Circuit arrangement for analog-to-digital conversion of magnitudes or signals in electrical form

Claim 2

Apparatus for converting analog electrical signals to a digital electrical signal wherein the statistical probability of a predetermined state for said digital signal is a predetermined function of said analog signals thus providing a digital representation of said analog signals that has improved digital transmission capabilities, said apparatus comprising: source means for providing said analog electrical signals, varying threshold sIgnal generator means for providing a continuous threshold electrical signal having a predetermined statistical distribution of amplitude values over a predetermined range of values, and comparison and decision means having two inputs respectively connected to receive said analog electrical signals and said threshold electrical signal and an output for supplying said digital electrical signal which digital signal changes between distinct states as a function of a predetermined comparison made between the analog electrical signals and said threshold electrical signal whereby the statistical probability of existence for a predetermined state of said digital signal is a predetermined function of said analog signals corresponding to said predetermined statistical distribution of amplitude values in said continuous varying threshold electrical signal.

Claim 3

Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said varying threshold signal generator means includes means for causing said predetermined statistical distribution of amplitude values to be a constant uniform distribution whereby the statistical probability of existence for said predetermined state of said digital signal is linearly related to the magnitude of said analog signals.

Claim 4

Apparatus as in claim 2 wherein said varying threshold signal generator means comprises a saw-tooth signal generator.

Claim 5

Apparatus as in claim 2 wherein said varying threshold signal generator means comprises a stochastic signal generator for generating a continuous stochastically varying threshold signal.

Claim 6

Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said varying threshold signal generator comprises a stochastic signal generator for generating a continuous stochastically varying threshold signal.

Claim 7

Apparatus as in claim 5 wherein said varying threshold signal generator includes means for causing the continuous stochastically varying threshold signal to correspond to a predetermined transform to be used with respect to said analog input signals.

Claim 8

Apparatus as in claim 5 wherein the stochastically varying threshold signal is statistically independent of said analog signals.

Claim 9

Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said varying threshold signal generator means includes means for causing said predetermined statistical distribution of amplitude values to correspond to predetermined transform functions to be applied to said analog signals.

Claim 10

Apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said comparison and decision means comprises an amplitude discriminator having two different output states depending on which input is greater than the other.

Claim 11

Apparatus as in claim 1 further comprising: a synchronizing clock generator means for supplying periodic trigger signals, and wherein said comparison and decision means includes sampling means connected to be controlled by said trigger signals and to cause said digital electrical signals to comprise a sequence of pulses/no-pulses occurring at time intervals corresponding to the occurrence of said trigger signals.

Claim 12

Apparatus for converting analog electrical signals to a digital electrical signal wherein the statistical probability of a predetermined state for said digital signal is a predetermined function of said analog signals thus providing a digital representation of said analog signals that has improved digital transmission capabilities, said apparatus comprising: first source means for providing a first analog electrical signal, first varying threshold signal generator means for providing a first continuous varying threshold electrical signal having a predetermined statistical distribution of amplitude values over a predetermined range of values, first comparison and decision means having two inputs respectively connected to receive said first analog electrical signals and said first threshold electrical signal and an output for supplying a first digital electrical output signal which digital signal changes between distinct states as a function of a predetermined comparison made between the first analog electrical signal and said first threshold electrical signal whereby the statistical probability of existence for a predetermined state of said first digital signal is a predetermined function of said first analog signal corresponding to said predetermined statistical distribution of amplitude values in said first continuous varying threshold electrical signal, second source means for providing a second analog electrical signal, second varying threshold signal generator means for providing a second continuous varying threshold electrical signal having a predetermined statistical distribution of amplitude values over a predetermined range of values, second comparison and decision means having two inputs respectively connected to receive said second analog electrical signal and said second threshold electrical signal and an output for supplying a second digital electrical output signal which digital signal changes between distinct states as a function of a predetermined comparison made between the second analog electrical signal and said second threshold electrical signal whereby the statistical probability of existence for a predetermined state of said second digital signal is a predetermined function of said second analog signal corresponding to said predetermined statistical distribution of amplitude values in said second continuous varying threshold electrical signal, and logic combining means connected to separately receive the digital signals from each of said first and second comparison and decision means and to produce a common digital output signal as a predetermined logical combination thereof whereby the probability of existence for a predetermined state of the common digital output is a predetermined function of the plurality of analog signals input to the apparatus.

Claim 13

Apparatus for converting analog electrical signals to a digital electrical signal wherein the statistical probability of a predetermined state for said digital signal is a predetermined function of said analog signals thus providing a digital representation of said analog signals that has improved digital transmission capabilities, said apparatus comprising: first source means for providing a first analog electrical signal, first varying threshold signal generator means for providing a first continuous varying threshold electrical signal having a predetermined statistical distribution of amplitude values over a predetermined range of values, first comparison and decision means having two inputs respectively connected to receive said first analog electrical signals and said first threshold electrical signal and an output for supplying a first digital electrical output signal which digital signal changes between distinct states as a function of a predetermined comparison made between the first analog electrical signal and said first threshold electrical signal whereby the statistical probability of existence for a predetermined state of said first digital signal is a predetermined function of said first analog signal corresponding to said predetermined statistical distribution of amplitude values in said first continuous varying threshold electrical signal, second source means for providing a second analog electrical signal, second varying threshold signal generator means for providing a second continuous varying threshold electrical signal having a predetermined statistical distribution of amplitude values over a predetermined range of values, second comparison and decision means having two inputs respectively connected to receive said second analog electrical signal and said second threshold electrical signal and an output for supplying a second digital electrical output signal which digital signal changes between distinct states as a function of a predetermined comparison made between the second analog electrical signal and said second threshold electrical signal whereby the statistical probability of existence for a predetermined state of said second digital signal is a predetermined function of said second analog signal corresponding to said predetermined statistical distribution of amplitude values in said second continuous varying threshold electrical signal, and logic combining means connected to separately receive the digital signals from each of said first and second comparison and decision means and to produce a common digital output signal as a predetermined logical combination thereof whereby the probability of existence for a predetermined state of the common digital output is a predetermined function of the plurality of analog signals input to the apparatus.

Claim 14

Apparatus as in claim 11 further comprising: at least one synchronizing clock generator means for supplying periodic trigger signals, and wherein at least one of said comparison and decision means and said logic combining means includes sampling means connected to be controlled by said trigger signals and to cause said common digital output to comprise a sequence of pulses/no-pulses occurring at time intervals corresponding to the occurrence of said trigger signals.

Claim 15

Apparatus as in claim 11 wherein the logic combining network comprises time averaging devices and differential amplifiers, the inputs of the differential amplifiers being connected to the outputs of corresponding time averaging devices'' outputs and wherein the outputs of said differential amplifiers are fed back as respectively corresponding varying threshold signals.

Claim 16

Apparatus as in claim 11 wherein the logic combining network comprises time averaging devices, differential amplifiers and reference sources, wherein at least one of the inputs of a differential amplifier is connected with the output of one time-averaging device and wherein the other input of the last-mentioned differential amplifier is connected to the output of a reference source.

Claim 17

Apparatus as in claim 11 wherein the logic combining circuit comprises a regulating circuit, the adjusted magnitude analog output of which is connected back as an analog input to at least one respectively corresponding comparison and decision means.