Multiplex Patents (Class 341/141)
  • Publication number: 20100238058
    Abstract: A multi-input analog to digital converter (“ADC”) to accept and process multiple inputs. The analog multiplexer is integrated with an amplifier chopper circuit to form a high precision, temperature stable, ADC circuit with multiple inputs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2010
    Publication date: September 23, 2010
    Applicant: Ohaus Corporation
    Inventor: John B. Scaduto
  • Patent number: 7800523
    Abstract: There is provided a signal processor with a plurality of antennas connected for transmitting and receiving wireless signals, including a plurality of analog reception processing units, AD converters, DA converters, and analog transmission processing units, wherein each of the analog reception processing units converts the wireless signal received through the antenna into an analog baseband signal and outputs the signal to the AD converter, each of the DA converters converts the digital baseband signal into analog format and outputs the signal, and each of the analog transmission processing units shifts the frequency band of the analog baseband signal output from the DA converter to the high frequency side. The signal processor further includes a transmission switch which switches among the DA converters respectively connected to the analog transmission processing units and a reception switch which switches among the AD converters respectively connected to the analog reception processing units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroaki Takano, Tomoya Yamaura
  • Patent number: 7791512
    Abstract: A physical layer (PHY) device includes a first encoder that receives a first data stream at a first data rate, that encodes the first data stream using a first type of encoding, and that outputs first encoded data. A second encoder receives a second data stream at a second data rate different than the first data rate, encodes the second data stream using a second type of encoding different than the first type of encoding, and outputs second encoded data. An output selector outputs the first encoded data to a serializer of the PHY when the PHY transmits at the first data rate, and outputs the second encoded data to the serializer when the PHY transmits at the second data rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: Marvell International Ltd.
    Inventors: William Lo, Calvin Fang
  • Patent number: 7786918
    Abstract: An A/D conversion circuit includes an amplifier circuit that includes a plurality of amplifiers that are cascaded, a selector that selects one of output signals output from the plurality of amplifiers and outputs the selected output signal as a selector output signal, an A/D converter that A/D-converts the selector output signal output from the selector, a determination circuit that determines whether or not a voltage of the output signal output from each of the plurality of amplifiers is within a determination voltage range specified by a high-potential-side determination voltage and a low-potential-side determination voltage, and a control circuit that instructs the selector to select one of the output signals output from the plurality of amplifiers based on the determination result of the determination circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Akihiro Fukuzawa, Nobuyuki Imai, Satoru Ito
  • Publication number: 20100214140
    Abstract: Successive approximation register (SAR) analog-to-digital converters (ADCs) generally employ capacitive digital-to-analog converters (CDACs) to perform data conversions. In these CDACs, matching of capacitive values is important, and for conventional high resolution SAR ADCs, complex trimming or calibration procedures can be too costly. Here, however, a SAR ADC is provided that performs error correction so as to reduce the overall cost compared to conventional SAR ADCs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2010
    Publication date: August 26, 2010
    Applicant: Texas Instruments Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Michael Reinhold, Frank Ohnhaeuser, Mikael Badenius
  • Patent number: 7773015
    Abstract: To avoid the measurement disturbances occurring in a conventional, multi-channel measurement data acquisition apparatus there is proposed a multi-channel measurement data acquisition apparatus which includes at least one analog input assembly having a plurality of analog inputs, a controllable electronic analog signal switch device (12) and a central controllable analog-digital converter, wherein the channels of the analog inputs can be successively switched through by means of the analog signal switch device so that the analog signals at the inputs of the individual channels are successively applied as input signals to the central analog-digital converter, and wherein the electronic analog signal switch device and/or the analog-digital converter have control inputs connected to associated control lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Inventor: Peter Renner
  • Publication number: 20100188276
