Device and method for generating digital signals each coding a value of an analog signal

A method for generating a number P of first digital signals coding the amplitude values of a plurality of first analog signals having a frequency F, comprising the steps of:

• sampling a number N of first analog signals and measuring the analog amplitude value for the N first analog signals sampled during one period of the first analog signals;
• generating in succession N digital signals coding the analog amplitude values of the N first analog signals during one period of the first analog signals;
• and
• iterating M times the sampling and generating steps for different first analog signals in a manner so as to sample a complete number P of first analog signals.

A device, comprising:

• a first multiplexor having an input and an output, the input receiving a plurality of input signals arranged in plural input signal groups, the first multiplexor operable to choose which of the input signal groups is to be connected to the first multiplexor output;
• an amplifier having an input and an output, the amplifier input connected to the first multiplexor output to receive the input signals of the first multiplexor chosen input signal group, the amplifier operable to generate at the output amplified input signals of the first multiplexor chosen input signal group;
• and
• a second multiplexor having an input and an output, the second multiplexor input connected to the amplifier output to receive the amplified input signals of the first multiplexor chosen input signal group, the second multiplexor operable to choose which amplified input signal in the first multiplexor chosen input signal group is to be connected to the second multiplexor output;
• and
• a controller connected to each of the first multiplexor, amplifier and second multiplexor, the controller issuing a first command signal causing the first multiplexor to choose sequentially over each of the plural input signal groups for connection to the first multiplexor output, the controller further issuing a second command signal causing the second multiplexor to choose sequentially over each of the amplified input signals in the first multiplexor chosen input signal group for connection to the second multiplexor output;
• wherein each of the plurality of input signals is an analog signal generated responsive to a reference signal having a certain frequency such that each of the plurality of input signals has the same certain frequency with possibly differing phases and amplitudes;
• wherein the controller changes the first command signal with each new period of the certain frequency reference signal to choose sequentially over each of the plural input signal groups;
• and
• wherein the controller changes the second command signal a plural number of times within each new period of the certain frequency that corresponds to a number of the input signals arranged in each of the plural input signal groups to choose sequentially over each of the amplified input signals within the first multiplexor chosen input signal group.

A method for sampling an input signal from a plurality of input signals, comprising the steps of:

• generating a plurality of analog signals responsive to a reference signal having a certain frequency;
• generating each of a plurality of input signals from the plurality of analog signals, wherein each of the plurality of input signals has the same certain frequency with possibly differing phases and amplitudes;
• choosing sequentially each of an input signal group from the plurality of input signals arranged in plural input signal groups;
• amplifying the chosen input signal group;
• and
• choosing sequentially each of an input signal from the amplified input signal group;
• wherein the step of choosing sequentially each of the plural input signal groups further comprises the step of choosing sequentially each of the plural input signal groups at each new period of the certain frequency reference signal:
• wherein the step of choosing sequentially each of the amplified input signals in the chosen input signal group further comprises the step of choosing sequentially each of the amplified input signals in the chosen input signal group a number of times within each new period of the certain frequency that corresponds to a number of the input signals arranged in each of the plural input signal groups.

A method for measuring P plural analog signals sharing a common frequency F, comprising:

• sampling a set of N plural analog signals during a period 1/F of the analog signals;
• converting the N plural sampled analog signals to digital form so as to generate a set of N plural digital signals during the same period 1/F;
• and
• repeating sampling and converting M plural times for successive different sets of N plural analog signals so as to sample and convert the P plural analog signals to P plural digital signals over N periods 1/F.

A system for measuring P plural analog signals sharing a common frequency F, comprising:

• means for sampling a set of N plural analog signals during a period 1/F of the analog signals;
• means for converting the N plural sampled analog signals to digital form so as to generate a set of N plural digital signals during the same period 1/F;
• and
• a controller operable to cause the means sampling and means for converting to repeat the performed operations for sampling and converting M plural times for successive different sets of N plural analog signals so sample and convert the P plural analog signals to P plural digital signals over N periods 1/F.