ANALOG TO DIGITAL CONVERTER (ADC)

Analog to digital converter (ADC) sole purpose is to convert analog signal into digital signal. Analog signals are a continuous time variable, such as pressure of the air, frequency or the wavelength of light or sound.

Converting analog signals to a sequence of digital values or samples, requires the use of analog to digital conversion devices.

There are several types of analog to digital conversion devices and they are; successive approximation Analog to digital converter (ADC), delta-sigma Analog to digital converter (ADC), flash Analog to digital converter (ADC), dual slope Analog to digital converter (ADC), pipeline Analog to digital converter (ADC), sigma-delta Analog to digital converter (ADC), integrating Analog to digital converter (ADC), and successive approximation register (SARs) Analog to digital converter (ADC).

Successive approximation Analog to digital converter (ADC), use a successive approximation algorithm to convert analog signals. Their inherent characteristics are high accuracy, low power consumption and limited speed.

Delta-sigma Analog to digital converter (ADC), use a delta-sigma modulator to convert analog signals to digital signals. Their characteristics are high accuracy, high resolution, complex design and high power consumption.

Flash Analog to digital converter (ADC), use a parallel comparator to convert analog signals. Their characteristics are high speed, simple design, limited resolution and high power consumption.

Dual slope Analog to digital converter (ADC),, use a dual slope integration to convert analog signals to digital signal. Their characteristics are high accuracy, low noise and limited speed.

Pipeline Analog to digital converter (ADC), use a pipeline architecture to convert analog signal to digital signal. Their characteristics are high speed, high resolution, complex design and high power consumption.

Sigma-delta Analog to digital converter (ADC), are similar to delta-sigma Analog to digital converter (ADC), but with a focus on sigma-delta modulation. Their characteristics are high accuracy, high resolution, complex design and high power consumption.

The advantages of Analog to digital converter (ADC) are as follows; Analog to digital converter (ADC), can provide high accuracy and resolution depending on the number of bits used to represent the digital signals. Modern Analog to digital converter (ADC) can convert analog signal to digital signals at very high speeds making them suitable for real time applications. Many Analog to digital converter (ADC) are designed to consume low power making them suitable for battery powered devices.

The disadvantages of Analog to digital converter (ADC) are; Analog to digital converter (ADC) can only convert signals within a certain dynamic range which can limit their ability to capture very large or very small signals. Analog to digital converter (ADC) can introduce noise and distortion into the digital signals which can affect the accuracy of the conversion. Analog to digital converter (ADC) can be complex devices requiring careful design and calibration to ensure accurate conversion.

The applications of Analog to digital converter (ADC) are as follows; Analog to digital converter (ADC) are used in audio and video systems to convert analog signal to digital signals that can be processed and stored. Analog to digital converter (ADC) are used in medical devices such as ECG and EEG machines to convert analog signals to digital signals that can be analyzed and displayed. Analog to digital converter (ADC) are used in industrial control systems to convert analog signals from sensors into digital signals that can be processed and used to control machines. Analog to digital converter (ADC) are used for automotive systems such as antilock braking systems (ABS) and traction control systems (TCS) to convert analog signals from sensors into digital signals that can be processed and used to control the vehicle.

The future of Analog to digital converter (ADC) are expected to be as follows; future Analog to digital converter (ADC) are expected to have a higher resolution, enabling them to capture and convert signals with greater accuracy. Future Analog to digital converters (ADC) are expected to have faster conversion times or rates enabling them to support real-time applications with even higher speeds. Analog to digital converter (ADC) are expected to consume even lower power, making them suitable for battery powered devices with even longer battery life. Future Analog to digital converter (ADC) are expected to be integrated with other components such as microcontroller and sensors to enable even more compact and efficient systems.

 

SOURCES:

• Analog to digital conversion by David A. Johns and Kenneth W. Martin.
• Analog to digital converter design by Sanjeev Kumar and James W. Haslett.
• ADC and DAC: A practical guide by Boni Alessandro.
• Analog to digital conversion by Marcel J.M Pelgrom.
• Integrated analog to digital and digital to analog converters by Rudy Van de Plassche.