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. 14, 2011
Filed:
Oct. 14, 2009
Philippe Deval, Lutry, CH;
Vincent Quiquempoix, Divonne les Bains, FR;
Alexandre Barreto, Morges, CH;
Philippe Deval, Lutry, CH;
Vincent Quiquempoix, Divonne les Bains, FR;
Alexandre Barreto, Morges, CH;
Microchip Technology Incorporated, Chandler, AZ (US);
Abstract
A multi-bit (M-bit, M>1) or multi-level (nlev levels, nlev>2, encoded on M bits where M=Floor(log 2(nlev))) sigma-delta analog-to-digital converter (ADC) with a variable resolution multi-bit quantizer having its resolution (number of distinct output levels) and associated quantization thresholds changed for each voltage sample with a random or pseudo-random sequence N(n) to provide automatic dynamic dithering for removing undesired idle tones in the digital output of the sigma-delta ADC. The random integer numbers N(n) between 2 and nlev may be provided by a random or pseudo-random sequence generator, e.g., Galois linear feedback shift register in combination with digital comparators and an adder.