Systems and methods for monitoring and compensation of analog to digital converter reference voltages

1. An analog to digital (A/D) conversion system, comprising:

an A/D converter;

a calibrated reference module to identify a calibrated voltage reference value, V refCAL , associated with the A/D converter;

a non-scalar module to receive a reference voltage, V ref , wherein the reference voltage, V ref , corresponds to the calibrated reference voltage, V refCAL , multiplied by a drift factor, α, such that V ref =αV refCAL , and wherein the non-scalar module outputs a non-scalar function of the reference voltage, N(V ref ), to the A/D converter;

a drift factor module to identify an inverse function of the non-scalar function and to calculate the drift factor, α, based on an inverse function of a first digital value, V dig , output by the A/D converter and corresponding to the non-scalar function of the reference voltage, N(V ref ), wherein the first digital value, V dig , corresponds to a ratio of the calibrated voltage reference value, V refCAL , and the reference voltage, V ref , such that the first digital value, V dig , can be expressed as the non-scalar function of the calibrated reference voltage multiplied by the drift factor divided by the drift factor, such that

V

dig

=

N

⁡

(

α

⁢

⁢

V

ref

)

α

;

and

an adjustment module to adjust at least one voltage value associated with the A/D converter using the calculated drift factor, α.

2. The A/D conversion system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one voltage value associated with the A/D converter comprises the reference voltage, V ref .

3. The A/D conversion system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one voltage value associated with the A/D converter comprises a digital output value corresponding to an input signal received by the A/D converter.

4. The A/D conversion system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one voltage value associated with the A/D converter comprises an input signal adjusted prior to reception of the input signal by the A/D converter.

5. The A/D conversion system of claim 1 , wherein the A/D converter comprises a bipolar capable A/D converter and wherein the non-scalar module comprises shifting the reference voltage by constant voltage.

6. The A/D conversion system of claim 1 , wherein the non-scalar module comprises a logarithmic amplifier.

7. The A/D conversion system of claim 1 , wherein the non-scalar module comprises an exponential amplifier.

8. The A/D conversion system of claim 1 , wherein the non-scalar module comprises an analog multiplier.

9. The A/D conversion system of claim 1 , wherein the non-scalar module comprises a non-linear element and wherein the non-scalar function comprises a non-linear module.

10. A method, comprising:

identifying a calibrated voltage reference value, V refCAL , associated with an analog to digital (A/D) converter;

receiving, via a non-scalar element, a reference voltage, V ref , wherein the reference voltage, V ref , corresponds to the calibrated reference voltage, V refCAL , multiplied by a drift factor, α, such that V ref =αV refCAL ,

generating, via the non-scalar element, a non-scalar function of the reference voltage, N(V ref );

receiving the non-scalar function of the reference voltage, N(V ref ), via the A/D converter;

outputting, via the A/D converter, a first digital value, V dig , corresponding to the non-scalar function of the reference voltage, N(V ref ), wherein the first digital value, V dig , of the non-scalar function of the reference voltage, N(V ref ), corresponds to a ratio of the calibrated voltage reference value, V refCAL , and the reference voltage, V ref , such that the first digital value, V dig , can be expressed as the non-scalar function of the calibrated reference voltage multiplied by the drift factor divided by the drift factor, such that

V

dig

=

N

⁡

(

α

⁢

⁢

V

ref

)

α

;

identifying an inverse function of the non-scalar function;

calculating the drift value, α, based on the inverse function of the first digital value, V dig ; and

adjusting at least one voltage value associated with the A/D converter using the calculated drift value, α.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the non-scalar function corresponds to a logarithmic function.

12. The method of claim 10 , wherein the non-scalar function corresponds to an exponential function.

13. The method of claim 10 , wherein adjusting the at least one voltage value associated with the A/D converter comprises adjusting the reference voltage, V ref .

14. The method of claim 10 , wherein adjusting the at least one voltage value associated with the A/D converter comprises adjusting a digital output value corresponding to an input signal received by the A/D converter.

15. The method of claim 10 , wherein adjusting the at least one voltage value associated with the A/D converter comprises adjusting an input signal prior to reception of the input signal by the A/D converter.

16. The method of claim 10 , wherein the A/D converter comprises a bipolar capable A/D converter and wherein the non-scalar element comprises shifting the reference voltage by constant voltage.

17. The method of claim 10 , wherein the non-scalar element comprises a logarithmic amplifier.

18. The method of claim 10 , wherein the non-scalar element comprises an exponential amplifier.

19. The method of claim 10 , wherein the non-scalar element comprises an analog multiplier.

20. The method of claim 10 , wherein the non-scalar element comprises a non-linear element and wherein the non-scalar function comprises a non-linear element.

21. A method for reporting a change in a reference voltage of an analog to digital (A/D) converter, comprising:

determining a calibrated value of a reference voltage of an A/D converter;

determining a first input of the A/D converter, wherein the first input of the A/D converter is an operating value of the reference voltage of the A/D converter adjusted according to a first non-scalar function;

comparing the first input of the A/D converter and the calibrated value of the reference voltage of the A/D converter adjusted according to the first non-scalar function; and

reporting a change in the reference voltage of the A/D converter based on the comparison of the (1) calibrated value and (2) the operating value adjusted by the first non-scalar function.