    Abstract: Systems and methods for processing a plurality of input signals are provided. A plurality of selection signals are received. Each of the plurality of selection signals is representative of one of a plurality of input signal characteristics. Each of the input signal characteristics is associated with one of the plurality of input signals. The plurality of input signals are converted into at least one digital waveform. A plurality of signal values may be extracted from the at least one digital waveform based on the plurality of input signal characteristics. An output signal may be generated based on each of the plurality of signal values.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2009
    Publication date: July 29, 2010
    Applicant: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Scot Griffith, Jef Sloat, Richard May
  • Patent number: 7760118
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an electronic device for analog-to-digital conversion including a sigma-delta modulator (SD), a digital filter (FIL) for digital post processing of the output signal of the sigma-delta modulator (SD), a multiplexer (MUX) for switching the input (INSD) of the sigma-delta modulator between a first input signal (IN1) and a second input signal (IN2), a memory (MEM) adapted to hold the register content of the digital filter relating to the first input signal while the second input signal (IN2) is processed in the digital filter, and a controller (CNTL) to retrieve the register contents from the memory (MEM) when processing of the first input signal (IN1) in the digital filter is resumed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventor: Volker Rzehak
  • Patent number: 7755527
    Abstract: A mixed signal integrated circuit device, e.g., digital-to-analog converter (DAC), has a serial interface communication protocol that accesses volatile and/or non-volatile memory and allows a preprogrammed output voltage whenever the mixed signal device is powered-up. However, unlike conventional DACs, DACs with non-volatile memory may need special interface communication protocols for effective operation of the DAC and communications between a system master controller unit (MCU). Interface communications protocols that do not violate standard serial bus communications protocols are provided for communicating between the volatile and non-volatile memories of the DAC so that the MCU may access the DAC's memories (non-volatile and/or volatile memories). The mixed signal integrated circuit device has a user programmable address.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2010
    Assignee: Microchip Technology Incorporated
    Inventors: Thomas Youbok Lee, Yann Johner, Philippe Gimmel, Tim Sherman, Jonathan Jackson, John Austin
  • Publication number: 20100164772
    Abstract: An amplifier for amplifying a pulse-like signal output from a secondary side of an isolating transformer, a capacitor connected to a negative feedback loop across the input and output of the amplifier, and a timing control circuit for controlling an FET into a closed state, then controlling a switch into a closed state, and after that controlling the switch into an open state at timing simultaneously with the FET or earlier than the FET are provided, and when the switch is controlled into the open state, an AD converter converts the output signal of the amplifier to a digital signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2008
    Publication date: July 1, 2010
    Applicant: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Seiichi Saito, Yoshihiro Akeboshi
  • Publication number: 20100149006
    Abstract: Four (4) unshielded twisted pairs of wires connect a hub and a computer in an Ethernet system: one (1) pair for transmission only, another for reception only and the other two (2) for transmission and reception. The signals in the wires are in packets each having timing signals defining a preamble and thereafter having digital signals representing information as by individual ones of three (3) amplitude levels. The signals received at the computer are provided with an automatic gain control (AGC) and then with digital conversions at a particular rate. A control loop operative upon the digital conversions regulates the AGC gain at a particular value. An equalizer operative only during the occurrence of the digital signals in each packet selects an individual one of the three (3) amplitude levels closest to the amplitude of each digital conversion at the time assumed to constitute the conversion peak.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2009
    Publication date: June 17, 2010
    Applicant: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Henry Samueli, Mark Berman, Fang Lu
  • Publication number: 20100127907
    Abstract: A method reading bank register values is provided. Register values are stored in a readback bank. The register values are output sequentially from the serial bank. An indicator is received by the serial bank. A determination is then made as to whether the indicator was received by the serial bank prior to completion of the outputting of the register values. If the indicator was received prior to completion of the outputting of the register values, the register values are loaded into the serial bank from the readback bank.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2008
    Publication date: May 27, 2010
    Applicant: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Rahul Prakash, Keith C. Brouse, Joselito L. Parguian
  • Patent number: 7724169
