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US5081454A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Automatic a/d converter operation using programmable sample time

Assignee: NXP USA Inc
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Filing: 1990-09-04
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Granted: 1992-01-14
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Expires: 2010-09-04
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Abstract

Abstract An analog-to-digital conversion system module and method provides programmable times for sampling analog input signals. Software involvement is minimized by providing a command word which includes information specifying a sample time. The command word may be stored in a register or memory table. The command word or words may specify the conversion time per analog input channel or group of channels, and per conversion or conversion sequence. In one embodiment a control table comprises a plurality of conversion command words (CCW's). Each CCW designates conversion parameters including the input sample time.

Inventors

  • 👤 Jules D. Campbell, Jr.
  • 👤 William D. Huston
  • 👤 Mark R. Heene

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-07 22:20
CPC Classifications
H; H03; H03M; H03M1/00; H03M1/12; H03M1/124; H03M1/1245; H03M1/34; H03M1/38; H03M1/46; G; G06; G06F; G06F3/00; G06F3/05; H03M1/1205; H03M1/122; H03M1/1225

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 34
Claim 1
Independent Claim 80 words
An analog-to-digital conversion system comprising: (a) at least one analog input terminal; (b) means for reading at least one command word, said command word designating an input sample time; (c) means responsive to said reading means for sampling an analog signal on said at least one analog input terminal for the duration of said input sample time; and (d) analog-to-digital converter means responsive to said sampling means for converting the sampled value of said analog signal into a digital value.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 80 words
An analog-to-digital conversion system comprising: (a) at least one analog input terminal; (b) means for reading at least one command word, said command word designating an input sample time; (c) means responsive to said reading means for sampling an analog signal on said at least one analog input terminal for the duration of said input sample time; and (d) analog-to-digital converter means responsive to said sampling means for converting the sampled value of said analog signal into a digital value.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 28 words
The analog-to-digital conversion system recited in claim 1 and comprising a plurality of analog input terminal, wherein said input sample time is specified for each of said terminals.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 29 words
The analog-to-digital conversion system recited in claim 1 and comprising a plurality of analog input terminals, wherein a single input sample time is specified for said plurality said terminals.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 18 words
The analog-to-digital conversion system recited in claim 1, wherein said analog-to-digital conversion system is on an integrated circuit.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 92 words
An analog-to-digital conversion system comprising: (a) at least one analog input terminal; (b) means for reading at least one command word, said command word designating an input sample time; (c) means responsive to said reading means for sampling an analog signal on said at least one analog input terminal for the duration of said input sample time; and (d) analog-to-digital converter means responsive to said sampling means for converting the sampled value of said analog signal into a digital value; and (e) means for repeating said sampling a predetermined number of times.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 92 words
An analog-to-digital conversion system comprising: (a) at least one analog input terminal; (b) means for reading at least one command word, said command word designating an input sample time; (c) means responsive to said reading means for sampling an analog signal on said at least one analog input terminal for the duration of said input sample time; and (d) analog-to-digital converter means responsive to said sampling means for converting the sampled value of said analog signal into a digital value; and (e) means for repeating said sampling a predetermined number of times.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 19 words
The analog-to-digital conversion system recited in claim 5, wherein the same input sample time is used for each sampling.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 18 words
The analog-to-digital conversion system recited in claim 5, wherein an input sample time is specified for each sampling.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 32 words
The analog-to-digital conversion system recited in claim 5 and comprising a plurality of analog input terminals, wherein said input sample time is specified for each successive sampling for each of said terminals.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 35 words
The analog-to-digital conversion system recited in claim 5 and comprising a plurality of analog input terminals, wherein said input sample time is specified for each successive sampling of said plurality of terminals as a whole.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 36 words
The analog-to-digital conversion system recited in claim 5 and comprising a plurality of analog input terminals, wherein the same input sample time is specified for each successive sampling of said plurality of terminals as a whole.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 24 words
The analog-to-digital conversion system recited in claim 5, wherein said converter means converts each sampled value of said analog signal into a digital value.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 18 words
The analog-to-digital conversion system recited in claim 5, wherein said analog-to-digital conversion system is on an integrated circuit.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 82 words
An analog-to-digital conversion system comprising: (a) a plurality of analog input terminals; (b) means for reading a plurality of command words, at least one of said command words designating an input sample time; (c) means responsive to said reading means for sampling an analog signal on each of said analog input terminals for the duration of said input sample time; and (d) analog-to-digital converter means responsive to said sampling means for converting the sampled values of said analog signals into digital values.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 82 words
An analog-to-digital conversion system comprising: (a) a plurality of analog input terminals; (b) means for reading a plurality of command words, at least one of said command words designating an input sample time; (c) means responsive to said reading means for sampling an analog signal on each of said analog input terminals for the duration of said input sample time; and (d) analog-to-digital converter means responsive to said sampling means for converting the sampled values of said analog signals into digital values.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 19 words
The analog-to-digital conversion system recited in claim 13, wherein said plurality of command words defines at least one queue.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 22 words
The analog-to-digital conversion system recited in claim 13, wherein said plurality of command words comprises a first queue and a second queue.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 43 words
