US5264851A
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A/D converter utilizing a first reference voltage divider and level shifting of a second voltage divider by input signal
Assignee: Toshiba Corp
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Filing: 1992-04-13
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Granted: 1993-11-23
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Expires: 2012-04-13
Abstract
Abstract An A/D converter having a first divided reference voltage output circuit for dividing a first reference voltage by m and outputting a plurality of first divided reference voltages; a second divided reference voltage output circuit for dividing a second reference voltage by n and outputting a plurality of second divided reference voltages; a level shift circuit for level-shifting the plurality of second divided reference voltages in accordance with an input voltage to be A/D converted, and outputting a plurality of third divided reference voltages; a comparator circuit for comparing each of the plurality of first divided reference voltages with each of the plurality of third divided reference voltages, and outputting a combination of one of the first divided reference voltage and one of the third divided reference voltages having a smallest voltage difference therebetween; and an encoder circuit for outputting a digital signal converted from the input signal, in accordance with the combination outputted from the comparator circuit.
Inventors
- 👤 Akira Yasuda
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 18:06
CPC Classifications
H; H03; H03M; H03M1/00; H03M1/12; H03M1/34; H03M1/36; H03M1/361; H03M1/362; H03M1/363
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
152 words
An A/D converter comprising: first divided reference voltage output means for dividing a first reference voltage by m and outputting a plurality of first divided reference voltages; second divided reference voltage output means for dividing a second reference voltage by and outputting a plurality of second divided reference voltages; level shift means for level-shifting said plurality of second divided reference voltages in accordance with an input voltage to be A/D converted, and outputting a plurality of third divided reference voltages; comparator means for comparing each of said plurality of first divided reference voltages with each of said plurality of third divided reference voltages, and outputting a combination of one of said first divided reference voltage and one of said third divided reference voltages having a smallest voltage difference therebetween; and encoder means for outputting a digital signal converted from said input signal, in accordance with said combination outputted from said comparator means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
152 words
An A/D converter comprising: first divided reference voltage output means for dividing a first reference voltage by m and outputting a plurality of first divided reference voltages; second divided reference voltage output means for dividing a second reference voltage by and outputting a plurality of second divided reference voltages; level shift means for level-shifting said plurality of second divided reference voltages in accordance with an input voltage to be A/D converted, and outputting a plurality of third divided reference voltages; comparator means for comparing each of said plurality of first divided reference voltages with each of said plurality of third divided reference voltages, and outputting a combination of one of said first divided reference voltage and one of said third divided reference voltages having a smallest voltage difference therebetween; and encoder means for outputting a digital signal converted from said input signal, in accordance with said combination outputted from said comparator means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
47 words
An A/D comparator according to claim 1, wherein said first divided reference voltage output means equally divides said first reference voltage by m and said second divided reference voltage output means equally divides said second reference voltage by n, said m being not equal to said n.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
An A/D converter according to claim 2, wherein said first and second reference voltages are the same.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
An A/D converter according to claim 2, wherein said first and second reference voltages are different, and one of said first divided reference voltages is equal to said second reference voltage.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
38 words
An A/D converter according to claim 4, wherein one of said first divided reference voltages is equally divided by r, and said second reference voltage equally is divided by s, said r being not equal to said s.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
An A/D converter according to claim 5, wherein said r and said s have no common divisor other than 1.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
An A/D converter according to claim 1, wherein said level shift means adds said second divided reference voltage to said input voltage.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
An A/D converter according to claim 2, wherein said level shift means adds said second divided reference voltage to said input voltage.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
An A/D converter according to claim 1, wherein said second reference voltage is supplied from said first divided reference voltage output means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
An A/D converter according to claim 2, wherein said second reference voltage is supplied from said first divided reference voltage output means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
22 words
An A/D converter according to claim 4, wherein said second reference voltage is supplied from said first divided reference voltage output means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
22 words
An A/D converter according to claim 5, wherein said second reference voltage is supplied from said first divided reference voltage output means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
22 words
An A/D converter according to claim 6, wherein said second reference voltage is supplied from said first divided reference voltage output means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
18 words
An A/D converter according to claim 9, wherein said level shift means is included in said comparator means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
18 words
An A/D converter according to claim 10, wherein said level shift means is included in said comparator means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
18 words
An A/D converter according to claim 11, wherein said level shift means is included in said comparator means.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
18 words
An A/D converter according to claim 12, wherein said level shift means is included in said comparator means.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
18 words
An A/D converter according to claim 13, wherein said level shift means is included in said comparator means.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
154 words
An A/D converter comprising: first divided reference voltage output means for dividing a first reference voltage by m and outputting a plurality of first divided reference voltages; level shift means for level-shifting one of said first divided reference voltages in accordance with an input voltage to be A/D converted, and outputting said level-shifted first divided reference voltage; second divided reference voltage output means for dividing said level-shifted first divided reference voltage by n and outputting a plurality of second divided reference voltages; comparator means for comparing each of said plurality of first divided reference voltages with each of said plurality of second divided reference voltages, and outputting a combination of one of said first divided reference voltage and one of said second divided reference voltages having a smallest voltage difference therebetween; and encoder means for outputting a digital signal converted from said input signal, in accordance with said combination outputted from said comparator means.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
154 words
An A/D converter comprising: first divided reference voltage output means for dividing a first reference voltage by m and outputting a plurality of first divided reference voltages; level shift means for level-shifting one of said first divided reference voltages in accordance with an input voltage to be A/D converted, and outputting said level-shifted first divided reference voltage; second divided reference voltage output means for dividing said level-shifted first divided reference voltage by n and outputting a plurality of second divided reference voltages; comparator means for comparing each of said plurality of first divided reference voltages with each of said plurality of second divided reference voltages, and outputting a combination of one of said first divided reference voltage and one of said second divided reference voltages having a smallest voltage difference therebetween; and encoder means for outputting a digital signal converted from said input signal, in accordance with said combination outputted from said comparator means.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
180 words
An A/D converter comprising: first divided reference voltage output means for dividing a first reference voltage by m and outputting a plurality of first divided reference voltages; level shift means for level-shifting one of said first divided reference voltages in accordance with an input voltage to be A/D converted, and outputting said level-shifted first divided reference voltage; second divided reference voltage output means for dividing said level-shifted first divided reference voltage by and outputting a plurality of second divided reference voltages; first comparator means for comparing a plurality of optional ones of said first divided reference voltages with said input voltage; first encoder means for outputting an upper level digital signal converted from said input signal, in accordance with an output from said first comparator means; second comparator means for comparing each of said second divided reference voltages with an optional one of said first divided reference voltages selected by said first encoder means; and second encoder means for outputting a lower level digital signal converted from said input signal, in accordance with an output from said second comparator means.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
180 words
An A/D converter comprising: first divided reference voltage output means for dividing a first reference voltage by m and outputting a plurality of first divided reference voltages; level shift means for level-shifting one of said first divided reference voltages in accordance with an input voltage to be A/D converted, and outputting said level-shifted first divided reference voltage; second divided reference voltage output means for dividing said level-shifted first divided reference voltage by and outputting a plurality of second divided reference voltages; first comparator means for comparing a plurality of optional ones of said first divided reference voltages with said input voltage; first encoder means for outputting an upper level digital signal converted from said input signal, in accordance with an output from said first comparator means; second comparator means for comparing each of said second divided reference voltages with an optional one of said first divided reference voltages selected by said first encoder means; and second encoder means for outputting a lower level digital signal converted from said input signal, in accordance with an output from said second comparator means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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