An analog-to-digital converting device includes: a main analog-to-digital converter configured to convert an analog signal output from a sensor to a digital signal; and a monitoring unit configured to monitor the digital signal converted by the main analog-to-digital converter. The main analog-to-digital converter is provided by a special purpose IC arranged separately from a microcomputer for controlling the main analog-to-digital converter. The monitoring unit includes multiple sub analog-to-digital converters each of which having a conversion accuracy lower than that of the main analog-to-digital converter and converting the analog signal output from the sensor to a digital signal. The monitoring unit sets a predetermined threshold based on conversion values of the digital signals converted by the multiple sub analog-to-digital converters, and compares a conversion value of the digital signal converted by the main analog-to-digital converter with the predetermined threshold.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, provided is an analog to digital converter. The analog-to-digital converter according to one embodiment of the present invention comprises an analog amplification unit and a flash conversion unit, wherein the analog amplification unit may have a structure in which in which two input terminal circuits that alternately operate share a single amplifier. Accordingly, the analog-to-digital converter according to one embodiment of the present invention can be implemented in a smaller area and operate at low power, and can have a high resolution while operating at a high speed.

A digital microphone includes at least one integrator; a state detection and parameter control component directly coupled to an output of the integrator; and a signal processing component coupled to an output of the state detection and parameter control component, wherein a parameter of the signal processing component includes a first value in a first operational mode and a second value in a second operational mode different from the first operational mode.

A digital microphone includes at least one integrator; a state detection and parameter control component directly coupled to an output of the integrator; and a signal processing component coupled to an output of the state detection and parameter control component, wherein a parameter of the signal processing component includes a first value in a first operational mode and a second value in a second operational mode different from the first operational mode.

In a first sensitivity level, an AD converter performs AD conversion selectively using, in accordance with the level of the analog signal, any one of a first reference signal and a second reference signal that have mutually different slopes, and in a second sensitivity level that is different from the first sensitivity level, the AD converter performs AD conversion only using a third reference signal.

Aspects of the disclosure are directed to compensating for errors in in an analog-to-digital converter circuit (ADC). As may be implemented in accordance with one or more embodiments, an apparatus and/or method involves an ADC that converts an analog signal into a digital signal using an output from a digital-to-analog converter circuit (DAC). A compensation circuit generates a compensation output by, for respective signal portions provided to the DAC, generating a feedback signal based on an incompatibility between the conversion of the signal portions into an analog signal and the value of the signal portions provided to the DAC. A compensation output is generated based on the signal input to the DAC with a gain applied thereto, based on the feedback signal. Hereby, the digital inputs provided to the DACs are non-randomized.

Described herein is a method and apparatus for enhancing the dynamic range of a digital-to-analog conversion circuit. Dynamic range enhancement (DRE) is accomplished by modifying the gain of components of the circuit so that the gain of components generating noise is effectively reduced. In a circuit utilizing a plurality of 1-bit DACs, analog signal gain is decreased when the full nominal gain of the analog portion of the circuit is not needed to obtain a desired peak output amplitude. The reduction is accomplished by effectively “disconnecting” some of the plurality of 1-bit DACs. Some or all of the 1-bit DACs are configured to have a third or “tri-state” in which there is no connection to the normal two reference levels thus providing no output. If some portion of the 1-bit DACs is placed in the tri-state, both the signal and noise gain will be reduced.

Described herein is a method and apparatus for enhancing the dynamic range of a digital-to-analog conversion circuit. Dynamic range enhancement (DRE) is accomplished by modifying the gain of components of the circuit so that the gain of components generating noise is effectively reduced. In a circuit utilizing a plurality of 1-bit DACs, analog signal gain is decreased when the full nominal gain of the analog portion of the circuit is not needed to obtain a desired peak output amplitude. The reduction is accomplished by effectively “disconnecting” some of the plurality of 1-bit DACs. Some or all of the 1-bit DACs are configured to have a third or “tri-state” in which there is no connection to the normal two reference levels thus providing no output. If some portion of the 1-bit DACs is placed in the tri-state, both the signal and noise gain will be reduced.

Techniques to adjust a gain of an analog-to-digital converter circuit (ADC) and/or an ADC full scale from one sample to the next of an analog input signal to compensate for the signal loss over distance, which can increase an effective dynamic range of the system. The benefit of compensating for the signal loss due to distance is that a data interface between the ADC of the receiver of the LIDAR system and a signal processor no longer needs to support the dynamic range from the range specification.

Techniques to adjust a gain of an analog-to-digital converter circuit (ADC) and/or an ADC full scale from one sample to the next of an analog input signal to compensate for the signal loss over distance, which can increase an effective dynamic range of the system. The benefit of compensating for the signal loss due to distance is that a data interface between the ADC of the receiver of the LIDAR system and a signal processor no longer needs to support the dynamic range from the range specification.