5866 results about "A d converter" patented technology

An imaging system of the invention includes an image array sensor including a plurality of pixels. Each of the pixels generate a signal indicative of the amount of light received on the pixel. The imaging system further includes an analog to digital converter for quantizing the signals from the pixels into a digital value. The system further includes a memory including a plurality of allocated storage locations for storing the digital values from the analog to digital converter. The number of allocated storage locations in the memory is less than the number of pixels in the image array sensor. According to another embodiment, an imaging device includes an image sensor having a plurality pixels arranged in an array; and a multi-layer interference filter disposed over said pixel array, said multi-layer interference filter being patterned so as to provide filters of different colors to neighboring pixels or groups of pixels.

A solid state non-volatile memory unit. The memory unit includes a multi-level solid state non-volatile memory array adapted to store data characterized by a first number of digital levels. The memory unit also includes an analog-to-digital converter having an input and an output. The input of the analog-to-digital converter is adapted to receive data from the multi-level solid state non-volatile memory array. The output of the analog-to-digital converter is adapted to output a digital signal characterized by a second number of digital levels greater than the first number of digital levels.

A scanning device for scanning coded data indicative of a plurality of locations disposed on a surface is provided. The device generates interaction data based on the sensed coded data. The scanning device comprises a laser source for exposing a coded data portion, a photodetector, an analog to digital converter, a framestore, an image processor and a host processor.

Systems for diagnosing / monitoring structural health conditions of objects. The system, which monitors structural health conditions by use of a plurality of patch sensors attached to an object, includes at least one bridge box and at least one relay switch array module having a plurality of switches. Each of the patch sensors is adapted to perform at least one of generating a wave upon receipt of an actuator signal and developing a sensor signal. The bridge box includes an analogue-to-digital converter (ADC) for converting the sensor signal to a digital signal. The switches are adapted to establish a channel between a selected one of the patch sensors and the ADC.

The invention provides a body-worn monitor featuring a processing system that receives a digital data stream from an ECG system. A cable houses the ECG system at one terminal end, and plugs into the processing system, which is worn on the patient's wrist like a conventional wristwatch. The ECG system features: i) a connecting portion connected to multiple electrodes worn by the patient; ii) a differential amplifier that receives electrical signals from each electrode and process them to generate an analog ECG waveform; iii) an analog-to-digital converter that converts the analog ECG waveform into a digital ECG waveform; and iv) a transceiver that transmits a digital data stream representing the digital ECG waveform (or information calculated from the waveform) through the cable and to the processing system. Different ECG systems, typically featuring three, five, or twelve electrodes, can be interchanged with one another.

A transceiver for a RFID reader and a transceiver for a RFID transponder (tag) allow communication between the two devices. The RFID reader utilizes an analog front end and a digital backend. In the receiver portion of the transceiver, the front end of the RFID reader uses a pair of down-conversion mixers to demodulate a received signal into in-phase (I) and quadrature (Q) components and analog-to-digital converters (ADC) digitize the signal. A digital signal processor (DSP) in the back end processes the digital signal and uses a matched filter for data detection. The RFID tag receives an inductively coupled signal from the reader and the receiver portion of the tag uses a pulse / level detector that employs an analog comparator and a sample and hold circuit to detect the received signal. A digital decoder / controller is used to decode the incoming data and to establish a sampling clock for the pulse / level detector. An automatic gain control (AGC) circuit adjusts a receiver gain according to the received signal strength and controls tuning of magnetic coupling circuitry.

A highly miniaturized electronic data acquisition system includes MEMS sensors that can be embedded onto moving device without affecting the static / dynamic motion characteristics of the device. The basic inertial magnetic motion capture (IMMCAP) module consists of a 3D printed circuit board having MEMS sensors configured to provide a tri-axial accelerometer; a tri-axial gyroscope, and a tri-axial magnetometer all in communication with analog to digital converters to convert the analog motion data to digital data for determining classic inertial measurement and change in spatial orientation (rho, theta, phi) and linear translation (x, y, z) relative to a fixed external coordinate system as well as the initial spatial orientation relative to the know relationship of the earth magnetic and gravitational fields. The data stream from the IMMCAP modules will allow the reconstruction of the time series of the 6 degrees of freedom for each rigid axis associated with each independent IMMCAP module.

