Dual-Path ADC Gain Mixing for Distortion-Free Audio Capture

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing analog-to-digital conversion devices struggle to adjust gain in a timely manner, leading to signal distortion, especially in scenarios sensitive to audio quality, due to periodic gain adjustment.

Innovation Solution

The device splits the analog signal into two branches with different, controlled gains and uses a mixing module to adjust and merge the digital signals, ensuring minimal amplitude difference and eliminating distortion without additional gain adjustment modules.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If periodic gain adjustment is used, then device complexity is reduced, but signal quality deteriorates due to delayed gain adjustment

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructure complexityVSAvoidsignal quality
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the single gain adjustment function into two parallel branches: a first branch with a first gain processing module and a second branch with a second gain processing module. Each branch processes signals with different gain characteristics, allowing simultaneous real-time gain adjustment and high-quality signal output without requiring complex periodic control mechanisms

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements dynamic gain adjustment by enabling real-time gain control in both branches through digital signal processing. The mixing module dynamically adjusts the amplitude of digital signals from both branches based on real-time signal conditions, achieving timely gain adjustment without periodic delays

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If additional gain adjustment modules are added, then signal quality improves, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesignal qualityVSAvoidstructure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the gain adjustment functions into the existing two-branch structure. The first and second gain processing modules are integrated into respective branches, and the mixing module combines their outputs with amplitude adjustment. This merging approach achieves high-quality signal output without adding separate external gain adjustment modules

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The mixing module serves as an intermediary that receives digital signals from both branches, performs amplitude adjustment, and merges them into the final output. This intermediary approach enables flexible gain control and signal quality optimization without requiring additional dedicated gain adjustment hardware

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP4701087A1Analog-to-digital conversion apparatus and audio apparatus
Publication Date: 2026.02.25 SHENZHEN HOLLYLAND TECH CO LTD
  • EP4701087A1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP4701087A1 patent drawingFigure 4~5
  • EP4701087A1 patent drawingFigure 6~8

AI summary

Provided in the present application are an analog-to-digital conversion apparatus and an audio apparatus. The analog-to-digital conversion apparatus comprises a shunting module, at least two branches and a sound mixing module. A first branch comprises a first gain processing module and a first analog-to-digital conversion module which are cascaded, and a second branch comprises a second gain processing module and a second analog-to-digital conversion module which are cascaded. In the present application, an analog signal is outputted to two branches by means of a shunting module, the two branches are provided with different gains, and a sound mixing module adjusts the amplitudes of digital signals received from the two branches so as to minimize the amplitude difference between the two digital signals, thereby ensuring that the digital signal outputted by at least one branch remains undistorted, and also ensuring that a combined digital signal remains undistorted; and since an undistorted digital signal can be outputted without the need for an additional gain adjustment module, the problem of a gain adjustment module requiring a certain amount of time to adjust a gain, potentially leading to poor signal quality before the adjustment is completed is solved.