Multithreshold A/D converter utilizing error amplifiers
AssigneeMotorola, Inc.
InventorErling E. Rasmussen
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Abstract
A multithreshold A/D converter utilizes a plurality of error amplifiers interspersed in a primary quantizing stage for selectively deriving a signal to be quantized in a secondary stage. Because the plurality of error amplifiers is interspersed among comparators normally found in multithreshold A/D converters, each error amplifier need have a dynamic range only sufficient to amplify signals equivalent to the difference between two adjacent voltage reference level steps. Further, by maintaining each of said plurality of error amplifiers active at all times the output signal selected for quantizing in the secondary stage is available at the instant the selection is made.
Claims20
A multithreshold A/D converter comprising:
- a plurality of primary comparison means each for comparing a selected threshold reference voltage level with a given analog input signal level;
- and
- a plurality of error amplifiers each of said error amplifiers coupled to a threshold reference voltage level intermediate those threshold reference levels utilized by adjacent pairs of said plurality of comparison means, a selected one of said error amplifiers outputting a signal differential of said intermediate threshold reference voltage level and said given analog input signal level.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.