Patent ID: 7142145
Filing Date: 2006-11-28
Classification: H03M

Abstract:
1. A method of converting an analog signal to a digital signal, comprising: receiving an analog input signal; compressing the analog input signal; and converting the compressed analog input signal to a digital signal, wherein the compressing and the converting are simultaneously performed in a single step, said receiving, compressing, and converting are accomplished in an N-bit analog-to-digital converter circuit having an isolation circuit, an input circuit including a resistor chain, a plurality of fixed threshold comparators, and an encoder, the isolation circuit configured to isolate a device supplying the analog input signal from the input circuit, the isolation circuit being connected to the input circuit at an uppermost node of the resistor chain, wherein 2 wherein the input circuit has a compressing transfer function achieved by varying the resistance from rung to rung in the resistor chain.