Analog-to-digital conversion apparatus and method capable of achieving fast settling

摘要

A method utilized in an analog-to-digital conversion apparatus, for converting an analog input signal into a digital output signal including a first portion and a second portion, includes: using a comparator circuit to compare the analog input signal with at least one first reference level to generate a preliminary comparison result, the at least one first reference level being used for determining the first portion; estimating the first portion according to the preliminary comparison result; based on the preliminary comparison result, performing the successive approximation procedure to obtain a posterior comparison result according to a plurality of second reference levels, the second reference levels being used for determining the second portion; and, estimating the second portion according to the posterior comparison result. The preliminary and posterior comparison results are generated by the comparator circuit.

主权项

1. A method utilized in an analog-to-digital conversion apparatus, for converting an analog input signal into a digital output signal, the digital output signal including a most significant bit portion and a least significant bit portion, the method comprising:
using a comparator circuit to compare the analog input signal with at least one first reference level to generate a preliminary comparison result without using a successive approximation procedure, the at least one first reference level being used for determining the most significant bit portion; estimating the most significant bit portion according to the preliminary comparison result; based on the preliminary comparison result, performing the successive approximation procedure to obtain a posterior comparison result according to a plurality of second reference levels, the second reference levels being used for determining the least significant bit portion; and estimating the least significant bit portion according to the posterior comparison result.