An analog-to-digital converter (ADC) samples a continuous incoming voltage or current and outputs a corresponding binary value. The resolution is defined by the number of bits, while the speed is dictated by the sample rate. Engineers select ADCs based on their architecture, such as successive approximation, delta-sigma, or flash, to balance speed, accuracy, and power consumption in mixed-signal systems.
The sensor output is too noisy, so we need an ADC with at least 16 bits of resolution to pull the signal out of the mud.
A common mistake is ignoring the input impedance requirements of an ADC; an unbuffered input can cause severe sampling errors.
Also heard as
- A/D converter
- A-to-D
Related terms
Analog-to-digital converter
A mixed-signal circuit component that translates continuous physical voltages into discrete digital numbers.
DAC
A digital-to-analog converter transforms discrete binary numbers into a continuous physical voltage or current.
Digital-to-analog converter
A mixed-signal component that translates binary data into a continuous physical voltage or current.