Adaptive ADC Bit Width Control for Lower Power Conversion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing analog-to-digital converters (ADCs) in electronic devices face high power consumption due to fixed processing bit widths that do not match the variable utilization of service data, leading to unnecessary power consumption in low-load states.
Innovation Solution
An ADC architecture that allows adaptive adjustment of processing bit width by controlling the operation of sub-ADCs and multiplexers based on input signal amplitude or indication signals, reducing power consumption by dynamically adjusting the bit width.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the ADC uses a fixed processing bit width to ensure standardization and consistency, then the device can handle maximum data requirements, but power consumption increases unnecessarily in low-load states
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic adjustment of processing bit width by controlling whether the first-stage sub-ADC operates based on input signal characteristics. The system transitions from a static fixed bit width design to a dynamic adaptive design where the first-stage sub-ADC is enabled only when high-resolution conversion is actually needed, thereby reducing power consumption in low-load states while maintaining standardization capabilities when required
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operating parameter (processing bit width) of the ADC by controlling the operation state of the first-stage sub-ADC. When the first-stage sub-ADC operates, the processing bit width is M+N bits; when it skips operation, the processing bit width is N bits. This parameter change allows the system to adapt to different service data requirements and reduce power consumption accordingly
2Productivity
If the ADC operates at maximum processing bit width (e.g., 16 bits) to handle all service data requirements, then data processing capability is ensured, but power consumption is unnecessarily high when bit width utilization is low
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by having the first-stage sub-ADC skip operation when full processing bit width is not needed. Instead of always operating at maximum capacity (M+N bits), the system uses only the necessary portion (N bits from the second-stage sub-ADC) for low-utilization scenarios, thereby eliminating excessive power consumption while maintaining adequate data processing capability
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs self-adjustment by monitoring service data requirements and automatically controlling the operation state of the first-stage sub-ADC. The ADC adapts its own power consumption based on actual processing needs without external intervention, reducing energy loss when full processing capability is not required
Data Source
AI summary
This application discloses an analog-to-digital (ADC) converter and a signal processing apparatus. In this solution, a low-power circuit in the ADC may control, based on a received indication signal, whether a first-stage sub-ADC in the ADC is to normally perform analog-to-digital conversion, so that a processing bit width of the ADC can be adjusted. When the processing bit width of the ADC is reduced, power consumption of the ADC is reduced accordingly. Therefore, this application provides a solution for reducing the power consumption of the ADC by adjusting the processing bit width of the ADC.