Abstract:
Disclosed herein are systems and methods that describe statistical estimation based noise reduction for SAR ADCs. For SAR ADCs, the conversion error can be available at the comparator input. Although a noisy 1-bit comparator may not be able to produce an accurate estimation for its input if used only once, the comparison can be repeated multiple times for a designated bit of the multi-bit SAR ADC. This can allow for the improvement of the estimation accuracy by examining the probability of the comparator output being "1" or "0". The estimation of a signal from a noisy environment using multiple trials can be cast as a classic. In one aspect of the disclosure, an optimal Bayes estimator is disclosed to achieve a low estimation error from the comparator on a designated bit of the multi-bit SAR ADC.
Abstract:
A successive approximation Analogue to Digital Converter (ADC), comprising: a sample and hold device arranged to sample and hold an input signal at the beginning of a conversion cycle; a successive approximation register that sequentially builds up a digital output from its most significant bit to its least significant bit; a digital to analogue converter that outputs a signal based on the output of the successive approximation register; a comparator that compares the output of the digital to analogue converter with an output of the sample and hold device and supplies its output to the successive approximation register; and a residual signal storage device arranged to store the residual signal at the end of a conversion cycle; and wherein the successive approximation ADC is arranged to add the stored residual signal from the residual signal storage device to the input signal stored on the sample and hold device at the start of each conversion cycle. After each ADC full conversion by the SAR, the analogue conversion of the digital output is as close to the original input signal as the resolution will allow. However there remains the residual part of the input signal that is smaller than what can be represented by the least significant bit of the digital output of the SAR. In normal operation, successive outputs of a SAR for the same input will result in the same digital value output and the same residual. By storing the residual at the end of each conversion and adding the residual onto the input signal of the next conversion the residuals are accumulated over time so that they may affect the output digital value. After a number of conversions, the accumulated residuals add up to more than the value represented by the LSB of the register and the digital value will be one higher than if a conversion had been performed on the input signal alone. In this way, the residual signal affects the output value in time and thus can be taken into account by processing the digital output in the time domain.
Abstract:
The present invention provides a hybrid analogue-to-digital converter (ADC) that comprises a successive approximation analogue-to-digital converter (SAR-ADC); and a time based integrating and cyclic analogue-to-digital converter (CYC-ADC) integrated with the SAR-ADC. An input analogue signal is processed through the SAR-ADC to output a first output constituting most significant bits (MSBs) of an digital output signal and a residue signal, the residue signal is further processed through the CYC-ADC to output a second output constituting the least significant bits (LSBs). A method of carrying out the analogue to digital conversion is also provided.
Abstract:
A switched-capacitor circuit (10, 32 or 32A) samples a first signal (VIN + ) onto a first capacitor (C1 or CIN1) by switching a top plate thereof via a summing conductor (13) to a first reference voltage (VSS) and switching a bottom plate thereof to the first signal. A second signal (VIN -) is sampled onto a second capacitor (C3 or CIN3) by switching a top plate thereof to the second signal and switching a bottom plate thereof to the first reference voltage. After the sampling, the top plate of the second capacitor is coupled to the top plate of the first capacitor. The bottom plate of the second capacitor is coupled to the first reference voltage. The bottom plate of the first capacitor is coupled to a second reference voltage (VDD or VREF), to thereby cancel at least a portion of a common mode input voltage component from the first conductor (13), hold the sampled differential charge on the summing conductor and establish a predetermined common mode voltage thereon, and prevent the summing conductor from having a voltage which allows the leakage of charge therefrom. The switched-capacitor circuit may be a SAR, an integrator, or an amplifier.
Abstract:
A data converter (12) for converting analog signals to digital signals, or for converting digital signals to analog signal is provided. In one embodiment, a production self-test (520 of FIG. 19; 570 of FIG. 20) is provided. In one embodiment, a high-speed lower-resolution method or mode for a data converter is provided (620 of FIG. 22). In one embodiment, a data converter with a more stable comparator common mode voltage is provided (320 of FIG. 15). In one embodiment, the input range of a digitally calibrated data converter is provided and maintained so that there is no loss in input range due to the calibration (see 271 of FIG. 11). In one embodiment, digital post-processing of an uncalibrated result using a previously stored calibration value is provided (150 of FIG. 5; 170 of FIG. 6).
Abstract:
The analog-to-digital for converter (ADC) for converting an analog value into a digital equivalent using a parallel digital data path is disclosed. In one example embodiment, the ADC includes a switched capacitor DAC having an input to receive an analog value via analog sample and hold circuit. A comparator is coupled to the switched capacitor DAC. A successive approximation register (SAR) is coupled to the comparator. A plurality of logic blocks is coupled to the SAR. A plurality of thermometric encoders is coupled to the associated plurality of logic blocks. A plurality of MUXs is coupled to the associated plurality of thermometric encoders and the comparator, wherein the plurality of MUXs having associated outputs that is coupled to the input of the switched capacitor DAC.
Abstract:
A method for analog-to-digital conversion is provided using successive approximation and a plurality of capacitors comprising a first set of capacitors and a second set of capacitors, a first side of each of the plurality of capacitors being coupled to a common node. The method comprises sampling an input voltage on the first set of capacitors, after the step of sampling leaving a side of at least one capacitor of the first set of capacitors floating, coupling a capacitor of the first set of capacitors, which is not floating, with a capacitor of the second set of capacitors so as to redistribute the charge on the coupled capacitors, comparing the voltage on the common node with a comparator reference voltage level to receive a comparison result to be used for a bit decision, and switching the floating side of the floating capacitor of the first set of capacitors to either a first reference voltage or a second reference voltage in accordance with the bit decision.
Abstract:
A successive approximation analog to digital converter comprising a plurality of capacitors which during a successive approximation conversion are selectively connectable to a first reference or a second reference under the command of a controller, wherein during a conversion step where the connections of a given capacitor may be varied the switches to the given capacitor are both placed in a high impedance state during a decision period of a comparator.