US4034367A — Analog-to-digital converter utilizing a random no…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 197 words

An analog-to-digital converter for converting an input analog signal into an output digital signal, comprising: reference random noise source means for generating random noise signals at a rate of uniform occurrence probability density in a given range; means for generating a triangular wave signal having an amplitude greater than the minimum amplitude increment of said random noise signal; a feed wire and return wire across which the analog signal to be converted is applied; amplitude comparator means for repeatedly comparing the amplitude of said random noise signal with that of the signal appearing on said feed wire and for supplying first output pulses in accordance with the comparisons, and for repeatedly comparing the amplitude of said random noise signal with that of the signal appearing on said return wire and for supplying second output pulses in accordance with the comparisons, the triangular wave signal being effectively superposed on one of the signals to be compared prior to the comparisons, and means responsive to the difference between the numbers of the first and second output pulses obtained from said amplitude comparator means to provide a digital output corresponding to the value of said analog signal to be converted.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 197 words

An analog-to-digital converter for converting an input analog signal into an output digital signal, comprising: reference random noise source means for generating random noise signals at a rate of uniform occurrence probability density in a given range; means for generating a triangular wave signal having an amplitude greater than the minimum amplitude increment of said random noise signal; a feed wire and return wire across which the analog signal to be converted is applied; amplitude comparator means for repeatedly comparing the amplitude of said random noise signal with that of the signal appearing on said feed wire and for supplying first output pulses in accordance with the comparisons, and for repeatedly comparing the amplitude of said random noise signal with that of the signal appearing on said return wire and for supplying second output pulses in accordance with the comparisons, the triangular wave signal being effectively superposed on one of the signals to be compared prior to the comparisons, and means responsive to the difference between the numbers of the first and second output pulses obtained from said amplitude comparator means to provide a digital output corresponding to the value of said analog signal to be converted.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 73 words

An analog-to-digital converter as claimed in claim 1 wherein said amplitude comparator means comprises a first amplitude comparator for comparing the amplitude of said random noise signal with that of the triangular wave signal superposed on the signal appearing on said feed wire, and a second amplitude comparator for comparing the amplitude of said random noise signal with that of the triangular wave signal superposed on the signal appearing on said return wire.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 72 words

An analog-to-digital converter as claimed in claim 1 wherein said amplitude comparator means is arranged on a time sharing basis for alternately effecting (a) a comparison among the amplitude of said random noise signal, the superposed triangular wave signal, and the signal appearing on said feed wire, and (b) a comparison among the amplitude of said random noise signal, the superposed triangular wave signal, and the signal appearing on said return wire.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 157 words

An analog-to-digital converter for converting an input analog signal into an output digital signal, comprising; reference random noise source means for generating random noise signals at a rate of uniform occurrence probability density in a given range; second signal generator means for generating a second signal varying uniformly in a range greater than the minimum amplitude increment of said random noise signal; amplitude comparator means for repeatedly comparing the amplitude of the random noise signal from said reference random noise source means with the amplitude of a signal varying with the analog signal to be converted, the second signal being effectively superposed upon one of the signals to be compared prior to comparison, said amplitude comparison means supplying output pulses in accordance with the comparison; and means responsive to the number of output pulses obtained from said amplitude comparator means for providing a digital output corresponding to the amplitude value of said analog signal to be converted.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 157 words

An analog-to-digital converter for converting an input analog signal into an output digital signal, comprising; reference random noise source means for generating random noise signals at a rate of uniform occurrence probability density in a given range; second signal generator means for generating a second signal varying uniformly in a range greater than the minimum amplitude increment of said random noise signal; amplitude comparator means for repeatedly comparing the amplitude of the random noise signal from said reference random noise source means with the amplitude of a signal varying with the analog signal to be converted, the second signal being effectively superposed upon one of the signals to be compared prior to comparison, said amplitude comparison means supplying output pulses in accordance with the comparison; and means responsive to the number of output pulses obtained from said amplitude comparator means for providing a digital output corresponding to the amplitude value of said analog signal to be converted.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 33 words

An analog-to-digital converter as claimed in claim 4 wherein said second signal generator means generates a triangular wave signal with an amplitude greater than the minimum amplitude increment of said random noise signal.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 44 words

An analog-to-digital converter as claimed in claim 4 wherein said second signal generator means generates a second reference random noise signal at a rate of uniform occurrence probability density in a range greater than the minimum amplitude increment of the first random noise signal.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 248 words

