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:
Nov. 24, 2009
Filed:
Apr. 29, 2008
Franklin M. Murden, Roan Mountain, TN (US);
Michael R. Elliott, Summerfield, NC (US);
Franklin M. Murden, Roan Mountain, TN (US);
Michael R. Elliott, Summerfield, NC (US);
Analog Devices, Inc., Norwood, MA (US);
Abstract
Signal converter systems are provided which reduce degradation of system bit error rate that is caused by metastable conversion errors which generally occur when analog input signals are near reference thresholds Vof system comparators. When operating correctly, the comparators generate a corresponding converter code when the input signals cross the threshold. Metastability, however, may cause the comparators to fail to generate the corresponding converter code. In system embodiments, logic is provided to sense the absence of comparator decisions at the end of a predetermined decision period. In response to this absence, the system is configured to substitute the corresponding converter code. In another embodiment, the system is configured to substitute the corresponding converter code when it lies outside a predetermined digital code window.