Circuit, method, and apparatus for continuously variable analog to digital conversion

A method for performing an analog to digital conversion with continuously variable resolution comprising:

• setting an integrate time and a sample period;
• integrating an analog voltage signal at an input into a digital signal at an output over said integrate time;
• accumulating a number of cycles wherein said digital signal is positive during a sample period;
• and
• providing a corresponding conversion result, wherein said setting is performed on-the-fly by programming a pulse width modulator having an output coupled to enable a counter performing said accumulating.

A microcontroller apparatus comprising:

• a bus;
• a processor coupled to said bus;
• a storage medium coupled to said bus for storing code to control said microcontroller;
• and
• a block of components coupled to said bus, wherein said block of components comprise:
• a programmable interconnect;
• a first plurality of programmable analog elements coupled to said programmable interconnect, for performing an analog operation;
• and
• a second plurality of digital elements coupled to said programmable interconnect, for performing a digital operation, wherein said block of components is programmable on-the-fly to configure a conversion circuit, said conversion circuit comprising an integrating modulator coupled to a counter and a pulse width modulator for performing an analog to digital conversion with continuously variable resolution.