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Digital To Analog and Analog To Digital Conversion: D/A or DAC and A/D or Adc

Digital to analog conversion (DAC) involves transforming binary computer output into analog voltages. This can be done with a resistor network or R-2R ladder DAC. Analog to digital conversion (ADC) involves transforming analog voltages to digital values. Common ADC types include counter, dual-slope integrating, flash parallel, and successive approximation. Successive approximation ADCs work by iteratively testing bit weights in the DAC output against the input voltage over clock cycles to determine the digital output value.

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100% found this document useful (1 vote)
465 views50 pages

Digital To Analog and Analog To Digital Conversion: D/A or DAC and A/D or Adc

Digital to analog conversion (DAC) involves transforming binary computer output into analog voltages. This can be done with a resistor network or R-2R ladder DAC. Analog to digital conversion (ADC) involves transforming analog voltages to digital values. Common ADC types include counter, dual-slope integrating, flash parallel, and successive approximation. Successive approximation ADCs work by iteratively testing bit weights in the DAC output against the input voltage over clock cycles to determine the digital output value.

Uploaded by

somosree
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Digital to Analog and Analog to Digital Conversion

D/A or DAC and A/D or ADC

Real world (lab) is analog

Computer (binary) is digital

D/A Conversion

Computer

DAC

A/D Conversion

DAC

Digital to Analog Conversion (DAC or D/A)

8 bits

Computer

A/D

Digital to Analog conversion involves transforming the computers binary output in 0s and 1s (1s typically = 5.0 volts) into an analog representation of the binary data

D/A conversion can be as simple as a weighted resistor network


4 - bit DAC Converter

Resistor values correspond to binary weights of the number D3 D2 D1 D0 , i.e. 1/8, 1/4, 1/2, and 1

Using EWB we can model this device

Electronics Workbench Models 4bitDAC.ewb

Difficulties: 1. This setup requires a wide range of precision resistors A 10 bit DAC needs resistors ranging from R to R/1024. 2. The circuit driving the DAC (usually a computer) must supply a wide range of currents for a constant Vout

As was seen in the Workbench example, the output voltage from a DAC can change by only discrete amounts, corresponding to the level associated with a 1 bit binary change.

For a 8-bit DAC Smallest step in output voltage is v/256

8 bits corresponds to 256 different values


For a 5.0 volt DAC this step size is ~ 19.5 mV

A modification of the weighted resistor DAC is the so called R-2R LADDER DAC, that uses only 2 different resistances

An actual R-2R DAC showing input 1 0 1 1

Voltmeter reading is determined by the binary number ABCD and the resistor weights

MSB =
= =

1/2 of Vref
1/4 of Vref 1/8 of Vref

LSB

= 1/16 of Vref

1 0 1 1 = 1/2 (5) + 1/4 (0) + 1/8 (5) + 1/16 (5) 3.4 volts
In actual DACs, the converters will drive amplifier circuits in most cases

R-2R Ladder DAC Workbench Model

Amplified DAC with bipolar ( Vout ) output

r2rdac.ewb

If one wants only positive or negative output, one can use a BASELINE ADJ. for the Op Amp

baseline.ewb

Analog-to Digital Conversion (ADC or A/D)

8 bits

A/D

Computer

An ideal A/D converter takes an input analog voltage and converts it to a perfectly linear digital representation of the analog signal

If you are using an 8-bit converter, the binary representation is 8-bit binary number which can take on 28 or 256 different values. If your voltage range were 0 - 5 volts, then 0 VOLTS 5 VOLTS 0000 0000 1111 1111

An 8-bit converter can represent a voltage to within one part in 256, or about 0.25 %. This corresponds to an inherent uncertainty of LSB (least significant bit).
Decimal 128 = 0111 1111

Bit 7 Bit 6 Bit 5 Bit 4 Bit 3 Bit 2 Bit 1 Bit 0

MSB

LSB

Notice the bits are designated B7 - B0. Bit B7 is the Most Significant Bit while B0 is the Least Significant Bit

Voltage (Volts)
00000000 00000001 00000010 00000011

Analog Voltage

1 LSB

. . . . . . . . .

11111100

11111101 11111110 11111111

Number of Bits (N)

Resolution (1/2N)

Increment (mV) for 5 volts

6 8 10 12 14

1/64 1/256 1/1024 1/4096 1/16384

78.1 19.6 4.9 1.2 0.3

16

1/65536

0.07

Types of Analog to Digital Converters

1. Counter Type
2. Integrating or Dual Slope 3. Parallel or Flash

4. Successive Approximation

Counter Type
START

Comparator

Vin

Control Logic

clock

DA C

Counter

Digital Output

When START is received, control logic initializes the system, (sets counter to 0), and turns on Clock sending regular pulses to the counter.

As the Clock sends regular pulses to the counter, the counter outputs a digital signal to the Digital-to-Analog converter
Comparator START

Vin

Control Logic

clock

DA C

Counter

Digital Output

As the counter counts, its output to the D A C generates a staircase ramp to the comparator.

