Asynchronous analog-to-digital converter and method
AssigneeCornell Research Foundation, Inc.
InventorsFilipp Akopyan, Alyssa Apsel, Rajit Manohar
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for converting an analog input signal to a digital output signal, provide for simultaneously comparing the input signal to a sequential multiplicity of reference values representing a range of values of the input signal, and asynchronously processing digital results from simultaneous comparison to produce a digital representation of level crossings of the input signal with respect to the multiplicity of reference values.
Claims20
An analog to digital converter for digitally representing the value of an input signal, comprising:
- reference circuitry adapted for simultaneously providing three or more sequential reference values representing a range of values for the input signal;
- a separate comparator representing each different reference value and coupled to receive its respective reference value at a first input thereof,
- wherein each comparator includes a second input coupled to receive the input signal;
- and
- asynchronous circuitry coupled to the separate comparators and adapted for digitally indicating the value of the input signal in response to level crossings between the input signal and the sequential reference values.
A method for converting an analog input signal to a digital output signal, comprising the steps of:
- simultaneously providing three or more sequential reference values representing a range of values for the input signal;
- comparing the input signal to the three or more sequential reference values;
- and
- asynchronously processing digital results from the step of comparing to produce a digital representation of level crossings of the input signal with respect to the three or more reference values, in response to each such level crossing.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.