Flash analog-to-digital converter with latching exclusive or gates
US5889487A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 5, 1997 |
| Grant date | Mar 30, 1999 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 5, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH03M1/365
- WIPO fieldBasic communication processes
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
The number of input latching comparators in a flash analog-to-digital converter is significantly reduced by merging the input latching function into exclusive OR gates used in the converter's decoding section. A latching exclusive OR gate used for this purpose employs resonant tunneling diodes as the latching devices, with hysteresis and impedance elements connected to ensure that the gate latches in a logic state that corresponds to the input analog signal. The latching logic gates operate in a current mode, enabling updated logic states to be latched in response to a periodic clock signal.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.