Patent · US Expired

Methods and apparatus for analog-to-digital conversion

US4758821A · kind A · utility

11Cited by
1References
15Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJan 12, 1987
Grant dateJul 19, 1988
Priority date
Expiry dateJan 12, 2007

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH03M1/60
  • WIPO fieldBasic communication processes
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

An analog-digital converter includes a source of high frequency pulses comprising a variable frequency oscillator having an output frequency f which is a function of an analog condition. Also included is a source of a reference signal, preferably pulses, having a fixed frequency whose value is a fraction of the value of the frequency of the variable frequency oscillator. The first named souce also includes a counter-divider to which the output of the variable frequency oscillator is applied. The counter-divider has an output which is either f/N or f/N-M where N and M are whole integers and M is less than N. A phase comparator is responsive to the reference signal and to the output from the counter-divider for measuring the phase difference between the reference signal and the output pulses from the counter-divider. The dividing ratio of the counter-divider is under control of means responsive to the measure of phase difference such that the counter-divider is adjusted to bring the pulses from the counter-divider toward an in-phase relationship with the reference signal as seen at the phase comparator. The selection of the dividing ratio is carried out by a logic means which respond…

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.