Signal amplitude aware dithering method for enhancing small signal linearity in an analog-to-digital converter

An analog-to-digital converter (ADC) and a method are disclosed. The ADC includes dithering circuitry. The dithering circuitry includes a signal level detector, a dither amplitude controller, a random code generator, and a dither digital-to-analog converter (DAC). The signal level detector receives the analog input signal and provides amplitude level information associated with the analog input signal. The dither amplitude controller receives the amplitude level information from the signal level detector, and provides a control signal. The dither amplitude controller varies the control signal based on the amplitude level information. The dither DAC receives the control signal from the dither amplitude controller and a pseudo-noise (PN) signal from the random code generator, and provides the dither signal based on the control signal. The dither signal varies based on an amplitude level of the analog input signal.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure relates generally to data conversion between an analog form and a digital form and more specifically relates to dithering control based on a signal amplitude for a data conversion circuit.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

High performance automotive radar sensors need a data conversion circuit, such as an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) or digital-to-analog converter (DAC), to have an ultra-low spur level to avoid false alarms and/or missed detection of targets with small radar cross sections. However, circuit component mismatches in an ADC, e.g. successive approximation register (SAR) ADCs, may prevent the ADC from achieving the desired low spurs level. For example, in a radar system, an ADC may have non-ideal transfer function due to signal dependent offsets, components mismatches and memory effects that may prevent achieving the low spurs level as needed.

Dithering is a technique to improve the linearity of the ADC, such that the low spurs level may be accomplished. For example, dithering may add a pseudo random noise signal to an input signal, and as a result mismatch and memory induced conversion errors within the ADC may be decorrelated with the input signal by the added noise. The noise introduced by dither can be subtracted from the ADC output when conversion is finished since the dither amplitude is known exactly.

However, while conventional dithering techniques may improve the linearity of an ADC, these techniques have a drawback of reducing the effective input range of an ADC. In an example, the ADC's effective input range may be defined as a maximum amplitude of an analog input signal that the ADC may process without clipping the signal. In certain examples, the effective range of the ADC may be reduced so that the ADC can accommodate the sum of the input signal plus the dither signal while avoiding clipping of the signal, and thus a small dither signal is desirable. However, the dither signal needs to be sufficiently large to be effective. Thus, a technique that avoids such disadvantages of reducing the ADC's effective input range while enabling dithering of the ADC would be a technological improvement over existing technology.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Analog-to-digital converter (ADC) circuitry and a method are disclosed. The ADC circuitry includes an ADC and dithering circuitry. The dithering circuitry includes a signal level detector, a dither signal amplitude controller, PN code generator and a dither digital-to-analog converter (DAC). The signal level detector receives an analog input signal and provides amplitude level information associated with the analog input signal. In an example, the signal level detector may determine a coarse estimation of analog input signal level and provide a coarse estimation of the analog input signal level. The dither amplitude controller may receive the amplitude level information from the signal level detector, and provide a control signal. In an example, the dither amplitude controller may vary the control signal based on the amplitude level information. The dither DAC may receive the control signal from the dither amplitude controller and the PN code generator, and provide a dither signal based on the control signal and the PN code generator, such that the dither signal varies based on an amplitude level of the analog input signal.

The ADC circuitry disclosed herein with dithering control based on an analog input signal amplitude provides various advantages and benefits over other systems that utilize ADCs. In particular, the ADC circuitry may determine a signal level of an analog input signal and vary the root mean square (RMS) amplitude of a dither signal for the ADC based on the signal level to improve a dynamic range of the ADC and improve small signal linearity of the ADC. In an example, the dithering signal may have a varying amplitude over time, such that the strength (e.g., RMS amplitude or peak amplitude) of the dither signal within a certain period of time is varying based on a signal level of the analog input signal. For example, in response to the analog input signal having a small amplitude, the ADC circuitry, such as a dithering controller within the ADC circuitry, may provide a dither signal with large RMS amplitude value to the ADC to improve the linearity of the ADC with low amplitude analog input signals. However, in response to the analog input signal having a large amplitude, the RMS amplitude of the dither signal may be reduced or not provided to the ADC, such that the input range of the ADC is not exceeded by the combination of the dither signal and the analog input signal with a large amplitude. While previous ADCs utilize dither signals to improve ADC linearity, these ADCs provide a dither signal with constant RMS amplitude and thereby reduce a dynamic range of the ADC based on the combination of the dither signal and the input analog input signal. Therefore, the systems disclosed herein improve the linearity of the ADC circuitry without degrading the effective input range of the ADC circuitry via varying the RMS amplitude of a dither signal within a certain period of time based on a signal level of the analog input signal.

FIG. 1is a block diagram illustrating a portion of automotive circuitry100. Automotive circuitry100includes radar reception circuitry102, analog-to-digital conversion (ADC) circuitry104, and signal processing circuitry106. In certain examples, automotive circuitry100may include additional or fewer components, not shown in or discussed with reference toFIG. 1, without varying from the scope of this disclosure.

