Patent · US Expired

Analog to digital converter for highly dynamic signals, using a variable reference voltage to floating decimal point output

US4990913A · kind A · utility

18Cited by
14References
11Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateJan 23, 1989
Grant dateFeb 5, 1991
Priority date
Expiry dateJan 23, 2009

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH03M1/187
  • WIPO fieldBasic communication processes
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

An acquisition device for digitizing highly dynamic signals. After amplification in a fixed gain amplifier, the signals are applied to a sample and hold unit, the output of which is connected to an analog-to-digital converter to which a variable reference voltage is applied. This reference voltage is available at the output of a multiplexer to the inputs of which voltages are applied derived from sub-divisions of a calibrated voltage. The choice of the reference voltage is effected by a logic assembly as a function of the comparisons made by comparators between the sampled voltage and the derived voltages. The digitized signals are represented by a digital word from the converter and a digital word of gain G from the logic assembly.

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