Improved two-stage analog-to-digital converter

Abstract

An apparatus for generating a digital signal representing an analog signal comprising a reference array establishing reference values at hierarchically arranged reference nodes in response to a reference signal. The apparatus includes a first iteration comparing circuit comparing selected first reference values present at first nodes with the analog signal. The first reference values establish a plurality of ranges of reference values. The first comparing circuit generates a first output signal indicating a particular range in which the analog signal first compares with respect to a reference value in a predetermined relation. A logic circuit generates a control signal in response to the first output signal. A second comparing circuit effects second comparing of selected second reference values with the analog signal. The second reference values are present at selected nodes which are in intervals adjacent the first reference nodes and hierarchically segment those intervals. The second comparing circuit responds to the control signal to effect the second comparing and comprises a plurality of second comparators. Each second comparator receives the analog signal as a first input and receives hierarchically equal of the second reference values from the intervals as a plurality of available second inputs. One of the available second inputs is selected as the second input value to each second comparator in response to the control signal. The second comparing circuit generates a second output signal and the logic means responds to the first output and the second output to generate the digital signal output.