    Abstract: The manufacturing yield of an A/D converter semiconductor chip is significantly increased by utilizing a number of A/D converter circuits that include a group of redundant A/D converter circuits. As a result, the semiconductor chip can be wired to form a “good” A/D converter semiconductor chip as long as the number of “bad” A/D converter circuits does not exceed the number of redundant A/D converter circuits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2010
    Assignee: National Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventor: David Michael Boisvert
  • Patent number: 7724173
    Abstract: A method for operating a time-interleaved analog-to-digital converter for converting an analog input to a digital output using a time-interleaved analog-to-digital converter, wherein the time-interleaved analog-to-digital converter comprises an array of M sub ADCs (ADC1, ADC2, . . . , ADCM), where M is an even integer, and each row of the array comprises one of the M sub ADCs. The method comprises the step of, for every sampling instant n, where n is an integer in a sequence of integers, converting the analog input by means of the sub ADC in row k(n) of the array, wherein 1?k(n)?M. A value between 1 and M is assigned to k(n) for the first sample instant, and k(n+1) is selected such that a) k(n+1)>M/2 if k(n)?M/2, otherwise k(n+1)?M/2; b) M/2?1?|k(n+1)?k(n)|?M/2+1; and c) k(n+1)=k(m+1) if and only if n?m is an integer multiple of M. A time interleaved analog-to-digital converter operating in accordance with the method is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2010
    Assignee: Zoran Corporation
    Inventor: Staffan Gustafsson
  • Patent number: 7710299
    Abstract: There is provided a demodulator system comprising a first input to receive a first analog signal at a first rate; a second input to receive a second analog signal at the first rate; a MUX coupled to the first input and the second input to receive the first analog signal and the second analog signal, and to multiplex the first analog signal and the second analog signal to generate a multiplexed analog output; an ADC to receive the multiplexed analog output and generate a multiplexed digital output, the ADC operating at a second rate, the second rate substantially equal to the first rate multiplied by a total number of input analog signals; a DEMUX to receive the multiplexed digital output and generate a first digital output having a first bitstream and a second digital output having a second bitstream corresponding to the first analog signal and the second analog signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2010
    Assignee: Conexant Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Chinh Luong Hoang, Burcin Serter Ergun
  • Publication number: 20100103011
    Abstract: A data converter includes multiple analog to digital converters (ADCs) and uses a reduced number of data ports at the digital interface for transferring signal samples. The bits of the signal samples generated in parallel by the ADCs are multiplexed into fewer data streams than the number of ADCs. The data ports transfer the data streams at a higher data transfer rate than the bit rate of the samples output from the ADCs. Unused data ports are powered down, decreasing power consumption and system complexity. A host device receives the data streams using fewer input data ports and demultiplexes the received data streams to reproduce the signal samples. Efficient data transfer to a data converter including multiple digital to analog converters (DACs), from a source device generating multiple digital signals can also use fewer data ports having higher data transfer rates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2009
    Publication date: April 29, 2010
    Applicant: SAMPLIFY SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventor: MICHAEL V. NANEVICZ
  • Publication number: 20100103010
    Abstract: A two-step ADC is provided that achieves significant improvements in the settling time window available for CDAC conversion, FADC sub-ranging and FADC conversion without increasing the amount of chip area or power that are consumed by the ADC. The ADC uses interleaved sampler/buffer circuits to sample the incoming analog signal on different phases of the clock signal. MUXes provide the samples obtained by the sampler/buffer circuits to the CADC and FADC circuits in ping pong fashion in such a way that the CADC and FADC circuits are converting during every clock period. In addition, these improvements are achieved without increasing the number of potential sources of bit decision mismatches in the two-step sub-ranging ADC.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2008
    Publication date: April 29, 2010
    Applicant: Agere Systems Inc.
    Inventor: Zailong Zhuang
  • Patent number: 7705756
    Abstract: A system for multi-channel analog-to-digital conversion has a plurality of sampling modules, wherein each of the modules includes an input node and an output node; multiplexing circuitry configured to selectively route at least one of a plurality of electrical signals present on the output nodes to an analog-to-digital converter; and control circuitry in communication with the multiplexing circuitry, wherein the control circuitry is programmatically configured to control a sequence in which the electrical signals are routed to the analog-to-digital converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2010
    Assignee: Slicex, Inc.
