Method and apparatus for high-resolution digitization of a signal
AssigneeSiemens Aktiengesellschaft
InventorHakan Elmqvist
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for high-resolution digitization of a signal with a large dynamic range employ an analog-to-digital converter having a bit number and having a measuring region which is smaller than the total range of measurement of the incoming signal, the range of measurement being divided into smaller measuring segments which partically overlap, each measuring segment having a size corresponding to the measuring ranges of the analog-to-digital converter. The information from the analog-to-digital converter controls a measurement segment selector such that the signal to be converted into digital form is within the selected segment. A new digital signal value is extrapolated at least from the two last bits from the analog-to-digital converter.
Claims9
A method for digitization of an analog signal to a required degree of high-resolution with a large dynamic range using an analog-to-digital coverter having a measuring region smaller than the total range of measurement of the analog signal comprising the steps of:
- dividing said range of measurement into a plurality of smaller partially overlapping measurement segments, each measurement segment having a size corresponding to the measuring range of the analog-to-digital converter and an error bigger in size than the required degree of high-resolution;
- utilizing the analog-to-digital converter to control selection of said measurement segments such that the analog signal to be digitized is within selected limits of a current selected segment;
- changing to another measurement segment if said analog signal is beyond said selected limits of said current selected segment;
- and
- if a change in said measurement segment is made, extrapolating a new digital signal value from at least the last two signals from said analog-to-digital converter.
An apparatus for high-resolution digitization of an analog signal comprising:
- an analog-to-digital converter having a measurement region smaller than said dynamic range;
- and
- a measurement segment selector controlled by the output of said analog-to-digital converter including means for dividing said dynamic range into a plurality of partially overlapping measurement segments corresponding to the size of the measurement region of said analog-to-digital converter, means for selecting a current measurement segment such that the signal to be digitized is within selected limits of said current measurement segment, and switching means for changing from said current measurement segment to another measurement segment when the output signal of said analog-to-digital converter exceeds said selected limit.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.