The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Apr. 24, 2001
Filed:
Jan. 11, 1996
Kouji Okada, Kasugai, JP;
Other;
Abstract
The present invention provides an A/D converter. An upper comparison voltage generator divides a reference voltage into a plurality of large-level regions with series-connected first voltage-dividing elements, and outputs voltages at boundaries of the individual large-level regions as upper comparison voltages. Upper comparators compare an analog input voltage with the individual upper comparison voltages. An upper encoder determines, from output signals of the upper comparators, to which one of the large-level regions the analog input voltage belongs, and outputs a predetermined upper digital code corresponding to the determined large-level region. A lower comparison voltage generator divides the large-level region to which the analog input voltage is determined to belong by the upper encoder, into a plurality of small-level regions with second voltage-dividing elements and outputs voltages at boundaries of the individual small-level regions as lower comparison voltages. Lower comparators compare the analog input voltage with the individual lower comparison voltages. A lower encoder determines, from output signals of the lower comparators, to which one of the small-level regions the analog input voltage belongs, and outputs a predetermined lower digital code corresponding to the determined small-level region.