ADC Calibration Circuit Using Outlier-Removed Averaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing analog to digital converters face challenges in accurately calibrating correction values due to unexpected external noise, leading to errors in conversion results, particularly when noise is random or periodically generated, as current methods require extensive averaging to remove noise effects and may not account for large deviations in calibration values.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating an averaging circuit that removes the maximum and minimum values from elemental correction values obtained during calibration, allowing for the calculation of a correction value that excludes the effect of unexpected external noise, thereby improving calibration accuracy and reducing the time required for calibration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If extensive averaging is performed to remove noise effects during calibration, then measurement precision improves, but loss of time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the maximum and minimum values from the set of correction values before averaging. This eliminates the influence of outlier data points caused by unexpected external noise, allowing for accurate calibration with fewer sampling operations, thus reducing calibration time while maintaining precision.
Solution Approach 2:
By skipping the extreme values (maximum and minimum) in the correction value set, the patent rushes through the noise-contaminated data points and performs averaging only on the valid intermediate values. This enables faster convergence to an accurate correction value without being delayed by noise-induced outliers.
2Device complexity
If simple averaging of all correction values is performed, then device complexity remains low, but measurement precision deteriorates due to noise inclusion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a simple extraction mechanism that identifies and removes the maximum and minimum values from the correction value set. This adds minimal complexity to the calibration circuit while dramatically improving measurement precision by eliminating noise-corrupted outlier values before averaging.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the processing parameter from simple averaging of all values to selective averaging after removing extremes. This parameter change in the calculation method improves correction value accuracy by excluding noise effects, while the implementation remains computationally simple.
3Productivity
If calibration is performed without removing extreme values, then productivity is high, but reliability of conversion results deteriorates due to noise-induced errors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts extreme values from the correction value set before averaging, removing the source of noise-induced errors. This maintains high calibration productivity by requiring minimal additional processing steps while ensuring reliable conversion results through improved correction value accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the calibration system identifies and corrects for the presence of outlier values caused by external noise. This feedback loop ensures that noise-contaminated data points do not compromise the reliability of the final correction value, maintaining both productivity and accuracy.
Data Source
AI summary
An analog to digital (AD) converter includes an AD conversion circuit, and a calibration circuit that calibrates an output value of the AD conversion circuit. The calibration circuit includes a right-shift circuit that shifts an accumulated value of values obtained by removing a deviated value from a plurality of output values of the AD conversion circuit. The calibration circuit calibrates the output value of the AD conversion circuit based on the shifted value.