A novel non-uniform sampling technique for a burst type signal. The analog signal is digitized with high sampling rate to maintain harmonics at higher frequencies and consequently the integrity of the analog signal. Then by using non-uniform sampling technique the most significant samples are selected for further processing which results in overall cost and power consumption reduction.

The present disclosure, in some embodiments, relates to an analog-to-digital converter (ADC). The ADC includes a successive approximation register and a voltage-to-time conversion element. The successive approximation register is configured to receive an input signal and to generate a first digital signal and a residue voltage. The voltage-to-time conversion element is configured to convert the residue voltage to a time domain representation. The voltage-to-time conversion element includes an amplifier having an input coupled to an output of the successive approximation register and configured to receive the residue voltage, and a zero crossing detector directly coupled to an output of the amplifier. A time-to-digital converter is coupled to an output of the zero crossing detector and is configured to generate a second digital signal.

This application discloses an implementation of a novel non-uniform sampling technique for a burst type signal. A simple circuit is developed that implements an analog computation of a complex digital calculation to skip the unnecessary samples and choose the optimum next sample. Then the optimum samples are selected for further processing which results in overall cost and power consumption reduction.

The present technology relates to a measurement circuit, a driving method, and an electronic instrument capable of reducing power consumption. In the measurement circuit, irradiation light is emitted from the light emitting unit toward the object, and light from the object is received to measure pulse waves or the like. The measurement circuit includes: a light receiving unit that receives light from an object; an integrating unit that performs integration of a current generated in accordance with the reception of the light by the light receiving unit and generates a voltage according to the amount of reception of the light; and a pulse generating unit that generates a pulse signal having a pulse width corresponding to the amount of reception of the light on the basis of the voltage. The present technology can be applied to electronic instruments such as wearable devices, for example.

An analog-to-digital converter (ADC) is disclosed. The ADC has a successive approximation register (SAR) configured to receive an input signal and to generate a first digital signal having a plurality of most significant bits and a residue voltage. A voltage-to-time conversion element is configured to generate a time domain representation using the residue voltage. The voltage-to-time conversion element has an amplifier with a input coupled to an output of the SAR, a zero crossing detector coupled to an output of the amplifier, and a current source selectively coupled to the output of the SAR and the input of the amplifier by way of a switching element. A time-based signal processing element is configured to convert the time domain representation to a second digital signal having a plurality of least significant bits.

An A/D converter is provided with: an integrator that includes an operational amplifier provided with a first input terminal and an output terminal, and an integration capacitor; a quantizer that outputs a quantization result obtained by quantizing an output signal from the operational amplifier; and a DAC that is connected to the first input terminal and determines DAC voltage. The integrator has a feedback switch between the integration capacitor and the output terminal of the operational amplifier. An analog signal as an input signal is inputted between the integration capacitor and the feedback switch. The integration capacitor samples the analog signal. The quantizer performs the quantization based on the output of the operational amplifier. The DAC sequentially subtracts electric charge accumulated in the integration capacitor to thereby change the analog signal to a digital value.

An A/D converter is provided with: an integrator that includes an operational amplifier provided with a first input terminal and an output terminal, and an integration capacitor; a quantizer that outputs a quantization result obtained by quantizing an output signal from the operational amplifier; and a DAC that is connected to the first input terminal and determines DAC voltage. The integrator has a feedback switch between the integration capacitor and the output terminal of the operational amplifier. An analog signal as an input signal is inputted between the integration capacitor and the feedback switch. The integration capacitor samples the analog signal. The quantizer performs the quantization based on the output of the operational amplifier. The DAC sequentially subtracts electric charge accumulated in the integration capacitor to thereby change the analog signal to a digital value.

A pipeline analog to digital converter includes a k number of stages and an output data register. A first stage of the k number of stages is configured to receive an analog differential input signal and produce a first digital output and a first single ended analog output. A second stage of the k number of stages is configured to receive the first single ended analog output and produce a second digital output. The output data register is configured to generate an output digital value based on the first and second digital outputs.

A pipeline analog to digital converter includes a k number of stages and an output data register. A first stage of the k number of stages is configured to receive an analog differential input signal and produce a first digital output and a first single ended analog output. A second stage of the k number of stages is configured to receive the first single ended analog output and produce a second digital output. The output data register is configured to generate an output digital value based on the first and second digital outputs.

An A/D converter is provided with: an integrator that includes an operational amplifier provided with a first input terminal and an output terminal, and an integration capacitor; a quantizer that outputs a quantization result obtained by quantizing an output signal from the operational amplifier; and a DAC that is connected to the first input terminal and determines DAC voltage. The integrator has a feedback switch between the integration capacitor and the output terminal of the operational amplifier. An analog signal as an input signal is inputted between the integration capacitor and the feedback switch. The integration capacitor samples the analog signal. The quantizer performs the quantization based on the output of the operational amplifier. The DAC sequentially subtracts electric charge accumulated in the integration capacitor to thereby change the analog signal to a digital value.