Radar reception circuitry102may receive target reflections signals, which may indicate locations of surrounding objects, such as other vehicles on a roadway. Upon reception of the target reflection, radar reception circuitry102may provide the received target reflection signal to ADC circuitry104for data conversion.

ADC circuitry104may perform one or more operations to convert the signal from radar reception circuitry102into a digital signal for signal processing circuitry106. For example, ADC circuitry104may receive the analog signal from radar reception circuitry102, and one or more components within ADC circuitry104may determine a signal level of the analog signal. In an example, ADC circuitry104may determine the signal level of the analog signal by sampling the analog input signal at discrete points in time and comparing the sampled values with a set of reference values for quantization.

Based on the determined signal level of the analog signal, one or more components within ADC circuitry104may provide a dither signal with a varying RMS amplitude. ADC circuitry104may combine the dither signal with the analog signal from radar reception circuitry104and the combined signal may be provided to an ADC of ADC circuitry104. The ADC may convert the combined analog signal to a digital signal, and may output the digital signal. A digital representation of the varied dither signal may be removed from the digital signal and the resulting signal may be a digital representation of the analog input signal. The resulting digital signal may be provided from ADC circuitry104to signal processing circuitry106. Thus, ADC circuitry104utilizes a dither signal with a RMS amplitude that varies based on the amplitude level of the sampled analog input signal to improve the linearity of the ADC while not excessively reducing a dynamic range of the ADC.

FIG. 2illustrates ADC circuitry200including dithering circuitry202, an ADC204, adder206, and subtractor208. Dithering circuitry202includes a signal level estimator210, a dither amplitude controller212, a dither DAC214, and a pseudo-noise (PN) or random code generator216. In certain examples, ADC204may be any suitable ADC, such as an N-bit ADC, a successive approximation register (SAR) ADC, a flash ADC, or a pipeline ADC. In an example, ADC circuitry200may be any suitable circuitry, such as ADC circuitry104ofFIG. 1. In certain examples, ADC circuitry200may include additional, or fewer components, not shown in or discussed with reference toFIG. 2, without varying from the scope of this disclosure.

In an example, ADC circuitry200may receive an analog input signal, Ain, and provide the analog input signal to both adder206and signal level estimator210. In certain examples, signal level estimator210may be any suitable type of detector including, but not limited to, a two level detector and a four level detector. In an example, signal level estimator210may perform one or more operations to determine an amplitude of the analog input signal. For example, signal level estimator210may sample the analog input signal and generate a coarse estimation of the amplitude of the sampled signal. In an example, the coarse estimation may be generated via any suitable technique including, but not limited to, comparison of the analog signal to a threshold. In an embodiment, based on the analog signal being symmetric around zero, comparison of the analog signal to a threshold, as used herein, refers to comparing the analog signal to at least two threshold value (e.g., a positive value of the threshold and a negative value of the threshold). For example, a comparator may provide a first output signal based on the amplitude of the analog signal satisfying the threshold and a second output signal based on the amplitude of the analog signal not satisfying the threshold. Based on the amplitude of the sampled signal, signal level estimator210may create a signal that includes amplitude level information of the analog input signal, and provide the signal to dither amplitude controller212.

Dither amplitude controller212may perform one or more operations to generate a control signal based on the amplitude of the sampled signal. For example, dither amplitude controller212may process the amplitude level information, and generate the control signal based on the amplitude level information. In an example, the control signal may vary in any suitable manner based on the amplitude of the analog input signal. For example, a first control signal may be created in response to the analog input signal having an amplitude that satisfies a threshold, and a second control signal may be created in response to the analog input signal having an amplitude that does not satisfy the threshold. In an example, the threshold may be any determined amplitude, such that signals with amplitudes greater than or equal to the threshold may be considered large amplitude signals and signals with amplitudes smaller than the threshold may be considered small amplitude signals. Dither amplitude controller212may provide the control signal to dither DAC214.

PN code generator216may generate a pseudo-noise (PN) signal that is utilized within ADC circuitry200to improve the linearity of the ADC204. In an example, the output of PN code generator is uncorrelated to analog input signal so that any mismatch induced conversion errors of ADC204may be randomized. This randomization of the conversion errors of ADC204may also result in a suppression of harmonic spurs in the output of ADC204in response to the PN signal being subtracted from the output of ADC204.

