Analog to digital conversion circuitry including backup conversion circuitry
First Claim
1. An analog to digital conversion system, comprising:
- a first analog to digital conversion path utilizing a first estimation analog signal, the first estimation analog signal being an estimate of an analog signal to be converted; and
a second signal path providing a backup digital signal.
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Abstract
An autoranging analog to digital conversion system is provided. The system may include a digitally programmable preamplifier for amplifying a difference between an analog input and an estimate of the analog input. The preamplifier may be coupled to an analog to digital converter for converting the preamplifier output to a digital signal. The system may also include digital domain predictor or estimation logic for determining an optimum gain and analog input estimate for a given analog input. Multiple signal input channels may be coupled to the analog to digital conversion system. The autoranging estimations may be performed on a sample by sample basis or a channel by channel basis. The conversion system may also include the use of a backup conversion path for use when the main conversion path overranges. The backup conversion path may utilize a dedicated backup converter. The backup conversion path may alternatively utilize the estimation converter to generate backup conversions or may utilize the main converter to generate backup conversions.
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Citations
44 Claims
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1. An analog to digital conversion system, comprising:
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a first analog to digital conversion path utilizing a first estimation analog signal, the first estimation analog signal being an estimate of an analog signal to be converted; and
a second signal path providing a backup digital signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An analog to digital conversion system, comprising:
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a main analog to digital converter receiving an input signal, the input signal being generated at least in part by utilizing an estimation signal; and
a backup analog to digital conversion path. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. An analog to digital conversion system configured to convert an analog signal, comprising:
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a main analog to digital converter;
an estimation digital to analog converter, the estimation digital to analog converter providing an estimation signal that is a function of the analog signal, an input to the main analog to digital converter being a function of the estimation signal; and
a backup analog to digital converter. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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19. A method for analog to digital conversion, comprising:
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estimating an analog input;
providing an amplified signal that is a function of the analog input signal and the estimate of the analog input;
converting the amplified signal to produce a first conversion result; and
providing a backup conversion path to produce a second conversion result. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22)
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23. A method for analog to digital conversion, comprising:
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estimating an analog signal to provide an estimation signal;
generating a signal that is a function of the analog input signal and the estimate of the analog input;
utilizing the signal when generating a main conversion result; and
generating a backup conversion result. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
utilizing a first gain value for generating the main conversion result; and
utilizing a second gain value for generating the backup conversion result.
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25. The method of claim 24, wherein at least one of the first and second gain value is variable.
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26. The method of claim 24, wherein the first gain value is greater than the second gain value.
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27. The method of claim 24, wherein the second gain value is unity.
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28. The method of claim 23, wherein the backup conversion result is utilized when an overrange event occurs while generating the main conversion result.
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29. An analog to digital conversion system, comprising:
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an analog input node and a digital output node;
a preamplifier;
a first analog to digital converter, the preamplifier provided in a signal path between the analog input node and the first analog to digital converter, and the first analog to digital converter provided in a signal path between the preamplifier and the digital output node;
an estimation signal related to an analog signal to be converted by the analog to digital conversion system, an amplified signal of the preamplifier being related to the analog signal and the estimation signal; and
a backup analog to digital conversion path coupled to the analog input node, the backup analog to digital conversion path providing a backup digital output. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32)
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33. An analog to digital conversion system, comprising:
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an analog input node receiving an analog input signal and a digital output node;
an estimation signal;
a preamplifier;
a first analog to digital converter coupled to the preamplifier, an input to the first analog to digital converter being related to a difference between the analog input signal and the estimation signal; and
a backup analog to digital converter, the backup analog to digital converter coupled between the analog input node and a backup digital output node. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37)
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38. A method of converting an analog signal to a digital signal, comprising:
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providing the analog signal at an analog input node;
providing an estimation signal, the estimation signal being an estimate of the analog signal;
generating an amplified signal with a preamplifier, the amplified signal being related to a difference between the analog signal and the estimation signal;
utilizing the amplified signal to provide an input to an analog to digital converter; and
selectively providing a backup digital output signal, the backup digital output signal providing a digital output related to the analog signal. - View Dependent Claims (39)
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40. A method of converting an analog signal to a digital signal, comprising:
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providing the analog signal at an analog input node;
utilizing main estimation conversion circuitry to provide a first digital output signal, the main estimation conversion circuitry including an amplified version of a difference between the analog signal and an estimation signal, the estimation signal being an estimate of the analog signal; and
utilizing backup conversion circuitry to provide a backup digital output signal. - View Dependent Claims (41, 42, 43, 44)
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Specification