Power Sensing ADC Circuit With Quantization Noise Subtraction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Prior art analog to digital converters (ADCs) are highly consumptive of power and provide relatively low resolution, making them unsuitable for applications with limited power budgets and requiring high performance and accuracy.
Innovation Solution
The development of a novel ADC design that operates using a single line for both driving and sensing, allowing for simultaneous power provision and signal detection, with a focus on low power consumption and high resolution digital signal generation, capable of handling a broad range of analog signals from very low currents to high currents.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If prior art ADC designs are used, then power consumption is high, but resolution and measurement precision are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines power delivery and signal sensing into a single wire interface. The ADC circuit receives both power and analog sensor signals through the same connection, eliminating the need for separate power and signal lines. This merging reduces system complexity and enables high-resolution measurements in power-constrained applications by simplifying the interface while maintaining measurement precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The single wire serving as the interface performs multiple functions simultaneously: it delivers power to the sensor, carries the analog sensor signal to the ADC, and provides a return path for the signal. This multi-functional interface replaces traditional separate connections, reducing the number of components and enabling high-resolution ADC operation with minimal power infrastructure.
2Measurement precision
If traditional separate power and signal lines are used, then system complexity increases, but measurement accuracy can be maintained
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges power delivery and signal transmission into a single wire interface. The ADC circuit is designed to operate with both power and analog signals delivered through the same connection, eliminating the need for separate power and signal lines. This reduces the number of components, simplifies the interface architecture, and maintains measurement accuracy by ensuring stable power delivery integrated with signal acquisition.
3Measurement precision
If ADC circuits are designed for high resolution, then power consumption increases, but measurement precision improves
Solution Approach 1:
The ADC circuit receives power directly from the sensor through the same interface that carries the signal, creating a self-powered or energy-harvesting configuration. The sensor provides both the measurement signal and the power needed for the ADC to operate at high resolution. This self-service approach enables high-resolution conversion without requiring external power sources, as the system serves its own power needs through the integrated interface.
Data Source
AI summary
A high resolution analog to digital converter (ADC) with improved bandwidth senses an analog signal (e.g., a load current) to generate a digital signal. The ADC operates based on a load voltage produced based on charging of an element (e.g., a capacitor) by a load current and a digital to analog converter (DAC) output current (e.g., from a N-bit DAC). The ADC generates a digital output signal representative of a difference between the load voltage and a reference voltage. This digital output signal is used directly, or after digital signal processing, to operate an N-bit DAC to generate a DAC output current that tracks the load current. In addition, quantization noise is subtracted from the digital output signal thereby extending the operational bandwidth of the ADC. In certain examples, the operational bandwidth of the ADC extends up to 100s of kHz (e.g., 200-300 kHz), or even higher.