US 12,191,880 B2
Slope analog-to-digital converter and a method for analog-to-digital conversion of an analog input signal
Ewout Martens, Heverlee (BE); and Jan Craninckx, Boutersem (BE)
Assigned to IMEC VZW, Leuven (BE)
Filed by IMEC VZW, Leuven (BE)
Filed on Dec. 19, 2022, as Appl. No. 18/083,823.
Claims priority of application No. 21215864 (EP), filed on Dec. 20, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2023/0198539 A1, Jun. 22, 2023
Int. Cl. H03M 1/16 (2006.01); H03M 1/12 (2006.01); H03M 1/56 (2006.01)
CPC H03M 1/167 (2013.01) [H03M 1/1245 (2013.01); H03M 1/129 (2013.01); H03M 1/56 (2013.01); H03M 1/1215 (2013.01)] 12 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A slope analog-to-digital converter, ADC, for converting an analog input signal to a digital representation, said ADC comprising:
an input unit comprising a sampling capacitor, wherein the input unit is configured to receive the analog input signal during an initial period for obtaining a sampled value of the analog input signal and wherein the input unit is configured to, during a conversion period, hold the sampled value of the analog input signal across the sampling capacitor between a first terminal and a second terminal of the sampling capacitor; and
a comparator which is configured to determine a most significant bit of the analog input signal during the initial period;
wherein the ADC during the conversion period is configured to receive a slope signal and to be adapted based on the determined most significant bit such that the comparator is further configured to adaptively compare the sampled value and the slope signal for converting the sampled value to a digital representation.