# US 12,603,659 B2 · Device and methods for reconfigurable analog input monitoring > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,603,659 B2 - Document ID: US12603659B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/440,552 - Filed: 2024-02-13 - Published: 2025-05-15 - Granted: 2026-04-14 - Earliest claimed: 2023-11-14 - Assignees: Microchip Technology Incorporated - Applicants: Microchip Technology Incorporated - Inventors: Thomas Youbok Lee; Ibiyemi Omole; Jimmy Yu; Santosh Patel; Daniel Meacham; Hadj Attlassy - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12603659B2 ## CPC - H03M 1/129: {Means for adapting the input signal to the range the converter can handle, e.g. limiting, pre-scaling (H03M1/18 takes precedence); Out-of-range indication} - H03M: CODING; DECODING; CODE CONVERSION IN GENERAL (using fluidic means F15C4/00; optical analogue/digital converters G02F7/00; coding, decoding or code conversion, specially adapted for particular applications, see the relevant subclasses, e.g. G01D, G01R, G06F, G06T, G09G, G10L, G11B, G11C, H04B, H04L, H04M, H04N; ciphering or deciphering for cryptography or other purposes involving the need for secrecy G09C) ## Abstract An ADC system may include an ADC, a comparator, a voltage source, a comparator output polarity control circuit and a comparator output counter. An analog input signal may be input to a first input of the comparator, and an output of the voltage source may be input to a second input of the comparator. The comparator may generate an output to the comparator output polarity control circuit, and the comparator output counter may count clock cycles while the comparator output is asserted and may assert a monitor output based on the comparator output counter value. The monitor output may be an interrupt, an alarm or other system alerts and may control system operation. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A device comprising: an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) to receive at least one analog input signal; a voltage source to generate a threshold voltage, the threshold voltage based on a predetermined condition; a comparator to receive the threshold voltage, and the comparator to generate a comparator output based on a comparison of the at least one analog input signal and the threshold voltage; a comparator output polarity control circuit to generate an output based on the output of the comparator and based on a polarity configuration setting; and a comparator output counter to count edges of a clock signal based on the output of the comparator output polarity control circuit, the count comprising a comparator output counter value, and to generate one or more monitor outputs based on the comparator output counter value. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The device as claimed in claim 1, the one or more monitor outputs comprising an alarm signal. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The device as claimed in claim 1, the one or more monitor outputs comprising an ADC enable signal, the ADC enable signal coupled to the ADC. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The device as claimed in claim 1, the one or more monitor outputs comprising an ADC clock signal, the ADC clock signal coupled to the ADC. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The device as claimed in claim 1, the predetermined condition comprising a register setting to specify a threshold voltage level. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The device as claimed in claim 1, the threshold voltage comprising a percentage of a reference voltage. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The device as claimed in claim 1, the one or more monitor outputs generated based on the comparator output counter value reflective of a minimum time period. ### Claim 8 A system comprising: an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) to receive at least one analog input signal; a voltage source to output a threshold voltage, the threshold voltage based on a predetermined condition; a switch to selectively couple the at least one analog input signal to a comparator, the comparator to receive the threshold voltage, and the comparator to generate a comparator output based on a comparison of the at least one analog input signal and the threshold voltage; a comparator output polarity control circuit to generate an output based on the output of the comparator and based on a polarity configuration setting; a comparator output counter to count edges of a clock signal based on the output of the comparator output polarity control circuit, the count comprising a comparator output counter value, and to generate one or more monitor outputs based on the comparator output counter value; and a microcontroller to receive the one or more monitor outputs. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The system as claimed in claim 8, the one or more monitor outputs comprising an alarm signal. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The system as claimed in claim 8, the one or more monitor outputs comprising an ADC clock signal and an ADC enable signal, the ADC clock signal and ADC enable signal coupled to the ADC. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The system as claimed in claim 8, the one or more monitor outputs to initiate a conversion of the at least one analog input signal by the ADC. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The system as claimed in claim 8, the one or more monitor outputs based on the comparator output counter reaching a predetermined value. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) The system as claimed in claim 8, the threshold voltage comprising a minimum value of the at least one analog input signal. ### Claim 14 A method comprising: configuring a voltage source to output a threshold voltage; comparing an analog input signal to the threshold voltage; obtaining a comparison result; counting, based on the comparison result, edges of a clock signal, the count comprising a comparator output counter value; generating one or more monitor outputs based on the comparator output counter value; and modifying system operation based on the one or more monitor outputs. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method as claimed in claim 14, configuring a voltage source comprising setting a voltage value based on a register setting. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The method as claimed in claim 14, the threshold voltage based on a register setting. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The method as claimed in claim 14, the threshold voltage comprising a percentage of a reference voltage. ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) The method as claimed in claim 14, modifying system operation comprising asserting an alarm signal, the alarm signal coupled to a microcontroller. ### Claim 19 (depends on 14) The method as claimed in claim 14, modifying system operation comprising enabling an ADC to perform a conversion of the analog input signal.