Method and apparatus for conversion of time interval to digital word using successive approximation scheme

摘要

A method and apparatus for conversion of a time interval to a digital word, the time interval being mapped to a difference of a length of a reference time and a length of a signal time. Reference time is generated from an instant when the beginning of the time interval is detected, and the signal time is generated from an instant when the end of the time interval is detected by the use the control module. The generation of the reference time and the signal time is terminated at the same instant. In the apparatus, bottom plates of capacitors of the set of capacitors are connected to a ground of the circuit, and top plates of these capacitors are connected, respectively, to moving contacts of change-over switches First, second, and third stationary contacts are connected to the signal rail, the ground of the circuit, and to the reference rail.