An encoder for encoding comparator outputs of a bank of 2**N−1 comparators into an N bit binary code is provided. The comparator outputs have redundancy so that if comparator output Cw is a binary zero, then each comparator output numbered Cx wherein x is greater than w, is binary zero, and if comparator output Cy is binary one, then each comparator output numbered Cz wherein z is less than y, is binary one. The encoder for encoding an Mth bit of the N bit binary code includes N−M+1 levels of current steering switches. The Lth level has 2**(L−1) current steering switches each connected to a current steering switch in an (L−1)th level, except when the Lth level is 1. The comparator outputs are connected to the current steering switches.