The analog-to-digital conversion system recited in claim 13, wherein said sampling means is responsive to said at least one command word to repetitively sample an analog signal on one of said plurality of input terminals for the duration of said input sample time.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 24 words
The analog-to-digital conversion system recited in claim 13, wherein said input sample time is specified for each successive sampling for each of said terminals.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 27 words
The analog-to-digital conversion system recited in claim 13, wherein said input sample time is specified for each successive sampling of said plurality of terminals as a whole.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim 28 words
The analog-to-digital conversion system recited in claim 13, wherein the same input sample time is specified for each successive sampling of said plurality of terminals as a whole.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim 86 words
An analog-to-digital conversion system comprising: (a) a plurality of analog input terminals; (b) means for reading a plurality of command words, each of said command words designating an input sample time for a corresponding input terminal; (c) means responsive to said reading means for sampling an analog signal on each of said analog input terminals for the duration of said corresponding input sample time; and (d) analog-to-digital converter means responsive to said sampling means for converting the sampled values of said analog signals into digital values.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim 86 words
An analog-to-digital conversion system comprising: (a) a plurality of analog input terminals; (b) means for reading a plurality of command words, each of said command words designating an input sample time for a corresponding input terminal; (c) means responsive to said reading means for sampling an analog signal on each of said analog input terminals for the duration of said corresponding input sample time; and (d) analog-to-digital converter means responsive to said sampling means for converting the sampled values of said analog signals into digital values.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim 19 words
The analog-to-digital conversion system recited in claim 20, wherein said plurality of command words defines at least one queue.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim 22 words
The analog-to-digital conversion system recited in claim 20, wherein said plurality of command words comprises a first queue and a second queue.
Claim 27
Independent Claim 117 words
A method of converting an analog signal into a digital signal, said method utilizing a conversion system comprising at least one analog input terminal, means for reading at least one command word, said command word comprising information designating an input sample time, means for sampling an analog signal on said at least one analog input terminal, and analog-to-digital converter means for converting the sampled value of said analog signal into a digital value, said method comprising the steps of: (a) reading said at least one command word; and (b) responsive to said at least one command word, sampling an analog signal on said at least one analog input terminal for the duration of said input sample time.
Claim 28
Independent Claim 117 words
A method of converting an analog signal into a digital signal, said method utilizing a conversion system comprising at least one analog input terminal, means for reading at least one command word, said command word comprising information designating an input sample time, means for sampling an analog signal on said at least one analog input terminal, and analog-to-digital converter means for converting the sampled value of said analog signal into a digital value, said method comprising the steps of: (a) reading said at least one command word; and (b) responsive to said at least one command word, sampling an analog signal on said at least one analog input terminal for the duration of said input sample time.
Claim 29
Independent Claim 110 words
A method of converting an analog signal into a digital signal, said method utilizing a conversion system comprising a plurality of analog input terminals, means for reading a plurality of command words, each of said command words comprising information designating an input sample time, means for sampling an analog signal on said analog input terminals, and analog-to-digital converter means for converting the sampled values of said analog signals into digital values, said method comprising the steps of: (a) reading one of said command words; and (b) responsive to said command word, sampling an analog signal on one of said analog input terminals for the duration of said input sample time.
Claim 30
Independent Claim 110 words
A method of converting an analog signal into a digital signal, said method utilizing a conversion system comprising a plurality of analog input terminals, means for reading a plurality of command words, each of said command words comprising information designating an input sample time, means for sampling an analog signal on said analog input terminals, and analog-to-digital converter means for converting the sampled values of said analog signals into digital values, said method comprising the steps of: (a) reading one of said command words; and (b) responsive to said command word, sampling an analog signal on one of said analog input terminals for the duration of said input sample time.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim 23 words
The method recited in claim 24 and further comprising: (c) repeating steps (a) and (b) for each of said plurality of input terminals.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim 26 words
The method recited in claim 24 and further comprising: (d) repeating steps (a) and (b) for more than one sample of one of said input terminals.
Claim 33
Independent Claim 110 words
A method of converting an analog signal into a digital signal, said method utilizing a conversion system comprising a plurality of analog input terminals, means for reading a plurality of command words, each of said command words comprising information designating an input sample time, means for sampling an analog signal on said analog input terminals, and analog-to-digital converter means for converting the sampled values of said analog signals into digital values, said method comprising the steps of: (a) reading one of said command words; and (b) responsive to said command word, sampling an analog signal on all of said analog input terminals for the duration of said input sample time.
Claim 34
Independent Claim 110 words
A method of converting an analog signal into a digital signal, said method utilizing a conversion system comprising a plurality of analog input terminals, means for reading a plurality of command words, each of said command words comprising information designating an input sample time, means for sampling an analog signal on said analog input terminals, and analog-to-digital converter means for converting the sampled values of said analog signals into digital values, said method comprising the steps of: (a) reading one of said command words; and (b) responsive to said command word, sampling an analog signal on all of said analog input terminals for the duration of said input sample time.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1995-01-13 1995-07-15 1996-01-14 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1999-01-13 1999-07-15 2000-01-14 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2003-01-13 2003-07-15 2004-01-14 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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