Average-Value ADC Sampling for Accurate Low-Speed Signal Conversion

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional methods for converting analog signals to digital signals face challenges in accurately restoring input signals without identifying peak points, often requiring high-performance sampling apparatuses and resulting in increased data volume and memory requirements.

Innovation Solution

An apparatus and method that integrate an input analog signal by taking an average value over a predetermined sample period as a sample value, using a sampling unit with an integration unit and a sample/hold unit to convert the analog signal into a digital signal, thereby reducing the need for high-performance sensors and minimizing data volume.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If point sampling is used to sample analog signals at peak points, then signal restoration accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases due to the need for high-performance sampling apparatuses to identify peak points

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesignal restoration accuracyVSAvoidsampling apparatus complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the sampling parameter from instantaneous peak value to average value over a sample period. The sampling unit integrates the analog signal over a predetermined sample period and uses the average value as the sample value, eliminating the need for complex peak detection while maintaining acceptable restoration accuracy

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces expensive high-performance sampling apparatuses with simpler, lower-cost sampling units that use average value sampling. This substitution achieves acceptable signal restoration without requiring sophisticated peak detection hardware

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

2Measurement precision

If high sampling frequency is used to properly interpolate input analog signal, then signal restoration accuracy is improved, but data volume increases leading to increased memory requirements and processing time

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesignal restoration accuracyVSAvoiddata volume

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the sampling parameter from instantaneous peak value to average value over a sample period. This approach reduces the number of samples needed while maintaining acceptable restoration accuracy, thereby reducing data volume and associated memory and processing requirements

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of sampling at every possible peak point with high frequency, the patent uses average value sampling at lower frequencies, accepting partial information (average over period) rather than complete instantaneous information, which reduces data volume while maintaining functional accuracy

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Ease of manufacture

If low-speed sensors are used for sampling, then device cost is reduced, but discretization errors increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice costVSAvoidsignal restoration accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the sampling methodology from peak detection to average value integration. This parameter change allows low-speed sensors to achieve better restoration accuracy by capturing the average signal level over a period rather than attempting to capture transient peak values, which are difficult to detect with low-speed sensors

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This approach allows for better restoration of analog signals without expensive high-performance sampling apparatuses, minimizing data processing time and memory requirements, and preventing discretization errors associated with low-speed sensors.

Implementation Method 1

a sampling unit to perform a sampling operation by taking an average value of the analog signal for a predetermined sample period as a sample value

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectIntegration:

Implementation Method 2

using a sampling unit with an integration unit and a sample/hold unit to convert the analog signal into a digital signal

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSample and Hold:

Data Source

PatentUS7605729B2Apparatus and method for converting analog signal into digital signal taking average value of analog signal for sample period

Publication Date: 2009.10.20 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD

AI summary

Provided is an apparatus and method to convert an analog signal into a digital signal, more particularly, an apparatus and method for converting an analog signal into a digital signal, the apparatus and method to perform a sampling operation by taking an average value of an analog signal for a predetermined sample period as a sample value and converting the analog signal into a digital signal using the sample value. The apparatus includes a signal input unit to which an analog signal is input; a sampling unit to perform a sampling operation by taking an average value of the analog signal for a predetermined sample period as a sample value; and a signal conversion unit to convert the analog signal into a digital signal using the sample value.