A time-analog-to-digital converter (TAD) utilizes a time-to-digital approach for analog-to-digital conversion. The TAD includes two voltage-to-delay converters (VDCs), e.g., CMOS inverter chains, in order to increase the dynamic range of the TAD. Each VDC can handle a different range of input voltages. Comparators compare the input signal voltage to reference voltages corresponding to the different ranges of input voltage and a selector selects one of the VDC line outputs based on the range in which the input signal lies. A filter estimates the input signal voltage from a delay signal from the selected output.
In an analog-to-digital converter, a generating unit executes analog-to-digital conversion of a first input signal and a second input signal based on an analog-to-digital conversion characteristic curve to generate first digital data and second digital data respectively corresponding to the first input signal and the second input signal. The input signal has a first level, and the first level is the sum of an offset level and a level of a target analog signal for analog-to-digital conversion. The second input signal has a second level, and the second level is generated by subtracting the offset level from the level of the target analog signal. In the analog-to-digital converter, an obtaining unit obtains difference digital data between the first digital data and the second digital data to output the obtained difference digital data as digital data of the target analog signal.
A method and apparatus for measuring or converting voltage, the method comprising: applying an input voltage to a primary delay line; applying a reference voltage to a timer delay line; propagating a delay signal through the primary delay line; propagating a timer signal through the timer delay line; establishing a sampling period based on the timer signal propagation; and measuring an extent of delay signal propagation along the primary delay line during the established sampling period, the measured signal propagation extent being indicative of a difference between the input voltage and the reference voltage.