Programmable architecture analog-to-digital converter
AssigneeSLICEX, Inc.
InventorsThomas L. Wolf, David Blaine, Rex K. Hales, Marshall A. Soares
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method and system by which multiple ADC architectures can be emulated comprises, a number of electrical components commonly used in a variety of ADC architectures, routing an analog input through a number of switches, and selectively connecting and disconnecting the switches to emulate one of multiple possible ADC architectures.
Claims20
A programmable Analog-to-Digital converter (ADC), said programmable ADC comprising:
- a sampling circuit for sampling said analog input;
- a comparison unit to a compare an analog input to a reference voltage level;
- a first reference unit for providing a reference voltage level to the comparison unit;
- a summing unit;
- a second reference unit for providing a reference voltage level to the summing unit;
- a control unit for controlling said reference units;
- and
- a circuit for selectively routing said analog input among said sampling circuit, comparison unit and summing unit to emulate a plurality of different types of ADCs.
A method of combining a plurality of analog-to-digital converter (ADC) types so that different ADC types can be emulated by a single converter unit, said method comprising selectively routing an analog input among components of said single converter unit to selectively emulate said plurality of ADC types.
A single analog-to-digital converter (ADC) unit that combines a plurality of analog-to-digital converter (ADC) types so that different ADC types can be emulated by said single ADC unit, said converter comprising:
- a sampling circuit;
- a comparison unit;
- a summing unit;
- and
- means for selectively applying an analog input to said sampling circuit, comparison unit and summing unit to selectively emulate said different of ADC types.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.