A vapor sensing device that is sufficiently small and lightweight to be handheld, and also modular so as to allow the device to be conveniently adapted for use in sensing the presence and concentration of a wide variety of specified vapors. The device provides these benefits using a sensor module that incorporates a sample chamber and a plurality of sensors located on a chip releasably carried within or adjacent to the sample chamber. Optionally, the sensor module can be configured to be releasably plugged into a receptacle formed in the device. Vapors are directed to pass through the sample chamber, whereupon the sensors provide a distinct combination of electrical signals in response to each. The sensors of the sensor module can take the form of chemically sensitive resistors having resistances that vary according to the identity and concentration of an adjacent vapor. These chemically sensitive resistors can each be connected in series with a reference resistor, between a reference voltage and ground, such that an analog signal is established for each chemically sensitive resistor. The resulting analog signals are supplied to an analog-to-digital converter, to produce corresponding digital signals. These digital signals are appropriately analyzed for vapor identification. The device can then subsequently transmit the digital signals over a computer network, such as the Internet, for analysis at a remote location.

A power control circuit is provided containing a switch array, which includes segmented switches, a flying capacitor, an output voltage terminal, a feedback loop, and a digital voltage regulator block. The digital voltage regulator block includes an A / D converter, an encoder, an add-subtractor, and a gate logic. These power control circuits do not include pass transistors. A method is also provided, where the charge pumps of the power control circuit are operated in two-phase cycles including a charging phase and a pumping phase. The power control circuit is controlled in both of these phases, thereby reducing the ripple of the output voltage.

An A / D converter includes a resistor ladder for generating a plurality of reference potentials, a comparing section for comparing each of the reference potentials against an input analog signal to output a thermometric code, and a dynamic encoder composed of a combinational circuit to encode the thermometric code to a binary code by responding a clock signal. The A / D conversion is finished in a single clock cycle at a high speed, with a reduced number of elements and reduced power dissipation.

A scanning device for: scanning coded data disposed on a surface; and generating interaction data based on the sensed coded data, the interaction data being indicative of interaction of the scanning device with the surface; the coded data including, at a plurality of locations on the interface surface, a corresponding plurality of coded data portions, the scanning device comprising: (a) a laser source and scan optics configured to emit a scanning beam through an aperture in a housing of the scanning device, the scanning beam being directed in first and second orthogonal directions to thereby generate a raster scan pattern over a scanning patch, the scanning patch being positioned to cause the exposure of the at least one coded data portion when the surface and the sensing device are positioned operatively with respect to each other; (b) a photodetector for detecting reflection of the scanning beam from the surface, thereby to capture sample information; (c) at least one analog to digital converter for converting the captured sample information into sample data; (d) a first framestore for storing successive sample data as image data; (e) an image processor for processing the image data to generate processed image data; (e) a host processor for generating the interaction data based at least partially on the processed image data.

The invention provides a body-worn monitor featuring a processing system that receives a digital data stream from an ECG system. A cable houses the ECG system at one terminal end, and plugs into the processing system, which is worn on the patient's wrist like a conventional wristwatch. The ECG system features: i) a connecting portion connected to multiple electrodes worn by the patient; ii) a differential amplifier that receives electrical signals from each electrode and process them to generate an analog ECG waveform; iii) an analog-to-digital converter that converts the analog ECG waveform into a digital ECG waveform; and iv) a transceiver that transmits a digital data stream representing the digital ECG waveform (or information calculated from the waveform) through the cable and to the processing system. Different ECG systems, typically featuring three, five, or twelve electrodes, can be interchanged with one another.

Our invention is an apparatus and method to identify and simultaneously visualize and hear musical notes contained in an analog or digital sound wave. Musical notes are expanded into a language for the eye as well as the ear. An analog-to-digital converter processes an analog sound wave to provide a digital sound wave. Component frequencies of the digital sound waves are identified, filtered and translated to their corresponding musical note and volume. As the original digital sound wave is sent through a digital-to-analog converter and output to an audio device, the identified musical notes are synchronously output to a display device. User-specified parameters, adjustable at any time before, during or after the music-playing process, control frequency filtering, the graphic display of the identified musical notes and the graphical background on which the musical notes are displayed. Users may also utilize existing, or create their own, computer programming code software modules, known as plug-ins, or hardware components, to interface with the invention to extend and control the invention's functionality. Because the synchronous musical note identification and visualization process occurs extremely quickly, the method applies and works in real-time for live music.

