ANALOG TO DIGITAL

CONVERTER
Continuously varies Discrete in nature
with time
Need for conversion
 ANALOG TO DIGITAL CONVERTER
Analog to Digital converter converts an Analog Signal to a
Digital signal.

For example, an AD converter is used to change the analog

output signals from transducers (measuring temperature,
pressure, vibration, etc.) into equivalent digital signals. These
signals would then be in a form suitable for entry into a digital
system.

An AD converter is often referred to as an encoding device

since it is used to encode signals for entry into a digital
system.
 TYPES OF ADC

• COUNTER TYPE ADC

• SUCCESSIVE APPROXIMATION TYPE ADC

• SINGLE SLOPE ADC

• DUAL SLOPE ADC

 COUNTER TYPE ADC

Consists of:-
• Comparator
• Control and logic circuit
• Counter
• DA Converter
Comparator:-
A comparator is an open loop op-amp with two
analog inputs and a digital output. It compares a
signal voltage (Vin) on one input (+) of an op amp
with a known voltage (reference voltage Vref) on the
other input (-).
Counter:-
An array of flip-flops connected together to perform
counting operation. It counts the number of clock
pulses that arrives at the input.

DA Converter:-

Converts the Digital signal

to Analog signal.
 BLOCK DIAGRAM

GATE
& DIGITAL
CLOCK COUNTER
CONTROL OUTPUT

COMPARATOR

+ -
DA CONVERTER
ANALOG Vin Vref
VOLTAGE
 OPERATION
Counter is reset to all 0s.
When the convert signal appears on the START line, the gate
opens and clock pulses are allowed to pass through to the
input of the counter.
The counter advances through its normal binary sequence and
staircase waveform (Vref) is generated at the output of the
ladder. This waveform is applied to one terminal(-ve) of the
comparator, and analog input voltage (Vin) is applied to the
other terminal(+ve).
When the Vref equals (or exceed) Vin, the gate is closed, clock
is stopped from advancing the counter and the conversion is
complete.
The number stored in the counter is the digital equivalent of the
analog input voltage.
Drawback:

Though counter method is a very good method

for digitizing to a higher resolution, the
conversion time required is longer.
If the analog voltage to be converted is a very
high value, the counter has to count till it
reaches the equivalent analog voltage resulting
in a longer conversion time.
 SUCCESSIVE APPROXIMATION
TYPE- ADC

Consists of:-
• Comparator
• Control and logic circuit
• Ring counter
• DA converter
 BLOCK DIAGRAM
CONTROL RING
LOGIC COUNTER
&
CLOCK DIGITAL
COUNTER
OUTPUT

COMPARATOR

+ -
DA CONVERTER
ANALOG Vin Vref
VOLTAGE
 OPERATION
 Counter is reset to all 0s. (0000)
 The MSB is SET using Ring counter. (1000)
 DA converter converts it to analog voltage (Vref) and
is compared with the analog input voltage (Vin).
 If Vref < Vin, the first MSB is retained and the second
MSB is SET. (1100)
 If Vref > Vin, the first MSB is RESET and second MSB
is SET. (0100)
This process continues till Vref equals Vin and the
conversion is complete.
The number stored in the counter is the digital
equivalent of the analog input voltage (Vin).
OPERTATION OF SUCCESSIVE APPROXIMATION
 SINGLE-SLOPE ADC
This technique involves the comparison of the unknown input
voltage with a reference voltage that begins at zero and
increases linearly with time. The time required for the
reference voltage to increase to the value of the unknown
voltage is directly proportional to magnitude of the unknown
voltage, and this time period is measured using a digital
counter.

Consists of:-
• Comparator
• Integrator
• Counter
• Control and logic circuit
INTEGRATOR
 BLOCK DIAGRAM

CLOCK

ANALOG
VOLTAGE Vin
+
Vc
-
C
COMPARATOR
COUNTER
R
-Vref - CONTROL
+ - &
LOGIC DIGITAL
INTEGRATOR
OUTPUT
 OPERATION
A negative reference voltage (-Vref) is applied as input to the
integrator whose output voltage is given by,
Vo = (Vref/RC)t
The analog input voltage (Vin) is applied to the positive terminal
of the comparator and the integrator output(Vo) is applied to its
negative terminal.
The comparator output (Vc) is HIGH till its input voltages are
equal. During this time, the clock pulses are fed to the counter
through AND gate till Vc becomes LOW.
When the Vo equals (or exceed) Vin, the gate is closed, clock is
stopped from advancing the counter and the conversion is
complete.
The number stored in the counter is the digital equivalent of the
analog input voltage.
TIMING DIAGRAM
Advantage:
A single-slope ADC offers good accuracy, good
linearity and very good noise-rejection characteristics.

Disadvantage:
The integrator output depends on the values R and C.
These R and C varies due to aging of the
components. Thus there occurs a change in the
integrator output.
 DUAL-SLOPE ADC
In Dual-Slope type ADC, the integrator generates two
different ramps, one with the unknown analog input
voltage Vin and another with a known reference
voltage (–Vref). Hence called Dual-Slope ADC.

Consists of:-
• Integrator
• Comparator
• Switching circuit
• Counter
 BLOCK DIAGRAM
CLOCK

-
C
COMPARATOR
Vin COUNTER
R
-
Vs CONTROL
+ - &
-Vref
LOGIC DIGITAL
INTEGRATOR
OUTPUT
 OPERATION
The binary counter is initially reset to 0000.
 The output of integrator reset to 0V and the input to the
integrator is switched to the unknown analog input voltage
Vin.
The analog input voltage Vin is integrated by the integrator
and generates a negative ramp output. The output of
comparator is positive and the clock is passed through the
AND gate. This results in counting up of the binary
counter.
The negative ramp continues for a fixed time period t1,
which is determined by a count detector for the time period
t1. At the end of the fixed time period t1, the ramp output
of integrator is given by
Vs= - (Vin/RC)×t1
When the counter reaches the fixed count at time period
t1, the binary counter resets to 0000 and switches the
integrator input to a negative reference voltage –Vref.
Now the ramp generator starts with the initial value –Vs
and increases in positive direction until it reaches 0V and
the counter gets advanced.
When Vs reaches 0V, comparator output becomes
negative (i.e. logic 0) and the AND gate is deactivated.
Hence no further clock is applied through AND gate. Now,
the conversion cycle is said to be completed and the
positive ramp voltage is given by
Vs = (Vref/RC)×t2
where Vref & RC are constants and time period t2 is
variable.
 Dual Slope Output Waveform

-(Vin/RC) (Vref/RC)
-