Patent · US Expired

Analog-digital converter using current controlled voltage reference

US5592167A · kind A · utility

51Cited by
6References
21Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateOct 19, 1994
Grant dateJan 7, 1997
Priority date
Expiry dateOct 19, 2014

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH03M1/365
  • WIPO fieldBasic communication processes
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A current driven span voltage source for use in an analog to digital converter includes a zero reference resistor serially connected with a resistor ladder. A first current source selectively passes a part of a first current through the resistor ladder to establish a span (gain) voltage range, and a second current source selectively passes a part of a second current through the zero reference resistor to establish a zero reference voltage for the span voltage range. The controlled current sources increase speed, reduce power and thermal noise, and improve temperature related performance as compared with voltage driven span and reference sources using operational amplifiers.

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