The present invention provides a continuous-time delta-sigma modulator comprising two ADCs. One of the ADC is configured to generate MSBs of an output signal of the continuous-time delta-sigma modulator, and the other ADC is configured to generate LSBs of the output signal. In addition, the two ADCs sample an output of a loop filter at different times, but the MSBs and LSBs are feedback to the loop filter simultaneously.

Shortening any of the operational phases of a noise-shaping successive approximation register (SAR) analog-to-digital converter (ADC), including the acquisition phase, the bit trial phase, and the residue charge transfer phase, can result in higher power, and it can be difficult to achieve high speed at low power.

Using various techniques described, the acquisition, bit-trial, and residue charge transfer phases of two or more digital-to-analog converter (DAC) circuits of an ADC circuit can be time-interleaved. The use of two or more DAC circuits can increase or maximize the time available for the acquisition, bit-trial, and residue charge transfer phases.

A system and method for pulse-width modulation (PWM) mismatch shaping. The method includes receiving a multi-bit pulse-code modulated (PCM) signal and generating a voltage ramp signal. The method includes generating a first corrected signal based on a first feedback signal and the multi-bit PCM signal. The method includes generating a first single-bit PWM signal based on the first corrected signal and the voltage ramp signal. The method includes delaying the voltage-ramp signal and generating a second corrected signal based on a second feedback signal and the multi-bit PCM signal. The method includes generating a second single-bit PWM signal based on the second corrected signal and the delayed voltage ramp signal and generating a multi-bit pulse-density modulation (PDM) signal based on the first single-bit PWM signal and the second single-bit PWM signal.

Methods and systems for thermal image sensing are disclosed. A method involves controlling a current (I.sub.ACT) from a detector of a thermal image sensor with a first pulse width modulated (PWM) signal (PWM.sub.ACT) for gain control, controlling a current (I.sub.REF) from a reference source of the thermal image sensor with a second PWM signal (PWM.sub.FEEDBACK) for gain control and for offset correction, wherein the second PWM signal (PWM.sub.FEEDBACK) is generated in response to a digital output (D.sub.Q) that is fed back from an analog to digital conversion circuit, and providing a current (I.sub.SUM), which is the sum of the current (I.sub.ACT) and the current (I.sub.REF), to the analog to digital conversion circuit.

A modulator circuit includes a plurality of signal processing branches, each branch having a modulator for performing a delta-sigma modulation of a respective data stream portion in order to generate a modulated signal. The modulator circuit receives an input data stream having a carrier frequency; splits the input data stream into a plurality of data stream portions. Delta-sigma modulation is performed in each branch on a respective data stream portion. The respective modulated signals from each branch are combined to form an output signal for outputting at the carrier frequency.

A system and method for pulse-width modulation (PWM) mismatch shaping. The method includes receiving a multi-bit pulse-code modulated (PCM) signal and generating a voltage ramp signal. The method includes generating a first corrected signal based on a first feedback signal and the multi-bit PCM signal. The method includes generating a first single-bit PWM signal based on the first corrected signal and the voltage ramp signal. The method includes delaying the voltage-ramp signal and generating a second corrected signal based on a second feedback signal and the multi-bit PCM signal. The method includes generating a second single-bit PWM signal based on the second corrected signal and the delayed voltage ramp signal and generating a multi-bit pulse-density modulation (PDM) signal based on the first single-bit PWM signal and the second single-bit PWM signal.

The invention provides an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) converting an input signal to an output signal. The ADC may comprise a main circuit and a comparator coupled to the main circuit. The main circuit may: transfer the input signal by an input transfer block, filter an error signal by a loop filter, and combine the transferred input signal and the filtered error signal to form a combined signal. The comparator may quantize the combined signal to provide the output signal, wherein the error signal may reflect a difference between the combined signal and the output signal.

A digital modulation device is provided. The digital modulation device includes an input unit; N delta-sigma modulation units; and an output unit. N is an integer greater than or equal to 2, the input unit is configured to: input initial values which differ from each other to the N delta-sigma modulation units; and then, input a same first signal into the N delta-sigma modulation units, each of the N delta-sigma modulation units is configured to: output a second signal by performing delta-sigma modulation processing on the first signal for each first clock cycle, and the output unit is configured to: sequentially output each second signal for each one Nth of the first clock cycle.

A system for acquiring images by means of heterodyne digital holography comprises an image sensor having at least one photodiode coupled to an oversampling analog-digital converter.

Methods and apparatus for providing bandpass analog to digital conversion (ADC) in RF receiver circuitry of a wireless-communication device. The bandpass ADC includes first noise-shaping successive approximation register (NS-SAR) circuitry arranged in a first path and second NS-SAR circuitry arranged in a second path parallel to the first path, wherein the first and second NS-SAR circuitries are configured to alternately sample an analog input voltage at a particular sampling rate and to output a digital voltage at the particular sampling rate.