Patent ID: 7212143

Claim:
A circuit for selectively converting analog signals into corresponding digital codes, comprising: a management block comprising a plurality of inputs, each of the inputs receiving a request signal carrying a request to convert an analog signal into a digital code, wherein the management block includes means for assigning to said request signals a corresponding priority level on the basis of from which of the plurality of inputs said request signals are received and further wherein the management block selects one of said request signals on the basis of said assigned priority level and outputs a conversion start-up signal corresponding to the selected request signal; and a conversion block receiving as input the analog signals and said conversion start-up signal, wherein the conversion block responds to the input analog signals and the conversion start-up signal to start up conversion of said input analog signals beginning with one of the received input analog signals corresponding with the selected request signal, wherein said priority level assignment means includes a network of coupled logic gates, monostable circuits, and delaying elements, with said network operative to perform hardware assignment of said priority levels dependent upon the inputs on which the request signals are received.