US 2001/0017564 A1 · Circuit and a method for extending the output voltage range of an integrator circuit

Abstract

A circuit extends the output voltage range of an integrator circuit wherein the input signal is used to produce an output signal, and the voltage of the output signal develops monotonically within a predetermined range of possible values. The integrator circuit is driven within an integration time period such that each time the signal at its output reaches a limit of the range of values, the integrator circuit starts a subsequent integration stage of the input signal in which the output signal develops again within the above-mentioned range. This takes place by resetting the integrator circuit or by a reversal of the characteristic slope of the output signal. This is combined with storing the number of occasions on which these interventions have occurred as determined by a counter. This enables the actual voltage value of the signal resulting from the integration to be calculated by a relatively straightforward mathematical operation from the reading of the counter, and from the signal currently present at the output of the integrator at the end of the integration period.

Claims17

Dependent claims

A circuit for extending the output voltage range of an integrator circuit wherein the input signal is such as to produce an output signal the voltage of which develops monotonically within a predetermined range of possible values, said circuit comprising:

control circuit means for controlling the integrator circuit in a manner such that, within an integration time period, each time the output signal of the integrator circuit reaches a limit of the range of values, the integration circuit starts a subsequent integration stage of the input signal in which the signal output by the integrator develops again within the same range;
and
counting means associated with the control means for counting and outputting the number of times the output signal of the integrator circuit has reached a limit value, the number being correlated with the number of times the output signal has covered the said range of values,
the actual voltage value reached at the end of the integration period being calculable from a final voltage value of the output signal of the integrator circuit reached at the end of the integration period, and from the number of times the signal has reached a limit value.

1 more element

A method of extending the range of the output voltage of an integrator circuit wherein the input signal is such as to produce an output signal the voltage of which develops monotonically within a predetermined range of possible values, the method comprising the steps of:

comparing the voltage of the output signal of the integrator circuit with at least one reference voltage corresponding to a limit of the range of values,
driving the integrator circuit, after the limit has been reached during the development of the output signal during an integration period, in a manner such that said circuit starts a subsequent integration stage of the input signal in which the output signal develops again within the same range,
counting the number of times the output signal of the integrator circuit has reached a limit value so that a subsequent integration stage has been started, the number being correlated with the number of times the output signal has covered the range of values, and
calculating the actual voltage value reached at the end of the integration period from a final value of the voltage of the output signal of the integrator circuit and from the number of times the signal has reached a limit value.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Circuit and a method for extending the output voltage range of an integrator circuit

Life of this patent

Circuit and a method for extending the output voltage range of an integrator circuit

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims17