IP Library Granted Patent US 7,944,384
Granted Patent B2
US 7,944,384 · App. 12/542,545 · Granted May 17, 2011

Device and method for scanning multiple ADC channels

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,944,384
App. No.
12/542,545
Granted
May 17, 2011
Kind
B2
Abstract

An analog to digital converter has an input for coupling to multiple channels having analog signals. The analog to digital converter converts the analog signals on such channels to provide a digital output. A memory device has an enable bit for each of the multiple channels and a current channel register. An interface coupled to the memory device and current channel register selects a next channel for converting by the analog to digital converter, skipping channels that are not enabled.

Claims (25)

1. A device comprising:

an analog to digital converter having an input for coupling to multiple channels having analog signals thereon and converting analog signals on such channels to provide a digital output;

a memory device having an enable bit for each of the multiple channels;

a current channel register; and

an interface coupled to the memory device and current channel register to select a next channel for converting by the analog to digital converter, wherein:

the memory device enable bits identify enabled channels in a conversion sequence,

the interface selects a first enabled channel in a next conversion sequence when a last enabled channel in the conversion sequence is converted,

the interface waits for triggering of the next conversion sequence when the last enabled channel in the conversion sequence is converted, and

the analog to digital converter is placed in a lower power consumption mode while waiting for triggering of the next conversion sequence following conversion of the last enabled channel in the conversion sequence.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the interface skips channels that are not enabled such that only enabled channels are converted in sequence.

3. A system comprising:

an analog to digital converter having an input for coupling to multiple analog signal channels and converting the analog signals on the multiple channels to provide a digital output;

a memory device having an enable bit for each of the multiple channels;

a current channel register;

an interface coupled to the memory device and current channel register to select a next channel for converting by the analog to digital converter; and

a controller to control the analog device and to provide enable bits corresponding to enabled channels to the memory device wherein the controller places the analog to digital converter in a low power state following conversion of the last channel until a new conversion sequence is triggered.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein the interface selects the next enabled channel as a function of the enable bits in the memory device.

5. The system of claim 3 wherein the controller provides enable bits corresponding to a next conversion sequence when it triggers the analog device to provide analog signals on selected channels.

6. A method comprising:

setting enable bits in a channel enable register corresponding to enabled channels of a plurality of channels, some of which are not enabled;

setting a current channel register to identify a current channel being converted;

sequentially converting analog signals on the enabled channels as a function of the enable bits in the channel enable register and the current channel register while skipping conversion of non-enabled channels, wherein the enable bits are set corresponding to a current channel conversion sequence, and a first enabled channel in a next channel conversion sequence is converted when a last enabled channel in the current channel conversion sequence is converted;

waiting for the next channel conversion sequence to be triggered when the last enabled channel in the current channel conversion sequence is converted; and

placing the analog to digital converter in a lower power consumption mode while waiting for triggering of the next channel conversion sequence following conversion of the last enabled channel in the current channel conversion sequence.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein channels that are not enabled are skipped such that only enabled channels are converted in a channel conversion sequence.

Assignments (17)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 14, 2022
From: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED; SILICON STORAGE TECHNOLOGY, INC.; ATMEL CORPORATION; MICROSEMI CORPORATION; MICROSEMI STORAGE SOLUTIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 060894/0437 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 11, 2022
From: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED; SILICON STORAGE TECHNOLOGY, INC.; ATMEL CORPORATION; MICROSEMI CORPORATION; MICROSEMI STORAGE SOLUTIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 059363/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 10, 2022
From: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED; SILICON STORAGE TECHNOLOGY, INC.; ATMEL CORPORATION; MICROSEMI CORPORATION; MICROSEMI STORAGE SOLUTIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 059863/0400 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 9, 2022
From: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED; SILICON STORAGE TECHNOLOGY, INC.; ATMEL CORPORATION; MICROSEMI CORPORATION; MICROSEMI STORAGE SOLUTIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 059358/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Feb 28, 2022
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: ATMEL CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 059262/0105 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Feb 25, 2022
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED; SILICON STORAGE TECHNOLOGY, INC.; ATMEL CORPORATION; MICROSEMI CORPORATION; MICROSEMI STORAGE SOLUTIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 059333/0222 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 4, 2021
From: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED; SILICON STORAGE TECHNOLOGY, INC.; ATMEL CORPORATION; MICROSEMI CORPORATION; MICROSEMI STORAGE SOLUTIONS, INC.
To: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 057935/0474 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Dec 24, 2020
From: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED; SILICON STORAGE TECHNOLOGY, INC.; ATMEL CORPORATION; MICROSEMI CORPORATION; MICROSEMI STORAGE SOLUTIONS, INC.
To: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 055671/0612 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 5, 2020
From: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INC.; SILICON STORAGE TECHNOLOGY, INC.; ATMEL CORPORATION; MICROSEMI CORPORATION; MICROSEMI STORAGE SOLUTIONS, INC.
To: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 053468/0705 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 30, 2020
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INC.; SILICON STORAGE TECHNOLOGY, INC.; ATMEL CORPORATION; MICROSEMI CORPORATION; MICROSEMI STORAGE SOLUTIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 053466/0011 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 24, 2020
From: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INC.; SILICON STORAGE TECHNOLOGY, INC.; ATMEL CORPORATION; MICROSEMI CORPORATION; MICROSEMI STORAGE SOLUTIONS, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 053311/0305 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 18, 2018
From: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED; SILICON STORAGE TECHNOLOGY, INC.; ATMEL CORPORATION; MICROSEMI CORPORATION; MICROSEMI STORAGE SOLUTIONS, INC.
To: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 047103/0206 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 25, 2018
From: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED; SILICON STORAGE TECHNOLOGY, INC.; ATMEL CORPORATION; MICROSEMI CORPORATION; MICROSEMI STORAGE SOLUTIONS, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 046426/0001 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Feb 10, 2017
From: ATMEL CORPORATION
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 041715/0747 →
TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENT COLLATERAL Recorded Apr 7, 2016
From: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
To: ATMEL CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 038376/0001 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jan 3, 2014
From: ATMEL CORPORATION
To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC. AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 031912/0173 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 11, 2009
From: FREDRIKSEN, EINAR
To: ATMEL CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 023222/0814 →