Patent ID: 7161523
Filing Date: 2007-01-09
Classification: H03M

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for adjusting a comparison, the apparatus comprising: an arrangement of comparators in a thermometer-code configuration, the comparators being configured to receive an analog signal, at least a portion of outputs of comparators carrying a first digital form of the analog signal; logic circuits configured to make a determination when the analog signal is between levels detected by logically adjacent comparators of the comparator arrangement, wherein a first logic circuit comprises a first “AND” gate with at least a first input and a second input, where the first input of the first AND gate is coupled to an output of a first comparator of the comparator arrangement and the second input of the first AND gate is coupled to an output of a second comparator of the comparator arrangement adjacent to the first comparator, the comparators and the first AND gate being configured such that the first input is effectively inverted with respect to the second input, wherein the first logic circuit is configured to determine when the analog signal is lower than a threshold voltage for the second comparator and is higher than a threshold voltage for the first comparator, wherein the second comparator is higher in the thermometer-code configuration than the first comparator; and a circuit configured to adjust a threshold voltage of at least one of the logically adjacent comparators at least partially in response to the determination by said logic circuit.