SAR ADC Capacitor Switching for High-Resolution Conversion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional analog-to-digital converters face challenges in efficiently converting analog signals into digital signals with high resolution without requiring high-voltage devices and additional reference voltage generators.
Innovation Solution
A successive approximation register analog-to-digital converter is designed with a comparator circuit, a capacitor group, and an additional capacitor, where the control circuit manages voltage across the capacitors to generate a comparison result, allowing for floating states and reduced voltage at input terminals, thereby maintaining resolution without high-voltage devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional analog-to-digital converters use high-voltage devices and additional reference voltage generators to achieve high resolution conversion, then the conversion resolution is improved, but the device complexity and power consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the need for additional reference voltage generators and high-voltage devices from the conventional ADC architecture. By using the existing capacitor array and leveraging the relationship between capacitor values and reference voltages, the design achieves high-resolution conversion without these extra components, directly reducing device complexity while maintaining measurement precision
Solution Approach 2:
The existing capacitor array in the ADC is made to serve multiple functions: it performs both the analog-to-digital conversion and provides the reference voltage relationships needed for high-resolution measurement. The capacitor values are specifically designed to embody reference voltage ratios, eliminating the need for separate reference voltage generators and high-voltage devices
2Measurement precision
If conventional analog-to-digital converters use additional reference voltage generators to maintain resolution, then the measurement precision is improved, but the power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the power-consuming additional reference voltage generators from the system. By encoding reference voltage relationships directly into the capacitor array values, the design eliminates the need for active voltage generation circuits, thereby reducing power consumption while preserving measurement precision through the passive capacitor-based voltage division
3Measurement precision
If conventional analog-to-digital converters use high-voltage devices to achieve high resolution, then the measurement precision is improved, but the ease of manufacture deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the need for specialized high-voltage devices from the ADC design. By using standard-voltage components and achieving high resolution through precise capacitor value relationships rather than high voltage, the design simplifies the manufacturing process and improves ease of manufacture while maintaining measurement precision
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the design parameter from high voltage to precise capacitance ratios. Instead of using high-voltage devices to achieve high resolution, the design uses carefully selected capacitor values that create the necessary voltage division ratios, making the system easier to manufacture with standard components while preserving measurement precision
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution effectively converts analog signals into digital signals with high resolution while reducing the need for high-voltage devices and eliminating the requirement for additional reference voltage generators, enhancing the converter's efficiency and functionality.
Implementation Method 1
The capacitor group comprises a plurality of capacitors coupled to the first input terminal
Implementation Method 2
the comparator circuit comprises a first input terminal and a second input terminal, and is configured to compare the voltages at the first and second input terminals
Data Source
AI summary
A successive approximation register analog-to-digital converter includes a comparator circuit, a capacitor group, an additional capacitor and a control circuit. The comparator circuit compares voltages at first and second input terminals thereof to generate a comparison result. The capacitor group and the additional capacitor are coupled to the first input terminal. The control circuit controls voltages of capacitors of the capacitor group according to the comparison result. In a first period, the control circuit provides a first voltage to the first input terminal and the additional capacitor, and provides an analog signal to the capacitors. In a second period, the control circuit stops providing the first voltage and controls a specific capacitor of the capacitor group to enter into a floating state. In a third period, the control circuit provides a second voltage to the additional capacitor. The second voltage is lower than the first voltage.