Current-to-voltage signal converter

A current-to-voltage signal converter, comprising:

• a first stage, configured to convert an input current signal to a first voltage signal;
• an analog subtractor circuit comprising an amplifier, wherein the analog subtractor circuit is electrically coupled to the first stage to convert the first voltage signal into a second voltage signal;
• and
• a voltage adjustment arrangement, coupled to at least one input of the amplifier, and configured such that the voltage at the at least one input of the amplifier is between a first predetermined voltage threshold and a second predetermined voltage threshold;
• and
• wherein the analog subtractor circuit further comprises a first, second, third and fourth resistors;
• wherein the first resistor is electrically coupled in series between the first input and the first voltage signal;
• wherein the second resistor is electrically coupled to the first input and forms a negative feedback loop based on an output of the operational amplifier, wherein the output of the operational amplifier is the second voltage signal;
• wherein the third resistor and the fourth resistor form a potential divider such that the third resistor is electrically coupled in series between the second input and a first reference voltage, and the fourth resistor is electrically coupled to a ground state;
• and,
• wherein the first and third resistors have substantially the same value resistance and the second and fourth resistors have substantially the same value resistance.

A method of converting a current signal to a voltage signal, the method comprising:

• converting an input current signal to a first voltage signal using a first stage of a signal converter;
• converting the first voltage signal into a second voltage signal using an analog subtractor circuit comprising an amplifier;
• and
• applying a voltage adjustment arrangement to at least one input of the amplifier to reduce the voltage at the at least one input to the amplifier between a first predetermined voltage threshold and a second predetermined voltage threshold;
• and wherein the at least one input of the amplifier comprises a first input and a second input, wherein the voltage adjustment arrangement comprises a common mode reference coupled to both the first input and the second input, wherein the common mode reference is a DC source, and further performing acts of:
• predetermining a DC offset voltage of the first voltage signal;
• and
• predetermining a voltage or current value of the DC source based on the predetermined DC offset voltage.

A method of converting a current signal to a voltage signal, the method comprising:

• converting an input current signal to a first voltage signal using a first stage of a signal converter;
• converting the first voltage signal into a second voltage signal using an analog subtractor circuit comprising an amplifier;
• applying a voltage adjustment arrangement to at least one input of the amplifier to reduce the voltage at the at least one input to the amplifier between a first predetermined voltage threshold and a second predetermined voltage threshold;
• and wherein the at least one input of the amplifier comprises a first input and a second input, wherein the voltage adjustment arrangement comprises a common mode reference coupled to both the first input and the second input, wherein the common mode reference is a DC source, and further performing acts of:
• adjusting a voltage or current value at both the first input and the second input based on a DC offset voltage of the first voltage signal.

A current-to-voltage signal converter device, comprising:

• a first stage, configured to convert an analog input current signal to a first voltage signal;
• an analog subtractor circuit comprising an amplifier, wherein the analog subtractor circuit is electrically coupled to the first stage to convert the first voltage signal into an analog second voltage signal representative of the analog input current signal suitable for coupling to an input of an analog-to-digital converter;
• and
• an analog level-shifter voltage adjustment arrangement, coupled to at least one input of the amplifier, and configured such that the voltage at the at least one input of the amplifier is between a first predetermined voltage threshold and a second predetermined voltage threshold.