Use of single reference voltage for analog to digital or digital to analog conversion of bipolar signals

The method of converting an analog signal to a digital representation of said analog signal utilizing a structure comprising:

• an input means for receiving an analog input signal, including an input lead connected to an operational amplifier, a capacitor array wherein each capacitor has a top and a bottom plate, a signal switch connected between the output lead of said operational amplifier and the top plates of said capacitor array, a comparator having a first input lead connected to said top plates of said capacitor array, a second input lead connected to ground and an output lead connected to control logic, a tapped resistor ladder having a plurality of N resistors connected in series and N+1 nodes, including a first and second end, said first end being connected to ground, a single voltage reference connected to said second end of said resistor ladder, and means for switching the bottom plate of each capacitor in said capacitor array to either ground, said reference voltage or one of said plurality of nodes on said resistor ladder;
• said method comprising the steps of:
• connecting said bottom plate of each capacitor in said capacitor array to said reference voltage;
• closing said signal switch, thereby sampling said input signal by charging each capacitor in said capacitor array to the sampled analog input voltage minus said reference voltage;
• opening said signal switch after a time interval sufficient to fully charge the top plates of said capacitor array to said sampled analog input signal;
• determining the sign of said input signal stored on said capacitor array;
• connecting said bottom plates of said capacitor array to ground, if said input signal stored on said capacitor array is positive or connecting said bottom plates of said capacitor array to said reference voltage if said input signal stored on said capacitor array is negative;
• closing said signal switch to resample said input signal by charging said top plates of said capacitor array to said input signal;
• determining the "chord" in the capacitor array by switching said bottom plate of each capacitor in said capacitor array starting with the smallest capacitor, from ground to said reference voltage if said input signal was determined to have been positive, or from said reference voltage to ground if said input signal was determined to have been negative, until the comparator changes sign, said chord being the capacitor, when switched, which causes the output signal of said comparator to change sign;
• sequentially connecting said bottom plate of said chord to the nodes on said resistor ladder to determine which node provides an output signal of said comparator most nearly equal to zero;
• providing a digital representation of said analog input signal based on the sign of said analog input signal stored on said capacitor array, which capacitor in said capacitor array is the chord, and which node of said resistor ladder when connected to said bottom plate of said chord provides the output signal of said comparator to most nearly equal zero.

An analog to digital conversion circuit for converting both positive and negative analog signals to digital form comprising:

• input means including an operational amplifier having a first input lead for receiving and filtering an analog input signal at predetermined clocked intervals, a second input lead and an output lead;
• an autozero loop including an output lead connected to said second input lead of said operational amplifier, and an input lead;
• a bus means having a first end and a second end;
• a signal switch connected between said output lead of said operational amplifier and to said first end of said bus means;
• a comparator having a first input lead connected to said second end of said bus means, a second input lead connected to ground, and having an output lead;
• control logic means connected to said output lead of said comparator and having an output lead connected to said autozero loop input;
• a first series of switch means containing a plurality of M switches each having a first, a second and a third terminal,
• a capacitor array comprising a plurality of M capacitors, each of said M capacitors having a top and bottom plate, each top capacitor plate being connected to said bus means and each bottom plate being uniquely connected to an associated one of said plurality of M switches contained in said first series of switch means;
• a series of resistors connected in series and forming a resistor string, said resistor string having a first end and a second end and a plurality of nodes, one node formed adjacent each resistor in said series;
• a single reference voltage source connected to said first end of said resistor string;
• a ground reference connected to said second end of said resistor string;
• a second series of switches each having two sides, the first side of each switch being uniquely connected to a selected node in said resistor string, and each second side of said second switch means being connected in common;
• said first terminal of each of said plurality of M switches being connected directly to said reference voltage, said second terminal of each of said plurality of M switches being connected to said second sides of said second series of switches connected in common, and said third terminal of each of said plurality of M switches being connected to a ground potential for the circuit;
• whereby said control logic is connected to selectively manipulate each of said first series and said second series of switches so as to:
• determine the "chord" in said capacitor array by switching said bottom plate of each capacitor in said capacitor array starting with the smallest capacitor, from ground to said reference voltage if said input signal was determined to have been positive, or from said reference voltage to ground if said input signal was determined to have been negative, until the output signal of said comparator changes sign, said chord being the capacitor, when switched, which causes said output signal of said comparator to change sign;
• sequentially connect said bottom plate of said chord to said nodes of said resistor string to determine which node provides an output signal of said comparator most nearly equal to zero;
• and
• provide a digital representation of said analog input signal based on the sign of said analog input signal stored on said capacitor array, which capacitor in said capacitor array is the chord and which node of said resistor string when connected to said bottom plate of said chord provides said output signal of said comparator to most nearly equal zero.

An analog to digital conversion circuit for converting both positive and negative analog signals, said circuit containing an input means for receiving an analog input signal, including an input lead connected to an operational amplifier, a capacitor array wherein each capacitor has a top and a bottom plate, a signal switch connected between the output lead of said operational amplifier and the top plates of said capacitor array, a comparator having a first input lead connected to said top plates of said capacitor array, a second input lead connected to ground and an output lead connected to control logic, a tapped resistor ladder having a plurality of N resistors connected in series and N+1 nodes, including a first and second end, said first end being connected to ground, wherein the improvement comprises:

• a single voltage reference connected to said second end of said resistor ladder;
• means for switching the bottom plate of each capacitor in said capacitor array to either ground, said reference voltage or one of said plurality of nodes on said resistor ladder;
• whereby said control logic manipulates said signal switch and said switch means so as to:
• determine the "chord" in said capacitor array by switching said bottom plate of each capacitor on said capacitor array starting with the smallest capacitor, from ground to said reference voltage if said input signal was determined to have been positive, or from said reference voltage to ground if said input signal was determined to have been negative, until the output signal of said comparator changes sign, said chord being the capacitor, when switched, which causes said output signal of said comparator to change sign;
• sequentially connect said bottom plate of said chord to said nodes of said resistor string to determine which node provides an output signal of said comparator most nearly equal to zero;
• provide a digital representation of said analog input signal based on the sign of said analog input signal stored on said capacitor array, which capacitor in said capacitor array is the chord and which node of said resistor string when connected to said bottom plate of said chord provides said output signal of said comparator to most nearly equal zero.