Get the basics of ADCs

Understanding the basic specifications of analog-to-digital converters will help you create a design that operates reliably.

Martin Rowe, Senior Technical Editor -- Test & Measurement World, 2/21/2012 3:46:53 PM

In an ideal ADC, each bit represents an equal amount of the device’s input voltage.

ADCs (analog-to-digital converters) are among the most commonly used blocks in embedded systems and data-acquisition systems. ADCs are used in numerous applications, including current sensing, motor control, and temperature sensing. As a consequence, you must understand the basic specifications of an ADC and select the appropriate device in order to create a cost-effective design that operates reliably.

Sachin Gupta and Akshay Phatak of Cypress Semiconductor have written a series of articles that explain the basics of ADCs and discuss the impact of various irregularities, the types of ADCs available on the market, the advantages and disadvantages of each type, and how the selection of ADCs varies from one application to the next.

The first article explains what an ADC is and how an ideal ADC works. The figure shows that an ideal ADC is perfectly linear. That is, each bit carries equal weight. Subsequent articles will cover more practical aspects and parameters of ADCs.

Part 1 of the series is available on the EE Times site. T&MW