Patent ID: 8669788

Claim:
A multi-level comparator configured to provide a plurality of level indications at a plurality of output ports of a respective plurality of comparator stages, the plurality of level indications regarding an input voltage Vin with respect to a reference voltage Vref, the multi-level comparator comprising an input stage configured to convert the input voltage Vin into a first current and configured to convert the reference voltage Vref into a second current; and the plurality of comparator stages, each comparator stage comprising a first current amplification unit configured to amplify or attenuate the first current with a first gain G1, thereby yielding a first comparator current at an output of the first current amplification unit; a second current amplification unit configured to amplify or attenuate the second current with a second gain G2, thereby yielding a second comparator current at an output of the second current amplification unit; and the respective output port providing an indication whether the first comparator current is smaller or larger than the second comparator current; wherein respective ratios of the first gain G1 and the second gain G2 of the plurality of comparator stages are different, thereby providing a plurality of level indications of the input voltage Vin with respect to a reference voltage Vref.