An analog-to-digital converter for converting an input analog signal into an output digital signal, comprising: first reference random noise source means for generating a first random noise signal at a rate of uniform occurrence probability density in a given range; second random noise source means for generating a second random noise signal at a rate of uniform occurrence probability density in a range greater than the minimum amplitude increment of said first random noise signal; a feed wire and a return wire across which the analog signal to be converted is applied; first adder means for adding up the signal appearing on said feed wire and the random noise signal from said second reference random noise source; second adder means for adding up the signal appearing on said return wire and the signal from second random noise source; amplitude comparator means for repeatedly comparing the amplitude of the output from said first adder means with that of the random noise signal from said first reference random noise source, and for repeatedly comparing the amplitude of the output from said second adder means with that of the random noise signal from said first reference random noise source, and for supplying first and second trains of output pulses in accordance with the respective comparisons; and means responsive to the difference between the numbers of pulses in the first and second trains of output pulses for providing a digital output corresponding to the value of the analog signal to be converted.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 248 words

An analog-to-digital converter for converting an input analog signal into an output digital signal, comprising: first reference random noise source means for generating a first random noise signal at a rate of uniform occurrence probability density in a given range; second random noise source means for generating a second random noise signal at a rate of uniform occurrence probability density in a range greater than the minimum amplitude increment of said first random noise signal; a feed wire and a return wire across which the analog signal to be converted is applied; first adder means for adding up the signal appearing on said feed wire and the random noise signal from said second reference random noise source; second adder means for adding up the signal appearing on said return wire and the signal from second random noise source; amplitude comparator means for repeatedly comparing the amplitude of the output from said first adder means with that of the random noise signal from said first reference random noise source, and for repeatedly comparing the amplitude of the output from said second adder means with that of the random noise signal from said first reference random noise source, and for supplying first and second trains of output pulses in accordance with the respective comparisons; and means responsive to the difference between the numbers of pulses in the first and second trains of output pulses for providing a digital output corresponding to the value of the analog signal to be converted.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 98 words

An analog-to-digital converter as claimed in claim 7 wherein the range of the random noise signal of said second reference random noise source means satisfies one of the conditions α + β = 0 α + β = 1 α + β = 2 when the value X which the random noise signal of said second reference random noise source can assume varies in the range -β d- id≦ X≦ id+ α d, where d is the minimum amplitude value of the random noise signal of said first reference random noise source, and i is an arbitrary integer.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 193 words

An analog-to-digital converter for converting an input analog signal into an output digital signal, comprising: reference random noise source means for generating random noise signals at a rate of uniform occurrence probability density in a given range; a feeding wire and a return wire across which the analog signal to be converted is applied; first switch means for deriving signals alternately from said feed wire and said return wire on a time-sharing basis; triangular wave signal generator means for generating a triangular wave signal with an amplitude greater than the minimum amplitude value of said random noise signal; amplitude comparator means for repeatedly comparing the signal derived through said first switch with the sum of said triangular wave signal and said random noise signal and for supplying output pulses in accordance with the comparisons; an up-down counter having an up input terminal and a down input terminal; second switch means operated synchronously with said first switch means for switching the output pulses from said amplitude comparator into said up input terminal or said down input terminal; and display means for displaying an output signal corresponding to the value counted by said up-down counter.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 193 words

An analog-to-digital converter for converting an input analog signal into an output digital signal, comprising: reference random noise source means for generating random noise signals at a rate of uniform occurrence probability density in a given range; a feeding wire and a return wire across which the analog signal to be converted is applied; first switch means for deriving signals alternately from said feed wire and said return wire on a time-sharing basis; triangular wave signal generator means for generating a triangular wave signal with an amplitude greater than the minimum amplitude value of said random noise signal; amplitude comparator means for repeatedly comparing the signal derived through said first switch with the sum of said triangular wave signal and said random noise signal and for supplying output pulses in accordance with the comparisons; an up-down counter having an up input terminal and a down input terminal; second switch means operated synchronously with said first switch means for switching the output pulses from said amplitude comparator into said up input terminal or said down input terminal; and display means for displaying an output signal corresponding to the value counted by said up-down counter.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1980-07-04	1981-01-03	1981-07-05	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1984-07-04	1985-01-03	1985-07-05	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1988-07-04	1989-01-03	1989-07-05	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Analog-to-digital converter utilizing a random noise source

Abstract

Inventors

Bibliographic Details

Claims Analysis

References Cited (Backward Citations)

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Assigned Categories & Tags

Assign Category Tag