Dither DAC214may receive the control signal from dither amplitude controller212and the PN signal from PN code generator216. Based on the PN signal and the control signal, dither DAC214may perform one or more operations to generate a dither signal. In an example, dither DAC214may convert the PN signal to an analog dither signal. In certain examples, dither DAC214may vary the dither signal based on the control signal received from dither amplitude controller212. As used herein, varying the dither signal refers to varying the RMS amplitude or peak amplitude of the dither signal. If dither DAC214receives a control signal, such as the first control signal described above, generated based on an analog input signal Ainhaving an amplitude level that satisfies the threshold, dither DAC214may provide a dither signal with a small RMS amplitude or not provide the dither signal. However, if dither DAC214receives a control signal, such as the second control signal described above, generated based on an analog input signal having an amplitude level that does not satisfy the threshold, dither DAC214may provide a dither signal with a large RMS amplitude.

Dither DAC214may provide the dither signal to adder206to be added to the analog input signal. Adder206may provide the combined analog signal to ADC204for conversion to a digital signal. In an example, ADC204may have a limit to a range of signal levels that ADC204is capable of processing, such that any signal with an amplitude level above the range of ADC204is clipped to fit within the range of ADC204. However, clipping input signals may result in loss of information due to large excessive noise and distortion.

Based on the combined signal from adder206being a combination of the analog input signal and the dither signal from dither DAC214, dither DAC214may vary the level of the dither signal based on the amplitude of the analog input signal to keep the combined signal within the range of ADC204. Therefore, as stated above, dither DAC214may provide a larger dither signal for smaller input signal levels and a smaller or no dither signal for larger input signal levels. In an example, a small input signal may be any determined level including, but not limited to, a signal level that is less than −5 dB of the full scale range of ADC204. In this example, the large dithering signal may be any suitable value including, but not limited to, with maximum amplitude not greater than 17% of the full scale range of ADC204. Additionally or alternatively, an input signal with a large amplitude may be a signal with any suitable level including, but not limited to, a level that is greater than −5 dB of the full scale range of ADC204, and no dither signal may be provided. Thus, the effective input signal range of ADC204is not reduced while allowing large dither signals to be applied to small input signal levels to decrease spur harmonics.

ADC204may provide the converted sampled signal to subtractor208, and PN code generator216may provide the PN signal to subtractor208. In an example,208may remove the PN signal from the converted signal output by ADC204, such that a digital representation of the analog input signal is provided as a digital output signal, Dout, from ADC circuitry200. In an embodiment, dither DAC214providing a dither signal with a controlled amplitude enables a better tradeoff between ADC linearity and effective input range as compared to previous ADC circuitry.

In an additional or alternative embodiment, the PN signal provided to subtractor208may be controlled in any suitable manner so that the PN signal does not negatively impact the output signal from ADC204. For example, dither amplitude controller212may provide the control signal to PN code generator216, which in turn may utilize the control signal to vary the PN signal. If PN code generator216receives a control signal, such as the first control signal described above, generated based on an analog input signal Ainhaving an amplitude level that satisfies the threshold, PN code generator216may provide a PN signal of all zeros. In this embodiment, subtraction of an PN signal of all zeros at subtractor208will not alter the output signal of ADC204when no dither signal is provided from dither DAC214.

FIG. 3illustrates a portion of another ADC circuitry300including dithering circuitry302, an ADC304, adder306and subtractor308, and a sample and hold circuitry309. Dithering circuitry302includes a signal level estimator310, a dither amplitude controller312, a dither DAC314, and a PN code generator316. In an example, ADC circuitry300may be any suitable circuitry, such as ADC circuitry104ofFIG. 1or ADC circuitry200ofFIG. 2. In certain examples, ADC circuitry300may include additional or fewer components, not shown in or discussed with reference toFIG. 3, without varying from the scope of this disclosure.

In certain examples, dithering circuitry302, ADC304, adder/subtractor306and308, signal level estimator310, dither amplitude controller312, dither DAC314, and PN code generator316may operate in a substantially similar manner as dithering circuitry202, ADC204, mixers206and208, signal level estimator210, dither amplitude controller212, dither DAC214, and PN code generator216ofFIG. 2to generate an output digital signal, Dout, from an analog input signal, Ain. In an example, sample and hold circuitry309may enable signal level estimator310to sample the analog input single at the same time as a sample and hold circuit of ADC304. In an example, sample and hold circuitry309may relax a timing requirement or speed requirement of a dither loop credited by signal level estimator310, dither amplitude controller312, dither DAC314and adder306. In certain examples, sample and hold circuitry309may hold the sampled analog input voltage constant during a conversion time of ADC304. For example, signal level estimator310may need to detect the sampled signal level and then dither DAC314may need to add a dither signal with certain amplitude level to this sampled signal. In this example, processing by signal level estimator310, dither amplitude controller312and dither DAC314may add a time delay between the detection and the dither DAC output a signal to the analog adder306. During this process, it is preferred that the input signal to adder306stay unchanged so that the correct analog signal is being added to a correct dither signal, and this can be achieved by sample and hold circuitry309holding the sampled analog input voltage constant during a conversion time of ADC304.

