A delta-sigma modulator may include a loop filter, a quantizer, an input gain element having a programmable input gain and coupled between an input of the delta-sigma modulator and an input of the loop filter, a feedforward gain element having a programmable feedforward gain and coupled between the input of the delta-sigma modulator and an output of the loop filter, and a quantizer gain element having a quantizer gain and coupled between the output of the loop filter and an input of the quantizer. The programmable input gain is controlled in order to control a variable gain of the delta-sigma modulator. The programmable feedforward gain is controlled to be equal to the ratio of the programmable input gain and the quantizer gain such that the delta-sigma modulator has a fixed phase response.

A delta-sigma modulation circuit has a sampling period and, in operation, generates a delta-sigma modulated signal based on the analog input signal. The delta-sigma modulation circuit includes: a first integrator; an analog-to-digital converter; a feedback-loop coupled between an input of the first integrator and the output interface; a second integrator coupled between the first integrator and the analog-to-digital converter. The delta-sigma modulation circuit has loop-delay compensation circuitry having a plurality of switches. The loop delay compensation circuitry, in operation, controls the plurality of switches based on a time interval of a duration of half the sampling period and generates a loop-delay compensation signal.

This disclosure is directed to, among other things, techniques to decouple the number of bits in a quantizer from the number of bits in the feedback digital-to-analog converter (DAC). A delta-sigma analog-to-digital converter circuit can include a first quantizer to generate an output having a first number of bits and then emulate a second quantizer, such as by using a bit truncation technique, to generate an output having a second number of bits. The feedback DAC can be coupled to receive the second number of bits, where the output of the feedback digital-to-analog converter circuit has the second number of bits. These techniques can reduce the area of the feedback DAC, e.g., 4 or 5 bits, and the techniques can achieve a higher maximum stable amplitude (MSA) because it is effectively a second order loop.

An excess loop delay compensation (ELDC) technique for use with a successive approximation register (SAR) based quantizer in a continuous time delta-sigma ADC is described. The techniques can efficiently program and calibrate the ELD gain in ELD compensation SAR quantizers. An ELDC circuit can include a charge pump having a digitally programmable capacitance to adjust a gain, such as the gain of the ELDC digital-to-analog converter (DAC) or the gain of the SAR DAC.

An exemplary quantizer includes a multi-bit analog-to-digital converter (ADC) and a first digital-to-analog converter (DAC) feedback circuit. The multi-bit ADC has an internal DAC associated with comparison of each sampled analog input of the multi-bit ADC. The multi-bit ADC converts a currently-sampled analog input into a first digital output. A first noise-shaped truncation output is derived from the first digital output. The first DAC feedback circuit transfers a first truncation residue associated with the first noise-shaped truncation output to the internal DAC. The transferred first truncation residue is reflected in comparison of a later-sampled analog input of the multi-bit ADC via the internal DAC.

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a high-power-efficiency and low-design-cost transmission device by implementing, with a constant clock, delta-sigma modulation maintaining a zero current switching property in an amplifier. This delta-sigma modulator comprises: a pulse phase signal generation unit for generating a pulse phase signal from a phase signal; a delta-sigma modulation unit for generating a pulse amplitude signal obtained by delta-sigma modulating an amplitude signal with a constant clock; a phase sorting unit for outputting a control signal on the basis of the phase signal; a delay switching unit for delaying the pulse amplitude signal on the basis of the control signal; and a mixing unit for outputting a pulse string obtained by multiplying together the delayed pulse amplitude signal and the pulse phase signal.

Provided is a modulation circuit that can correct an output state in real time and reliably modulate an input signal to output the modulated signal. The signal modulation circuit includes a subtractor, an integrator, a chopper circuit, a frequency divider, and a D-type flip-flop. A delay circuit of a sigma delta modulation circuit is not provided to a feedback circuit, and a signal is delayed and quantized in the D-type flip-flop. The chopper circuit inserts a zero level at timing synchronized with a clock signal, so that pulse density modulation is performed.

The present disclosure relates generally to techniques for continuous-time sigma-delta analog-to-digital converter (ADC). The continuous-time sigma-delta ADC may include a feed-forward capacitor in parallel with a current-steering excess loop delay (ELD) digital-to-analog converter (DAC), and by creating a zero in a transfer function of a Gm cell, both an ELD feedback loop settling and a main feedback loop may be recovered. As a result, the performance and stability of the continuous-time sigma-delta ADC can be achieved. Additionally, a summation node in the continuous-time sigma-delta ADC may offer flexibility in the architecture design of the continuous-time sigma-delta ADC.

A circuit includes a transconductance stage having first and second outputs. The circuit also includes a comparator having first and second inputs. The first input is coupled to the first output, and the second input is coupled to the second output. The comparator includes first through fifth transistors and a pair of cross-coupled transistors. The pair of cross-coupled transistors is coupled to the second current terminals of the first and second transistors. The second current terminal of the third transistor is coupled to the second current terminal of the first transistor, and the first current terminals of the first, second, and third transistors are coupled together. The second current terminals of the fourth and fifth transistors are coupled together and to the control input of the third transistor.

A delta-sigma modulation circuit has a sampling period and, in operation, generates a delta-sigma modulated signal based on the analog input signal. The delta-sigma modulation circuit includes: a first integrator; an analog-to-digital converter; a feedback-loop coupled between an input of the first integrator and the output interface; a second integrator coupled between the first integrator and the analog-to-digital converter. The delta-sigma modulation circuit has loop-delay compensation circuitry having a plurality of switches. The loop delay compensation circuitry, in operation, controls the plurality of switches based on a time interval of a duration of half the sampling period and generates a loop-delay compensation signal.