Hybrid ADC Architecture for Wide-Range Input Current Conversion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing analog-to-digital converter devices lack flexibility and efficiency in handling a wide range of input currents, particularly in optimizing operations for both large and small input currents, and often require complex transcoding processes.
Innovation Solution
The device employs a hybrid configuration with two distinct types of analog-to-digital converter units, one optimized for large input currents and the other for small output currents, allowing for binary and unary coding with optional transcoding to achieve a digital output signal, and is integrated on a common substrate.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a single type of analog-to-digital converter unit is used, then the device structure is simple, but it cannot efficiently handle both large and small input currents
Solution Approach 1:
The converter is divided into multiple converter units, each optimized for specific input current ranges. The first converter unit handles large input currents while the second converter unit handles small input currents, allowing each segment to be specialized for its intended operating range.
Solution Approach 2:
Different converter units are designed with different structural characteristics suited to their specific functions. The first converter unit has structural features optimized for large current handling, while the second converter unit has features optimized for small current precision, achieving local optimization throughout the system.
2Productivity
If different types of converter units are used for large and small input currents, then operation efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The converter dynamically selects which converter unit to use based on the input current magnitude. The switching mechanism allows the system to adapt its configuration in real-time, using the first converter unit for large currents and the second converter unit for small currents, optimizing performance for each operating condition.
3Adaptability or versatility
If complex transcoding processes are implemented, then coding flexibility is improved, but device complexity and processing time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The converter units are designed to output signals in predetermined coding formats (binary, unary, or hybrid codes) directly from the conversion process. This preliminary encoding approach eliminates the need for complex post-conversion transcoding operations, as the output is already in the desired format.
Data Source
AI summary
An analog-to-digital converter device designed to form a digital output signal based on an input current. The analog-to-digital converter device has a first analog-to-digital converter unit of a first type and a second analog-to-digital converter unit of a second type, wherein the first analog-to-digital converter unit is designed to receive the input current and, based on the input current, to form a first portion of the digital output signal and to output a first output current to the second analog-to-digital converter unit, wherein the second analog-to-digital converter unit is designed to form a second portion of the digital output signal based on the first output current.