Data converter with background auto-zeroing via active interpolation

A method for a data converter for converting an input signal to a plurality of digital bits, the data converter comprising:

• n first comparison units for respectively comparing the input signal with n reference signals, each of the comparison units including a positive output end for outputting a first positive output and a negative output end for outputting a first negative output, a digital bit corresponding to a first comparison unit being generated from the first positive output and the first negative output in a differential manner;
• n second comparison units for respectively comparing the input signal with the n reference signals, each of the second comparison units including a positive output end for outputting a second positive output and a negative output end for outputting a second negative output, a digital bit corresponding to a second comparison unit being generated from the second positive output and the second negative output in a differential manner, the method comprising:
• when a kth and a kth+1 first comparison units perform an auto-zeroing process, utilizing the second positive outputs of a kth and a kth+1 second comparison units for generating a thin positive output, utilizing the second negative outputs of the kth and the kth+1 second comparison units for generating a third negative output, and generating a digital bit interpolated between a digital bit corresponding to the kth second comparison unit and a digital bit corresponding to the kth+1 second comparison unit according to the third positive output and the third negative output in a differential manner.

A data converter for converting an input signal to a plurality of digital bits, the data converter comprising:

• n first comparison units tin respectively comparing the input signal with n reference signals, each of the comparison units including a positive output end for outputting a first positive output and a negative output end for outputting a first negative output;
• n second comparison units for respectively comparing the input signal with the n reference signals, each of the second comparison units including a positive output end for outputting a second positive output and a negative output end for outputting a second negative output;
• and
• an output unit electrically connected to the n first comparison units and the n second comparison units for generating digital bits corresponding to the n first comparison units and the n second comparison units, the output unit comprising:
• n-1 interpolating units electrically connected to the n first comparison units and the n second comparison units, a kth interpolating unit being electrically connected to a plurality of (kth to kth+p) first comparison units and a plurality of (kth to kth+p) second comparison units for adding a plurality of positive outputs to the first and second positive outputs of the n first comparison units and the n second comparison units and adding a plurality of negative outputs to the first and second negative outputs of the n first comparison units and the n first comparison units;
• wherein p is an integer, and when some first comparison units perform an auto-zeroing process, the kth interpolating unit is capable of utilizing the second positive outputs of the second comparison units for generating a plurality of positive outputs and utilizing the second negative outputs of some second comparison units for generating some negative outputs;
• wherein the output unit generates a digital bit interpolated between a digital bit corresponding to the kth second comparison unit and a digital bit corresponding to the kth+p second comparison unit according to the positive outputs and the negative outputs in a differential manner.