Multi-mode Analog-to-Digital Converter Circuit for AC and DC Signals
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current analog-to-digital converters require separate circuits for AC and DC signals, leading to inefficiencies in power consumption and semiconductor component usage, as standard sigma-delta noise-shaping ADCs are not suitable for precise DC measurements.
Innovation Solution
A multi-mode analog-to-digital converter circuit that combines a sigma-delta modulator with a cascaded integrator-comb filter, allowing operation as both a standard noise-shaping ADC for AC signals and an incremental ADC for DC signals, utilizing a third-order cascade-of-integrators feed-forward configuration and a 4th-order cascaded integrator-comb filter to selectively process signals based on mode.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If separate dedicated ADC circuits are used for AC and DC signals, then signal conversion performance is improved, but power consumption and semiconductor component usage increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a single ADC circuit that can operate in multiple modes: standard sigma-delta noise-shaping mode for AC signals and incremental ADC mode for DC signals. The circuit uses a sigma-delta modulator with a digital filter that can be configured to produce either a first output (for AC) or a second output (for DC), allowing one circuit to replace what would traditionally require two separate dedicated circuits, thereby reducing power consumption while maintaining signal conversion performance
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the functionality of separate AC and DC ADC circuits into a single integrated circuit. By combining the sigma-delta modulator and digital filter with mode-selectable output paths, the invention consolidates multiple dedicated functions into one unified circuit, reducing overall power consumption and semiconductor component usage while preserving the measurement precision required for both AC and DC signal conversion
2Measurement precision
If separate dedicated ADC circuits are used for AC and DC signals, then signal conversion performance is improved, but semiconductor component space increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a single ADC circuit that can operate in multiple modes: standard sigma-delta noise-shaping mode for AC signals and incremental ADC mode for DC signals. The circuit uses a sigma-delta modulator with a digital filter that can be configured to produce either a first output (for AC) or a second output (for DC), allowing one circuit to replace what would traditionally require two separate dedicated circuits, thereby reducing semiconductor component space while maintaining signal conversion performance
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the functionality of separate AC and DC ADC circuits into a single integrated circuit. By combining the sigma-delta modulator and digital filter with mode-selectable output paths, the invention consolidates multiple dedicated functions into one unified circuit, reducing overall semiconductor component space while preserving the measurement precision required for both AC and DC signal conversion
3Device complexity
If standard sigma-delta noise-shaping ADC is used for DC signals, then circuit simplicity is maintained, but measurement precision deteriorates due to offset and gain errors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the ADC circuit dynamic by enabling it to switch between different operational modes. The same hardware circuit can be configured to operate as a standard sigma-delta noise-shaping ADC for AC signals or as an incremental ADC for DC signals. This dynamic reconfiguration allows the circuit to adapt its behavior to the signal type, maintaining simplicity for AC while achieving high precision for DC measurements through the incremental mode
4Measurement precision
If incremental ADC mode is used for DC signals, then measurement precision is improved, but circuit complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a single ADC circuit that can operate in multiple modes: standard sigma-delta noise-shaping mode for AC signals and incremental ADC mode for DC signals. The circuit uses a sigma-delta modulator with a digital filter that can be configured to produce either a first output (for AC) or a second output (for DC), allowing one circuit to replace what would traditionally require two separate dedicated circuits, thereby reducing power consumption while maintaining signal conversion performance
Data Source
AI summary
A multi-mode analog-to-digital converter includes a delta-sigma analog-to-digital converter circuit configured to receive the analog input and produce a digital bit-stream associated therewith, the delta-sigma analog-to-digital converter including at least one integrator configured to reset to an initial state in response to a reset signal A digital filter circuit is configured to receive the digital bit-stream and produce two filtered outputs derived from the digital bit-stream. During one mode (e.g., a DC mode) the delta-sigma analog-to-digital converter circuit is configured to receive the reset signal and produce the digital bit-stream for a predetermined number of clock cycles, and the digital output corresponds to the first filtered output. In another mode (e.g., an AC mode), the delta-sigma analog-to-digital converter is configured to continuously produce the bit-stream, and the digital output corresponds to the second filtered output.