FIG. 4illustrates a portion of dither DAC400in accordance with at least one embodiment. Dither DAC400includes a control unit402and multiple DAC cells404. Dither DAC400may be any suitable circuitry, such as dither DAC214ofFIG. 2or dither DAC314ofFIG. 3. In certain examples, dither DAC400may include additional or fewer components not shown in or discussed with reference toFIG. 4, without varying from the scope of this disclosure.

In an example, DAC cells404may be switchable current or switched capacitors/resistors cells, such that the output signal strength of the dither DAC400is adaptable by adjusting the reference current/voltage of the dither DAC400or the switch control signals. In another example, dither DAC400may be implemented by a multiple of DAC cells404(e.g., most significant bit (MSB), MSB-1 . . . , least significant bit (LSB)), with their outputs connected together.

During operations of dither DAC400, control unit402may receive outputs406from a dither amplitude controller, such as dither amplitude controller212ofFIG. 2or dither amplitude controller312ofFIG. 3, and outputs408from a PN code generator, such as PN code generator216ofFIG. 2or PN code generator316ofFIG. 3.

In an example, if a large amplitude level signal is detected, the first portion of DAC cells404may be inactive and dither DAC400may generate and provide a dither signal based only outputs from the second portion of DAC cells404. In this example, in response to a large input signal, the output of dither DAC400may be reduced as compared to other dither signals output from dither DAC400. However, if a small sample signal amplitude is detected all dither DAC cells404are active, and dither DAC400may provide a dither signal with a larger amplitude based on the combined outputs of all of the DAC cells404. Thus, dither DAC400may utilize the control signal from a dither amplitude controller to vary the dither signal so that linearity of an ADC may be improved while not reducing an effective inputrange of the ADC.

FIG. 5illustrates a DAC cell500in accordance with at least one embodiment. DAC cell500includes inverters502and504, and transistors506,508,510,512,514,516,518, and520. DAC cell500may be any suitable circuitry, such as a MSB DAC cell214of DAC cells404inFIG. 4. In certain examples, DAC cell500may include additional or fewer components, not shown in or discussed with reference toFIG. 5, without varying from the scope of this disclosure.

Inverter502includes an input terminal coupled to a first control line, swp, and an output terminal. Inverter504includes an input terminal coupled to a second control line, swn, and an output terminal. Transistor506includes a first current electrode coupled to a power supply line, a second current electrode coupled to transistor510, and a control gate coupled to a bias circuitry. Similarly, transistor508includes a first current electrode coupled to the power supply line, a second current electrode coupled to transistor512, and a control gate coupled to the bias circuitry. Transistor510includes a first current electrode coupled to the second current electrode of transistor506, a second current electrode coupled to transistors514,516, and a control gate coupled to a bias circuitry. Similarly, transistor512includes a first current electrode coupled to the second current electrode of transistor508, a second current electrode coupled to transistors518,520, and a control gate coupled to the voltage cascade line. In an example, transistors506and508together with transistor510and512operate to form a current generator. For example, transistors506,508,510, and512generate certain stable currents from power supply to transistors514,516,518, and520based on control signals from the bias circuitry. In certain examples, transistors514,516,518, and520operate as switches to either provide the current from transistors506,508,510, and512to output terminals ioutn and ioutp or not.

Transistor514includes a first current electrode coupled to the second current electrode of transistor510, a second current electrode connected to output terminal ioutn, and a control gate coupled to the first control line, swp. Transistor516includes a first current electrode coupled to the second current electrode of transistor510, a second current electrode connected to output terminal ioutp, and a control gate coupled to the output terminal of inverter502. Transistor518includes a first current electrode coupled to the second current electrode of transistor512, a second current electrode coupled to the second current electrode of transistor514, and a control gate coupled to the output terminal of inverter504. Transistor520includes a first current electrode coupled to the second current electrode of transistor512, a second current electrode coupled to the second current electrode of transistor516, and a control gate coupled to the second control line, swn.

In an example, outputs ioutn and ioutp of DAC cell500may be determined based on truth table 1 provided below.

TABLE 1Tri-state switch control truth tableswpswnioutnioutp00iuiu012*iu01002*iu11iuiu

The values of truth table 1 will be described with respect toFIG. 5. In an example, if the analog input signal includes a large sample signal amplitude, a signal level detector, such as signal level detector210or310, may output a particular value, such as 0, which in turn may force control signals swp and swn to be have the same value, such as 00 or 11. In this example, only one of the two transistors coupled to an output terminal, such as ioutn or ioutp, is active. Thus, the outputs ioutn and ioutp may be equal, which in turn may cause the differential output between ioutp and ioutn to be zero. For example, if the control signals swp and swn are 11, transistors514and520are both on and transistors516and518are both off. Thus, the current provided at ioutn is only the current through transistor514, and the current provided at ioutp is only the current through transistor520. Similarly, if the control signals swp and swn are 00, transistors516and518are both on and transistors514and520are both off. Thus, the current provided at ioutn is only the current through transistor518, and the current provided at ioutp is only the current through transistor516. In an example, the equal currents provided at ioutn and ioutp may cause a combined output current of DAC cell500to be zero, such that DAC cell500is inactive.