A delta-sigma modulator comprising a first quantizer providing a first digital signal d0(k) representing the input signal g(t); a loop filter with input signal paths; a loop quantizer providing a corrective digital signal d1(k) representing the loop filter's output signal y(t); an array of feedback DACs D / A converting the sum d(k)=df(k)=d0(k)+d1(k) of the first and the corrective digital signals and injecting feedback signals into the loop filter.The loop filter's input node is applied the difference of the input signal g(t) and the global analog feedback signal a3(t). The global feedback signal a3(t) is delayed several clock cycles with respect to the digital output signal d(k). The delay is used to carry out mismatch-shaping and deglitching algorithms in the feedback DACs. The feedback DACs' different delays and gain coefficients are designed such that the modulator is stable. The filter's input signal paths and the compensating DAC are designed such that the gain from the input signal g(t) to the loop quantizer is small, ideally zero. Thus, the loop quantizer's resolving range can be a fraction of the first quantizer's resolving range, whereby the output signal's d(k) resolution can be much higher than the individual resolutions of d0(k) and d1(k).The delta-sigma modulator is well suited for the implementation of high-resolution wide-bandwidth A / D converters. Important applications include digital communication systems.

A pulse monitoring plethysmograph system for establishing a history of the pulses of the user over an extended period of time, comprises a housing, a piezoelectric sensing element mounted within said housing, and fixed to the housing, a force transmitting member positioned to cause said piezoelectric sensing element to flex in response to an external force and to generate a current, and a transimpedance amplifier. The transimpedance amplifier converts the current generated by the flexing of the piezoelectric element into a voltage signal and an analog to digital converter converts the voltage signal into digital data. A digital memory storing member is provided for storing the digital data and establishing a history of data over an extended period of time.

A signal processing system includes an analog-to-digital delta sigma modulator with a duty cycle modulator and a finite impulse response (FIR) filter in a main loop feedback path of the delta sigma modulator. The duty cycle modulator and FIR filter can provide high performance filtering in the main loop feedback path. To prevent instability in the main loop caused by the duty cycle modulator and FIR filter, the delta sigma modulator also includes a stabilizer loop. Transfer functions of the main loop and the stabilizer loop combine to achieve a target transfer function for the analog-to-digital delta sigma modulator that provides for stable operation of the analog-to-digital delta sigma modulator.

A transceiver for a RFID reader and a transceiver for a RFID transponder (tag) allow communication between the two devices. The RFID reader utilizes an analog front end and a digital backend. In the receiver portion of the transceiver, the front end of the RFID reader uses a pair of down-conversion mixers to demodulate a received signal into in-phase (I) and quadrature (Q) components and analog-to-digital converters (ADC) digitize the signal. A digital signal processor (DSP) in the back end processes the digital signal and uses a matched filter for data detection. The RFID tag receives an inductively coupled signal from the reader and the receiver portion of the tag uses a pulse / level detector that employs an analog comparator and a sample and hold circuit to detect the received signal. A digital decoder / controller is used to decode the incoming data and to establish a sampling clock for the pulse / level detector. An automatic gain control (AGC) circuit adjusts a receiver gain according to the received signal strength and controls tuning of magnetic coupling circuitry.

Gas detection or monitoring apparatus mainly comprising, an optical source unit including a tunable diode laser, an optical detection unit including a light sensitive detector, the source and the detector being arranged so that light from the source propagates through a gas measurement volume prior to being received by the detector, and the source being adapted to scan the light wavelength across one or more expected absorption lines of gases in the measurement volume, a control and processing unit for control and modulation of the source and processing of the detected signal and for calculating at least one digital value representing (a) gas concentrations in the gas measurement volume, wherein said control and processing unit is coupled to the source via a digital-to-analogue (D / A) converter, and the detector output signal is coupled to the input of an analogue-to-digital (A / D) converter, and the output of the A / D converter is coupled to the processing unit.

A digital receiver for a burst-mode wireless communication system, such as a Bluetooth system comprises a radio frequency input stage for receiving an input signal and an analogue-to-digital converter for converting the input signal from an analogue signal to a digital signal. A switch is coupled to the analogue-to-digital converter and a first signal processor is coupled to the switch and is arranged to demodulate signals modulated according to a first modulation process, such as a GFSK modulation process. A second signal processor is also coupled to the switch and is arranged to demodulate signals modulated according to a second modulation process, such as π / 4DQPSK modulation process or an 8DPSK modulation process. The switch is arranged to switch the digital signal between the first and second signal processors to recover signals from the first and / or the second modulation process. A method for processing received signals in a burst-mode wireless communication system is also disclosed.

