Multi-zone data converters
View Patent ↗Aspects of a method and system for data converters having a transfer function with multiple operating zones. In some embodiments, an operating zone of the multiple operating zones is characterized by more stringent performance criteria than the other operating zones. Thus, such data converters may receive an input signal and generate an output signal from the input signal per the transfer function and the more stringent performance criteria in the appropriate operating zone.
1. A method, comprising:
receiving a first input signal with a data converter having a plurality of operating zones;
in response to determining that the first input signal corresponds to a first operating zone of the plurality of operating zones, converting the first input signal to a first output signal per a first circuit of the data converter;
receiving a second input signal with the data converter; and
in response to determining that the second input signal corresponds to a second operating zone of the plurality of operating zones, converting the second input signal to a second output signal per a second circuit of the data converter that has better operating characteristics than those of the first circuit.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
said receiving the second input signal comprises receiving a digital input code from the second input signal; and
said converting to the second output signal comprises generating an analog output value for the second output signal that is dependent upon the received digital input code.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
said receiving the second input signal comprises receiving an analog input value from the second input signal; and
said converting to the second output signal comprises generating a digital output code for the second output signal that is dependent upon the received analog input value.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second operating zone corresponds to a central operating zone of the plurality of operating zones.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein said converting the second input signal to the second output signal comprises generating, with the second circuit, the second output signal with less digital nonlinearity than that with which the first circuit generates the first output signal.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein said converting the second input signal to the second output signal comprises generating, with the second circuit, the second output signal with less integral nonlinearity than that with which the first circuit generates the first output signal.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein said converting the second input signal to the second output signal comprises generating, with the second circuit, the second output signal with less gain offset than that with which the first circuit generates the first output signal.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein said converting the second input signal to the second output signal comprises generating, with the second circuit, the second output signal with less power consumption than that with which the first circuit consumes when generating the first output signal.
9. A data converter providing a plurality of operating zones, the data converter comprising:
one or more circuits, the one or more circuits being operable to convert received input signals to corresponding output signals; wherein the one or more circuits comprise:
a first circuit operable to convert a first input signal into a first output signal if the first input signal corresponds to a first operating zone of the plurality of operating zones; and
second circuit operable to convert the second input signal into a second output signal if the second input signal corresponds to a second operating zone of the plurality of operating zones, wherein the second circuit has better operating characteristics than those of the first circuit.
10. The data converter of claim 9 , wherein:
the second input signal comprises a digital input code; and
the second circuit is operable to generate an analog output value for the second output signal that is dependent upon the digital input code.
11. The data converter of claim 9 , wherein:
the second input signal comprises an analog input value; and
the second circuit is operable to generate a digital output code for the second output signal that is dependent upon the analog input value.
12. The data converter of claim 9 , wherein the second operating zone corresponds to a central operating zone of the plurality of operating zones.
13. The data converter of claim 9 , wherein the second circuit is operable to generate the second output signal with less digital nonlinearity than that with which the first circuit is operable to generate the first output signal.
14. The data converter of claim 9 , wherein the second circuit is operable to generate the second output signal with less integral nonlinearity than that with which the first circuit is operable to generate the first output signal.
15. The data converter of claim 9 , wherein the second circuit is operable to generate the second output signal with less gain offset than that with which the first circuit is operable to generate the first output signal.
16. The data converter of claim 9 , wherein the second circuit is operable to generate the second output signal with less power consumption than that with which the first circuit is operable to consume when generating the first output signal.
17. An electronic system, comprising:
an analog-to-digital converter operable to convert analog input signals to corresponding digital output signals; and
a digital-to-analog converter operable to convert digital input signals into corresponding analog output signals, wherein the digital-to-analog converter is operable to convert digital input signals in a first operating zone with less nonlinearity than that of digital input signals in a second operating zone.
18. The electronic system of claim 17 , wherein the analog-to-digital converter is operable to convert analog input signals in a third operating zone with less nonlinearity than that of analog input signals in a fourth operating zone.
19. The electronic system of claim 17 , wherein:
the first operating zone corresponds to a central operating zone of a plurality of operating zones for the digital-to-analog converter; and
the third operating zone corresponds to a central operating zone of a plurality of operating zones for the analog-to-digital converter.
20. The electronic system of claim 17 , wherein the analog-to-digital converter is operable to convert analog input signals in a third operating zone with less gain offset than that of analog input signals in a fourth operating zone.