In an example, if the analog input signal has a small amplitude, a signal levels detector, such as signal level detector210or310, may output a particular value, such as 1, which in turn may force control signals swp and swn to have different values, such as 01 or 10. In this example, one of the outputs, ioutn or ioutp, provides current to the load while the other output does not have a current causing the differential output between ioutp and ioutn to be double the current through a single transistor of DAC cell500. For example, if the control signals swp and swn are 01, transistors516and520are both on and transistors514and518are both off. Thus, the current provided at ioutp is the current through transistors516and520, and no current is provided at ioutn. However, if the control signals swp and swn are 10, transistors514and518are both on and transistors516and520are both off. Thus, the current provided at ioutn is the current through transistors514and518, and no current provided at ioutp. In an example, the differential currents provided at ioutn and ioutp cause DAC cell500to be active, which may increase the output level of dither signal from a dither DAC including DAC cell500. Thus, a dither DAC including multiple DAC cells500may utilize the control signal from a dither amplitude controller to vary the dither signal so that linearity of an ADC may be improved while not reducing a dynamic range of the ADC.

FIG. 6illustrates a portion of ADC circuitry600in accordance with at least one embodiment. ADC circuitry600includes dithering circuitry602, an ADC604, a buffer606, and a digital control and output reconstruction circuit608. The dithering circuitry602includes an auxiliary sample and hold circuit610, an amplitude detector612, a dither controller614, and a dither DAC616. ADC604includes a multiplexor620, a sample and hold circuit622, an amplifier624, a latch626, a SAR controller628, and a main DAC630. In an example, ADC circuitry600may be any suitable circuitry, such as ADC circuitry104ofFIG. 1. In certain examples, ADC circuitry600may include additional, or fewer components, not shown in or discussed with reference toFIG. 6, without varying from the scope of this disclosure.

In an example, ADC circuitry600may receive an analog input signal and provide the analog input signal to buffer606, which in turn may provide the analog input signal to multiplexor620. In an example, analog input signal may be any suitable type of signal including, but not limited to, differential signal. In certain examples, multiplexor620, sample and hold circuit622, amplifier624, latch626, SAR controller628, main DAC630, and digital control and output reconstruction circuit608may perform one or more operations to convert the analog input signal to a digital signal. For example, multiplexor620, sample and hold circuit622, amplifier624, latch626, SAR controller628, main DAC630, and digital control and output reconstruction circuit608may combine to convert the analog input signal into a discrete digital representation based on similar techniques of SAR ADCs including, but not limited to, performing a binary search of all possible quantization levels of the analog signal before determining a digital output for the conversion. However, the output of ADC604may based on a dithering signal provided from dithering circuitry602based on the amplitude of the analog input signal.

In certain examples, buffer606may provide the analog input signal to auxiliary sample and hold signal610. In an example, auxiliary sample and hold signal610may perform one or more operations to sample the analog input signal and provide the sampled signal to amplitude detector612. In certain examples, amplitude detector612may determine an amplitude of the sampled signal. For example, amplitude detector612may generate a coarse estimation of the amplitude of the sampled signal. In an example, the coarse estimation may be generated via any suitable technique including, but not limited to, comparison of the analog signal to a threshold. For example, a comparator may provide a first output signal based on the amplitude of the analog signal satisfying the threshold and a second output signal based on the amplitude of the analog signal not satisfying the threshold. Based on the amplitude of the sampled signal, amplitude detector612may create a signal that includes amplitude level information of the analog input signal, and provide the signal to dither controller614.

Dither controller614may perform one or more operations to generate a control signal based on the amplitude of the sampled signal. For example, dither controller614may process the amplitude level information, and generate the control signal based on the amplitude level information. In an example, the control signal may vary in any suitable manner based on the amplitude of the analog input signal. For example, a first control signal may be created in response to the analog input signal having an amplitude that satisfies a threshold, and a second control signal may be created in response to the analog input signal having an amplitude that does not satisfy the threshold. In an example, the threshold may be any determined amplitude, such that signals with amplitudes greater than or equal to the threshold may be considered large amplitude signals and signals with amplitudes smaller than the threshold may be considered small amplitude signals. Dither controller614may provide the control signal to dither DAC616.

Dither DAC616may receive the control signal from dither controller614. Based on the control signal, dither DAC616may perform one or more operations to generate a dither signal. In an example, dither DAC616may vary the dither signal based on the control signal received from dither controller614. For example, if dither DAC616receives a control signal, such as the first control signal described above, generated based on an analog input signal having an amplitude level that satisfies the threshold, dither DAC616may provide a dither signal with a small amplitude or not provide the dither signal. However, if dither DAC616receives a control signal, such as the second control signal described above, generated based on an analog input signal having an amplitude level that does not satisfy the threshold, dither DAC616may provide a dither signal with a large amplitude.

