Patent ID: 6847318

Claim:
A method for converting an analog input signal into a digital output signal by means of an analog-to-digital converter, comprising: converting said analog input signal into a digital representation; multiplying said digital representation by a scaling factor to form a sample signal; determining the level of said sample signal; comparing said sample signal level with first and second threshold values, said first threshold value being greater than said second threshold value, and if said sample signal level is higher than said first threshold value: attenuating said analog input signal by a second value, amplifying said digital representation by a third value to form said digital output signal, and setting said scaling factor to a fourth value; and if said sample signal level is lower than said second threshold value: amplifying said analog input signal by a fifth value, attenuating said digital representation by a sixth value to form said digital output signal; and setting the scaling factor to a first value lesser than said fourth value.