Adaptable pulsed analog-to-digital converter

In order to increase the accuracy of measuring the low amplitude pulses analog-to-digital converter (ADC) is proposed which step of quantization is adaptable for the value of input pulses. The ADC had conversion time comparable with the usual 10-bit successive type ADC, but for the pulses lower than 0.3 V its accuracy is equivalent to 14-bit ADC. The functional circuit of the ADC and its description are given as well as the results of the experimental investigations. Possibilities and peculiarities of the practical application of the ADC are discussed