Abstract: A &Sgr;-&Dgr; analog-to-digital converter (ADC) 210 includes a multibit &Sgr;-&Dgr; modulator 216 and a feedback loop 240, 241 including a digital-to-analog converter (DAC) 241. A nonlinear filter corrector 250 coupled to the multibit output port 216o of the modulator 216 includes a transversal filter 252, weighting multipliers 256 coupled to the taps 254 of the transversal filter 252, and a summing arrangement 258, 260 coupled to the multipliers, for creating a correction signal based on an estimate of the dynamic errors of the &Sgr;-&Dgr; ADC. A calibration arrangement 280 applies an alternating calibration signal to the input port 212 of the &Sgr;-&Dgr; ADC 210, and determines, from the output signal of the modulator 216 and from the known delays L of the delay elements of the transversal filter 252, the values of the weights required to correct dynamic errors of the DAC. In one version, the weighting multipliers are look-up tables.

Abstract: A sigma-delta analog-to-digital feedback converter arrangement (10) achieves low noise and a wide dynamic range by use of a directional coupler (18) as a summing device for generating the difference signal on which the forward sigma-delta analog-to-digital converter (32) operates. The feedback is provided by a digital-to-analog reconstructor (36), which applies the reconstructed analog signal to the tap (18.sub.3) of the directional coupler (18), in which the feedback signal is summed with the analog input signal. A low-noise amplifier (28) is coupled to the output of the directional coupler (18) at which the difference signal appears, so the dynamic range of the signal traversing the low-noise amplifier is small. The high isolation between the tap (18.sub.3) of the directional coupler (18) and the source of analog signals allows the use of an input bandpass filter (16).

Abstract: The loop filter of a sigma-delta analog-to-digital converter (ADC) includes a multistage loop filter coupled to the output port of an input summer stage, for receiving difference signals therefrom. The loop filter includes a plurality of cascaded stages. All but one of the cascaded stages includes first and second cascaded half-stages, and that one of the stages includes at least one half-stage. The last one of the cascaded half-stages in the loop filter is coupled to the input port of an ADC stage for coupling loop-filtered difference signals or resonated signals thereto. The ADC stage produces the desired output digital signals. A DAC is coupled to the output of the ADC stage, for generating an analog replica of the desired digital output signals, and for coupling the replica to the input summer stage for aiding in generating the difference signals.