To convert a first stage input to a digital output, a delta-sigma modulator, an analog-to-digital converter and an associated signal conversion method based on an MASH structure are provided. The analog-to-digital converter includes the delta-sigma modulator and a sample and hold circuit. The delta-sigma modulator includes a first signal converter, a second signal converter and a digital cancellation logic. The first signal converter converts the first stage input to a first converted output. The first signal converter shapes a first stage quantization error to generate a second stage input. The first stage input and the second stage input are analog signals. The second signal converter converts the second stage input to a second converted output. The digital cancellation logic generates a digital output according to the first converted output and the second converted output.

A time constant calibration circuit and method. The circuit comprises a resistor, a capacitor, an amplifier, a first switch and a second switch. The resistance of the resistor and/or the capacitance of the capacitor is variable. A first terminal of the resistor, a first terminal of the capacitor and a first input of the amplifier are coupled to a common node, which is coupleable to a reference current source. A second input of the amplifier is coupleable to a reference voltage. An output of the amplifier is coupled to a second terminal of the resistor and a second terminal of the capacitor. The circuit can perform a calibration process comprising one or more calibration cycles in which the switches route a reference current through the resistor in a first phase and through the capacitor in a second phase. The resistance and/or the capacitance is adjusted between calibration cycles.

Provided, among other things, is an apparatus for digitally processing a discrete-time signal that includes: an input line for accepting an input signal, processing branches coupled to the input line, and an adder coupled to outputs of the processing branches. First and second lowpass filters, each having a frequency response with a magnitude that varies approximately with frequency according to a product of raised functions, are included within baseband processors in such processing branches.

A frequency delta-sigma modulation signal output circuit includes: a phase modulation circuit configured to generate n delay signals obtained by delaying a measurement target signal, n being an integer of 2 or more, and generate a phase modulation signal by randomly selecting one of the n delay signals in synchronization with the measurement target signal; and a frequency ratio digital conversion circuit configured to generate a frequency delta-sigma modulation signal using a reference signal and the phase modulation signal.

A DWA circuit includes: a thermometer conversion unit configured to convert an input digital signal into a thermometer code; a shift amount storage unit configured to store a shift amount; a shift unit configured to cyclically shift the thermometer code; an arrangement conversion unit configured to supply, to an analog output circuit, an output control code obtained by converting a bit arrangement of a shifted code; and an update unit configured to update the shift amount, in which the shifted code includes a plurality of unconverted bit fields, the output control code includes a plurality of converted bit fields, and the arrangement conversion unit is configured to perform arrangement conversions on a plurality of bits having a same position in a bit field in the plurality of unconverted bit fields, to arrange the plurality of bits in a same converted bit field among the plurality of converted bit fields.

Provided are, among other things, systems, apparatuses methods and techniques for automatically adjusting the noise-transfer-function of a modulator which is designed to attenuate the level of unwanted noise and/or distortion in a particular frequency band, without similarly attenuating the level of a desired signal in the same frequency band. One such apparatus includes a processing block for generating and injecting an explicit reference signal, and a processing block for detecting the amplitude of that reference signal.

A phase locked loop comprises: a controllable oscillator 102; a variable divider arrangement 108, 110 which takes a signal from the controllable oscillator 102 and divides it by a variable amount to provide a lower frequency signal; a sigma-delta modulator 112 arranged to provide a control input to said variable divider arrangement 108, 110; and a phase detector triggered 104 by said lower frequency signal and a reference clock;
wherein said phase locked loop is arranged to be operable in a normal mode in which the controllable oscillator 102 is controlled by a voltage from said phase detector 104 and a calibration mode in which the controllable oscillator 102 is controlled digitally by a signal from a calibration module 114 which receives an input from said variable divider arrangement 108, 110.

An A/D converter includes an A/D conversion unit and an output unit. The A/D conversion unit includes a second A/D converter (successive approximation register A/D converter) and generates first digital data having a first number of bits and second digital data having a second number of bits, where the second number of bits is smaller than the first number of bits. The output unit provides first output information that is the first digital data and also provides second output information based on the second digital data. The output unit provides the second output information before providing the first output information.

Systems and methods for a power-efficient 3-level digital-to-analog converter. A converter cell using a current starving technique keeps a portion of the converter cell turned on in a low power mode, as opposed to completely turning off current in selected modes. A conversion system keeps a first set of converters active while allowing a second set of converters to be powered down. Systems and methods presented save power and allow for efficient reactivation of converters.

An analog to digital converter (ADC) senses an analog signal (e.g., a load current) to generate a digital signal. The ADC operates based on a load voltage produced based on charging of an element (e.g., a capacitor) by a load current and a digital to analog converter (DAC) output current (e.g., from a N-bit DAC). The ADC generates a digital output signal representative of a difference between the load voltage and a reference voltage. This digital output signal is used directly, or after digital signal processing, to operate an N-bit DAC to generate a DAC output current that tracks the load current. The digital output signal provided to the N-bit DAC is an inverse function of the load current. The ADC is operative to sense very low currents (e.g., currents as low as 1 s of pico-amps) and consume very little power (e.g., less than 2 .Math.W).