US4345241A
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Analog-to-digital conversion method and apparatus
Assignee: Tektronix Japan Corp
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Filing: 1981-01-12
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Granted: 1982-08-17
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Expires: 2001-01-12
Abstract
Abstract A high speed analog-to-digital conversion method and apparatus including a plurality of parallel analog-to-digital converters is disclosed. A clock signal is applied to each of the analog-to-digital converters at different phase relation to increase the equivalent sampling frequency by multiplexing the outputs into a serial form. A reference signal such as a linear ramp or sawtooth signal is used to maintain the correct phase relation, thereby eliminating any errors due to differences in electrical characteristics among the analog-to-digital converters. Such correction may be performed automatically by using a CPU before digitizing an analog input signal or at any desired time.
Inventors
- 👤 Sumio Takeuchi
- 👤 Rikichi Murooka
- 👤 Jun Sakamoto
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 22:39
CPC Classifications
H; H03; H03M; H03M1/00; H03M1/06; H03M1/0617; H03M1/0624; H03M1/08; H03M1/0836; H03M1/12; H03M1/1205; H03M1/121; H03M1/1215
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
93 words
An analog-to-digital conversion apparatus, comprising: a plurality of analog-to-digital converters arranged in parallel for converting an analog input signal into a digital signal; clock signal generation means for driving said analog-to-digital converters at different phases to each other; a reference signal generator for generating a reference signal to be digitized by said analog-to-digital converters; and control means for controlling the phase relation of the clock signals from said clock signal generation means to be applied to each of said analog-to-digital converters in response to the outputs thereof when the reference signal is digitized.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
93 words
An analog-to-digital conversion apparatus, comprising: a plurality of analog-to-digital converters arranged in parallel for converting an analog input signal into a digital signal; clock signal generation means for driving said analog-to-digital converters at different phases to each other; a reference signal generator for generating a reference signal to be digitized by said analog-to-digital converters; and control means for controlling the phase relation of the clock signals from said clock signal generation means to be applied to each of said analog-to-digital converters in response to the outputs thereof when the reference signal is digitized.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
An analog-to-digital conversion apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein said reference signal generator is a ramp signal generator.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
An analog-to-digital conversion apparatus in accordance with claim 2, wherein said control means includes arithmetic operation means for comparing the differences of digital outputs digitized by said analog-to-digital converters at sequential time points.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
An analog-to-digital conversion apparatus in accordance with claim 3, wherein said arithmetic operation means takes the average of digital outputs digitized at different portions of the reference signal.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
An analog-to-digital conversion apparatus in accordance with claim 1 further including multiplexing means for converting the parallel digital outputs from said plurality of analog-to-digital converters into a serial output.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
89 words
An analog-to-digital conversion apparatus, comprising: a first analog-to-digital converter and a second analog-to-digital converter arranged in parallel; a clock generator for applying a clock signal of different phase to said first and second analog-to-digital converters; a reference signal generator for generating a reference signal; means for applying either an analog input signal or the reference signal to said first and second analog-to-digital converters; and phase control means for controlling the relative digitizing time of said first and second analog-to-digital converters in response to digitized data of the reference signal.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
89 words
An analog-to-digital conversion apparatus, comprising: a first analog-to-digital converter and a second analog-to-digital converter arranged in parallel; a clock generator for applying a clock signal of different phase to said first and second analog-to-digital converters; a reference signal generator for generating a reference signal; means for applying either an analog input signal or the reference signal to said first and second analog-to-digital converters; and phase control means for controlling the relative digitizing time of said first and second analog-to-digital converters in response to digitized data of the reference signal.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
30 words
An analog-to-digital conversion apparatus in accordance with claim 6 further including a multiplexer for converting the digital outputs from said first and second analog-to-digital converters into a serial digital data.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
33 words
An analog-to-digital conversion apparatus in accordance with claim 6 or 7, wherein said clock generator includes a flip-flop to provide a complementary square wave operably coupled to said first and second analog-to-digital converters.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
44 words
An analog-to-digital conversion apparatus in accordance with claim 8 wherein the complementary square wave is applied to said first analog-to-digital converter through a fixed delay line and to said second analog-to-digital converter through a variable delay circuit under control of said phase control means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
31 words
An analog-to-digital conversion apparatus in accordance with claim 8 wherein said phase control means controls the phase of the analog input signal to be applied to one of said analog-to-digital converters.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
111 words
An analog-to-digital conversion method including first and second analog-to-digital converters, comprising the steps of: applying a reference signal to both of said first and second analog-to-digital converters; digitizing the reference signal at sequentially different time points by applying a clock signal of different phase to each other to said first and second analog-to-digital converters; performing arithmetic operation of sequential data digitized by said first and second analog-to-digital converters; controlling the phase of said clock signal for said second analog-to-digital converter to digitize exactly the center time point of two succeeding digitize times of said first analog-to-digital converter; and then applying an analog input signal to said first and second analog-to-digital converters.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
111 words
An analog-to-digital conversion method including first and second analog-to-digital converters, comprising the steps of: applying a reference signal to both of said first and second analog-to-digital converters; digitizing the reference signal at sequentially different time points by applying a clock signal of different phase to each other to said first and second analog-to-digital converters; performing arithmetic operation of sequential data digitized by said first and second analog-to-digital converters; controlling the phase of said clock signal for said second analog-to-digital converter to digitize exactly the center time point of two succeeding digitize times of said first analog-to-digital converter; and then applying an analog input signal to said first and second analog-to-digital converters.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
30 words
An analog-to-digital conversion method in accordance with claim 11 further including the step of multiplexing the digital outputs from said first and analog-to-digital converters to provide a serial digital output.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1985-08-16 | 1986-02-15 | 1986-08-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1989-08-16 | 1990-02-15 | 1990-08-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1993-08-16 | 1994-02-15 | 1994-08-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |