Cirrus Logic has been granted a patent for a signal processing system that includes a sensor readout channel, a first-order sigma-delta modulator, chopping switches, an auxiliary path with an analog-to-digital converter, and a signal combiner. The system converts electronic signals into digital quantities. GlobalData’s report on Cirrus Logic gives a 360-degree view of the company including its patenting strategy. Buy the report here.
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According to GlobalData’s company profile on Cirrus Logic, Voice biometrics was a key innovation area identified from patents. Cirrus Logic's grant share as of September 2023 was 64%. Grant share is based on the ratio of number of grants to total number of patents.
Signal processing system with sigma-delta modulator and auxiliary path
A recently granted patent (Publication Number: US11777516B2) describes a signal processing system that converts an electronic signal into a digital quantity. The system includes a sensor readout channel that utilizes a first-order sigma-delta modulator, which has a modulator input and output. The modulator input is equipped with first outside chopping switches, while the modulator output has second outside chopping switches. An auxiliary path is also present, consisting of an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) with an input and output. The input of the auxiliary path receives a signal output from a memory element of the sigma-delta modulator. A signal combiner is used to combine the modulator output signal with the auxiliary path output signal, resulting in a combined output signal.
The system further includes an impedance that converts a sensed physical quantity into the electronic signal. In the case where the electronic signal is a voltage, a resistor is used as the impedance to convert electrical current into voltage. Additionally, a digital accumulator is integrated into the sensor readout channel to digitally integrate the combined output signal, generating a digital quantity that represents the net amount of charge flowing through the impedance. This digital quantity can also represent the net amount of charge delivered from a battery connected to the impedance.
The sensor readout channel may also include a digital accumulator that digitally integrates the modulator output signal, generating an accumulated modulator output signal. The combiner then combines this accumulated modulator output signal with the auxiliary path output signal to generate the combined output signal.
Other components of the signal processing system include an anti-aliasing filter, which is placed between the input for receiving the electronic signal and the modulator input. The system also incorporates an adaptive gain element applied to the auxiliary path output to minimize signal-to-noise degradation caused by non-idealities of analog components.
The patent also describes a method for operating the signal processing system. The method involves synchronously switching the first outside chopping switches at the modulator input and the second outside chopping switches at the modulator output. The auxiliary path receives the signal output from the memory element of the sigma-delta modulator, and the modulator output signal is combined with the auxiliary path output signal to generate the combined output signal.
Overall, this patent presents a signal processing system and method that effectively converts electronic signals into digital quantities, utilizing a first-order sigma-delta modulator and various other components to achieve accurate and efficient signal processing.
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GlobalData Patent Analytics tracks bibliographic data, legal events data, point in time patent ownerships, and backward and forward citations from global patenting offices. Textual analysis and official patent classifications are used to group patents into key thematic areas and link them to specific companies across the world’s largest industries.
