Patent ID: 6067035
Filing Date: 2000-05-23
Classification: H03M

Abstract:
A method for monitoring an operability of an analog to digital (A/D) converter during a normal operation of the analog to digital converter, the A/D converter being configured for digitizing analog signals, comprising the steps of:generating a sequence of rectangular pulses outside of the A/D converter as a function of an analog signal to be digitized by the A/D converter, at least one of a width and a repetition frequency of the rectangular pulses being analog signal-dependent, the rectangular pulses being generated using a signal processor circuit outside of a central processing unit;inputting the rectangular pulses from the signal processing circuit into the central processing unit for conversion to a digital result;generating by the A/D converter a digital value as a function of the analog signal; andchecking the digital result and the digital value for conformance with one another.