US 12,395,182 B1
Analog-to-digital converter method and circuitry with reduced metastability error
Govert Geelen, Eindhoven (NL); and Edward Paulus, Venlo (NL)
Assigned to Marvell Asia Pte Ltd, Singapore (SG)
Filed by Marvell Asia Pte Ltd, Singapore (SG)
Filed on Jun. 26, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/341,141.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/355,705, filed on Jun. 27, 2022.
Int. Cl. H03M 1/34 (2006.01); H03M 1/38 (2006.01); H03M 1/40 (2006.01); H03M 1/46 (2006.01)
CPC H03M 1/34 (2013.01) [H03M 1/38 (2013.01); H03M 1/40 (2013.01); H03M 1/462 (2013.01); H03M 1/468 (2013.01)] 23 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for converting an unknown analog voltage to a digital output signal, the method comprising:
receiving the unknown analog voltage;
establishing a first voltage stability threshold to distinguish between a stable measurement and a metastable measurement of a voltage difference between the unknown analog voltage and a reference voltage;
measuring the voltage difference between the unknown analog voltage and the reference voltage;
determining whether the voltage difference is greater or less than the first voltage stability threshold;
in response to determining that the voltage difference is greater than the first voltage stability threshold, driving output circuitry to yield an output indicative of which one of the unknown analog voltage and the reference voltage is greater;
in response to determining that the voltage difference is less than the first stability threshold, overruling the output circuitry and assigning a predetermined output value indicative of which one of the unknown analog voltage and the reference voltage is greater; and
deriving, from the output value indicative of which one of the unknown analog voltage and the reference voltage is greater, at least one bit of the digital output signal.