enables energy proportional operation, improved system flexibility, reduced thermal load, and broader reuse of mixed-signal semiconductor IP across new applications and operating modes. This whitepaper examines the architectural foundations of reconfigurable converters and evaluates their advantages in novel use cases. The paper also explores how adaptive conversion is becoming essential for joint communication and sensing systems and future 5G/6G transceivers. The paper further discusses the implications for semiconductor intellectual property, highlighting the need for mode-aware IP blocks, adaptive calibration, mixed-signal verification, firmware-driven control, and scalable RFIC integration.