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:
Jun. 30, 2009
Filed:
Jul. 10, 2007
Yuichiro Nakata, Kyoto, JP;
Junji Fujino, Kyoto, JP;
Yoshitsugu Uedaira, Kyoto, JP;
Rohm Co., Ltd., Kyoto, JP;
Abstract
An analog/digital converter has a charge circuit that has a charge capacitor storing an electric charge commensurate with an input current, and first and second discharge circuits that discharge the electric charge stored in the charge capacitor. While the charge capacitor is charged for a predetermined charge period, every time a predetermined amount of electric charge is stored in the charge capacitor, the electric charge stored there is discharged by the first discharge circuit. After the charge period, the electric charge remaining in the charge capacitor is discharged by the second discharge circuit. Based on the number of discharges performed by the first discharge circuit and the discharge duration of the second discharge circuit, a digital value of the voltage commensurate with the amount of electric charge with which the charge capacitor has been charged is outputted. This offers a wider input dynamic range combined with an enhanced minimum resolution without requiring complicated external control, and in addition allows measurement to be performed in less time.