In an example, dither controller614may provide a PN signal along with the control signal to dither DAC616. In certain examples, dither controller614may generate the PN signal in any suitable manner, such as in a manner substantially similar to PN code generator216ofFIG. 2. In an example, the PN noise is uncorrelated to analog input signal so that any mismatch induced conversion errors of ADC604may be randomized. This randomization of the conversion errors of ADC604may also result in a suppression of harmonic spurs in the output of ADC604in response to the PN signal being subtracted from the output of ADC604by digital control and output reconstruction circuit608.

Dither DAC616may provide the dither signal to the output of main DAC630to be combined with output of main DAC630. The combined signal may be provided to multiplexor620, which in turn may utilize the combined signal in any suitable manner to combine the DAC output signal with the sampled analog input signal. In an example, ADC604may have a limit range of signal levels that ADC604is capable of processing, such that any signal with an amplitude level above the range of ADC604is clipped to fit within the range of ADC604. However, clipping input signals may result in data distortion.

Based on the signal from multiplexor620being a combination of the dither signal from dither DAC616and main DAC630, dither DAC616may vary the level of the dither signal based on the amplitude of the analog input signal to keep the combined signal within the range of ADC604. Therefore, as stated above, dither DAC616may provide a larger dither signal for smaller input signal levels and a smaller or no dither signal for large input signal levels. Thus, the effective input signal range of ADC604is not reduced while allowing large dither signals to be applied to small input signal levels to decrease spur harmonics.

In an example, ADC circuitry600may perform a repetitive operation, such as sample the input signal and then perform an analog-to-digital conversion of the input signal to find a digital representation of the sample signal. For example, the input analog signal may be sampled simultaneously by both sample and hold circuit622and auxiliary sample and hold circuitry610. Next, amplitude detector612may determine a level of the sampled input signal and provide a control signal to dither DAC616, which in turn may generate a dither signal with certain amplitude. Upon the dither signal being generated, ADC604may start the conversion phase to convert the combined sampled signal and the dither DAC signal into digital codes. In an embodiment, during the conversion of the analog signal by ADC604, the output value of dither DAC616is kept unchanged.

In an additional or alternative example, SAR controller628may utilize a first two decisions (MSB and MSB-1 bits) of a comparator within ADC604to determine the sample signal level information. Based on the sample signal level information from these two decisions, SAR controller628may determine whether to apply a dither signal, such that a dedicated detection path may be skipped and hardware may be saved within the ADC circuitry600. In an example, code patterns from the comparator during each SAR conversion may provide an indication of the sample signal level. In response to the digital codes having predetermined patterns, such as [1,0] or [0,1], a determination is made that ADC604is converting an input signal with a low amplitude, such that a control signal is provided from dither controller614, a dither signal is provided by dither DAC616, a dither signal is provided from main DAC630. However, in response to the digital codes not having the predetermined patterns, a determination is made that ADC604is converting an input signal with a large amplitude, such that a dither signal is not provided from dither DAC616. In this embodiment, auxiliary sample and hold circuitry610and amplitude detector612may be eliminated.

In an additional or alternative example, strength of reflected signals in a radar system, such as radar system100ofFIG. 1, may be determined at the beginning a chirp sequence of the signal. In an example, a chirp sequence may contain over hundreds of frequency ramps or chirps for which each last for a short period of tenths of microseconds (us). During one chirp sequence the signal strength (received signal power or RMS amplitude) may remain almost constant from chirp to chirp because objects in an automotive application are consider stationary within the measurement periods of few milliseconds with only the phases the signals among chirps varying. In an example, the first chirp of the sequence may be utilized to estimate the down converted and filtered target reflection signal level. In this example, ADC604may detect an input signal strength during the conversion of the signal in the first chirp, such that signal level estimator210and amplitude detector612may not be needed. In an example, the strength of the dither signal generated by dither DAC616may be set using the input signal level information obtained by ADC604.

Additionally or alternatively, a multi-bit DAC, such as DAC214ofFIG. 2, DAC314ofFIG. 3, DAC400ofFIG. 4, or DAC630ofFIG. 6, may convert an N-bit digital signal, Din, to an analog current, Iout. This can be accomplished by the DAC having multiple input bits that each controls a current that may be binarily weighted with respect to a unit value, Iu. In an example, a first switch within the DAC may by a least significant bit (LSB) and an Nth switch may be the most significant bit (MSB). In this example, current sources are scaled up by a factor of two from one bit to the next. In an embodiment, the largest DAC cell is the MSB cell and the smallest DAC cell is the LSB cell.

