Patent ID: 8339297

Claim:
A delta-sigma modulator ( 100 ) including a dithering capability for eliminating idle tones, the delta-sigma modulator ( 100 ) comprising; a bitstream converter ( 107 ) configured to generate a digital signal output substantially corresponding to an analog signal input; a periodicity detector ( 111 ) coupled to the bitstream converter ( 107 ) and configured to detect periodicity in the digital signal output; a dithering sequence generator ( 116 ) connected to and activated by the periodicity detector ( 111 ) when the periodicity is detected, wherein the dithering sequence generator ( 116 ) generates a dithering sequence; and a pulse-width modulation (PWM) generator ( 119 ) coupled to the dithering sequence generator ( 116 ) and receiving the dithering sequence, wherein the PWM generator ( 119 ) modulates the dithering sequence onto the analog signal input of the delta-sigma modulator ( 100 ) as a dithering signal.