Non-linear digital-to analog conversion
First Claim
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1. A non-linear digital-to-analog converter, comprising:
- digital counting means for providing a predetermined count, having a plurality of counting rates and counting intervals with the duration of each interval being variable and independent from that of the other intervals and the rate in each interval being determined by a control signal applied thereto, there being a different control signal for each one of said counting rates;
comparator means for providing a pulse until the count in said counting means reaches the digital value to be converted;
indicating means responsive to said comparator means for providing an output signal whose magnitude is proportional to the width of said pulse, andcontrol storage means for providing said control signals from the output of said digital counting means such that the output signal from said indicating means at some point during each counting interval corresponds to the desired equivalent analog value for the digital value of the count at that point and the control signal intermediate the termination of said pulse and the completion of said predetermined count always assumes the same value for affording a single fixed counting rate during that period.
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Abstract
Non-linear digital-to-analog conversion is performed by employing a plurality of counting rates and counting intervals in a digital counter to generate a variable width pulse, the width of which determines the desired analog value corresponding to the digital value to be converted.
18 Citations
9 Claims
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1. A non-linear digital-to-analog converter, comprising:
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digital counting means for providing a predetermined count, having a plurality of counting rates and counting intervals with the duration of each interval being variable and independent from that of the other intervals and the rate in each interval being determined by a control signal applied thereto, there being a different control signal for each one of said counting rates; comparator means for providing a pulse until the count in said counting means reaches the digital value to be converted; indicating means responsive to said comparator means for providing an output signal whose magnitude is proportional to the width of said pulse, and control storage means for providing said control signals from the output of said digital counting means such that the output signal from said indicating means at some point during each counting interval corresponds to the desired equivalent analog value for the digital value of the count at that point and the control signal intermediate the termination of said pulse and the completion of said predetermined count always assumes the same value for affording a single fixed counting rate during that period. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A method of performing non-linear digital-to-analog conversion, comprising:
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digitally counting to a predetermined count, using a plurality of counting rates and counting intervals with the duration of each interval being variable and independent from that of the other intervals and the rate in each interval being determined by a control signal, there being a different control signal for each one of said counting rates; generating a pulse until said counting reaches the digital value to be converted; developing an output signal whose magnitude is proportional to the width of said pulse, and providing said control signals from the digital counting values such that the output signal at some point during each counting interval corresponds to the desired equivalent analog value for the digital value of the count at that point and the control signal intermediate the termination of said pulse and the completion of said predetermined count always assumes the same value for affording a single fixed counting rate during that period. - View Dependent Claims (6)
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7. A non-linear digital-to-analog converter, comprising:
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a source of clock pulses having a fixed frequency; a programmable frequency divider connected to receive said clock pulses for dividing their frequency by any one of a plurality of division ratios in response to control signals applied thereto the duration of each ratio being variable and independent from that of the other ratio durations, there being a different control signal for each one of said division ratios; a digital counter connected to the output of said divider for providing a predetermined count; a digital comparator for providing an indication when the output of said digital counter matches the digital value to be converted; bilevel signal means connected to said digital counter and said comparator for providing a first signal until the count in said digital counter reaches the digital value to be converted and a second signal thereafter until it achieves said predetermined count; indicating means for providing an output signal whose magnitude is proportional to the duration of said first signal, and control storage means for providing said control signals from the output of said digital counter such that the output of said indicating means at some point during each counting interval corresponds to the desired equivalent analog value for the digital value of the count at that point and the control signal intermediate the termination of said pulse and the completion of said predetermined count always assumes the same value for affording a single fixed counting rate during that period. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9)
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Specification