ADC vs DAC: Understanding the Key Differences
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This article explains the difference between Analog-to-Digital Converters (ADCs) and Digital-to-Analog Converters (DACs). You’ll also find links to more comparisons of various technologies.
ADC - Analog to Digital Converter
An ADC is an electronic integrated circuit that transforms a signal from its analog (continuous) form into a digital (discrete) form. Analog signals are directly measurable quantities, while digital signals only exist in two states: binary 0 and binary 1. The ADC is at the heart of any data acquisition system.
Digital systems require discrete digital data to function. Here’s why we use Analog-to-Digital conversion:
- Processors perform arithmetic operations on digital signals.
- Digital signals are less susceptible to noise.
- The ADC provides a crucial link between the analog world (of transducers) and the digital world (of data and signal processing).
Here are some common types of ADCs:
- Counter type (the simplest)
- Successive Approximation
- Flash ADC
- Sigma Delta
Applications of ADC:
- Digital Voltmeter: Measures voltage (analog) and converts it to digital for display.
- Mobile Phone: Analog voice is converted to digital for processing (speech compression, encoding, etc.) before being converted back to analog for transmission.
- Scanner: When taking a photo, the scanner uses an ADC to convert the analog information from the picture into digital data.
- Voice Recorder: It uses an ADC to convert analog voice information into digital data. Modern VOIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) solutions also use this principle.
DAC - Digital to Analog Converter
A DAC is used to convert digital values into an analog voltage. It performs the inverse operation of an ADC.
The analog output is calculated as:
Analog output = ( Digital Input / (2^N - 1) ) * Reference Input
There are two main types of DACs:
- Weighted Resistor
- Resistive Divider
The following specifications are crucial for designing, developing, and selecting a DAC:
- Resolution
- Reference Voltages
- Settling Time
- Linearity
- Speed
- Errors
Applications of DAC:
- Modems: Need DACs to convert data to analog form so that it can be transmitted over telephone lines.
- Video Adapters: Also use DACs, often called RAMDACs, to convert digital data into analog signals for display on a monitor.
- Digital Motor Control
- Printers
- Sound Equipments
- Function Generators or Oscilloscopes
- Digital Audio