Additionally or alternatively, dithering circuitry, such as dithering circuitry202ofFIG. 2, dithering circuitry302ofFIG. 3, or dithering circuitry602ofFIG. 6, may utilize two or more signal level thresholds to determine a level of a dither signal to provide to an ADC. For example, dithering circuitry may compare the amplitude of an analog input signal to both a first threshold and a second threshold. In this example, if the amplitude of the analog input signal does not satisfy the first threshold or the second threshold, the dithering circuitry may determine that the analog input signal is a low level signal and as a result may provide a large dither signal to be combined with the analog input signal prior to the signal being provided to the ADC. If the amplitude of the analog input signal satisfies the first threshold but does not satisfy the second threshold, the dithering circuitry may determine that the analog input signal is a medium level signal and as a result may provide a medium dither signal to be combined with the analog input signal prior to the signal being provided to the ADC. If the amplitude of the analog input signal satisfies both the first threshold and the second threshold, the dithering circuitry may determine that the analog input signal is a high level signal and as a result may provide a small dither signal or no dither signal to be combined with the analog input signal prior to the signal being provided to the ADC. Thus, in this example, the multiple level dither signal states may improve the linearity of the ADC with more granularity than a single threshold, and may continue to not exceed the dynamic range of the ADC based on varying the dither signal according to the level of the analog input signal.

The embodiments described above utilize reference path dithering where the reference signals are voltage signals. However, it will be further understood that the teachings of the present disclosure are not necessarily limited to dithering on voltage signals only, but may be similarly applied where an ADC circuit utilizes currents as references.

FIG. 7is a flow diagram illustrating a method700for dithering control based on a signal amplitude for a data conversion circuit according to at least one embodiment of the disclosure. It will be readily appreciated that not every method step set forth in this flow diagram is always necessary, and that certain steps of the methods can be combined, performed simultaneously, in a different order, or perhaps omitted, without varying from the scope of the disclosure. In an embodiment, method700ofFIG. 7may be executed to increase an input range of an analog-to-digital (ADC) by combining an analog input signal with an amplitude varying dither signal prior to the analog input signal being provided to the ADC.

Method700begins at block701and continues to block702. At block702, an analog signal is received. Block702may be performed in a manner described above. For example, the analog signal may be received by dithering circuitry. In an example, the analog signal may any suitable signal including, but not limited to, a chirp sequence of target reflection signals in an automotive radar system.

At block703, a coarse estimation of a signal level of the analog signal is determined. Block703may be performed in a manner described above. In certain examples, the signal level may be determined during a sampling phase of an ADC or after the sampling phase. In some examples, the signal level may be determined by dedicated amplitude detection circuits or based on the first two decisions of a comparator.

At block704, a control signal is provided based on the signal level of the analog signal. Block704may be performed in a manner described above. In an example, the control signal may vary based on the signal level of the analog signal.

At block705, a dither signal based on the control signal is provide. Block705may be performed in a manner described above. In an example, the control signal may cause the dither signal to vary based on the signal level of the analog signal. For example, the control signal may cause the dither signal vary in any suitable way including, but not limited to, increasing the dither signal based on a low signal level of the analog signal and decreasing the dither signal based on a high signal level of the analog signal. Method700ends at block706.

In accordance with at least one embodiment, analog-to-digital converter (ADC) circuitry includes dithering circuitry to receive an analog signal and to provide a dither signal. In an embodiment, the dithering circuitry includes a signal level detector, a dither amplitude controller, and a dither digital-to-analog converter (DAC). In this embodiment, the signal level detector has an input to receive the analog signal and an output to provide amplitude level information associated with the analog signal. In an embodiment, the signal level detector may determine a coarse estimation of analog signal level and provide the coarse estimation the analog signal level within the amplitude level information. In an embodiment, the dither amplitude controller has an input to receive the amplitude level information from the signal level detector, and an output to provide a control signal. In this embodiment, the dither amplitude controller may vary the control signal based on the amplitude level information. In an embodiment, the dither DAC has an input to receive the control signal from the dither amplitude controller, and an output to provide the dither signal based on the control signal, wherein the dither signal varies based on an amplitude level of the analog signal.

In an embodiment, the dither DAC can be a multi-bit DAC with a plurality of output levels, includes: a plurality DAC cells (e.g. MSB, MSB-1, MSB-2 . . . , LSB), each of the DAC cells having different sizes (or voltage/current values), and each of the DAC cells having an input to receive a control signal, and each of the DAC cells to provide an output based on the control signal. In this embodiment, the dither DAC combines the outputs of the DAC cells to create the dither signal.

In an embodiment, in response to the amplitude level of the analog signal satisfying a threshold, the MSB DAC cells are inactivate and the dither signal is created only from the outputs of the LSB DAC cells.

In another embodiment, in response to the amplitude level of the analog signal not satisfying the threshold, all of the MSB DAC cells and the LSB DAC cells are activate and the dither signal is created from the outputs of the MSB DAC cells and the LSB DAC cells.

