Methods and systems for digital dither

Abstract

Methods and systems for applying digital dither in data converters, such as delta-sigma data converters. In one embodiment, an analog signal from a first path of a delta-sigma modulator is quantized to an m-bit digital signal and an n-bit dithered digital feedback signal is generated from at least a portion of the m-bit digital signal. The n-bit dithered digital feedback signal is converted to an analog feedback signal and fed back to a second path of the delta-sigma modulator. In another embodiment, the n-bit dithered digital feedback signal is generated by selecting one of a plurality of sets of n-bits from the m-bit digital signal depending upon a state of a dither control signal. The dither control signal can alternate or pseudo-randomly switch between a plurality of states. The m-bit digital signal may be an m-bit thermometer code signal.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.