Thermometer coding circuitry
US6163283A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 8, 1999 |
| Grant date | Dec 19, 2000 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 8, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH03M1/747
- WIPO fieldBasic communication processes
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Coding circuitry (34), for use for example in selecting cells of a cell array in a digital-to-analog converter, produces first and second sets of thermometer-coded output signals in dependence upon a binary input signal. As the input signal increases progressively in value from a first value to a second value, the first-set output signals (COLA) are activated in a predetermined sequence and the second-set output signals (COLB) are deactivated in a predetermined sequence. As the input signal increases progressively in value from the second value to a third value, the first-set output signals are deactivated in a predetermined sequence and the second-set output signals are activated in a predetermined sequence. Such coding circuitry reduces the numbers of output signals that change in response to changes in the input-signal value. In another embodiment (FIG. 12) the coding circuitry includes respective row, column and depth decoders (58, 56, 54). The row decoder receives the two most significant bits S4 and S5 of a binary input word and derives therefrom a set of thermometer-coded row selection signals (ROW0-2). The column decoder receives the two middle-order bits S2 and S3 of the b…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.