Asynchronous analog-to-digital converter and method
First Claim
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1. An analog to digital converter for digitally representing the value of an input signal, comprising:
- reference circuitry adapted for simultaneously providing three or more sequential reference values representing a range of values for the input signal;
a separate comparator representing each different reference value and coupled to receive its respective reference value at a first input thereof,wherein each comparator includes a second input coupled to receive the input signal; and
asynchronous circuitry coupled to the separate comparators and adapted for digitally indicating the value of the input signal in response to level crossings between the input signal and the sequential reference values.
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for converting an analog input signal to a digital output signal, provide for simultaneously comparing the input signal to a sequential multiplicity of reference values representing a range of values of the input signal, and asynchronously processing digital results from simultaneous comparison to produce a digital representation of level crossings of the input signal with respect to the multiplicity of reference values.
137 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An analog to digital converter for digitally representing the value of an input signal, comprising:
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reference circuitry adapted for simultaneously providing three or more sequential reference values representing a range of values for the input signal; a separate comparator representing each different reference value and coupled to receive its respective reference value at a first input thereof, wherein each comparator includes a second input coupled to receive the input signal; and asynchronous circuitry coupled to the separate comparators and adapted for digitally indicating the value of the input signal in response to level crossings between the input signal and the sequential reference values. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method for converting an analog input signal to a digital output signal, comprising the steps of:
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simultaneously providing three or more sequential reference values representing a range of values for the input signal; comparing the input signal to the three or more sequential reference values; and asynchronously processing digital results from the step of comparing to produce a digital representation of level crossings of the input signal with respect to the three or more reference values, in response to each such level crossing. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification