Patent ID: 6940443
Filing Date: 2005-09-06
Classification: G04F,H03M

Abstract:
1. An analog-to-digital converter for converting an analog voltage signal into digital data, comprising: a pulse delay circuit including a plurality of inverting circuits to each of which the analog voltage signal is inputted through a first pair of power supply lines connected thereto, the inverting circuits being sequentially connected with each other, each of the inverting circuits comprising a first logic gate and operating to invert a pulse signal inputted thereto so as to output an inversion of the pulse signal, the inverting operation of each of the inverting circuits providing a predetermined delay time, the delay time of each of the inverting circuits depending on a level of the voltage signal; a voltage signal input terminal connected to one of the first paired power supply lines through which the voltage signal is applied; and a logic circuit having a second logic gate and a second pair of power supply lines, the logic circuit operating based on a constant power supply voltage inputted to one of the second paired power supply lines to detect a number of the inverting circuits through which the pulse signal passes within a predetermined setting time so as to generate digital data according to the detected number of the inverting circuits, wherein at least one of a first range of the level of the voltage signal and a second range of the power supply voltage is set to prevent a tunneling current from flowing at least one of between the first paired power supply lines and between the second paired power supply lines when at least one of the first and second logic gates operates.