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 of a mobile computing device, the method comprising:
receiving a first input signal by a wireless interface of the mobile computing device;
in response to determining that the first input signal corresponds to a first operating zone, converting the first input signal to a first output signal per a first circuit of the wireless interface;
receiving a second input signal by the wireless interface; and
in response to determining that the second input signal corresponds to a second operating zone, converting the second input signal to a second output signal per a second circuit of the wireless interface that has different power consumption characteristics than 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 a plurality of operating zones for the wireless interface.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein said converting the second input signal to the second output signal comprises generating the second output signal, per the second operating zone, with less digital nonlinearity than that with which the first output signal is generated per the first operating zone.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein said converting the second input signal to the second output signal comprises generating the second output signal, per the second operating zone, with less integral nonlinearity than that with which the first output signal is generated per the first operating zone.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein said converting the second input signal to the second output signal comprises generating the second output signal, per the second operating zone, with less gain offset than that with which the first output signal is generated per the first operating zone.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein said converting the second input signal to the second output signal comprises generating the second output signal, per the second operating zone, with less power consumption than that with which the first output signal is generated per the second operating zone.
9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising transmitting a radio frequency signal based on the first output signal and an analog modulation scheme.
10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising transmitting a radio frequency signal based on the first output signal and a digital modulation scheme.
11. A mobile computing device, comprising:
a wireless interface operable to convert a first input signal into a first output signal if the first input signal corresponds to a first operating zone, and convert a second input signal into a second output signal if the second input signal corresponds to a second operating zone, wherein power consumption of the wireless interface differs between the first operating zone and the second operating zone; and
a processor operable to communicate data via the wireless interface.
12. The mobile computing device of claim 11 , wherein:
the second input signal comprises a digital input code; and
the wireless interface is operable to generate an analog output value for the second output signal that is dependent upon the digital input code.
13. The mobile computing device of claim 11 , wherein:
the second input signal comprises an analog input value; and
the wireless interface is operable to generate a digital output code for the second output signal that is dependent upon the analog input value.
14. The mobile computing device of claim 11 , wherein the second operating zone corresponds to a central operating zone of a plurality of operating zones for the wireless interface.
15. The mobile computing device of claim 11 , wherein the wireless interface is operable to generate the second output signal, per the second operating zone, with less digital nonlinearity than that with which the first output signal is generated per the first operating zone.
16. The mobile computing device of claim 11 , wherein wireless interface is operable to generate the second output signal, per the second operating zone, with less integral nonlinearity than that with which the first output signal is generated per the first operating zone.
17. The mobile computing device of claim 11 , wherein the wireless interface is operable to generate the second output signal, per the second operating zone, with less gain offset than that with which the first output signal is generated per the first operating zone.
18. The mobile computing device of claim 11 , wherein the wireless interface is operable to generate the second output signal, per the second operating zone, with less power consumption than that with which the first output signal is generated per the second operating zone.
19. The mobile computing device of claim 11 , wherein the wireless interface is further operable to transmit a radio frequency signal based on the first output signal and an analog modulation scheme.
20. The mobile computing device of claim 11 , wherein the wireless interface is further operable to transmit a radio frequency signal based on the first output signal and a digital modulation scheme.