Rotary clock flash analog to digital converter system and method
US7609756B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 4, 2008 |
| Grant date | Oct 27, 2009 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 4, 2028 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH03M1/1215
- WIPO fieldBasic communication processes
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
System and method for converting an analog voltage to a digital signal. The system includes an input voltage sampler, a ramp generator, a comparator, a time-to-digital converter (TDC), and a multiphase oscillator, preferably a rotary traveling wave oscillator, that provides the critical system timing. The phases of the multiphase oscillator define a sampling interval during which the input voltage is sampled and held and a conversion interval during which the ramp generator, comparator, and TDC operate to convert the sampled voltage to the digital signal. The TDC samples at times provided by the phases of the multiphase oscillator to form the bits of the digital signal. The sampler, ramp generator, and comparator can be constructed from multiple fragments, one of which is selectable for calibration while the rest of the fragments are joined for normal operation. Multiple converters can be interleaved to increase the sampling rate.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.