ADC Circuit Base-Voltage Referencing for Stable Digital Codes

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Solution Overview

Problem

Analog-to-digital converters (ADCs) are prone to conversion errors due to variations in process, voltage, temperature, and noise, leading to inconsistencies in output digital codes.

Innovation Solution

An analog-to-digital converting circuit that includes a reference circuit generating a base voltage with one end grounded, which is added to all voltage signals within the ADC, ensuring that all control voltage signals reference this base voltage to stabilize the conversion process and reduce errors.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If conventional ADC circuits are used without a unified base voltage reference, then the circuit structure is simpler, but conversion errors occur due to variations in process, voltage, temperature, and noise

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconversion accuracyVSAvoidcircuit structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

A base voltage signal is introduced as an intermediary reference that is added to all voltage signals within the ADC circuit. This base voltage serves as a common reference point that stabilizes the conversion process by compensating for variations in process, voltage, temperature, and noise, thereby improving conversion accuracy without requiring fundamental changes to the ADC architecture

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent modifies the voltage parameters by adding a base voltage signal to all internal voltage signals (including offset voltage and data voltage signals) within the ADC. This parameter change ensures that all control voltage signals reference the same base voltage, reducing the impact of PVT (process, voltage, temperature) variations and noise on the conversion accuracy

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple voltage signals are used without a common reference, then the ADC can handle different signal ranges, but inconsistencies in voltage signal differences lead to incorrect digital codes

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinput signal rangeVSAvoiddigital code accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies equipotentiality by adding the same base voltage signal to all voltage signals within the ADC circuit. This creates a common reference potential level across all signals (offset voltage, data voltage, and internal reference voltages), ensuring that voltage differences remain consistent and accurate despite variations in process, voltage, temperature, and noise, thereby preventing incorrect digital code generation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #12Equipotentiality

Data Source

PatentUS8593324B2Analog-to-digital converting circuit and analog-to-digital converting method

Publication Date: 2013.11.26 NOVATEK MICROELECTRONICS CORP

AI summary

An analog-to-digital converting circuit includes a reference circuit and an analog-to-digital converter (ADC). The reference circuit provides a base voltage, which has one end grounded. The ADC receives an analog input signal and a base voltage signal. The ADC includes a first DC buffer and an ADC core unit. The first DC buffer internally receives an offset voltage signal and a data voltage signal to be digitized, and outputs two converting control signals. The ADC core unit receives the two converting control signals from the first DC buffer and an ADC input range voltage signal, and outputs a digital code. All of the offset voltage signal and the data voltage signal and the ADC input range voltage signal have been added with the base voltage signal.