Circuitry and method for current input analog to digital conversion

Circuitry for current input analog to digital conversion, comprising:

• an input path for conducting a current input;
• direction circuitry coupled to said input path and operable to direct said current input through a plurality of current paths;
• reference current circuitry for conducting at least one reference current;
• comparison circuitry coupled between said direction circuitry and said reference current circuitry for comparing a current through each said current path against an associated reference current and outputting a respective output signal indicative thereof, such that said respective output signals are indicative of a magnitude of said current input;
• each said associated reference current is formed by a corresponding current mirror pair of transistors;
• and
• said associated reference currents are unequal in response to different amplification ratios of said corresponding current mirror pairs.

Circuitry for current input analog to digital conversion, comprising:

• an input path for conducting a current input;
• direction circuitry coupled to said input path and operable to direct said current input through a plurality of current paths;
• reference current circuitry for conducting at least one reference current;
• comparison circuitry coupled between said direction circuitry and said reference current circuitry for comparing a current through each said current path against an associated reference current and outputting a respective output signal indicative thereof, such that said respective output signals are indicative of a magnitude of said current input;
• and
• current copier circuitry coupled to said input path for providing said current input, such that said current input is substantially constant during a period of time.

Circuitry for current input analog to digital conversion, comprising:

• an input path for conducting a current input;
• direction circuitry coupled to said input path and operable to direct said current input through a plurality of current paths;
• reference current circuitry for conducting at least one reference current;
• comparison circuitry coupled between said direction circuitry and said reference current circuitry for comparing a current through each said current path against an associated reference current and outputting a respective output signal indicative thereof, such that said respective output signals are indicative of a magnitude of said current input;
• and
• current copier circuitry coupled between said direction circuitry and said comparison circuitry for providing said currents through said current paths, such that each said current is substantially constant during a period of time.

Circuitry for current input analog to digital conversion, comprising:

• an input path for conducting a current input;
• direction circuitry coupled to said input path and operable to direct said current input through a plurality of current paths;
• reference current circuitry for conducting at least one reference current;
• comparison circuitry coupled between said direction circuitry and said reference current circuitry for comparing a current through each said current path against an associated reference current and outputting a respective output signal indicative thereof, such that said respective output signals are indicative of a magnitude of said current input;
• and
• said comparison circuitry comprises a plurality of comparison modules, each said comparison module comprising a resettable latch coupled to a corresponding one of said current paths and to said reference current circuitry.

Circuitry for current input analog to digital conversion, comprising:

• an input path for conducting a current input;
• direction circuitry coupled to said input path and operable to direct said current input through a plurality of current paths;
• reference current circuitry for conducting at least one reference current;
• comparison circuitry coupled between said direction circuitry and said reference current circuitry for comparing a current through each said current path against an associated reference current and outputting a respective output signal indicative thereof, such that said respective output signals are indicative of a magnitude of said current input;
• and
• said comparison circuitry comprises an inverter having an input coupled to a corresponding one of said current input, paths and to said reference current circuitry.

Circuitry for current input analog to digital conversion, comprising:

• an input path for conducting a current input;
• direction circuitry comprising a plurality of transistors coupled to said input path and operable to direct said current input through respective current paths;
• reference current circuitry for conducting at least one reference current;
• comparison circuitry coupled between said direction circuitry and said reference current circuitry for comparing a current through each said respective current path against an associated reference current and outputting a respective output signal indicative thereof, such that said respective output signals form a thermometer code output indicative of a magnitude of said current input;
• each said associated reference current is formed by a corresponding scaled current mirror;
• and
• said associated reference currents are unequal in response to different amplification ratios of said corresponding scaled current mirrors.

Circuitry for current input analog to digital conversion, comprising:

• an input path for conducting a current input;
• direction circuitry comprising a plurality of transistors coupled to said input path and operable to direct said current input through respective current paths, such that said currents through said respective current paths are unequal;
• reference current circuitry for conducting at least one reference current;
• comparison circuitry coupled between said direction circuitry and said reference current circuitry for comparing a current through each said respective current path against an associated reference current and outputting a respective output signal indicative thereof, such that said respective output signals form a thermometer code output indicative of a magnitude of said current input.

Circuitry for current input analog to digital conversion, comprising:

• an input path for conducting a current input;
• direction circuitry coupled to said input path and operable to direct said current input through a plurality of current paths;
• reference current circuitry for conducting at least one reference current;
• and
• comparison circuitry comprising a plurality of comparison modules for outputting differential voltages indicative of a magnitude of said current input, each said comparison module comprising:
• reset circuitry for substantially minimizing a corresponding one of said differential voltages during a reset signal on a reset signal line;
• equalization circuitry for limiting a maximum differential voltage of said corresponding differential voltage after said reset signal;
• and
• regeneration circuitry for moving said corresponding differential voltage in a positive direction responsive to a current through a corresponding one of said current paths exceeding an associated reference current and for moving said differential voltage in a negative direction responsive to said associated reference current exceeding said current through said corresponding current path.

A method of current input analog to digital conversion, comprising the steps of:

• conducting a current input through an input path;
• directing said current input through a plurality of current paths;
• conducting at least one reference current;
• comparing a current through each said current path against an associated reference current and outputting a respective output signal indicative thereof, such that said respective output signals are indicative of a magnitude of said current input;
• forming said associated reference current with a corresponding scaled current mirror;
• and
• forming said associated reference currents unequal in response to different amplification ratios of said corresponding scaled current mirrors.