Successive approximation A/D converter comparing analog input voltage to reference voltages

Abstract

An analog-to-digital converter includes a resistance type potential divider, connected between a supply voltage and a ground terminal, for generating plural reference voltages; and plural switches for selecting one of the reference voltages in response to a select signal. The analog-to-digital converter also includes a capacitor for storing an analog voltage applied to an input node and having its one plate connected to the input node and its other plate connected to the midpoint of the resistance type potential divider. The midpoint has an intermediate potential placed between the power supply voltage and the ground voltage, which is insensitive to noise transmitted from a logic circuit. It is thus possible to reduce the influence exerted by the noise transmitted from the logic circuit without newly providing the supply voltage and ground terminals to the analog-to-digital converter in order to connect the converter and the logic circuit independently to each other.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The objects and features of the present invention will become more apparent from consideration of the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram showing part of an LSI circuit including an embodiment of an analog-to-digital converter according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram showing part of an LSI circuit including a conventional analog-to-digital converter to be compared with the analog-to-digital converter according to the present invention;

FIG. 3 is another schematic block diagram, like FIG. 1, showing an alternative embodiment of an analog-to-digital converter according to the present invention.

Claims

1. An analog-to-digital converter comprising: a resistance type potential divider, connected between a supply voltage terminal and a ground terminal, for generating a plurality of reference voltages;a plurality of switches for selecting one of the reference voltages in response to a select signal;a capacitor for storing an analog voltage applied to an input node and having one plate connected to the input node and another plate connected to a midpoint of said resistance type potential divider; anda comparison controller for performing a logic operation to generate the select signal to be supplied to said switches and compare sequentially the voltage stored in said capacitor and appearing at the input node with one of the reference voltage selected by said switches to output a digital value corresponding to the input analog voltage.

2. The analog-to-digital converter in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a logic circuit connected to the supply voltage terminal and the ground terminal to be driven by the supply voltage provided from the supply voltage terminal.

3. The analog-to-digital converter in accordance with claim 1, wherein said analog-to-digital converter is of a successive approximation type.

4. An analog-to-digital converter comprising: a first resistance type potential divider, connected between a supply voltage terminal and a ground terminal, for generating a plurality of reference voltages;a plurality of switches for selecting one of the reference voltages in response to a select signal;a second resistance type potential divider arranged between the supply voltage terminal and the ground terminal such that a midpoint of said second resistance type potential divider outputs an intermediate voltage located between the supply voltage and the ground voltage;a capacitor for storing an analog voltage applied to an input node and having one plate connected to the input node and another plate connected to the midpoint of said second resistance type potential divider; anda comparison controller for performing a logic operation to generate the select signal to be supplied to said switches and compare sequentially the voltage stored in said capacitor and appearing at the input node with one of the reference voltage selected by said switches to output a digital value corresponding to the input analog voltage.

5. The analog-to-digital converter in accordance with claim 4, further comprising a logic circuit connected to the supply voltage terminal and the ground terminal to be driven by the supply voltage provided from the supply voltage terminal.

6. The analog-to-digital converter in accordance with claim 4, wherein said analog-to-digital converter is of a successive approximation type.