In an embodiment, the signal level detector includes a sample and hold circuit to sample the analog signal at a same time as a sample and hold circuit of an N-bit ADC circuit within the ADC. In an embodiment, the ADC circuitry further includes a comparator to perform multiple determinations of whether the analog signal level satisfies a threshold level. In an embodiment, a determination of whether to apply the dither signal is based on a first determination and based on a second determination of the comparator.

In an embodiment, the ADC detects an amplitude level of a signal during the conversion of the signal of a first chirp of a chip sequence within a radar system, and the dither DAC sets a strength of the dither signal based on the detected amplitude level.

In accordance with at least one embodiment, a method include receiving, at a signal level detector of dithering circuit of an analog-to-digital converter (ADC), an analog signal. The method also includes determining, by the signal level detector, a coarse estimation of analog signal level. The method further includes providing, by the signal level detector, amplitude level information associated with the analog signal based on the coarse estimation of the analog signal level. The method also includes providing, by a dither amplitude controller, a control signal. The control signal is varied based on the amplitude level information. The method further includes providing, by a dither digital-to-analog converter (DAC), a dither signal based on the control signal. The dither signal varies based on an amplitude level of the analog signal.

In an embodiment, the method also includes providing, by a plurality of most significant bit (MSB) DAC cells, an output based on the control signal. The method further includes providing, by a plurality of least significant bit (LSB) DAC cells, an output based on the control signal. The method also includes combining the outputs from each of the MSB DAC cells and the LSB DAC cells to create the dither signal.

In an embodiment, the method includes in response to the amplitude level of the analog signal satisfying a threshold: inactivating the MSB DAC cells; and creating the dither signal only from the outputs of the LSB DAC cells.

In an embodiment, the method includes in response to the amplitude level of the analog signal not satisfying the threshold: activating all of the MSB DAC cells and the LSB DAC cells; and creating the dither signal from the outputs of the MSB DAC cells and the LSB DAC cells.

In an embodiment, the method includes sampling, by a sample and hold circuit in the signal level detector, the analog signal at a same time as a sample and hold circuit of an N-bit ADC circuit within the ADC.

In an embodiment, the method includes performing, by a comparator, a first determination whether the analog signal level satisfies a threshold level. The method also include performing, by the comparator, a second determination whether the analog signal level satisfies the threshold level. The method further includes determining whether apply the dither signal based on the first determination and based on the second determination.

In an embodiment, the method includes detecting, the signal level detector, an amplitude level of a signal based on a first chirp of a chip sequence within a radar system. The method also includes setting, by the dither DAC, a strength of the dither signal based on the detected amplitude level.

In accordance with at least one embodiment, analog-to-digital converter (ADC) circuitry includes an ADC, a signal level detector, a dither amplitude controller, and a dither digital-to-analog converter (DAC). In this embodiment, the ADC includes an input terminal to receive a combined signal. The combined signal includes an analog input signal and a dithering signal. In this embodiment, the signal level detector has an input to receive the analog signal and an output to provide amplitude level information associated with the analog signal. In an embodiment, the signal level detector may determine a coarse estimation of analog signal level and provide the coarse estimation the analog signal level within the amplitude level information. In an embodiment, the dither amplitude controller has an input to receive the amplitude level information from the signal level detector, and an output to provide a control signal. In this embodiment, the dither amplitude controller may vary the control signal based on the amplitude level information. In an embodiment, the dither DAC has an input to receive the control signal from the dither amplitude controller, and an output to provide the dither signal based on the control signal, wherein the dither signal varies based on an amplitude level of the analog signal.

In an embodiment, the dither DAC includes: a plurality of DAC cells with different sizes, each of the DAC cells having an input to receive a control signal, and each of the DAC cells to provide an output based on the control signal. In this embodiment, the dither DAC combines the outputs of the DAC cells to create the dither signal.

In an embodiment, in response to the amplitude level of the analog signal satisfying a threshold, the MSB DAC cells are inactivate and the dither signal is created only from the outputs of the smaller DAC cells.

In another embodiment, in response to the amplitude level of the analog signal not satisfying the threshold, all of the DAC cells are activate and the dither signal is created from the outputs of the DAC cells.

In an embodiment, the signal level detector includes a sample and hold circuit to sample the analog signal at a same time as a sample and hold circuit of an N-bit ADC circuit within the ADC. In an embodiment, a determination of whether to apply the dither signal is based on a first determination and based on a second determination of the comparator.

In an embodiment, the signal level detector detects an amplitude level of a signal based on a first chirp of a chip sequence within a radar system, and the dither DAC sets a strength of the dither signal based on the detected amplitude level for the rest of the chirps in one chirp sequence.

The concepts of the present disclosure have been described above with reference to specific embodiments. However, one of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that various modifications and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the present disclosure as set forth in the claims below. Accordingly, the specification and figures are to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense, and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the present disclosure.