An output buffer of a super source follower for driving a reference ramp signal of a column-parallel single slope type ADC of a solid-state imaging device is made as a class AB feedback configuration for controlling a feedback variable current source with a signal obtained by amplifying a current fluctuation flowing through an amplification transistor by an amplifier, and thereby, the upper limit of the drain voltage of the amplification transistor is not limited by the voltage between the gate and the source of the feedback variable current source.

An output buffer of a super source follower for driving a reference ramp signal of a column-parallel single slope type ADC of a solid-state imaging device is made as a class AB feedback configuration for controlling a feedback variable current source with a signal obtained by amplifying a current fluctuation flowing through an amplification transistor by an amplifier, and thereby, the upper limit of the drain voltage of the amplification transistor is not limited by the voltage between the gate and the source of the feedback variable current source.

The present invention includes: a first decoder that outputs mutually different two voltages as first and second selection voltages based on a first bit group of a digital data signal in a first selection state, and outputs one or both of the two voltages as the first and the second selection voltages in a second selection state; a second decoder that outputs mutually different two voltages as third and fourth selection voltages based on a second bit group of the digital data signal in the first selection state and outputs one voltage based on the second bit group as the third and the fourth selection voltages in the second selection state; and an amplifier circuit that averages a combination of the first and the second selection voltages or the third and the fourth selection voltages with predetermined weighting ratios and outputs the averaged voltage.

The present invention includes: a first decoder that outputs mutually different two voltages as first and second selection voltages based on a first bit group of a digital data signal in a first selection state, and outputs one or both of the two voltages as the first and the second selection voltages in a second selection state; a second decoder that outputs mutually different two voltages as third and fourth selection voltages based on a second bit group of the digital data signal in the first selection state and outputs one voltage based on the second bit group as the third and the fourth selection voltages in the second selection state; and an amplifier circuit that averages a combination of the first and the second selection voltages or the third and the fourth selection voltages with predetermined weighting ratios and outputs the averaged voltage.

A decoding device is used to securely send corresponding data gathered from multiple underground sources to multiple users. The device comprises a signal receiving port connected to multiple bandwidth filters and further connected to internet access points that are assigned to end users for secure data access. The invention facilitates allowing the signal and data being transmitted through the formation of the earth to reach end users located nearby and significant distances away from the source of the transmission. A system and method utilizing the decoding device is provided.

A decoding device is used to securely send corresponding data gathered from multiple underground sources to multiple users. The device comprises a signal receiving port connected to multiple bandwidth filters and further connected to internet access points that are assigned to end users for secure data access. The invention facilitates allowing the signal and data being transmitted through the formation of the earth to reach end users located nearby and significant distances away from the source of the transmission. A system and method utilizing the decoding device is provided.

In an example, a circuit includes a first comparator, a second comparator, a pulse counter, a processor, a first ADC, and a second ADC. The first comparator has a first input coupled to a first node, a second input, and an output. The second comparator has a first input coupled to a second node, a second input, and an output. A first DAC is coupled to the second input of the first comparator. A second DAC is coupled to the second input of the second comparator. The pulse counter has a first input coupled to the output of the first comparator and a second input coupled to the output of the second comparator. The first ADC has an input coupled to the first node and an output coupled to the processor. The second ADC has an input coupled to the second node and an output coupled to the processor.

In an example, a circuit includes a first comparator, a second comparator, a pulse counter, a processor, a first ADC, and a second ADC. The first comparator has a first input coupled to a first node, a second input, and an output. The second comparator has a first input coupled to a second node, a second input, and an output. A first DAC is coupled to the second input of the first comparator. A second DAC is coupled to the second input of the second comparator. The pulse counter has a first input coupled to the output of the first comparator and a second input coupled to the output of the second comparator. The first ADC has an input coupled to the first node and an output coupled to the processor. The second ADC has an input coupled to the second node and an output coupled to the processor.

A voltage ladder is used to generate reference voltages. The voltage ladder is used by multiple digital-to-analog converters (DACs). In particular, the voltage ladder is used by multiple pulse-width modulation (PWM) DACs. Having multiple DACs utilize a common voltage ladder for their reference voltages reduces mismatched output voltages between DACs. Having multiple DACs utilize the common voltage ladder helps ensure that the reference voltages used by different DACs are not affected by process, voltage, and/or temperature variations in the reference voltages that would occur when using different voltage ladders for each DAC.

A method for mitigating interference across analog signal lines includes receiving a digital data stream including a plurality of discrete signal patterns configured to drive a plurality of different analog signal lines. An edge buffer for each analog signal line is populated with edge data representing pulse edges of upcoming signal patterns set to drive the analog signal line. A target buffer for a target signal line is populated with target data representing a target signal pattern. Edge buffers corresponding to potentially interfering analog signal lines are searched to identify potentially interfering pulse edges. A set of potentially interfering pulse edges are selected for interference mitigation, and the target signal pattern is modified to perform preemptive interference mitigation based at least in part on the selected pulse edges.