Patent EP0095674A2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
EP0095674A2
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EP
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Apparatus for converting data between analog and digital values
Assignee: Mindspeed Technologies LLC
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Filing: 1983-05-19
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2003-05-19
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus for converting between analog and digital values includes a circuit (112, 114) for providing a plurality of signals representing a digital value. Pluralities of control switches (116-122, 132-144) are also provided, the number of control switches in each plurality being directly related to the digital significance of the control switches in such plurality. The signals representing the digital value are introduced to the pluralities of control switches of corresponding digital significance to provide for the conductivity of one of the control switches in a pair. A plurality of output members (160-166) are connected to the pluralities of control switches in a matrix relationship to provide paths through the conductive ones of the control switches. When the output members are conductive, the control switches operate to introduce current through the output members to one of two output lines (150, 152). As the digital values change, the number of output members connected to a particular one of the output lines changes correspondingly and once a particular output member is connected to a particular output line with progressive increases (or decreases) in the digital value it remains connected until the digit value decreases (or increases).
Inventors
- 👤 Henry S. Katzenstein
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 09:45
CPC Classifications
H; H03; H03M; H03M1/00; H03M1/66; H03M1/74; H03M1/76; H03M1/68; H03M1/682
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
163 words
An apparatus for providing a conversion between digital and analog values, comprising means for providing a plurality of digital signals each representing an individual digital value, a plurality of output members each constructed to provide a current of a particular value, means operatively coupled to the output members to obtain the flow of the currents of the particular value through the output members, and an output line, and characterized by means defining a matrix relationship and also providing a decoding of the digital signals in the matrix relationship and connected to the output members and the output line to introduce to the output line, with progressive increases in the digital values represented by the digital signals, currents of the particular value from the same output members as have previously introduced currents to the output line and to introduce to the output line, with such progressive increases in such digital values, the currents of the particular value from additional ones of the output members.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
163 words
An apparatus for providing a conversion between digital and analog values, comprising means for providing a plurality of digital signals each representing an individual digital value, a plurality of output members each constructed to provide a current of a particular value, means operatively coupled to the output members to obtain the flow of the currents of the particular value through the output members, and an output line, and characterized by means defining a matrix relationship and also providing a decoding of the digital signals in the matrix relationship and connected to the output members and the output line to introduce to the output line, with progressive increases in the digital values represented by the digital signals, currents of the particular value from the same output members as have previously introduced currents to the output line and to introduce to the output line, with such progressive increases in such digital values, the currents of the particular value from additional ones of the output members.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
63 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further including, a second output line, and means connecting the second output line to the matrix relationship to introduce at each instant to the second output line, with such progressive increases in such digital values, the current of the particular value from the output member next to be connected to the first output line that instant.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
72 words
The apparatus as claimed in anyone of the preceding claims further including, a third output line, and means connecting the third output line to the matrix relationship to introduce at each instant to the third output line, with such progressive increases in such digital values, the currents of the particular value from the output members other than those introducing the currents of the particular value to the first and second output lines.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
57 words
The apparatus as claimed in any one or the preceaing claims wherein the matrix relationship includes pluralities of switches each responsive to the digital signals representing an individual one of the digital values, the number of switches in each plurality being directly related to the digital value of the digital signals controlling the operation of such switches.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
43 words
The apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, further including current-producing means including means for introducing a voltage of a particular magnitude to the output members to obtain the flow of the current of the particular magnitude through the members.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein the pluralities of switches are connected in the matrix relationship to respond instantaneously and simultaneously to the digital values represented by the digital signals.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
39 words
The apparatus as claimed claims 4,5 or 6 wherein the pluralities of switches for the successive digits of progressive digital significance are connected in a symmetrical relationship having the configuration of an inverted pyramid to define the matrix relationship.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
152 words
The apparatus as claimed in any of the preceding claims further including a second plurality of output members each constructed to provide a current of the particular value, and second pluralities of switches connected in a second matrix relationship corresponding to the first pluralities of switches and responsive to the digital values represented by the diqitalsignals of lower digital significance than the digital signals associated with the first pluralities of switches to provide a decoding of digital values of lower digital significance and to maintain connected to the first output line through the second matrix relationship ) with progressive increases in the digital value of the digital signals, output members previously connected in the second plurality to the first output line and to connect additional ones of the output members in the second plurality to the first output line through the second matrix relationship with such progressive increases in the digital values.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
34 words
The apparatus as claimed in claims 2 and 8, wherein said means defining a second matrix relationship is also connected to the second output line to receive the current from the second output line.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
67 words
The apparatus as claimed in claims 3 and 8 wherein said third output line is also connected to said second matrix relationship to introduce at each instant to the third output line, with such progressive increases in such digital values, the currents of the particular value from the output members other than those introducing the currents of the particular value to the first and second output lines
Claim 12
Independent Claim
55 words
The apparatus as claimed in anyone of claims 4 through 10 wherein each of the said switches in the second plurality . each have conductive and non conductive states, each of the switches being responsive to one of the digital signals to set that switch in a particular one of the conductive and non-conductive states.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
115 words
The apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 4 through claim 11, wherein the switches in each plurality are paired to provide for the conductivity of only one switch in each pair at each instant and the setting of the switch for conductivity in each pair is in accordance with the state of the signal representing the associated digital value; wherein the pattern of the conductive switches in the pairs controls the conductivity of the output members; and wherein the output members are connected to the matrix relationships to provide for a conductivity at each instant of the number of output members directly proportional to the digital value represented by the plurality of signals.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
78 words
The apparatus as claimed in anyone of claims 4 through 12, wherein the switches of each matrix relationship are disposed electrically in groups each having a number related to the digital significance of such switches in the particular matrix relationship and the switches in each group are connected in the particular matrix relationship with the switches in the other groups to pass current through the switches in accordance with the digital value for the digits of different significance.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
24 words
The apparatus as claimed in anyone of claims 4 through 13 wherein the output members constitute output transistors and the switches constitute control transistors.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus as claimedin claim 14 wherein one of the control transistors in each pair is a pnp transistor and the other control transistor in each pair is a pnp transistor.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 14, wherein the digital signal means, the output transistors and the control transistors in the matrix relationship are disposed on an integrated circuit chip.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
67 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 15, wherein a plurality of modules are disposed on the integrated circuit chip and each of the modules is provided with substantially the same construction as recited in claim 15 and wherein means are included on the integrated circuit chip to combine the modules electrically to increase the number of digits involved in the conversion between the analog and digital values.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
36 words
The apparatus as set forth in any of claims 1 through 17 wherein means are included for regulating the current through the output members to maintain the current through the output members at the particular value.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
41 words
The apparatus as set forth in any of claims 16 through 18 wherein the output members progressively connected to the first output line with the progressive increases in the digital value are disposed spatially on a pseudo-random basis on the chip.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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