Analog-to-Digital Converter
DEC (EC 2011)
Analog-to-Digital Converter (ADC)
Analog input Digital
ADC output
• Various types of ADC:
a) Flash-type
b) Counter-type
c) Tracking-type
d) Successive approximation type
Overall Schematic
Analog Analog
input Sample-and-hold input Digital
circuit ADC output
• If the input signal changes during conversion, the final output value D
will be erroneous.
• Use “sample-and-hold circuit”
• To sample the input voltage
• To hold the constant value while the conversion is in progress
Flash-type ADC
• For an N-bit, we require
• 2𝑁 − 1 comparators
• 2𝑁 resistors
• 2𝑁 input priority encoder circuit
• For e.g., a 3-bit flash type ADC requires
• 7 comparators
• 8 resistors (of same value)
• 8:3 priority encoder
A
B
A B C D E F G D2 D1 D0
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
C
0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1
D 0 0 0 0 0 1 X 0 1 0
0 0 0 0 1 X X 0 1 1
E 0 0 0 1 X X X 1 0 0
0 0 1 X X X X 1 0 1
F 0 1 X X X X X 1 1 0
1 X X X X X X 1 1 1
G
Flash-type ADC
• Advantage
• Faster conversion time
• Disadvantage/Limitation
• Requires more hardware for large bit conversion
• Suitable for 3-bit or 4-bit conversion
Counter-type ADC
Counter-type ADC
• Requires a DAC, a counter and a voltage comparator
• Before a conversion starts, counter is reset to 0.
• Output of counter is fed to the input of DAC.
• DAC output (𝑉0 ) is compared to input analog voltage, 𝑉𝑖 .
• If 𝑉𝑖 > 𝑉𝑜 , then counter is incremented by 1.
• If 𝑉𝑖 < 𝑉𝑜 , the conversion is complete and the counter output produces the
digital output.
• Worst-case conversion time is 2𝑁
Output Waveform
Counter-type ADC
• Advantage
• Simple; requires less hardware
• Disadvantage
• Conversion time depends on the magnitude of the analog input.
• Larger the input, larger will be the conversion time. Hence, it is very slow.
• For each conversion, counter is reset and then counts to the required digital
value representing the input voltage
Tracking-type ADC
Tracking-type ADC
• Employs a binary up-down counter
• If the output of the comparator is 1 (𝑉𝑖 > 𝑉𝑜 ), up counter.
• If the output of the comparator is 0 (𝑉𝑖 < 𝑉𝑜 ), down counter.
• Counter continuously tracks the input analog voltage
• Advantage
• Faster than counter-type ADC
• Limitation
• Only suitable for slowly varying waveforms
• If input signal changes rapidly, output may not be correct.
Output Waveform
Successive Approximation-type ADC
Successive Approximation-type ADC
• Consists of DAC, register, voltage comparator and control circuitry.
• Basic operation:
• Bits of the DAC are enabled one at a time, starting with MSB.
• If 𝑉𝐴𝑋 > 𝑉𝐴 , comparator output is 0 resetting the bit in the control register.
• If 𝑉𝐴𝑋 < 𝑉𝐴 , comparator output is 1 retaining the bit in the control register.
• This way all the bits of DAC are tested and the conversion cycle stops.
Successive Approximation-type ADC
• Consider 𝑉𝐴 = 10.3 𝑉 to be converted to digital outputs
CLK Register DAC output Comparator Control logic
(in volts) output
1st 1000 8 1 Retain the bit
2nd 1100 12 0 Reset the bit
3rd 1010 10 1 Retain the bit
4th 1011 11 0 Reset the bit
• Final output = 1010 (close to 10.3 V)
• Conversion time = N clock cycles for N-bit ADC
Comparisons among ADC
Parameter Flash-type Counter-type Tracking-type Successive Approx.
Conversion time Fastest Slowest Faster than counter- Slower than flash-
type, but slower type, but faster than
than others others
Hardware Very high Less than flash-type Less than flash-type Less than flash-type,
requirement (slightly higher than but more than
counter-type) others
Analog-to-Digital Converter
DEC (EC 2011)