Patent ID: 7188199

Claim:
A mixed signal integrated circuit, comprising: a data conversion circuit that is operable to receive an analog input signal and convert discrete samples thereof at a predetermined sampling rate to a digital representation thereof as a plurality of digital words; a memory for storing said digital words generated by said data conversion circuit; a processor operable to access said memory to output select ones of said digital words for processing thereof in accordance with a predetermined processing algorithm; a memory access controller for controlling access to said memory by said data conversion circuit and said processor; and said memory access controller restricting access to said memory by said data conversion circuit without interrupting the generation of digital words by said data conversion circuit when said processor is accessing said memory, and allowing access to said memory by said data conversion circuit when said processor is not accessing said memory, such that said data conversion circuit can transfer currently generated digital words and previously generated and non stored digital words for storage in said memory upon gaining access thereto.