Patent ID: 7728747

Claim:
A calibration system for a comparator chain, comprising: a comparator that provides digital output decisions in response to fixed calibration signals provided on a signal path of the comparator chain, wherein the fixed calibration signals are selected such that the digital output decisions provided by the comparator in response to the fixed calibration signals are expected to be evenly distributed between a first output state and a second output state; an unbalancing element coupled to the comparator and configured to add an unbalancing quantity to the fixed calibration signals in at least one point of the signal path of the comparator chain; and a compensation circuit coupled to the comparator and the unbalancing element, the compensation circuit configured to monitor digital output decisions provided by the comparator, determine if the digital output decisions are skewed toward the first output state or the second output state, and adjust the unbalancing quantity to force the digital output decisions provided by the comparator toward an even distribution between the first and second output states if the digital output decisions are skewed toward the first output state or the second output state.