    Inventor: Marcellus C. Harper
  • Patent number: 7705761
    Abstract: A system comprising an radio frequency (RF) signal input; a plurality of time-skewed, undersampled analog to digital converters (ADCs); a plurality of complex finite input response (FIR) filters in parallel, wherein each complex FIR filter receives the output beam and/or band provided by the plurality of ADCs and generates a corresponding output beam of a given frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2010
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: Byron W. Tietjen, Michael J. Walsh
  • Publication number: 20100085226
    Abstract: A method of phase mismatch correction in high-sample rate time-interleaved analog-to-digital converters (ADC) is provided. An ADC parallel array has an output signal that is processed by a phase-mismatch detector. The detector drives a clock generator control circuit for the ADC array. The clock generator includes a common mode logic (CML) buffer, a CMOS, a non-overlapping generator, a DAC and a decimating low-pass filter. The CML receives a reference clock signal providing source line control (SLC) to the CMOS, the CMOS provides SLC to the DAC that is controlled by the filter which receives a digital control signal from the phase mismatch detector. The DAC provides a corrected timing input to the CMOS that provides the corrected timing signal to the non-overlap generator, where a delay in the clock path is modified and the signal path is unaltered.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2009
    Publication date: April 8, 2010
    Inventor: Kenneth C. Dyer
  • Patent number: 7688241
    Abstract: A selection circuit is used for detecting analogue signals from different inputs. For the detection of a signal switched through by means of the selection circuit, a delay time during the detection of the switched-through signal is set depending on the occurrence of a setting operation in the selection circuit. The selection circuit can have a plurality of switches each having an assigned delay time and the detection can be controlled in such a way that it does not take place until after the elapsing of the delay times of all the involved in switching through the analogue signal to be detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2010
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventor: Jens Barrenscheen
  • Patent number: 7688239
    Abstract: An A/D converter performs successive A/D conversion operations that are synchronized with respective periods of an externally supplied clock signal. A set of output digital data produced from the A/D converter, following each A/D conversion, is acquired a plurality of times in succession within an interval that extends to the start of the next A/D conversion operation. If identical sets of data are not obtained in the successive acquisitions, then it is determined that there is failure of the A/D converter due to loss of the external clock signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2010
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventor: Hiromitsu Onoda
  • Publication number: 20100073211
    Abstract: The present invention comprises a circuit for transferring N inputs, wherein N is greater than or equal to 2, across a capacitive coupling media comprising a line circuit, a coupling capacitor, and a neutral potential circuit. The line circuit comprises: (1) a data converter for each input, for sampling and converting the N inputs; (2) a multiplexer for combining the outputs of the N data converters and a synchronization signal to generate an unencoded composite bit stream; (3) a data encoder for encoding the composite bit stream. The capacitor couples the encoded composite bit stream to a data decoder. The neutral potential circuit comprises: (1) the data decoder for decoding the coupled composite bit stream, and generating a recovered data stream and a recovered clock; (2) a synchronization recovery, control logic, and de-multiplex function for providing a set of digital outputs that correspond to the inputs to the data converters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2008
    Publication date: March 25, 2010
    Inventors: Benjamin Alan Smith, Ken Tang, Victor Levi, Jeff Owens
  • Patent number: 7679538
    Abstract: A current-steering type digital-to-analog converter (DAC) is disclosed. The DAC includes a first sub-DAC, a second sub-DAC and a controlling device. Both the first sub-DAC and the second sub-DAC are configured to receive input signals. The controlling device selectively and periodically sends output signals of either the first sub-DAC or the second sub-DAC to a resistive load while sending output signals of the remaining one of the two sub-DACs to a dummy resistive load. An output of the DAC is provided at the resistive load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2010
    Inventor: Robin M. Tsang
  • Patent number: 7675444
    Abstract: The present invention comprises a circuit for transferring N inputs, wherein N is greater than or equal to 2, across a capacitive coupling media comprising a line circuit, a coupling capacitor, and a neutral potential circuit. The line circuit comprises: (1) a data converter for each input, for sampling and converting the N inputs; (2) a multiplexer for combining the outputs of the N data converters and a synchronization signal to generate an unencoded composite bit stream; (3) a data encoder for encoding the composite bit stream. The capacitor couples the encoded composite bit stream to a data decoder. The neutral potential circuit comprises: (1) the data decoder for decoding the coupled composite bit stream, and generating a recovered data stream and a recovered clock; (2) a synchronization recovery, control logic, and de-multiplex function for providing a set of digital outputs that correspond to the inputs to the data converters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Assignee: Maxim Integrated Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin Alan Smith, Ken Tang, Victor Levi, Jeff Owens
