Logarithmic scale analog to digital converter for wide dynamic range avalanche photodiode current companding
US10794761B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 9, 2018 |
| Grant date | Oct 6, 2020 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 15, 2038 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01J2001/4466
- WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
An electronic circuit comprises an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) circuit. The ADC circuit includes a pre-amplifying transistor and a quantizer circuit. The pre-amplifying transistor includes a base, an emitter and a collector. The pre-amplifying transistor is configured to receive an input voltage at the base that varies logarithmically; and produce an output voltage at the collector according to a comparison of a reference voltage and a difference between the input voltage and a voltage at the emitter. The quantizer circuit is operatively coupled to the pre-amplifying transistor and is configured to generate a digital value for the input voltage using the output voltage produced by the pre-amplifying transistor.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.