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. 22, 2010
Filed:
Dec. 30, 2008
Ho Ming Karen Wan, Hong Kong, HK;
Yat to William Wong, Hong Kong, HK;
Kwai Chi Chan, Hong Kong, HK;
Hok MO Yau, Hong Kong, HK;
Tin Ho Andy Wu, Hong Kong, HK;
Kwok Kuen David Kwong, Davis, CA (US);
Ho Ming Karen Wan, Hong Kong, HK;
Yat To William Wong, Hong Kong, HK;
Kwai Chi Chan, Hong Kong, HK;
Hok Mo Yau, Hong Kong, HK;
Tin Ho Andy Wu, Hong Kong, HK;
Kwok Kuen David Kwong, Davis, CA (US);
Abstract
A re-configurable circuit acts as an Analog-to-Digital Converter (ADC) and as a digital-to-analog converter (DAC). An array of binary-weighted capacitors stores an analog input. Switches connect different capacitors in the array to fixed voltages that cause charge-sharing with a terminal capacitor. The voltage of the terminal capacitor is compared by a re-configurable comparator stage for each different combination of the capacitors. The comparison results are analyzed to determine the closest digital value for the analog input. In DAC mode, the array capacitors are switched based on an input digital value. The switched capacitors connect to a charge-sharing line to generate an analog voltage that is applied to the re-configurable comparator stage. A differential amplifier generates a buffered analog voltage that is fed back to the other input of the re-configurable comparator stage for unity gain. The gain of the re-configurable comparator stage adjusts for ADC and DAC modes.