Dual-Unit Voltage AD Conversion to Prevent Missing Codes
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing AD converters suffer from missing codes and nonmonotonic relationships between input voltage values and converted values, leading to significant errors and deteriorated signal analysis accuracy due to high differential nonlinearity, causing a phenomenon where certain input voltage values are not represented in the output.
Innovation Solution
The AD converter employs an integration unit that uses two types of unit voltages and threshold voltages to generate an integrated voltage, with a comparator determining when to switch between these voltages based on a rough adjustment threshold voltage, preventing missing codes by ensuring accurate representation of input voltages.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single unit voltage is used in the integration unit, then the device complexity is reduced, but differential nonlinearity increases causing missing codes and nonmonotonic relationships
Solution Approach 1:
The integration unit is segmented to use two types of unit voltages (first and second unit voltages) instead of a single unit voltage. This segmentation allows the system to handle different voltage ranges with appropriate precision, preventing missing codes and nonmonotonic relationships while maintaining manageable device complexity through structured design.
2Manufacturing precision
If two types of unit voltages are used in the integration unit, then differential nonlinearity is reduced preventing missing codes, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically switches between two types of unit voltages (first and second unit voltages) based on the input voltage level. The switching control unit adjusts which unit voltage is applied during integration, enabling the system to maintain high precision across different input ranges while managing complexity through adaptive control rather than static design.
3Ease of operation
If the integration unit integrates with a fixed unit voltage, then the operation is simple, but the relationship between input voltage and converted value becomes nonmonotonic
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the parameter of unit voltage dynamically during integration. By switching between first and second unit voltages based on input voltage levels, the integration operation maintains simplicity while ensuring the converted value monotonically increases with input voltage, preventing nonmonotonic relationships and ensuring reliable AD conversion.
Data Source
AI summary
An AD converter includes: an integration unit that uses an input voltage as an initial value and repeats an operation of integrating one or both of two types of unit voltages with the input voltage, thereby generating an integrated voltage; a switching threshold voltage unit that includes two types of threshold voltages causing the operation of integrating to be terminated; a comparator that compares the integrated voltage with the threshold voltages; an integration determination unit that, before the operation of integrating is started, causes the comparator to compare the input voltage with a rough adjustment threshold voltage corresponding to a larger one of the unit voltages; a unit voltage switching control unit that, when the rough adjustment threshold voltage is larger than the input voltage, controls the integration unit to generate the integrated voltage by using the two types of unit voltages; and a single unit voltage control unit that, when the rough adjustment threshold voltage is smaller than the input voltage, controls the integration unit to generate the integrated voltage by using only a smaller one of the unit voltages.