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US 7,248,200 B2Granted
Analog to digital conversion method using track/hold circuit and time interval analyzer, and an apparatus using the method
AssigneeAgilent Technologies, Inc.
InventorsTakanori Komuro, Jochen Rivoir
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An analog signal is sampled; a reference signal synchronized to the sampling is generated; the sampling result is compared to said reference signal; the time interval from the sampling point to the time the comparison result satisfies the prescribed condition is acquired; and the amplitude of the digital representation is determined from the acquired time interval and knowledge of the reference signal.
Claims30
A method for digitally converting an analog signal comprising:
- sampling said analog signal at a sampling time, and yielding a sampling result;
- generating a reference signal synchronized to said sampling;
- comparing said sampling result to said reference signal, and yielding a comparison result;
- acquiring a time interval from said sampling time until a time said comparison result satisfies a prescribed condition;
- and
- determining an amplitude of a digital representation from said time interval and knowledge of said reference signal.
3 more elements
A method for digitally converting an analog signal comprising:
- sampling said analog signal at a sampling time, and yielding a sampling result;
- generating in parallel, a first reference signal and a second reference signal, wherein said first and second reference signals have different main level ranges and are synchronized to said sampling;
- comparing in parallel said sampling result to each of said first and second reference signals, and yielding a first comparison result and a second comparison result;
- acquiring a first time interval from said sampling time until a time said first comparison results satisfies a prescribed condition, and acquiring a second time interval from said sampling time until a time said second comparison result satisfies said prescribed condition;
- and
- determining an amplitude of a digital representation from at least one of (a) said first time interval and knowledge of said first reference signal, or (b) said second time interval and knowledge of said second reference signal.
3 more elements
A method for digitally converting an analog signal comprising:
- sampling said analog signal at N different times, and yielding N sampling results, where N is at least 2;
- generating in parallel N reference signals synchronized to each of said N times;
- comparing said N sampling results to each of said related N reference signals, and yielding N comparison results;
- acquiring a time interval from said N different times until a time a related one of said N comparison results satisfies a prescribed condition, and yielding N time intervals;
- and
- determining the amplitudes of the an amplitude of a digital representation from said N time intervals and knowledge of said related reference signal a related one of said N reference signals.
3 more elements
A system for digitally converting an analog signal which comprises:
- a sampler for sampling said analog signal at a sampling time, and yielding a sampling result;
- a reference signal source for generating a reference signal synchronized to said sampling;
- a comparator for comparing said sampling result to said reference signal, and yielding a comparison result;
- a time interval analyzer for acquiring a time interval from said sampling time until a time said comparison result satisfies a prescribed condition;
- and
- a calculating apparatus for determining an amplitude of a digital representation from said time interval and knowledge of said reference signal.
3 more elements
A system for digitally converting an analog signal which comprises:
- a sampler for sampling said analog signal at a sampling time, and yielding a sampling result;
- N reference signal sources, where N is at least 2, for generating N reference signals in mutually different main level ranges synchronized to said sampling;
- N comparators for comparing said sampling result to said N reference signals, and yielding N comparison results;
- N time interval analyzers for acquiring a time interval from said sampling time until a time said N comparison results satisfy a prescribed condition, and yielding N time intervals;
- and
- a calculating apparatus for determining an amplitude of a digital representation from one of said N time intervals and knowledge of a related one of said N reference signals.
3 more elements
A system for digitally converting an analog signal which comprises:
- N samplers, where N is at least 2, for sampling said analog signal at mutually different times and yielding N sampling results;
- N reference signal sources for generating N reference signals synchronized to said sampling;
- N comparators for comparing said N sampling results of said mutually different sampling to said related N reference signals, and yielding N comparison results;
- N time interval analyzers for acquiring a time interval from said mutually different times until a time a related one of said N comparison results satisfies a prescribed condition, and yielding N time intervals;
- and
- a calculating apparatus for determining an amplitude of a digital representation from one of said N time intervals and knowledge of a related one of said N reference signals.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.