AI Patent Summary

Patent Document
#US5294928A
United States Patent 115)
Abstract
A semiconductor microcontroller includes the capabil- ity to perform analog to digital conversions of an analog signal representative of a variable parameter indicative of the need to exercise a control function. While the analog to digital conversions are being performed, the microcontroller processor can be placed in a sleep mode which eliminates noise arising from switching activities of the processor as a source of inaccuracy in the conver- sion process. At the end of the conversion, the analog to digital converter can either shut itself down or wake up the processor. Alternatively, the converter may shut itself down in response to a different user selected con- trol signal.
AI Analysis & Synthesis
Synthesizing AI Summary...
Patent Classification & AI Product Mapping
Authoritative patent classification definitions mapped to real-world technology domains and commercial product categories.
CPC H03M1/00
Confidence: High
Official Definition
Analogue/digital conversion; Digital/analogue conversion
ELECTRICITY > ELECTRONIC CIRCUITRY > CODING; DECODING; CODE CONVERSION IN GENERAL
AI Technology & Product Mapping
Technology Domain:
Mixed-Signal Integrated Circuits
Product Category:
Data Converters & Microcontrollers
Plain-English Summary:
General systems and methods for converting signals from analog format (continuous waves) to digital format (binary numbers), or vice versa.
Relation to Claims:
The patent broadly involves converting an analog signal representative of a variable parameter into digital form using a microcontroller's internal ADC.
CPC H03M1/002
Confidence: High
Official Definition
Provisions or arrangements for saving power, e.g. by allowing a sleep mode, using lower supply voltage for downstream stages, using multiple clock domains or by selectively turning on stages when needed
ELECTRICITY > ELECTRONIC CIRCUITRY > CODING; DECODING; CODE CONVERSION IN GENERAL
AI Technology & Product Mapping
Technology Domain:
Low-Power Mixed-Signal Design
Product Category:
Power-Managed Microcontrollers
Plain-English Summary:
Techniques for reducing power consumption in data converters, such as putting components into a sleep mode or shutting down circuitry when not in use.
Relation to Claims:
Directly maps to the patent's core feature of placing the microcontroller processor in a sleep mode during analog-to-digital conversion to eliminate switching noise and save power, and subsequently waking up or shutting down.
CPC H03M1/12
Confidence: High
Official Definition
Analogue/digital converters
ELECTRICITY > ELECTRONIC CIRCUITRY > CODING; DECODING; CODE CONVERSION IN GENERAL
AI Technology & Product Mapping
Technology Domain:
Analog-to-Digital Converters (ADCs)
Product Category:
Integrated ADC Modules
Plain-English Summary:
Specific circuitry and architectures dedicated to converting analog signals into digital representations.
Relation to Claims:
The invention relies heavily on an analog-to-digital converter component integrated within a semiconductor microcontroller.
CPC H03M1/34
Confidence: Medium
Official Definition
Analogue value compared with reference values
ELECTRICITY > ELECTRONIC CIRCUITRY > CODING; DECODING; CODE CONVERSION IN GENERAL
AI Technology & Product Mapping
Technology Domain:
ADC Architectures
Product Category:
Comparator-Based ADCs
Plain-English Summary:
Converters that determine digital values by comparing an unknown analog input signal against known reference values or thresholds.
Relation to Claims:
General classification for ADCs that utilize reference value comparisons, which is typical for conversion processes like successive approximation.
CPC H03M1/38
Confidence: Medium
Official Definition
Analogue value compared with reference values sequentially only, e.g. successive approximation type
ELECTRICITY > ELECTRONIC CIRCUITRY > CODING; DECODING; CODE CONVERSION IN GENERAL
AI Technology & Product Mapping
Technology Domain:
Successive Approximation ADCs
Product Category:
SAR ADC Microcontrollers
Plain-English Summary:
Successive Approximation Register (SAR) analog-to-digital converters, which compare the input signal to reference values step-by-step in a sequence to build the digital output.
Relation to Claims:
While not explicitly naming SAR in the abstract, microcontrollers performing discrete analog-to-digital conversions of sensor parameters commonly employ successive approximation architecture.