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:
May. 21, 2013
Filed:
Mar. 02, 2011
Jan Bogaerts, Sint Katelijne Waver, BE;
Jan Bogaerts, Sint Katelijne Waver, BE;
CMOSIS NV, Antwerp, BE;
Abstract
An analog-to-digital converter (ADC) generates an output digital value equivalent to the difference between two analog signal values. The ADCreceives a first analog signal level, a second analog signal level and a ramp signal. A counteris operable to count in a single direction. A control stage is arranged to enable the counterbased on a comparisonof the ramp signal with the first analog signal and the second analog signal. A digital value accumulated by the counter during a period when it is enabled forms the output. The ADC can perform the conversion during a single cycle of the ramp signal. The countercan be loaded with a starting digital value representing an exposure level accumulated during a previous exposure period. Techniques are described for reducing the conversion time.