Patent ID: 6888488
Filing Date: 2005-05-03
Classification: H03K,H03M

Abstract:
1. An A/D converter, comprising: a plurality of comparators, each of which samples an analog input potential during a first period, and compares the analog input potential with a reference potential during a second period; an encoder which encodes comparison results obtained by said comparators; and a control signal supply unit which generates one or more control signals that define the first period and the second period such as to make a duration of the first period different from a duration of the second period, and supplies the one or more control signals to said plurality of comparators, wherein each of the comparators includes an inverter which has an input thereof coupled to an output thereof only during the first period, and receives at the input a potential responsive to a difference between the analog input potential and the reference potential during the second period, said input of said inverter being coupled to a predetermined voltage during a third period different from both of the first period and the second period such as to prevent a through current from flowing through said inverter; and wherein a processing cycle including sampling and comparing for a single analog input potential includes the first period, the second period, and the third period, and said input of said inverter is coupled to the predetermined voltage once in every said processing cycle.