A wearable biofeedback device is provided. The device preferably includes a glove structure and external display device. The glove has at least one sheath for receiving a digit. The glove and sheath include dorsal and palmer surfaces. The palmer surfaces include at least one sensor for acquiring a bio-signal. The dorsal surface includes a compartment for containing an electronics control module. The electronics module is contained in the compartment, and is in communication with the sensor. A circuit system, accommodated in the electronics module, includes an analog to digital converter, a processor for performing an analysis and translation of the digitized bio-signals into a biometric measurement data, a battery, and a wirelessly transmission module for performing wirelessly transmission to the external device. The external device is wirelessly communicated with the glove through the wireless transmission module, and is adapted to display the biometric measurement data in an audio or visual display.

An oversampling pulse oximeter includes an analog to digital converter with a sampling rate sufficient to take multiple samples per source cycle. In one embodiment, a pulse oximeter (100) includes two more more light sources (102) driven by light source drives (104) in response to drive signals from a digital signal processing unit (116). The source drives (104) may drive the sources (102) to produce a frequency division multiplex signal. The optical signals transmitted by the light sources (102) are transmitted through a patient's appendage (103) and impinge on a detector (106). The detector (106) provides an analog current signal representative of the received optical signals. An amplifier circuit (110) converts the analog current signal to an analog voltage signal in addition to performing a number of other functions. The amplifier circuit (110) outputs an analog voltage signal which is representative of the optical signals from the sources (102). This analog voltage signal is received by a fast A / D converter (112) which samples the analog voltage signal to generate a digital voltage signal which can be processed by the digital signal processing unit (116). The fast A / D converter (112) operates at a rate sufficient to take multiple samples per source cycle and may have a sampling frequency, for example, of over 41 kHz. The digital signal processing unit (116) implements software for averaging the samples over a source cycle for improved measurement consistency, improved signal to noise ratio and reduced A / D converter word length.

A method for continuously determining the required dynamic range for an analog-to-digital converter by determining the received signal strength and using this received signal strength value in combination with the overall dynamic range for the ADC and the target resolution of the ADC to decode a radio channel in the absence of interference, wherein the target resolution is also related to the type of decoding to be performed subsequent to analog-to-digital conversion. The method allows for a reduction in power consumption associated with the ADC, especially when the incoming signal is received with few interfering radio channels and with a relatively high signal strength. The present method can be combined with gain control and analog alert detection.

An analog-to-digital converter system [50D] processing an input signal, g, which can be either a discrete-time or a continuous-time signal. A first quantizer [154] generates a first digital signal, d0(k), representing the sum of the input signal, g, and a dithering signal, y0. A digital-to-analog converter [156] generates an analog feedback signal, alpha, representing accurately the first digital signal, d0(k). The DAC [156] may be linearized by the use of mismatch-shaping techniques. A filter [158] generates the dithering signal, y0, by selectively amplifying in the signal band the residue signal, r0, defined as the difference of the input signal, g, and the analog feedback signal, alpha. Optional signal paths [166][168] are used to minimize the closed-loop signal transfer function from g to y0, which ideally will be zero. An analog compensation signal, m0, which is described by a well-controlled relationship to the residue signal, r0, is extracted from the filter [158]. Ideally, the closed-loop signal transfer function from g to m0 will be zero, or at least small in the signal band. A second quantizer [160] converts the analog compensation signal, m0, into a second digital signal, dm0(k). The two digital signals, d0(k) and dm0(k), are filtered individually and then added to form the overall output signal, dg(k). The second digital filter [164] has a low signal-band gain, which implies that the sensitivity to signal-band errors caused by the second quantizer [160] will be low. The output signal, dg(k), is a highly-accurate high-resolution representation of the input signal, g. Circuit imperfections, such as mismatch, gain errors, and nonlinearities, will cause only noise-like errors having a very low spectral power density in the signal band.The invention facilitates the implementation of uncalibrated highly-linear high-resolution wide-bandwidth A / D converters [50D], e.g., for use in digital communication systems, such as xDSL modems and other demanding consumer-market products for which low cost is of the essence.

