High dynamic analog to digital counter

Claim 2

A high dynamic analog to digital converter, of the type comprising: (a) a means to integrate a signal to be quantified during a period, said means capable of accumulating charges originating from the signal to be quantified; (b) means to inject into the integration means quantified electric charges in a number proportional to said signal to be quantified, the injected charges being of a polarity inverse to the charges originating from the signal to be quantified, said injection means comprising a quantified charge generator provided with a quantization capacitor, firstly coupled to a reference voltage source of polarity opposite to that of the signal to be quantified; (c) fine counting means for counting a period proportional to discharge of the accumulated residual charge and calculate from this a low order value quantization of the signal; (d) said quantified charge generator and quantization capacitor, selectably switchable between the first reference voltage source and a ramp generator voltage source of polarity opposite to that of the signal to be quantified; (e) rough counting means for counting the number of injected quantified charges and calculate from these a high value quantization of the signal; (f) a triggered oscillator and control logic sequencer for alternatively coupling said quantization capacitor with the charge integrator input; and (g) a sequencer for alternatively coupling the reference voltage source and ramp generator to said quantization capacitor.

Claim 3

A converter as recited in claim 1, wherein the accumulation means comprise a plurality of capacitors, with a first capacitor connected initially to the input of an operational amplifier with integration means, and secondly to the output of said amplifier, and a second capacitor with a capacity greater than that of the first capacitor connected firstly to a constant potential and secondly to the output of said amplifier.

Claim 4

A converter as recited in claim 1, wherein the rough counting means and fine counting means comprise a common counter containing a first and a second separate input in order to receive the low and high order value quantizations.

Claim 5

A converter as recited in claim 2, wherein the rough counting means and fine counting means comprise a common counter containing a first and a second separate input in order to receive the low and high order value quantizations.

Claim 6

A converter as recited in claim 1, wherein the accumulation means comprise a plurality of capacitors, with a first capacitor connected initially to the input of an operational amplifier with integration means, and secondly to the output of said amplifier, and a second capacitor with a capacity greater than that of the first capacitor connected firstly to the input of the amplifier and secondly to the output of said amplifier.

Claim 7

A high dynamic analog to digital converter, of the type comprising: (a) a means to integrate a plurality of signals to be quantified during a period, said means capable of accumulating charges originating from the signals to be quantified; (b) means to inject into the integration means quantified electric charges in a number proportional to said signals to be quantified, the injected charges being of a polarity inverse to the charges originating from the signals to be quantified, said injection means comprising a quantified charge generator provided with a quantization capacitor, firstly coupled to a reference voltage source of polarity opposite to that of the signals to be quantified; (c) fine counting means for counting a period proportional to discharge of the accumulated residual charge and calculate from this a low order value quantization of the signals; (d) said quantified charge generator and quantization capacitor, selectably switchable between the first reference voltage source and a function generator voltage source of polarity opposite to that of the signal to be quantified; (e) rough counting means for counting the number of injected quantified charges and calculate from these a high value quantization of the signals; (f) a triggered oscillator and control logic sequencer for alternatively coupling said quantization capacitor with the charge integrator input; (g) a sequencer for alternatively coupling the reference voltage source and function generator to said quantization capacitor; and (h) a means to selectively measure and discharge a residual electric charge, including said charge generator and appropriately coupled to said quantization capacitor.

Claim 8

A high dynamic analog to digital converter, of the type comprising: (a) a means to integrate a plurality of signals to be quantified during a period, said means capable of accumulating charges originating from the signals to be quantified; (b) means to inject into the integration means quantified electric charges in a number proportional to said signals to be quantified, the injected charges being of a polarity inverse to the charges originating from the signals to be quantified, said injection means comprising a quantified charge generator provided with a quantization capacitor, firstly coupled to a reference voltage source of polarity opposite to that of the signals to be quantified; (c) fine counting means for counting a period proportional to discharge of the accumulated residual charge and calculate from this a low order value quantization of the signals; (d) said quantified charge generator and quantization capacitor, selectably switchable between the first reference voltage source and a function generator voltage source of polarity opposite to that of the signal to be quantified; (e) rough counting means for counting the number of injected quantified charges and calculate from these a high value quantization of the signals; (f) a triggered oscillator and control logic sequencer for alternatively coupling said quantization capacitor with the charge integrator input; (g) a sequencer for alternatively coupling the reference voltage source and function generator to said quantization capacitor; and (h) a means to selectively measure and discharge a residual electric charge, including said charge generator and appropriately coupled to said quantization capacitor.

Claim 9

A converter as recited in claim 6, wherein the accumulation means comprise a plurality of capacitors, with a first capacitor connected initially to the input of an operational amplifier with integration means, and secondly to the output of said amplifier, and a second capacitor with a capacity greater than that of the first capacitor connected firstly to a constant potential and secondly to the output of said amplifier.

Claim 10

A converter as recited in claim 6, wherein the rough counting means and fine counting means comprise a common counter containing a first and second separate input in order to receive the low and high order value quantizations.

Claim 11

A converter as recited in claim 7, wherein the rough counting means and fine counting means comprise a common counter containing a first and second separate input in order to receive the low and high order value quantizations.

Claim 12

A converter as recited in claim 6, wherein the accumulation means comprise a plurality of capacitors, with a first capacitor connected initially to the input of an operation amplifier with integration means, and secondly to the output of said amplifier, and a second capacitor with a capacity greater than that of the first capacitor connected firstly to the input of the amplifier and secondly to the output of said amplifier.