Analog voltage metering system with programmable bit-serial digital

Abstract

A monolithic integrated circuit as may be used in combination with a plurality of sensors for generating respective sensor output signals, which monolithic integrated circuit includes means for converting each sensor output signal to bit-serial digital format, together with some initial processing circuitry comprising a bit-serial multiply-add processor. This processor includes a bit-serial digital multiplier for multiplying a first digital processor input signal in bit-serial form by a second digital processor input signal to generate a digital product signal, a digital adder for adding a third digital processor input signal to the digital product signal to generate a digital sum signal, and means for supplying a digital processor output signal with bits correspond-ing to those of said digital sum signal. A memory system provides memory for storing program instructions, memory for storing successive values of the second digital processor input signal, memory for storing successive values of the third digital processor input signal, and memory for storing successive values of the digital processor output signal as written into the memory system. The first digital processor input signal can be selected from among the sensor output signals as converted to bit-serial digital format. The second digital processor input signals applied to the bit-serial multiply-add processor are at least at selected times read from the memory system, as are the third digital processor input signals applied to the bit-serial multiply-add processor. A controller retrieves stored program instructions in a prescribed order from the memory for storing program instructions and generates control signals for controlling at least the reading and writing of the memory system, as well as the selecting of the first digital processor input signal.