Analog-to-digital converting unit with broad dynamic range

Abstract

An analog-to-digital converting unit comprises an analog level varying circuit having a plurality of gains and varying a magnitude of an analog input signal for producing a plurality of analog output signals different in magnitude from one another with the respective gains, a plurality of analog-to-digital converting circuits respectively supplied with the analog output signals and producing a plurality of digital code signals, respectively, a controlling circuit supplied with two of the digital code signals and calculating a difference therebetween for producing a first control signal indicative of varying one of the digital code signals in value so as to be equal in value to the other digital code signal, a calculating circuit responsive to the first control signal and causing one of the digital code signals to be varied in value for producing a candidate of a digital output signal, and an output circuit coupled to one of the analog-to-digital converting circuits and to the calculating circuit and supplying the digital output signal to the output node. Since the value of the input analog signal is retrieved from the digital code signal on the basis of the difference, the analog-to-digital unit is free from any secular changes and any variation of operational ambient.