Voltage-to-Time Conversion With Phase Feedback for Linear ADCs
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional voltage-to-time converters suffer from errors due to capacitance drift in integrated circuit fabrication and temperature variations, leading to reduced resolution and non-linear time delay responses to input voltage.
Innovation Solution
A voltage-to-digital converting device comprising a first and second voltage-to-time converter, each receiving a reference clock and outputting delay clocks proportional to input and feedback voltages, respectively, with a time-to-digital converting circuit comparing phases to generate a digital signal, ensuring linear conversion characteristics and compensation for fabrication and temperature errors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If an RC-integrator is used in a voltage-to-time converter, then the converter can generate a timing signal associated with resistance and capacitance, but fabrication drift causes capacitance errors and temperature variation causes resistance changes, reducing measurement precision
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a feedback mechanism where the output timing signal is fed back through a programmable delay element to adjust and compensate for drift in the RC-integrator components. This feedback loop continuously corrects capacitance errors and resistance variations, maintaining measurement precision despite fabrication drift and temperature changes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operational parameters of the RC-integrator by using a programmable delay element that can adjust its delay characteristics dynamically. This allows the system to compensate for component drift by modifying the effective resistance or capacitance values through digital control, thereby maintaining stable timing signal generation across varying conditions.
2Measurement precision
If a conventional voltage-to-time converter is used, then it can output a timing signal with time delay corresponding to input voltage, but the non-linear operation causes the time delay to be not proportional to the input voltage, reducing manufacturing precision
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces dynamic adjustment capability through a programmable delay element that can modify its delay characteristics in real-time based on feedback from the timing signal. This dynamic operation allows the system to linearize the voltage-to-time conversion relationship by compensating for non-linearities through controlled parameter changes, achieving proportional time delay response to input voltage.
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 provides a voltage-to-digital converting device with improved resolution and linearity, effectively compensating for fabrication and temperature-related errors, ensuring accurate digital signal generation regardless of voltage variations.
Implementation Method 1
a drift of integrated circuit fabrication easily incurs an error in the capacitance of the RC-integrator
Implementation Method 2
increased operating temperature may cause the resistance of the RC-integrator to vary
Data Source
AI summary
A voltage-to-digital converting device includes a first voltage-to-time converter outputting a first delay clock having a first time delay relative to a reference clock in response to an input voltage, and a second voltage-to-time converter outputting a second delay clock having a second time delay relative to the reference clock in response to a feedback voltage. The first and second time delays correspond respectively to the input and feedback voltages. A time-to-digital converting circuit receives the first and second delay clocks from the first and second voltage-to-time converters, compares phases of the first and second delay clocks, generates the feedback voltage based on result of phase comparison made thereby, and outputs a digital signal upon detecting that the phases of the first and second delay clocks are in-phase.