| Class / Patent application number | Description | Number of patent applications / Date published |
|---|
| 341164000 | Single comparator and counter | 13 |
| 20080231491 | Analog-to-Digital Conversion Method, Analog-to-Digital Converter, Semiconductor Device for Detecting Distribution of Physical Quantity, and Electronic Apparatus - In an analog-to-digital conversion method for converting a difference signal component representing a difference between a reference component and a signal component in an analog signal to be processed into digital data, in a first process, a signal corresponding to one of the reference component and the signal component is compared with a reference signal for conversion into the digital data. Concurrently with the comparison, counting is performed in one of a down-count mode and an up-count mode, and a count value at a time of completion of the comparison is held. In a second process, a signal corresponding to the other one of the reference component and the signal component is compared with the reference signal. Concurrently with the comparison, counting is performed in the other one of the down-count mode and the up-count mode, and a count value at a time of completion of the comparison is held. | 09-25-2008 |
| 20110068967 | A/D CONVERTER AND SOLID-STATE IMAGING DEVICE - According to one embodiment, an A/D converter includes a determination circuit configured to determine whether a first analog signal is greater than a second analog signal or not, the first analog signal being a present A/D conversion target, the second analog signal being an immediately preceding A/D conversion target, a calculation circuit configured to add a reference voltage to a difference obtained by subtracting the second analog signal from the first analog signal, a generation circuit configured to generate a comparison voltage, a comparator configured to compare a calculated value of the calculation circuit with the comparison voltage, and a conversion circuit configured to convert a period into a digital signal, the period being required until the calculated value is identical with the comparison voltage by the comparator. | 03-24-2011 |
| 20110115663 | Analog-to-digital conversion in pixel array - An analog-to-digital converter generates an output digital value equivalent to the difference between two analog signals. The converter forms part of a set of converters. The converter receives a first analog signal and a second analog signal (V | 05-19-2011 |
| 20110163902 | INFORMATION PROCESSING APPARATUS - An information processing apparatus, includes: a plurality of processor means respectively including storage means for storing analog information and comparison means for comparing analog information stored in the storage means with an inputted reference analog value; input means for inputting the reference analog value to the plurality of processor means while changing the reference analog value in synchronization with a clock signal; and counter means for updating a count value in synchronization with the clock signal and outputting the count value when the analog information and the reference analog value become consistent at a corresponding comparison means. | 07-07-2011 |
| 20120068872 | METHODS OF QUANTIZING SIGNALS USING VARIABLE REFERENCE SIGNALS - Methods for reading a data location coupled to an electrical conductor. A counter receives a signal from an analog-to-digital converter coupled to the electrical conductor. The counter produces two or more counts, and in some embodiments, the counts are based in part on a variable reference voltage. An interfuser may be coupled to an output of the counter. The interfuser receives the two or more counts from the counter and reads data conveyed by the data location based on the two or more counts. | 03-22-2012 |
| 20130076552 | ANALOG-DIGITAL CONVERTER AND POWER SAVING METHOD THEREOF - Disclosed is an analog-digital converter which includes a pre-amplifier configured to output a comparison result between a sampled analog input signal and a reference signal and to control a power supply operation in response to a power control signal; a digital signal processor configured to generate a digital signal based on the comparison result; a power controller configured to generate an amplifier operation clock signal for controlling the pre-amplifier; and a counter configured to count the number of falling edges of the amplifier operation clock signal and to detect a power interruption point of time of the pre-amplifier according to the counted falling edge number. The power controller generates the power control signal for interrupting a power to be supplied to the pre-amplifier when the power interruption point of time of the pre-amplifier is detected. | 03-28-2013 |
| 20130271308 | SINGLE SLOPE AD CONVERTER CIRCUIT PROVIDED WITH COMPARTOR FOR COMPARING RAMP VOLTAGE WITH ANALOG INPUT VOLTAGE - A single slope AD converter circuit includes a comparator that compares a ramp voltage varying with a predetermined slope as time elapses with an analog input voltage, a counter that counts a predetermined clock in parallel with the comparing process of the comparator, and a controller that outputs a clock count value corresponding to elapsed time when the ramp voltage is smaller than the analog input voltage, as an AD converted first digital value. The comparator compares the ramp voltage with a predetermined first reference voltage, the counter counts the clock in parallel with the comparing process, and the controller outputs the clock count value corresponding to the elapsed time as an AD converted second digital value. | 10-17-2013 |
| 20140167999 | SIGNAL CONVERSION USING STATE SENSITIVE DEVICE ARRAYS - An analog to digital conversion device and method utilizing an array of state sensitive cells. A gate timing component selectively exposes each cell to an analog input signal to effect a change in the exposed cell's state. Upon shielding the cell from exposure, the state change is ascertained by a cell measurement component to determine a digital value representative of the input signal amplitude at exposure. | 06-19-2014 |
| 20140203956 | ANALOG-TO-DIGITAL CONVERSION IN PIXEL ARRAYS - An analog-to-digital converter for generating an output digital value equivalent to the difference between a first analog signal level (Vres) and a second analog signal level (Vsig) comprises at least one input for receiving the first analog signal level and the second analog signal level, an input for receiving a ramp signal and an input for receiving at least one clock signal. A set of N counters, where N≧2, are arranged to use N clock signals which are offset in phase from one another. A control stage is arranged to enable the N counters based on a comparison of the ramp signal with the first analog signal level (Vres) and the second analog signal level (Vsig). An output stage is arranged to output the digital value which is a function of values accumulated by the N counters during a period when they are enabled. | 07-24-2014 |
| 20140218224 | ALLOCATING RESOURCES TO THREADS BASED ON SPECULATION METRIC - Methods and circuits for controlling an automatic gain control (AGC) circuit wherein the AGC circuit is used to adjust the gain of a signal input to an analog to digital converter. The method includes obtaining a plurality of samples from the output of the analog to digital converter and determining whether the amplitude of each sample is greater than a threshold amplitude value. If the amplitude of a sample is greater than the threshold amplitude value then a counter value is incremented. The target average amplitude of the automatic gain control circuit is then periodically adjusted based on the counter value. | 08-07-2014 |
| 20150123832 | COMPARATOR AND ANALOG-TO-DIGITAL CONVERTER USING THE SAME - A comparator includes a first amplification unit suitable for differentially amplifying a pixel signal and a ramp signal, a second amplification unit suitable for amplifying a signal outputted from the first amplification unit and outputting a comparison result, a current control unit suitable for controlling a current flow in response to the comparison result and a current compensation and noise removal unit suitable for compensating for current and removing noise under control of the current control unit. | 05-07-2015 |
| 20160013804 | CURRENT COUNTING ANALOG-TO-DIGITAL CONVERTER FOR LOAD CURRENT SENSING INCLUDING DYNAMICALLY BIASED COMPARATOR | 01-14-2016 |
| 20160134290 | GRAY COUNTER AND ANALOGUE-DIGITAL CONVERTER USING SUCH A COUNTER - An N-bit Gray counter, with N an integer greater than 1, comprises a string of N logic cells connected in cascade, wherein each logic cell comprises an input port for a succession of clock pulses, a circuit for generating a Gray count bit having an output port for the Gray count bit and a circuit for generating a clock signal having a clock output port linked to the input port of the following logic cell. An analogue-digital converter of ramp type using such a Gray counter is also provided. | 05-12-2016 |
