Patent ID: 7158061

Claim:
Circuitry for performing analog-to-digital (A/D) conversion, the circuitry comprising: a nonlinear amplifier, wherein the nonlinear amplifier has an output function that applies a relatively higher gain to analog input signals having higher-probability signal amplitudes and a relatively lower gain to the analog input signals having lower-probability signal amplitudes, and further wherein the nonlinear amplifier comprises; an amplifier having a first input and a second input and an output; a first resistor having a first and a second terminal, wherein the first terminal is operative to receive the input signals and the second terminal is in communication with the first input of the amplifier; a second resistor in communication with the first input and the output of the amplifier; a first diode having an input and an output, wherein the input is in communication with the first input of the amplifier and the output is in communication with the output of the amplifier; and a second diode having an input and an output, wherein the input is in communication with the output of the amplifier and the output is in communication with the first input of the amplifier; and an A/D converter in communication with the nonlinear amplifier.