  • Patent number: 7667631
    Abstract: An integrated circuit includes a plurality of circuit groups, each circuit group containing a plurality of analog inputs, a buffer, a sample/hold circuit and a comparator. Each buffer has an input to which any of the analog inputs in its group may be programmably connected. The output of each buffer is coupled to the input of the sample/hold circuit in the group. The output of each sample/hold circuit is coupled to one input of a multiplexer. The output of the multiplexer is coupled to the input of an amplifier having programmable gain and programmable offset. The comparator in each group has inputs that may be programmably coupled to at least one analog input in the group or to a reference voltage source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2010
    Assignee: Actel Corporation
    Inventor: Limin Zhu
  • Patent number: 7663517
    Abstract: A method for configuring a circuit for providing a power OK (POK) signal is described. The method includes identifying a voltage range and voltage interval, dividing the voltage range into a plurality of segments, selecting a reference voltage for each segment, and selecting resistor values for a plurality of voltage dividers for dividing an output voltage from a precision voltage reference into each of the reference voltages. A power OK signal generator and method for generating a power OK signal are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Deepak Rao, Han Y. Ko
  • Patent number: 7663520
    Abstract: An A/D conversion apparatus performs motor current detection in an A/D conversion period corresponding to two phases out of three phases of a sinusoidal drive motor, using reduced register resources while minimizing the number of A/D converters. The A/D conversion apparatus includes: a selection unit selecting one of a plurality of input channels; an A/D converter converting an analog signal from the selected input channel to a digital signal; a start register holding a start channel number of sequential conversion; an end register holding an end channel number of the sequential conversion; a prohibition information holding unit holding prohibition information indicating an input channel to be excluded from the sequential conversion; and a control unit causing the selection unit to select, in channel number order, input channels corresponding to channel numbers from the start channel number to the end channel number except the input channel indicated by the prohibition information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Yuji Sugihara, Hisashi Kikue, Masaru Kohara
  • Patent number: 7656329
    Abstract: A time-interleaved analog-to-digital conversion apparatus is disclosed. The time-interleaved analog-to-digital conversion apparatus is applied for a television system and includes an input multiplexing module, a gain multiplexer and an analog-to-digital converter. The input multiplexing module receives a plurality of image signals, and samples the image signals according to a clock signal to generate a sample multiplexing signal. The gain multiplexer receives a plurality of gain signals and selectively transmits one of the gain signals corresponding to the sample multiplexing signal according to the clock signal, so as to generate a gain multiplexing signal. The analog-to-digital converter receives the sample multiplexing signal, the gain multiplexing signal and the clock signal. The analog-to-digital converter amplifies and converts the sample multiplexing signal to a digital signal according to the gain multiplexing signal and the clock signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2010
    Assignee: Novatek Microelectronics Corp.
    Inventor: Shang-Hsiu Wu
  • Patent number: 7656334
    Abstract: A signal-processing unit according to the present invention comprises: an input line provided with a plurality of analog input signal lines; a multiplexer circuit transmitting the plurality of analog signals from this input line to one signal line in the subsequent stage in a desired sequence; an analog-digital conversion circuit that converts an analog signal into a digital signal and outputs it; and a cross talk compensation circuit that with respect to each of signals having been sequentially outputted from the analog-digital conversion circuit, a coefficient of an effect level between this signal and the other plural signals interfering with each other is calculated, and data obtained by multiplying the signals by these coefficients are added up.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2010
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Toru Shiraki
  • Publication number: 20100022851
    Abstract: A measurement processing apparatus is disclosed for processing plurality of physiology signals. The measurement processing apparatus includes a multiplex device, an analog-to-digital conversion module and a control signal generator. The multiplex device generates a multiplex signal composed of the physiology signals with output sequence controlled by a first control signal. Furthermore, the multiplex device dispenses each physiology signal with one corresponding multiplex density based on the first control signal. The analog-to-digital conversion module converts the multiplex signal into a digital multiplex signal based on at least one adjustable bias voltage under control of a second control signal. The control signal generator generates the first control signal based on the feature values of the physiology signals. Also, the control signal generator generates the second control signal based on the voltage swing ranges of the physiology signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2009
