An analog-to-digital converter (ADC) for converting an analog signal into a digital signal includes an amplifier circuit configured to receive the analog signal, and to generate a plurality of amplifier signals by amplifying the analog signal; a comparison circuit configured to compare a plurality of voltage levels corresponding to the plurality of amplifier signals with a positive reference voltage level and a negative reference voltage level, and to output conversion target signals based on a result of the comparison; and a converter circuit configured to convert the conversion target signals into a plurality of digital signals.

Apparatus includes an ADC configured to convert an analog signal to a digital signal, a comparator having a first input responsive to the analog signal, a second input responsive to the digital signal, and an output at which a comparison signal is provided, and an output checker configured to process the comparison signal to generate a fault signal indicative of whether a fault has occurred in the ADC. The comparator can be an analog comparator in which case the digital signal is converted to an analog signal for the comparison or a digital comparator in which case an additional ADC is provided to convert the analog signal into a digital signal for the comparison. Embodiments include more than one ADC in which case summation elements are provided to sum the analog signals and the digital signals for the comparison.

A measurement system includes a gain chain configured to amplify an analog input signal; a range selector configured to select a gain between the analog input signal and a plurality of analog-to-digital converter (ADC) outputs from a plurality of ADCs, wherein each ADC output has a path, and a gain of each output path is made up of a plurality of gain stages in the gain chain; and a mixer configured to combine the plurality of ADC outputs into a single mixed output.

This application relates to ADC circuitry. An ADC circuit (200) has first and second conversion paths (201a, 201b) for converting analogue signals to digital and is operable in first and second modes. In the first mode, the first and second conversion paths are connected to respective first and second input nodes (202a, 202b) to receive and convert full scale first and second analogue input signals (Ain1, Ain2) to separate digital outputs (Dout1, Dout2). In the second mode, the first and second conversion paths are both connected to the first input node (202a), to convert the first analogue input signal (Ain1) to respective first and second digital signals, and the first and second conversion paths are configured for processing different signal levels of the first analogue input signal. A selector (207) select the first digital signal or the second digital to be output as an output signal based on an indication of amplitude of the first analogue input signal.

The present invention provides a receiving circuit, wherein the receiving circuit includes a first ADC, an attenuator, a second ADC, a harmonic generation circuit and an output circuit. In the operations of the receiving circuit, the first ADC performs an analog-to-digital operation on an analog input signal to generate a first digital output signal, the attenuator reduces strength of the analog input signal to generate an attenuated analog input signal, the second ADC performs the analog-to-digital operation on the attenuated analog input signal to generate a second digital input signal, the harmonic generation circuit generates at least one harmonic signal according to the second digital input signal, and the output circuit deletes a harmonic component of the first digital input signal by using the at least one harmonic signal to generate an output signal.

A measurement system includes a gain chain configured to amplify an analog input signal; a range selector configured to select a gain between the analog input signal and a plurality of analog-to-digital converter (ADC) outputs from a plurality of ADCs, wherein each ADC output has a path, and a gain of each output path is made up of a plurality of gain stages in the gain chain; and a mixer configured to combine the plurality of ADC outputs into a single mixed output.

There is described a switchable microphone device which may be switched between a digital output mode and an analog output mode. There is further described a system for use of such a device, which allows for the switching between analog and digital computing modes.

There is provided a method and system for linear signal processing with signal decomposition. The system including: a decomposition module to receive an analog input signal and perform signal decomposition, the signal decomposition including slicing the analog input signal into a plurality of slices to produce one or more analog components and one or more digital components, the decomposition module directing each component to a separate signal path; and a processing module to perform one or more linear operations on at least one of the signal paths. In some cases, the signal decomposition includes slicing the analog input signal into the plurality of slices by amplitude. In some cases, the analog components include unsaturated slices of the analog input signal and the digital components include saturated slices of the analog input signal.

Solid-state imaging elements that prevent deterioration of image quality, and reduce power consumption and AD-conversion time are disclosed. In one example, a solid-state imaging element includes a first comparator that uses a first voltage corresponding to an input voltage received from a first pixel, in reference to a first voltage difference between the input voltage and a first reference voltage, and that outputs a comparison result between the input voltage and the first reference voltage in reference to a second voltage difference, and a second comparator that outputs a comparison result of comparison between the input voltage and the second reference voltage in reference to a fourth voltage difference.

In accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, a method for operating a playback path comprising a first dynamic range enhancement subsystem and a second dynamic range enhancement subsystem, wherein an audio signal generated by the first dynamic range enhancement subsystem is communicated to the second dynamic range enhancement subsystem, is provided. The method may include determining a first operating parameter of one of the first dynamic range enhancement subsystem and the second dynamic range enhancement subsystem that affects behavior of the other of the first dynamic range enhancement subsystem and the second dynamic range enhancement subsystem, communicating a control signal between the first dynamic range enhancement subsystem and the second dynamic range enhancement subsystem indicative of the first operating parameter, and setting a second operating parameter of the other of the first dynamic range enhancement subsystem and the second dynamic range enhancement subsystem in response to receipt of the control signal.