Analog-digital converter and method
A method for controlling an analog-digital converter comprising first and second oscillators, and first and second elements, the method comprising a first step during which the first and second oscillators generate frequencies depending on an electrical characteristic of the first element and of the second element, respectively, and a second step during which the first and second oscillators generate frequencies depending on the electrical characteristic of the second element and of the first element, respectively.
1 . A method for controlling an analog-digital converter comprising first and second oscillators and first and second elements, the method comprising:
generating, in a first step by the first and second oscillators, frequencies depending on an electrical characteristic of the first element and of the second element, respectively; and
generating, in a second step by the first and second oscillators, frequencies depending on the electrical characteristic of the second element and of the first element, respectively;
the electrical characteristic of the first element being sensitive to variations of a physical quantity, and the electrical characteristic of the second element being insensitive or inversely sensitive to the variations of the physical quantity.
2 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the first and second oscillators are identical.
3 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the electrical characteristic of the second element is insensitive to the variations of the physical quantity.
4 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the first element is a sensor.
5 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the analog-digital converter comprises first and second counters, and the method further comprises:
during the first step, counting, by the first counter, first oscillations of the first oscillator, and counting, by the second counter, first oscillations of the second oscillator; and
during the second step, counting, by the first counter, second oscillations of the second oscillator, and counting, by the second counter, second oscillations of the first oscillator.
6 . The method according to claim 5 , further comprising:
reaching, by the second counter, a reference value; and
triggering, by the second counter in response to reaching the reference value, a stopping of the oscillator associated with the first counter.
7 . The method according to claim 5 , further comprising providing, by the first and second counters, counter values representative of first values of the respective electrical characteristics of the first and second elements.
8 . The method according to claim 7 , further comprising:
providing, by the first counter, a counter value representative of a current first value of the physical quantity.
9 . The method according to claim 5 , further comprising generating, by a circuit of the analog-digital converter, a control signal of the oscillator associated with the first element depending on a state of an enabling signal of the oscillator associated with the second element and on a value of the second counter.
10 . An analog-digital converter comprising:
first and second elements; and
first and second oscillators, wherein the first and second oscillators are configured to:
generate, during a first step, frequencies depending on an electrical characteristic of the first element and of the second element, respectively; and
generate, during a second step, frequencies depending on the electrical characteristic of the second element and of the first element, respectively;
wherein the electrical characteristic of the first element is sensitive to variations of a physical quantity, and the electrical characteristic of the second element is insensitive or inversely sensitive to the variations of the physical quantity.
11 . The analog-digital converter according to claim 10 , wherein the first and second oscillators are identical.
12 . The analog-digital converter according to claim 10 , wherein the electrical characteristic of the second element is insensitive to the variations of the physical quantity.
13 . The analog-digital converter according to claim 10 , wherein the first element is a sensor.
14 . The analog-digital converter according to claim 10 , wherein the analog-digital converter further comprises:
a first counter configured to:
during the first step, count first oscillations of the first oscillator; and
during the second step, count first oscillations of the second oscillator; and
a second counter configured to:
during the first step, count second oscillations of the second oscillator; and
during the second step, count second oscillations of the first oscillator.
15 . The analog-digital converter according to claim 14 , wherein the second counter is configured to:
reach a reference value; and
trigger, in response to reaching the reference value, a stopping of the oscillator associated with the first counter.
16 . The analog-digital converter according to claim 14 , wherein the first and second counters are configured to provide counter values representative of first values of the respective electrical characteristics of the first and second elements.
17 . The analog-digital converter according to claim 16 , wherein:
the first counter is configured to provide a counter value representative of a current first value of the physical quantity.
18 . The analog-digital converter according to claim 14 , wherein the analog-digital converter further comprises:
a circuit configured to generate a control signal of the oscillator associated with the first element depending on a state of an enabling signal of the oscillator associated with the second element and on a value of the second counter.
19 . An analog-digital converter comprising:
first and second sensors;
first and second oscillators, wherein the first and second oscillators are configured to:
generate, during a first step, frequencies depending on an electrical characteristic of the first sensor and of the second sensor, respectively; and
generate, during a second step, frequencies depending on the electrical characteristic of the second sensor and of the first sensor, respectively; and
a first counter configured to:
during the first step, count first oscillations of the first oscillator; and
during the second step, count first oscillations of the second oscillator; and
a second counter configured to:
during the first step, count second oscillations of the second oscillator; and
during the second step, count second oscillations of the first oscillator;
wherein the electrical characteristic of the first sensor is sensitive to variations of a physical quantity, and the electrical characteristic of the second sensor is insensitive or inversely sensitive to the variations of the physical quantity.
20 . The analog-digital converter according to claim 19 , wherein:
the first and second oscillators are identical; and
the electrical characteristic of the second sensor is insensitive to the variations of the physical quantity.