US 4,599,602 A · Serial-type A/D converter utilizing folding circuit cells

Abstract

In a serial-type A/D converter utilizing folding circuit cells connected in cascade, the cell has a differential type input and a differential type output, and a comparator included in the cell switches over current paths in the cell to establish a folding characteristic. An input potential difference is converted into a current difference by a pair of transistors having the emitters interconnected through a resistor, and the current difference is further converted into a pair of differential output voltages by a load circuit having a pair of series connections each including a resistor, a diode and a transistor having its base connected with another resistor, so that the non-linear characteristic and gain can be corrected. A current switching circuit is switched by the comparator for discriminating the polarity of the input potential difference to switch over current paths for the paired transistors or to alternately operate voltage level shifting circuits associated with a pair of output terminals, thereby establishing the folding characteristic with high accuracy.

Claims13

Dependent claims

A serial-type A/D converter utilizing folding circuit cells connected in cascade wherein each cell has an input terminal and an output terminal, the output terminal of a preceding stage cell being connected to the input terminal of a succeeding stage cell, each of said cells comprising:

differential circuit means having a pair of input terminals, for converting a differential input voltage between said paired input terminals into a differential output current;
load circuit means for converting said differential output current into paired differential output voltages;
comparator means responsive to the polarity of the potential difference between said paired input terminals, said comparator means producing a digital output corresponding to said potential difference;
current switching circuit means connected between said differential circuit means and said load circuit means responsive to the digital output of said comparator means for alternately switching current paths for said differential output current;
and
level shifting circuit means for providing output signals at said output terminals by shifting one of said paired differential output voltages.

3 more elements

differential circuit means having a pair of input terminals, for converting a differential input voltage between said paired input terminals into a differential output current;
load circuit means for converting said differential output current into paired differential output voltages;
comparator means responsive to the polarity of the potential difference between said paired input terminals, said comparator means producing a digital output corresponding to said potential difference;
level shifting circuit means responsive to said compared output, said level shifting means providing output signals at said paired output terminals by effecting alternate level shifting of said paired differential output voltages.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Serial-type A/D converter utilizing folding circuit cells

Life of this patent

Serial-type A/D converter utilizing folding circuit cells

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims13