Programmable analog to digital converter

An analog to digital converter for responding to an input signal to provide a digital output signal comprising:

• a voltage divider network for providing at a plurality of reference points, a plurality of reference voltages representative of a predetermined transfer function, said voltage divider network having a predetermined number of control nodes at selected reference points,
• comparator means responsive to said input signal and coupled to said reference points for responding to said reference voltages to provide output signals representative of the binary value of said input signal,
• priority encoding means including latching means coupled to said comparator means for providing said digital output signal, and
• programmable means coupled to said control nodes and including counting means, said programmable means providing different sets of voltages to said voltage divider network as a function of time for varying said predetermined transfer function to selected transfer functions of input signal level versus output signal digital levels, said sets of voltages each being representative of a different selected transfer function.

An analog to digital converter for responding to a source of input signals to provide binary output signals each representing a different digital level comprising:

• a voltage divider network including a plurality of series coupled resistors with connecting points therebetween having predetermined quantum voltages between said connecting points and being of an increasing order of significance from one end to the other, a selected plurality of said connecting points being control points,
• a plurality of comparators of different orders of significance with each coupled to a different connecting point of said voltage divider network, each of said comparator means being responsive to said source of input signals to provide an output signal when the voltage of the input signal exceeds the voltage at the corresponding connecting point,
• priority encoding means coupled to said plurality of comparators and responsive to the output signals of said comparators to provide said binary output signals, and
• programmable means including programmed digital memory means and digital to analog converter means coupled between said programmed digital memory means and said plurality of control points for providing voltage sets to said control points to develop selected converter transfer functions having an input signal level versus output signal digital level characteristic defined by the voltage sets at said control points and said quantum voltages, said programmable means including time controlled selection means in turn including counter means for addressing said programmed digital memory means for selecting said voltage sets to be applied to said control points.

An analog to digital converter for responding to a source of input signals to provide binary output signals each representing a different digital level comprising:

• a voltage divider network including a plurality of series coupled resistors with connecting points therebetween having predetermined quantum voltages between said connecting points and being of an increasing order of significance from one end to the other, a selected plurality of said connecting points being control points,
• a plurality of comparators of different orders of significance with each coupled to a different connecting point of said voltage divider network, each of said comparator means being responsive to said source of input signals to provide an output signal when the voltage of the input signal exceeds the voltage at the corresponding connecting point,
• priority encoding means coupled to said plurality of comparators and responsive to the output signals of said comparators to provide said binary output signals, and
• programmable means for providing voltage sets to said control points to develop selected converter transfer functions having an input signal level versus output signal digital value characteristic defined by the voltage sets at said control points and said quantum voltages, said programmable means including a resistive network for providing a plurality of current signal sets with each current signal set being representative of a converter transfer function, selection means for selecting said voltage sets to be applied to said control points, multiplexing means coupled to said resistive network and responsive to said selection means, and amplifier means coupled between said multiplexing means and said control points for responding to said current signal sets and applying said voltage sets to said control points.