Dual flash analog-to-digital converter

Abstract

This multi-flash analog-to-digital converter (ADC), in particular dual flash ADC, has extremely high speed and resolution. The final resolution of a comparator/multiplexer section can be effectively doubled. For instance, a 16-bit ADC can employ 300 rather than 255 comparators. A monolithic integration can be accomplished. A resistive network is coupled to a current source and to a reference signal for providing a plurality of comparison signals. A comparator/multiplexer section compares the comparison signals against ground, selects one of the comparison signals and produces a code. An amplifier amplifies the selected comparison signal. A switch provides the reference signal in response to the ADC input signal and subsequently in response to the amplifier output signal. Two codes are encoded and converted into the output code of the ADC.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.