The Field Programmable Instrument Controller (FPIC) is a stand-alone low to high performance, clocked or unclocked multi-processor that operates as a microcontroller with versatile interface and operating options. The FPIC can also be used as a concurrent processor for a microcontroller or other processor. A tightly coupled Multiple Chip Module design incorporates non-volatile memories, a large field programmable gate array (FPGA), field programmable high precision analog to digital converters, field programmable digital to analog signal generators, and multiple ports of external mass data storage and control processors. The FPIC has an inherently open architecture with in-situ reprogrammability and state preservation capability for discontinuous operations. It is designed to operate in multiple roles, including but not limited to, a high speed parallel digital signal processing; co-processor for precision control feedback during analog or hybrid computing; high speed monitoring for condition based maintenance; and distributed real time process control. The FPIC is characterized by low power with small size and weight.

A display apparatus may include touch detection circuitry including a light sensing circuit and a physical parameter sensing circuit (e.g., a pressure sensing circuit). The display apparatus may further include processing circuitry implementing a power-saving mode and a normal mode, and configured to generate touch information. An display driver may include a photo sensing circuit and a pressure sensing circuit. An embodiment of the display driver may include: an amplifying unit amplifying a photo sensing signal and a pressure sensing signal; a parallel-to-serial converting unit converting the amplified photo sensing signal and the amplified pressure sensing signal into serial sensing signals; and an analog-to-digital converter converting the serial sensing signals into digital sensing signals, wherein the amplifying unit, the parallel-to-serial converting unit, and the analog-to-digital converter operate in one of a normal mode and a power saving mode according to the pressure sensing signal.

The apparatus and method provide a readout technique and circuit for increasing or maintaining dynamic range of an image sensor. The readout technique and circuit process each pixel individually based on the magnitude of the readout signal. The circuit includes a gain amplifier amplifying the readout analog signal, a level detection circuit for determining the signal's magnitude, a second gain amplifier applying a gain based on the signal magnitude and an analog-to-digital converter digitizing the signal and a circuit for multiplying or dividing the signal. The method and circuit allow for a lower signal-to-noise ratio while increasing the dynamic range of the imager.

The invention provides a body-worn monitor featuring a processing system that receives a digital data stream from an ECG system. A cable houses the ECG system at one terminal end, and plugs into the processing system, which is worn on the patient's wrist like a conventional wristwatch. The ECG system features: i) a connecting portion connected to multiple electrodes worn by the patient; ii) a differential amplifier that receives electrical signals from each electrode and process them to generate an analog ECG waveform; iii) an analog-to-digital converter that converts the analog ECG waveform into a digital ECG waveform; and iv) a transceiver that transmits a digital data stream representing the digital ECG waveform (or information calculated from the waveform) through the cable and to the processing system. Different ECG systems, typically featuring three, five, or twelve electrodes, can be interchanged with one another.

A digital communications transmitter (100) includes a digital linear-and-nonlinear predistortion section (200, 1800, 2800) to compensate for linear and nonlinear distortion introduced by transmitter-analog components (120). A direct-digital-downconversion section (300) generates a complex digital return-data stream (254) from the analog components (120) without introducing quadrature imbalance. A relatively low resolution exhibited by the return-data stream (254) is effectively increased through arithmetic processing. Distortion introduced by an analog-to-digital converter (304) may be compensated using a variety of adaptive techniques. Linear distortion is compensated using adaptive techniques with an equalizer (246) positioned in the forward-data stream (112). Nonlinear distortion is then compensated using adaptive techniques with a plurality of equalizers (226) that filter a plurality of orthogonal, higher-ordered-basis functions (214) generated from the forward-data stream (112). The filtered-basis functions are combined together and subtracted from the forward-data stream (112).

A controller for, related method of controlling a switch of, a power converter and a power converter employing the same. The controller is employable with a power converter including a switch of a power train configured to conduct for a duty cycle and provide a regulated output characteristic at an output thereof. In one embodiment, the controller includes a sparse analog-to-digital converter configured to determine a difference between the output characteristic and a desired characteristic and provide an error signal representing the difference in discrete steps. A magnitude of the discrete steps is small when the difference is small and the magnitude of the discrete steps is larger when the difference is larger. The controller also includes a duty cycle processor configured to provide a digital duty cycle signal to control the duty cycle of the switch as a function of the error signal.