An improvement in sampling a
high frequency input
analog signal and converting it to a digital output
signal is disclosed. This is accomplished by using a multitude of analog-to-digital
converters in conjunction with a distributed sampling
system. This combination of multiple
converters and a distributed sampling
system allows use of conventional device
processing, such as that of 0.18 micron
silicon, and also provides accurate sampling of
very high frequency input signals. The distributed sampling
system provides multiple samplings of the input
signal by using multiple ADCs for multiple samplings, wherein each sampling is sequentially offset a fixed amount of time from the most recent preceding sampling. Each ADC has a designated
central processing unit (CPU) to obtain sufficient data transfer capabilities. The samplings from the multitude of ADCs are a series of sequential digital output values. The digital output values could be the result of samplings all at the same frequency, or at different frequencies. Types of distributed sampling systems include a multitude of elongated trace patterns interconnected in series, a multitude of
inverter pairs interconnected in series, a specific
permittivity material device, and a sequencer or multiplier. A second enhanced sampling system includes a variable sized aperture window, wherein a width of a sample pulse is narrowed through a variable
clock mechanism to produce a faster sampling rate. This variable sized aperture
window system can be used by itself, or in combination with any of the presently described multiple ADC distributed sampling systems.