    Publication date: January 28, 2010
    Inventor: Yang-Han Lee
  • Patent number: 7652602
    Abstract: Interface unit for voltage input signals comprising two or more input channels. The input signals of these two or more input channels are connected alternately by an analog multiplexer to an analog-to-digital converter. The A/D converter comprises an integrated sigma-delta modulator circuit which generates a digitized 1-bit signal representing the input signal voltage level for a control unit irrespective of whether the input channel signal is digital or analog. By means of the invention all input voltage channels are made similar such that the input channels of the interface unit can receive an analog or digital signal irrespective of each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2010
    Assignee: ABB Oy
    Inventor: Erkki Miettinen
  • Publication number: 20100013687
    Abstract: A method of converting a plurality of input signals on first and second converters, such that the first and second converters are both used when the plurality of signals comprises two signals, characterised in that said method comprises: selecting more than two input signals; determining the type of each selected signal; combining any signals having the same type to form a combined signal; converting one type of signal with the first converter; converting a second type of signal with the second converter wherein the first or second type signals is a combined signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2007
    Publication date: January 21, 2010
    Applicant: Freescale Semiconductor
    Inventors: Berengere Le Men, Ludovic Oddoart, Cor Voorwinden
  • Publication number: 20090303093
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for analog to digital conversion. For example, a pipelined analog to digital converter is disclosed that includes two or more comparators. A first of the comparators is operable to compare an analog input to a first voltage reference upon assertion of the first clock, and a second of the comparators is operable to compare the analog input to a second voltage reference upon assertion of the second clock. The pipelined analog to digital converters further include a multiplexer tree with at least a first tier multiplexer and a second tier multiplexer. The first tier multiplexer receives an output of the first comparator and an output of the second comparator, and the second tier multiplexer receives an output derived from the first tier multiplexer. The second tier multiplexer provides an output bit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2008
    Publication date: December 10, 2009
    Inventors: Sergey Gribok, Choshu Ito, William Loh, Erik Chmelar
  • Patent number: 7626524
    Abstract: A multi-channel sample and hold circuit includes an operational amplifier, plural electric charge setting channels. Each of the electric charge setting channels includes an input terminal, an electric charge setting capacitor, an electric charge setting switch connected between the input terminal and the electric charge setting capacitor, a channel separating switch connected between the electric charge setting capacitor and the input terminal of the operational amplifier and a holding switch and a control circuit for selecting one of the electric charge setting channels to hold a signal that is inputted to the input terminal thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventor: Masakiyo Horie
  • Publication number: 20090284401
    Abstract: A data converter includes multiple analog to digital converters (ADCs) and uses a reduced number of data ports at the digital interface for transferring signal samples. The bits of the signal samples generated in parallel by the ADCs are multiplexed into fewer data streams than the number of ADCs. The data ports transfer the data streams at a higher data transfer rate than the bit rate of the samples output from the ADCs. Unused data ports are powered down, decreasing power consumption and system complexity. A host device receives the data streams using fewer input data ports and demultiplexes the received data streams to reproduce the signal samples. Efficient data transfer to a data converter including multiple digital to analog converters (DACs), from a source device generating multiple digital signals can also use fewer data ports having higher data transfer rates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2008
    Publication date: November 19, 2009
    Applicant: SAMPLIFY SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventor: MICHAEL V. NANEVICZ
  • Publication number: 20090278717
    Abstract: There are provided in a scanning mode: a conversion sequence setting register (12) that sets the sequence in which analogue signals are to he converted; a multiplexer (1) that selects a single analogue signal (AI) sequentially from a plurality of analogue signals (AI0) to (AIn-1), in accordance with the order that is set in this conversion sequence setting register (12); an A/D converter (2) that converts the analogue signal (AI) selected by this multiplexer (1) to a digital signal (DO); a conversion result register (3) having a plurality of result registers (RR0) to (RRn-1), that stores the digital signal (DO) obtained by conversion by the A/D converter (2) in these storage regions in the order in which conversion was effected; and a back-up register (21) having result registers (BRR0) to (BRRn-1) respectively corresponding to this plurality of result registers (RR0) to (RRn-1).
