Analog-to-digital converter system with increased sampling frequency
First Claim
1. A method of sampling an analog signal, comprising:
- providing an input analog signal;
routing a timing signal through a distributed sampling system;
sampling said input analog signal a plurality of times using a plurality of analog-to-digital converters (ADCs), respectively; and
combining each of said plurality of input analog signal samplings to form a single contiguous digital output signal, wherein;
said distributed sampling system provides a plurality of sequential sampling prompts.
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Abstract
The present invention is an improvement in sampling a high frequency input analog signal and converting it to a digital output signal. This is accomplished by using a multitude of analog-to-digital converters in conjunction with a distributed sampling system. This combination of multiple converters and a distributed sampling system allows use of conventional device processing, such as that of 0.18 micron silicon, and also provides accurate sampling of very high frequency input signals. The distributed sampling system provides multiple samplings of the input signal by using a different ADC for each sampling, wherein each sampling is sequentially offset a certain amount of time from the most recent preceding sampling. The samplings from the multitude of ADCs are combined to form a single contiguous digital output signal. Types of distributed sampling systems include a multitude of elongated trace patterns interconnected in series, a specified permittivity material device, and a sequencer or multiplier.
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Citations
62 Claims
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1. A method of sampling an analog signal, comprising:
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providing an input analog signal; routing a timing signal through a distributed sampling system; sampling said input analog signal a plurality of times using a plurality of analog-to-digital converters (ADCs), respectively; and combining each of said plurality of input analog signal samplings to form a single contiguous digital output signal, wherein; said distributed sampling system provides a plurality of sequential sampling prompts. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. An analog-to-digital converter (ADC) sampling system, comprising:
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a plurality of analog-to-digital converters (ADCs); and a distributed sampling system, comprising; a plurality of distribution stations which are connected together in series to form a junction between each of said stations; and a plurality of tap lines connected between each of said junctions and each of said plurality of ADCs, respectively. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method of sampling an analog signal using a distributed sampling system, comprising:
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providing a plurality of conductive trace patterns which are connected together in series to form a junction between each of said patterns; routing a timing signal through said plurality of conductive trace patterns; providing a plurality of sequential sampling prompts at each of said junctions; sampling an input analog signal using a plurality of analog-to-digital converters (ADCs); and combining each of said input analog signal samplings to form a single contiguous digital output signal. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A method of sampling an analog signal using a distributed sampling system, comprising:
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providing a device comprised of a specific permittivity material; routing a timing signal through said device; providing a plurality of sequential sampling prompts at a plurality of equi-distant points along said device, respectively; sampling an input analog signal using a plurality of analog-to-digital converters (ADCs); and combining each of said input analog signal samplings to form a single contiguous digital output signal. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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37. A method of sampling an analog signal using a distributed sampling system, comprising:
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providing a sequencer device comprised of a plurality of triggers, which are connected to a plurality of analog-to-digital converters (ADCs), respectively; inputting a plurality of timing signal pulses into said plurality of triggers, respectively; sampling an input analog signal a plurality of times using said plurality of ADCs, respectively; and combining each of said samplings to form a single contiguous digital output signal. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47)
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48. A method of sampling an analog signal using a distributed sampling system, comprising:
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providing a plurality of inverter pairs which are connected together in series to form a junction between each of said plurality of inverter pairs; routing a timing signal through said plurality of inverter pairs; providing a plurality of sequential sampling prompts at each of said junctions; sampling an input analog signal using a plurality of analog-to-digital converters (ADCs); and combining each of said input analog signal samplings to form a single contiguous digital output signal. - View Dependent Claims (49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56)
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57. A multiple core processor, comprising:
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a plurality of interconnected central processing units (CPUs); a plurality of analog-to-digital converters (ADCs) connected to said plurality of CPUs; and a distributed sampling system, comprising; a plurality of distribution stations which are connected together in series to form a junction between each of said stations; and a plurality of tap lines connected between each of said junctions and each of said plurality of ADCs, respectively. - View Dependent Claims (58, 59, 60, 61, 62)
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Specification