Analog to Digital conversion

Introduction
* The process of converting an analog signal
into an equivalent digital signal is known as
Analog to Digital (AD) conversion.

* The

conversion

time

depends

frequency of input clock signal.

upon

the

Analog to digital conversion

03 07 10 14 09 02
00 04

Conversion Methods
* Ladder Comparison
* Successive Approximation
* Slope Integration
* Flash Comparison

Ladder Comparison

Successive Approximation

* Charge a capacitor at
constant current
* Count clock ticks
* Stop when the capacitor
voltage matches the input
* Cannot achieve high
resolution
* Capacitor and/or
comparator
Start

Voltage accross the capacitor

Slope integration
20
18
16
14
12
10
8
6
4
2
0

Vin

Start
Conversion

Conversion

10

Counting time

C
IN
Oscillator

14

16

Time

Enable

Counter

12

Clk

N-bit Output

Flash comparison
* If N is the number of bits in the
output word.

* Then

2N comparators

will

be

required.

* With modern microelectronics

this is quite possible, but will
be expensive.

ADC Essentials
Basic I/O Relationship
ADC is Rationing
System

x = Analog input
/
Reference
Fraction: 0 ~ 1

ADC Essentials
Quantization Error

n bits ADC
Number

of

discrete

output level : 2n
Quantum
LSB size
Q = LSB = FS / 2n

1/2 LSB
Reduced by increasing
n

Converter Errors
Offset Error

Gain Error

Converter Errors
Integral Linearity Error

Differential Linearity
Error

A/D conversion Techniques

Counter or Tracking ADC
Successive

Approximation

ADC
Most Commonly Used
Dual Slop Integrating ADC
Voltage to Frequency ADC
Parallel or Flash ADC
Fast Conversion
Software Implementation
Shaft Encoder

Counter type ADC

Block Diagram

Wave
form

Counter type ADC

Operation
Reset and Start Counter
DAC convert Digital output of Counter to Analog
signal
Compare Analog input and Output of DAC
Vi < VDAC
Continue counting
Vi = VDAC
Stop counting
Digital Output = Output of Counter

Tracking type ADC

Tracking or servo type
Using
Counter

Up/Down
to

input

track
signal

continuously
For slow varying
input

Successive Approximation
ADC

Most Commonly used in medium

to high speed Converters

Based

on

approximating

the

input signal with binary code

and then successively revising
this

approximation

until

best

approximation is achieved

SAR(Successive
Register)

holds

Approximation
the

current

Block Diagram

Successive Approximation
ADC
Circuit wave form

Logic Flow

Dual slope integrating ADC

Operation
Integrate

T1

vi dt

Reset and

t2

integrate
t
vi ( AVG ) Vr 2
T1
Thus
T1vi ( AVG ) t2Vr

Vr dt

Dual slope integrating ADC

Excellent Noise Rejection
High frequency noise
cancelled out by
integration
Proper T1 eliminates
line noise
Easy to obtain good
resolution

Low speed
If T1 = 60Hz, converter
throughput rate < 30
samples/s

Voltage to Frequency ADC

VFC (Voltage to Frequency

Counter

Converter)

Convert analog input

voltage to train of pulses

Generates Digital output by

counting pulses over a fixed
interval of time

Voltage to Frequency ADC

Low speed
Good noise immunity
High resolution
For slow varying signal
With long conversion time
Applicable to remote data sensing in noisy
environments
Digital transmission over a long distance

Parallel or Flash ADC

Single step Conversion
Very

high

speed

2n 1 comparator

conversion
Precision Resistive
Up to 100MHz for 8 bit

Network

resolution
Encoder
Video, Radar, Digital
Oscilloscope
Resolution is limited
Large number of
comparator in IC

Software Implementation
Implementing

software

using Microprocessor
Counting

Limited practical use

Availability if Good

Shifting

performance with very

Inverting

responsible cost

Code conversion
..

Shaft Encoder
Electromechanical ADC
Convert shaft angle to
digital output
Encoding
Optical or magnetic
sensor
Applications
Machine tools,

Shaft Encoder
Binary Encoder
Misalignment of
mechanism causes
large error.
Ex: 011 -> 111 (180 deg)

Gray Encoder
Misalignment causes of
1 LSB error.

The End

. Thank You