Converting time-encoded signal into analog output
View Patent ↗A converter may generate an analog output that is representative of a time-encoded signal. The circuit may include an input port receiving the time-encoded signal; a time-encoded to digital converter coupled to the input port; and a digital-to-analog converter coupled to the time-encoded to digital converter.
1. A converter comprising:
an input port for receiving a time-encoded signal having an encoding parameter that characterizes time intervals separating transitions between states;
a time-encoded to digital converter coupled to the input port that determines a numerical value by evaluating a relationship between the encoding parameter and a timebase; and
a digital to analog converter coupled to the time-encoded to digital converter that receives a digital representation of the numerical value and generates an analog output representative of the time-encoded signal.
2. The converter of claim 1 wherein the time-encoded signal is a pulse-width modulated signal.
3. The converter of claim 1 wherein the time-encoded signal is a frequency-encoded signal.
4. The converter of claim 1 wherein the time-encoded signal is a binary signal.
5. The converter of claim 1 wherein the time-encoded signal comprises a timebase.
6. The converter of claim 1 wherein the time-encoded to digital converter determines a time interval.
7. The converter of claim 1 wherein the time-encoded to digital converter determines a ratio of two time intervals.
8. The converter of claim 1 wherein the time-encoded to digital converter determines a frequency.
9. The converter of claim 1 wherein the time-encoded to digital converter determines a phase.
10. The converter of claim 1 wherein the time-encoded to digital converter comprises a non-volatile memory.
11. The converter of claim 1 wherein the digital to analog converter generates a voltage output.
12. The converter of claim 1 wherein the digital to analog converter generates a current output.
13. The converter of claim 1 wherein the digital to analog converter generates an impedance output.
14. The converter of claim 1 further comprising a timebase.
15. The converter of claim 1 further comprising a power-on circuit.
16. The converter of claim 15 wherein the power-on circuit forces the analog output into one or more power-on states.
17. The converter of claim 16 wherein the power-on states are independent of the time-encoded signal.
18. The converter of claim 1 further comprising an out-of-range circuit.
19. The converter of claim 18 wherein the out-of-range circuit forces the analog output to one or more out-of-range states.
20. A converter comprising:
a plurality of input ports for receiving a plurality of time-encoded signals, each having an encoding parameter that characterizes time intervals separating transitions between states;
one or more time-encoded to digital converters coupled to the input ports that determine a numerical value by evaluating relationships between the encoding parameters and one or more timebases; and
a digital to analog converter coupled to the time-encoded to digital converters that receives a digital representation of the numerical value and generates an analog output representative of the time-encoded signals.
21. The converter of claim 20 wherein the analog output is representative of a weighted sum of the time-encoded signals.
22. A converter comprising:
a plurality of input ports for receiving a plurality of time-encoded signals, each having an encoding parameter that characterizes time intervals separating transitions between states;
one or more time-encoded to digital converters coupled to the input ports that determine one or more numerical values by evaluating relationships between the encoding parameters and one or more timebases; and
a plurality of digital to analog converters coupled to the time-encoded to digital converters that receive a plurality of digital representations of the numerical values and generate a plurality of analog outputs representative of the time-encoded signals.
23. The converter of claim 22 further comprising at least one component that is common to all of the time-encoded to digital converters or all of the digital to analog converters.
24. A method for providing an analog output representative of a time encoded signal having an encoding parameter that characterizes time intervals separating transitions between states comprising:
converting a time-encoded signal into a digital representation of a numerical value by evaluating a relationship between the encoding parameter and a timebase; and
subsequently converting said digital representation into an analog output.
25. A method for providing an analog output representative of a plurality of time encoded signals, each having an encoding parameter that characterizes time intervals separating transitions between states comprising:
converting a plurality of time-encoded signals into a digital representation of a numerical value by evaluating relationships between the encoding parameters and one or more timebases; and
subsequently converting said digital representation into an analog output.