Analog digital conversion sensing by dynamically varying charging capacitor values

A circuit, comprising:

• a memory array comprising a plurality of bit lines;
• a global voltage reference source;
• a plurality of capacitors;
• and
• capacitor selector circuitry configured to select, in dependence on a count value, one or more capacitors from the plurality of capacitors, the selected one or more capacitors configured (i) to receive a charging current in dependence on a difference between two bit line currents of a selected two bit lines of the plurality of bit lines, (ii) to store a charge in dependence on the charging current and (iii) to produce a detected voltage (Vc) resulting from the stored charge, and wherein the selection of the one or more capacitors is further in dependence on pre-coded codes receivable from an agent separate from the circuit, the pre-coded codes enabling specifying respective first and second sets of the plurality of capacitors as respective one or more capacitors having respective first and second capacitance values, the pre-coded codes further enabling specifying selection of the first set of the plurality of capacitors to be performed at an earlier time than selection of the second set of the plurality of capacitors, and the second capacitance value is more than the first capacitance value.

A method comprising:

• selecting, in dependence on a count value, one or more capacitors from a plurality of capacitors, the selected one or more capacitors (i) receiving a charging current in dependence on a bit line current of a selected bit line of a plurality of bit lines, (ii) storing a charge in dependence on the charging current and (iii) producing a detected voltage (Vc) resulting from the stored charge, and wherein the selection of the one or more capacitors is further in dependence on pre-coded codes received from an agent, the pre-coded codes specifying respective first and second sets of the plurality of capacitors as respective one or more capacitors having respective first and second capacitance values, the pre-coded codes further specifying selection of the first set of the plurality of capacitors to be performed at an earlier time than selection of the second set of the plurality of capacitors, and the second capacitance value is more than the first capacitance value;
• producing a comparator output in dependence on (i) a voltage provided by a global voltage reference source and (ii) the detected voltage (Vc);
• storing the count value in dependence on the comparator output;
• and
• producing a stored counter output in dependence on the stored count value.