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2007
    Publication date: November 12, 2009
    Applicants: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, OKI ELECTRIC INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Chongshan Yang, Hiroshi Ozaki, Kazuya Yasui, Masafumi Bam
  • Patent number: 7616143
    Abstract: An integrated circuit includes at least one analog input. A sample/hold circuit is coupled to the at least one analog input. A reconfigurable delta-sigma ADC is coupled to the sample/hold circuit. A field programmable gate array is coupled to the reconfigurable delta-sigma ADC. A configurable on-chip clock source is coupled to the reconfigurable delta-sigma ADC providing control and reprogrammable oversampling ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2009
    Assignee: Actel Corporation
    Inventor: Limin Zhu
  • Patent number: 7616140
    Abstract: An A/D converter capable of generating an interrupt for requesting a control circuit to read the results of A/D conversion, in desired timing. Analog signals input from channels selected by a channel-selecting section are input to an A/D conversion section, and are sequentially A/D-converted. The results of A/D conversion are sequentially stored in different stages of a FIFO. A stage number-counting section counts the number of the stages of the FIFO where the results of A/D conversion are stored. An interrupt signal-delivering section outputs an interrupt signal for requesting a CPU to read the results of A/D conversion when the number of stages counted by the stage number-counting section is equal to an interrupt-generating stage number set by an interrupt-generating stage number-setting section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2009
    Assignees: Fujitsu Microelectronics Limited, Fujitsu Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Masahito Ishizawa
  • Publication number: 20090273498
    Abstract: A switching voltage regulator includes, in part, N output stages, a loop ADC, a multiplexer, a current ADC, and an interrupt block. The loop analog-to-digital converter receives the N output voltages each of which is associated with one of N channels. The loop ADC is adapted to vary a duty cycle of N signals each applied to one of the N output stages that generate the N output voltages. The interrupt block is adapted to enable the multiplexer to couple an output stage to the current ADC if a difference between voltages sensed at an output stage during at least two sampling times exceeds a predefined threshold value. The interrupt block may also be adapted to enable the multiplexer to couple an output stage to the current ADC block if a difference between a voltage sensed at the output stage and a reference voltage exceeds a predefined threshold value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2008
    Publication date: November 5, 2009
    Applicant: Exar Corporation
    Inventors: Dimitry Goder, Zongqi Hu, Kendra Nguyen
  • Patent number: 7609183
    Abstract: An analog-to-digital conversion apparatus includes an interleaving section that aligns the digital data respectively output from a plurality of analog-to-digital conversion sections and generates a data sequence, and a correction arithmetic section that corrects a data value error caused by errors of frequency characteristics of the plurality of analog-to-digital conversion sections, in which the correction arithmetic section includes: a data partitioning section that generates a plurality of partition data by partitioning the data sequence, a data inserting section that inserts data with data value zero at the head or end of each of the partition data by a predetermined insertion data number to sequentially output these data, an arithmetic section that sequentially outputs data after correction made by sequentially performing correction arithmetic on the partition data, and a data connecting section that adds sequentially connects the data after correction and the data after correction following the data aft
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2009
    Assignee: Advantest Corporation
    Inventor: Koji Asami
  • Patent number: 7602328
    Abstract: A data converter (10) for digitizing an analog input signal and providing digital output data at one or more conversion cycles includes a logic circuit (28) for generating a data conversion diagnostic bit (38) having first and second logical states. The data conversion diagnostic bit toggles from one logical state to the other logical state when a conversion cycle is completed and when the digital output data from the previous conversion cycle has been read. The data conversion diagnostic bit remains at the same logical state when no conversion cycle has been completed or when no reading of the digital output data has been carried out.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2009
    Assignee: National Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Stuart H Urie, Harald Hieber
  • Publication number: 20090251345
    Abstract: An analog to digital converter (ADC) structure and method includes a photonic filter bank having at least two filters. The at least two filters are configured to create a corresponding spectral tributary from an input signal at a target rate, and the at least two filters are configured to exhibit orthogonality properties between respective tributaries. An optical/electrical (O/E) converter is coupled to each of the at least two filters in a respective spectral tributary to convert an optical input to an electrical output. An analog to digital converter (ADC) is coupled to each of the O/E converters in a respective spectral tributary to sample the electrical output at a fraction of a target rate and to convert a sampled analog electrical output into a digital signal. A synthesis filter is coupled to each of the ADCs in a respective spectral tributary to reconstruct the input signal digitally at the target rate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2008
    Publication date: October 8, 2009
    Applicant: NEC LABORATORIES AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Yue-Kai Huang, Ting Wang, Philip Nan Ji
  • Publication number: 20090243392
