Presentation

Topic:

Analo g t o Dig i ta l
Conve r sion (ADC)
 Analog-to-Digital Conversion

Terminology
analog: continuously valued signal, such as
temperature or speed, with infinite
possible values in between

digital: discretely valued signal, such as

integers, encoded in binary

analog-to-digital converter: ADC, A/D,

A2D; converts an analog signal to a digital
signal
 Analog Signals

Analog signals – directly measurable

quantities in terms of some other quantity
Examples:
• Thermometer – mercury height rises
as temperature rises
• Car Speedometer – Needle moves
farther right as you accelerate
 Digital Signals

Digital Signals – have only two states.For digital

computers, we refer to binary states, 0 and
1. “1” can be on, “0” can be off.
Examples:
• Light switch can be either on or off
• Door to a room is either open or closed
 Analog  Digital Conversion

2-Step Process:

• Quantizing - breaking down analog value is

a set of finite states
• Encoding - assigning a digital word or number
to each state and matching it to the input
signal
 Step 1: Quantizing

Output Discrete Voltage

Example: Ranges (V)
You have 0-10V signals. States
Separate them into a 0 0.00-1.25
set of discrete states 1 1.25-2.50
with 1.25V 2 2.50-3.75
increments. 3 3.75-5.00
(How did we get
4 5.00-6.25
1.25V?
5 6.25-7.50
(Discussed in previous
slide) 6 7.50-8.75
7 8.75-10.0
Step 2. Encoding

Output Output Binary Equivalent

• Here we assign the
digital value (binary States
number) to each 0 000
state for the 1 001
computer to read. 2 010
3 011
4 100
5 101
6 110
7 111
 Sampling

• It is a process of taking a sufficient number

of discrete values at point on a waveform
that will define the shape of waveform.
• The more samples you take, the more
accurately you will define the
waveform.
• It converts analog signal into series of
impulses, each representing amplitude of
the signal at given point…….
Samplin
g
Collect sufficient data for correctly representing
a continuous-time signal

©Alex Doboli
2006
 3 Basic Types

• Flash ADC
• Digital-Ramp/Dual slope/Counter slope
ADC
• Successive Approximation ADC
1-> Flash ADC

• Consists of a series of comparators, each

one comparing the input signal to a unique
reference voltage.

• The comparator outputs connect to the

inputs of a priority encoder circuit, which
produces a binary output
3 bit Flash ADC Circuit
 How Flash Works

• As the analog input voltage exceeds the

reference voltage at each comparator, the
comparator outputs will sequentially
saturate to a high state.
• The priority encoder generates a binary
number based on the highest-order
active input, ignoring all other active
inputs.
ADC Output
 Flas
h
Advantages Disadvantages
• Simplest in terms
of operational • Lower resolution
theory • Expensive
• For each additional
• Most efficient in terms output bit, the number
of speed, very fast of comparators is
limited only in terms doubled
of comparator and
i.e. for 8 bits, 256
gate propagation
comparators
delays
needed
2-> Dual Slope ADC
• Also known as Counter-Ramp or Digital Ramp
ADC

• A dual slope ADC is commonly used in

measurement instruments (such as DVM’s).

ADC 1.21
 Dual Slope ADC circuit
Input

Oscillator

Switch Control Logic

Counter

VReference
Registers

Digital Output

ADC 1.22
 Dual Slope Function
• The Dual Slope ADC functions in this manner:
– When an analog value is applied the capacitor begins
to charge in a linear manner and the oscillator passes
to the counter.
– The counter continues to count until it reaches a
predetermined value. Once this value is reached
the count stops and the counter is reset. The control
logic switches the input to the first comparator to a
reference voltage, providing a discharge path for the
capacitor.
– As the capacitor discharges the counter counts.
– When the capacitor voltage reaches the reference
voltage the count stops and the value is stored in
the register.
ADC 1.23
 Successive approximation ADC

• Much faster than the

digital ramp ADC
because it uses digital
logic to converge on
the value closest to
the input voltage.
• A comparator and
a DAC are used in
the process.
 Successive Approximation ADC

• A Successive Approximation Register (SAR)

is added to the circuit
• Instead of counting up in binary sequence,
this register counts by trying all values of bits
starting with the MSB and finishing at the
LSB.
• The register monitors the comparators
output to see if the binary count is greater
or less than the analog signal input and
adjusts the bits accordingly
Successive Approximation ADC
Circuit
Output
ADC Types
Comparison
ADC Resolution Comparison
Dual Slope
Flash
Successive Approx

0 5 10 20 25
15
Resolution (Bits)

Type Speed Cost

Dual (relative) Slow (relative)
Slope Very Fast Med
Flash Medium – Hig
Successiv Fast h
e Approx
Low
 Examples of A/D Applications

• Microphones - take your voice varying pressure waves in the

air and convert them into varying electrical signals
• Strain Gages - determines the amount of strain (change
in dimensions) when a stress is applied
• Thermocouple – temperature measuring device
converts thermal energy to electric energy
• Voltmeters
• Digital Multimeters