Abstract: A data acquisition system comprises a signal processing chain including an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) circuit configured to: produce a digital output from an input signal; detect a specified signal feature of the input signal; and change an operating condition of an additional circuit of the signal processing chain in response to detecting the signal feature of the input signal.

Abstract: A data acquisition system comprises a signal processing chain including an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) circuit configured to: produce a digital output from an input signal; detect a specified signal feature of the input signal; and change an operating condition of an additional circuit of the signal processing chain in response to detecting the signal feature of the input signal.

Abstract: A data acquisition system comprises a signal processing chain including an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) circuit configured to: produce a digital output from an input signal; detect a specified signal feature of the input signal; and change an operating condition of an additional circuit of the signal processing chain in response to detecting the signal feature of the input signal.

Abstract: A device having a capacitive sampling structure that allows for removal of sampling noise can be implemented in a variety of applications. Noise cancellation can be achieved by storing on an auto-zero capacitor a scaled replica of kT/C noise by a mechanism of correlated sampling. In an example embodiment, a set of switches can be arranged such that, in switching, scaled thermal noise, generated in an acquisition phase in which a voltage signal is input to an input capacitor structure, is captured on an output capacitor structure and, in a conversion phase, the captured thermal noise is cancelled or compensated from an output of the output capacitor structure.

Abstract: A device having a capacitive sampling structure that allows for removal of sampling noise can be implemented in a variety of applications. Noise cancellation can be achieved by storing on an auto-zero capacitor a scaled replica of kT/C noise by a mechanism of correlated sampling. In an example embodiment, a set of switches can be arranged such that, in switching, scaled thermal noise, generated in an acquisition phase in which a voltage signal is input to an input capacitor structure, is captured on an output capacitor structure and, in a conversion phase, the captured thermal noise is cancelled or compensated from an output of the output capacitor structure.

Abstract: A data acquisition system comprises a signal processing chain including an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) circuit configured to: produce a digital output from an input signal; detect a specified signal feature of the input signal; and change an operating condition of an additional circuit of the signal processing chain in response to detecting the signal feature of the input signal.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides alternative solutions to the problem of providing a stable voltage reference to high speed ADCs that possess high sampling rates. In one example the high speed amplifier is replaced by a smaller, slower, lower power amplifier in combination with a relatively large capacitor connected to the same node as the amplifier output and the ADC reference input. The capacitor is charged substantially to the external reference voltage and hence keeps the reference input of the ADC almost at the external reference voltage between conversions, such that when conversion is about to occur and the external reference is switched in then very little charge is required from the external reference, and hence the reference signal quickly settles.

Abstract: An electronic circuit comprises multiple analog-to-digital converter (ADC) circuits and control logic circuitry. The control logic circuitry advances the multiple ADC circuits through multiple time-interleaved conversions that include time-interleaved acquisition phases, conversion phases, and tracking phases. An acquisition phase of a first ADC circuit samples the analog signal, a conversion phase of the first ADC circuit converts the sampled analog signal to a digital value, and the control logic circuitry is configured to update the first ADC circuit with most recent A/D conversion information by a different ADC circuit during a tracking phase of the first ADC circuit before the acquisition phase of the first ADC circuit.

Abstract: Input stages for an analog to digital converter wherein charge for charging parasitic capacitances in the input stage, and particularly in the input switch is sourced from a node which means that it does not have to pass through the input RC filter. This has the effect that the input RC filter can be of lower bandwidth, and/or have a larger resistor value, with the consequent result that there is lower power dissipation in the ADC drive circuitry. In one example this effect is realized by providing a separate input into which charge to charge the parasitic capacitances can be fed from external circuitry. In another example an operational amplifier having high (ideally infinite) input impedance can be used to feed charge to the input switch from the input to the RC filter, or from the node between the resistor and capacitor of the filter, again without unsettling the filter.

Abstract: Distortion in a combined sample and hold circuit and multiplexer can be reduced by dividing the sample and hold circuit and the multiplexer up into main and compensation signal channels, and considering the total error signal that arises during an acquire phase across both the switches of the multiplexer and the input switches of the sample and hold stage as a single error signal that has to be compensated. This compensation is then achieved by causing the same error voltages to be induced in both the main and compensation channels of the whole MUX and sample and hold circuit, such that errors can be made to cancel, thus improving the performance of the stage.

Abstract: Distortion in a combined sample and hold circuit and multiplexer can be reduced by dividing the sample and hold circuit and the multiplexer up into main and compensation signal channels, and considering the total error signal that arises during an acquire phase across both the switches of the multiplexer and the input switches of the sample and hold stage as a single error signal that has to be compensated. This compensation is then achieved by causing the same error voltages to be induced in both the main and compensation channels of the whole MUX and sample and hold circuit, such that errors can be made to cancel, thus improving the performance of the stage.

Abstract: A control apparatus is provided that can provide high dynamic resolution and is suitable for inclusion within an integrated circuit. The control apparatus receives a demand signal representing a desired value of a measurand, and a feedback signal representing a present value or a recently acquired value of the measurand. The processing circuit forms a further signal a further signal which is a function of the demand and feedback signals. The further signal is then subjected to at least an integrating function. The demand signal, feedback signal or the further signal is processed or acquired in a sampled manner. The use of such sampled, i.e. discontinuous, processing allows integration time constants to be synthesized which would otherwise require the use of unfeasibly large components within an integrated circuit, or the use of off-chop components. Both of these other options are expensive.

Abstract: A control apparatus is provided that can provide high dynamic resolution and is suitable for inclusion within an integrated circuit. The control apparatus receives a demand signal representing a desired value of a measurand, and a feedback signal representing a present value or a recently acquired value of the measurand. The processing circuit forms a further signal a further signal which is a function of the demand and feedback signals. The further signal is then subjected to at least an integrating function. The demand signal, feedback signal or the further signal is processed or acquired in a sampled manner. The use of such sampled, i.e. discontinuous, processing allows integration time constants to be synthesized which would otherwise require the use of unfeasibly large components within an integrated circuit, or the use of off-chop components. Both of these other options are expensive.