A method of generating a digital signal corresponding to an analog signal by using four A/D conversion stages STG1, STG2, STG3, STG4 connected in a loop, each of these A/D conversion stages including first and second capacitors and an operational amplification circuit, the operational amplification circuit having an inverting input connected to one terminal of the first and second capacitors, and each A/D conversion stage generating a signal of a digital value in the relevant A/D conversion stage;
- the method comprising the steps of:
- (a) connecting another terminal of the second capacitor to a reference potential line, connecting an output of the operational amplification circuit and the inverting input of the operational amplification circuit with each other, and applying a reference voltage to another terminal of the first capacitor to arrange electric charges in the first and second capacitors of the A/D conversion stage STG1, and further performing a predetermined conversion operation of an analog signal in the A/D conversion stage STG2 to generate a conversion value in the output of the operational amplification circuit, and providing the conversion value to the A/D conversion stage STG3, and performing a predetermined sampling operation in the A/D conversion stage STG3, the conversion value corresponding to the analog signal;
- (b) after the step (a), connecting the first capacitor between an output and the inverting input of the operational amplification circuit in the A/D conversion stage STG1 and applying the reference voltage to the other terminal of the second capacitor to generate a conversion value in the output of the operational amplification circuit, to supply the conversion value to the A/D conversion stage STG2 and to perform the predetermined sampling operation in the A/D conversion stage STG2,
- performing the predetermined conversion operation of a signal sampled in the A/D conversion stage STG3 to generate a conversion value in the output of the operational amplification circuit, supplying this conversion value to the A/D conversion stage STG4 to perform the predetermined sampling operation in the A/D conversion stage STG4, the conversion value being associated with the sampled signal;
- (c) performing the predetermined conversion operation of a signal sampled in the A/D conversion stage STG2 to generate a conversion value in the output of the operational amplification circuit, and supplying this conversion value to the A/D conversion stage STG3, the conversion value being associated with the sampled signal,
- performing the predetermined sampling operation in the A/D conversion stage STG3, then performing the predetermined conversion operation of a signal sampled in the A/D conversion stage STG4 to generate a conversion value in the output of the operational amplification circuit, and supplying this conversion value to the A/D conversion stage STG1 to perform the predetermined sampling operation in the A/D conversion stage STG1, the conversion value being associated with the sampled signal;
- and
- (d) performing the predetermined conversion operation of a signal sampled in the A/D conversion stage STG3 to generate a conversion value in the output of the operational amplification circuit, supplying this conversion value to the A/D conversion stage STG4 to perform the predetermined sampling operation in the A/D conversion stage STG4, the conversion value being associated with the sampled signal,
- then performing the predetermined conversion operation of a signal sampled in the A/D conversion stage STG1 to generate a conversion value in the output of the operational amplification circuit, supplying this conversion value to the A/D conversion stage STG2 to perform a predetermined sampling operation in the A/D conversion stage STG2, the conversion value being associated with the sampled signal,
- wherein the predetermined sampling operation comprises the step of storing electric charges in the first capacitor and the second capacitor, the electric charges corresponding to an input analog signal;
- and
- wherein the predetermined conversion operation comprises the step of connecting the first capacitor between an output of the operational amplification circuit and an inverting input of the operational amplification circuit, and supplying a conversion analog signal to another terminal of the second capacitor to generate a conversion value in the output of the operational amplification circuit and rearrange the electric charges of the first and second capacitor, the conversion analog signal being associated with a digital signal, and the digital signal indicating an A/D conversion result in the A/D conversion stage.