Analog-to-digital flash converter for generating a thermometric digital code

An analog-to-digital converter comprising:

• a plurality of comparators with a differential output for generating a thermometric code;
• a plurality of NOR gates connected to the plurality of comparators;
• and
• an interface between the plurality of comparators and the plurality of NOR gates, the interface comprising a plurality of voltage dividers, each connected between a noninverted output of a respective comparator and an inverted output of a comparator of higher order of the plurality of comparators;
• each NOR gate of the plurality of NOR gates has a first input connected to the inverted output of the respective comparator, a second input connected to the noninverted output of the comparator of higher order, and a third input connected to an intermediate node of a corresponding voltage divider of the plurality of voltage dividers.

An analog-to-digital converter comprising:

• at least first and second comparators each of which includes a noninverted output and an inverted output;
• at least one voltage divider connected between the noninverted output of the first comparator and an inverted output of the second comparator;
• and
• at least one logic gate having a first input connected to the inverted output of the first comparator, a second input connected to the noninverted output of the second comparator, and a third input connected to the voltage divider.

A method for analog-to-digital conversion comprising the steps of:

• providing at least first and second comparators each of which includes a noninverted output and an inverted output;
• voltage dividing the noninverted output of the first comparator and an inverted output of the second comparator;
• and
• logically combining the inverted output of the first comparator, the noninverted output of the second comparator, and the voltage divided noninverted output of the first comparator and inverted output of the second comparator.

A method for analog-to-digital conversion comprising the steps of:

• providing at least first and second comparators each of which includes a noninverted output and an inverted output;
• providing at least one voltage divider connected between the noninverted output of the first comparator and an inverted output of the second comparator;
• and
• providing at least one logic gate having a first input connected to the inverted output of the first comparator, a second input connected to the noninverted output of the second comparator, and a third input connected to the voltage divider.