ANALOG TO DIGITAL CONVERTER

BASICS
ANALOG SIGNAL: Continuously valued signal, such as temperature or speed, with infinite possible values in between.

DIGITAL SIGNAL: Discretely valued signal, such as integers, encoded in binary.

A/D CONVERSION
Many embedded systems need to deal with

nonelectric quantities. These nonelectric quantities are analog in nature. Analog quantities must be converted into digital format so that they can be processed by the computer.

A/D CONVERSION

A/D CONVERSION
A transducer can convert a nonelectric quantity into

an electric quantity. The output of a transducer may not be in a suitable range for A/D conversion. A signal conditioning circuit is needed for changing the transducer output to a range suitable for A/D conversion.

A/D CONVERSION

A/D CONVERTER
An analog-to-digital converter (abbreviated ADC,

A/D or A to D) is a device that converts a continuous analog quantity to a discrete time digital representation. Typically, an ADC is an electronic device that converts an input analog voltage or current to a digital number proportional to the magnitude of the voltage or current.

PROPORTIONAL SIGNALS
Simple Equation
Vmax 1..1 = 2n-1

Assume minimum voltage of 0 V. Vmax = maximum voltage of the analog signal. a = analog value. n = number of bits for digital encoding.
2n = number of digital codes M = number of steps, (2n 1)

d = digital encoding.
0V 0..0 = 0

BASICS OF A/D CONVERTER

RESOLUTION: The resolution of the converter indicates the number of discrete values it can produce over the range of analog values . Or the smallest possible change in output voltage. For example, an ADC with a resolution of 8 bits can be mentioned to have a resolution of 0.00390625V (1/ 28).

RESOLUTION
Let n = 2
Vmax 3=11 r

M = 2n 1
3 steps on the digital scale d0 = 0 = 0b00 dVmax = 3 = 0b11 r, resolution: smallest analog change resulting from changing one bit.
2=10

3=11

2=10

1=01 1=01

0V

0=00

0=00

BASICS OF A/D CONVERTER

ACCURACY:
Accuracy of a A/D converter is the measure of the

difference between the actual output voltage and the expected output voltage.

ACCURACY

To improve the accuracy of A/D conversion:

Increasing the resolution which improves the

accuracy in measuring the amplitude of analog signal. Increasing the sampling rate which increases the maximum frequency that can be measured.

ACCURACY

TYPES OF A/D CONVERTERS

Simultaneous (Flash ADC). Counter ADC. Successive approximation ADC. Tracking ADC. Dual slope ADC. Sigma delta ADC.

SUCCESSIVE APPROXIMATION A/D CONVERTER

WORKING
Uses a control logic unit that controls the operation

of SAR. Uses Successive Approximation Register(SAR) which supplies an approximate digital code to DAC. Uses a comparator to compare the output of DAC(Vref) and the given input(Vin). The digital output from SAR has a value equal to the given analog input.

PROCESS

PROCESS

EXAMPLE PROBLEM
PROBLEM STATEMENT:

Successive Approximation ADC.

4-bit or 0.0625V resolution.

Vin=1Volts.
Find digital value of Vin.

EXAMPLE PROBLEM
Calculation of the state MSB:
Compare Vin= 1V and Vref= 8V(1000). 1V < 8V, MSB is turned OFF. MSB = 0. Turn the next bit to 1.

EXAMPLE PROBLEM
Calculation of the state MSB1:
Compare Vin and Vref. 1V and4V (0100). 1V< 4V, MSB1 is turned OFF. MSB1 = 0. Turn the next bit to 1.

EXAMPLE PROBLEM
Calculation of the state MSB2:
Compare Vin and Vref. 1V and 2V (0010). 1V< 2V, MSB2 is turned OFF. MSB2 = 0. Turn the next bit to 1.

EXAMPLE PROBLEM
Calculation of the state MSB3:
Compare Vin and Vref. 1V and1V (0001). 1V=1V, MSB3 is turned ON. MSB3 = 1.

ANSWER
oMSB = 0. oMSB1 = 0. oMSB2 = 0. oMSB3 = 1.
So,
The

digital value of Vin = 0001.

ADVANTAGES
Power taken is less. Moderate speed of operation. Working on higher sampling rates. It has only digital parts which makes it

comfortable with digital systems.

DISADVANTAGE
ADCs with higher resolution will work

slower.

APPLICATIONS
Thermocouples.

Strain gauge.
Pressure transducers. Digital music recording. Digital speed meter.