    Abstract: A signal processing system having different power domains is provided. The signal processing system has a first amplifier circuit operating under a first power domain; a second amplifier circuit operating under a second power domain and having a feedback configuration; a first impedance unit, coupled between an output node of the first amplifier circuit and a first input node of the second amplifier circuit; and a bias current generating circuit, coupled to the first input node of the second amplifier circuit, for providing a bias current to thereby reduce a DC current flowing through a feedback path of the second amplifier unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2008
    Publication date: October 1, 2009
    Inventor: Sheng-Jui Huang
  • Patent number: 7592942
    Abstract: An A/D conversion processing circuit includes: a switch sequentially switching over multiple inputs to select each thereof according to input bandwidth of the multiple inputs or fixedly selecting a single input; an A/D converter obtaining a digital signal through sampling on a switch output with a sampling frequency according to a necessary signal bandwidth; an interpolation section performing on each signal from a separation section which separates signals included in an A/D converter output, an interpolation processing according to a sampling timing deviation in the A/D converter, to obtain a signal where the multiple inputs are digitally converted at the same sampling timing; and an output section outputting as-is an output of the A/D converter if a signal of the single input is inputted to the A/D converter from the switch, thereby allowing commonly using a single A/D converter for multiple inputs, restraining increased circuit scale and power consumption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2009
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Susumu Komatsu, Masaki Nishikawa
  • Patent number: 7589652
    Abstract: A mixed signal device, e.g., digital-to-analog converter (DAC) device has a serial interface communication protocol that accesses volatile and/or nonvolatile memory and allows a preprogrammed output voltage whenever the mixed signal device is powered-up. However, unlike conventional DAC devices, DAC devices with non-volatile memory may need special interface communication protocols for effective operation of the DAC device and communications between a system master controller unit (MCU). Interface communications protocols that do not violate standard serial bus communications protocols are provided for communicating between the volatile and non-volatile memories of the DAC device so that the MCU may access the DAC device's memories (non-volatile and/or volatile memories).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2009
    Assignee: Microchip Technology Incorporated
    Inventors: Thomas Youbok Lee, Jonathan Jackson, John Austin, Andrew Swaneck, Yann Johner
  • Publication number: 20090224953
    Abstract: According to at least one embodiment of the invention, an apparatus may include first, second and third circuits. The first circuit receives input data and provides a plurality of first signals asserted based on the input data. The second circuit receives the plurality of first signals and provides a plurality of second signals used to select a plurality of circuit elements. The third circuit generates a control for the second circuit using a fractional data weight of the input data, the second circuit mapping the plurality of first signals to the plurality of second signals based on the control from the third circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2008
    Publication date: September 10, 2009
    Applicant: QUALCOMM INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Dongwon Seo, Gene H. McAllister, Hayg-Taniel Dabag
  • Patent number: 7586430
    Abstract: The invention relates to an integrated circuit (1) which comprises a novel bidirectional mixed signal single-wire interface (6) via which the circuit receives command information from a host and transmits conditioned analog signals to the host. In order to implement the mixed signal interface, the integrated circuit is provided with means for analog signal conditioning (2), command detection (3), and digital control (4). In a preferred embodiment of the invention, current detectors are used for command detection and respond to the current flowing through the interface connection (6) so that commands can be given even when analog signals are present on the bus. The invention relates to several methods of operation, especially methods for operating a plurality of the integrated circuits on the same mixed signal bus, and methods for the compatible operation with conventional integrated circuits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2009
    Inventor: Bernhard Engl
  • Patent number: 7579896
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for generating multiple separate analog signals using a single microcontroller output pin. The microcontroller generates a waveform that is used to concurrently generate multiple separate analog signals. The microcontroller outputs a waveform that includes a first signal from one of the microcontroller's output pins. The first signal is used to produce a first analog signal. The microcontroller then outputs a delineating signal, as part of the waveform, from the microcontroller's output pin. The delineating signal indicates the start of a next signal in the waveform. The microcontroller then outputs a second signal, as part of the waveform, from its output pin. The second signal is used to produce a second analog signal. The waveform includes the first signal that is followed by the delineating signal that is followed by the second signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2009
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Robert Allan Faust, John Daniel Upton
  • Patent number: 7576665
    Abstract: A system and a method are provided for receiving analog and digital audio input via a single audio input connector. The method includes receiving an input signal from a single audio input connector, splitting the received input signal into a first input signal and a second input signal, filtering the first input signal to pass a digital signal, filtering the second input signal to pass an analog signal, digitizing the filtered analog signal, and multiplexing the filtered digital signal and the filtered digitized analog signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2009
    Assignee: AMX LLC
    Inventors: Mark Bettin, Philip Buchholz