A sigma delta analog to digital converter of the type adapted to be
connected to a capacitive current input device, comprises: a sigma delta
modulator having an input; and a flying capacitor constructed so as to be
connected between the input of the sigma delta modulator and the
capacitive current input device. In a preferred embodiment, the converter
includes an input stage having an input coupled to the flying capacitor;
a feedback path; a digital to analog converter (DAC) disposed in the
feedback path and having a DAC output; and a DAC output capacitor and a
second switch for alternately switching the DAC output capacitor between
a first connection so as to transfer a signal from the output of the
digital to analog converter to the DAC output capacitor and a second
connection so as to transfer a signal from the DAC output capacitor to
the input of the sigma delta modulator. The flying capacitor includes a
charging capacitor and a flying capacitor switch, the flying capacitor
being constructed so as to be alternately switched between a first
connection so as to transfer a signal from the capacitive current input
device to the charging capacitor and a second connection so as to
transfer a signal from the charging capacitor to the input of the sigma
delta modulator. The switching frequency of both switches is preferably
operated at the same frequency f.sub.s so as to define a common switching
cycle for both the flying capacitor switch and the second switch, and
synchronized so that the flying capacitor switch and the second switch
are each switched to the first connection during one phase of the
switching cycle and switched to the second connection during a second
phase of the switching cycle. The converter has particular utility for
any device having capacitive current input devices, such as CAT scanner
detectors and electret microphones. The disclosure also describes and
claims a method of converting a current provided by a capacitive current
input device to a digital signal using a sigma delta analog to digital
converter.