Patent ID: 8237599

Claim:
A system for digitizing analog voltage signals, the system comprising: a differential sample and hold circuit configured to receive a sampled voltage signal and a first reference voltage signal; a ramp generator configured to convey a triangular ramp signal; a first comparator coupled to the ramp generator; wherein the differential sample and hold circuit is configured to convey a first voltage signal to one or more of the first comparator and a second comparator, wherein the first voltage signal is a differential voltage signal based on a difference between the sampled voltage signal and the first reference voltage signal, wherein the differential sample and hold circuit is configured to convey the first voltage signal to one or more of the first comparator and the second comparator based on a sign of the first voltage signal; wherein the first comparator is configured to receive the first voltage signal and the triangular ramp signal and produce a first output based on whether the first voltage signal or the triangular ramp signal is greater, wherein the first output of the first comparator switches on both rising and falling edges of the triangular ramp signal, thereby producing a first digital pulse train; logic circuitry coupled to the ramp generator and to the first comparator, wherein the logic circuitry is configured to provide control information to the ramp generator, wherein the logic circuitry is also configured to receive the first digital pulse train, wherein the logic circuitry is further configured to use the first digital pulse train and the control information to determine a digital representation of the first voltage signal.