Comparator

START

Vin

Control Logic

clock

DA C

Counter

Digital Output

As the ramp voltage increases to the comparator, it rises closer and closer to Vin at which point the comparator shifts states

Comparator

START

Vin

Control Logic

clock

DA C

Counter

Digital Output

When the ramp voltage exceeds Vin , the comparator output shifts which signals the control logic to turn off the clock
Comparator

Vin

With the clock off, the counter reading is proportional to Vin

Vin

Note that the conversion time depends on the size of the input signal

Vin

Conversion time

Conv.time

Once the digital output has been read by the associated circuitry, a new start signal is sent, repeating the cycle.

Comparator

START

Vin

Control Logic

clock

DA C

Counter

Digital Output

With a counter type A/D, if the signal is varying rapidly, the counter must count up and reset before each cycle can begin, making it difficult to follow the signal.

Tracking ADC - similar to the counter type except it uses an


up/down counter and can track a varying signal more quickly

Comparator

Vin
Track & Hold Logic

clock

Up/Down Counter
DA C

Digital Output

Integrating or Dual Slope A/D


integrator Vin comparator

-Vref

clock

Control logic

Counter

Digital Output

When conversion is initialized, the switch is connected to Vin which is applied


to the op amp integrator. The integrator output (>0) is applied to the comparator

integrator Vin

comparator

-Vref

clock

Control logic

Counter

Digital Output

As conversion is initiated, the control logic enables the clock which then sends pulses to the counter until the counter fills (9999)

integrator

Vin

comparator

-Vref

clock

Control logic

Counter

Digital Output

As the counter resets (9999 0000), an overflow signal is sent to the control logic this activates the input switch from Vin to
integrator Vin -Vref , applying a negative reference voltage to the integrator

comparator

-Vref

clock

Control logic
overflow
Counter

Digital Output

The negative reference voltage removes the charge stored in the integrator until the charge becomes zero.

At this point, the comparator switches states producing a signal that disables the clock and freezes the counter reading. The total number of counts on the counter (determined by the time it took the fixed voltage Vref to cancel Vin ) is proportional to the input voltage, and thus is a measure of the unknown input voltage.

The operation of this A/D requires 2 voltage slopes, hence the common name DUAL-SLOPE.

Integrator Output Voltage

charging up the capacitor

full scale conversion


discharging the capacitor

half scale conversion quarter scale conversion

fixed time

measured time

Since this A/D integrates the input as part of the measuring process, any random noise present in the signal will tend to integrate to zero, resulting in a reduction in noise.

These type of A/D s are used in almost all digital meters. Such meters usually are not used to read rapidly changing values in the lab. Consequently the major disadvantage of such converters (very low speeds) is not a problem when the readout update rate is only a few times per second.

Flash Converters

If very high speed conversions are needed, e.g. video conversions, the most commonly used converter is a Flash Converter. While such converters are extremely fast, they are also very costly compared to other types.

Parallel or Flash Converters The resistor network is a precision voltage divider, dividing Vref (8 volts in the sample) into equal voltage increments (1.0 volts here) to one input of the comparator. The other comparator input is the input voltage

Each comparator switches immediately when Vin exceeds Vref . Comparators whose input does not exceed Vref do not switch.
A decoder circuit (a 74148 8-to-3 priority decoder here) converts the comparator outputs to a useful output (here binary)

The speed of the converter is limited only by the speeds of the comparators and the logic network. Speeds in excess of 20 to 30 MHz are common, and speeds > 100 MHz are available ($$$$$).
The cost stems from the circuit complexity since the number of comparators and resistors required increases rapidly. The 3bit example required 7 converters, 6-bits would require 63, while an 8-bits converter would need 256 comparators and equivalent precision resistors.

While integrating or dual-slope A/Ds are widely used in digital instruments such as DVMs, the most common A/D used in the laboratory environment is the successive approximation.

Successive approximation converters are reasonably priced for large bit values, i.e. 10, 12 and even 16 bit converters can be obtained for well under $100. Their conversion times, typically ~ 10-20 s, are adequate for most laboratory functions.

Successive-Approximation A/D

analog input

D/A Converter

Vref
Digital Output Data

comparator Successive Approximation Register clock

STRT

At initialization, all bits from the SAR are set to zero, and conversion begins by taking STRT line low.

Successive-Approximation A/D

analog input

D/A Converter

Vref
Digital Output Data

comparator Successive Approximation Register clock

STRT

First the logic in the SAR sets the MSB bit equal to 1 (+5 V). Remember that a 1 in bit 7 will be half of full scale.

Successive-Approximation A/D

analog input

D/A Converter

Vref
Digital Output Data

comparator Successive Approximation Register clock

STRT

The output of the SAR feeds the D/A converter producing an output compared to the analog input voltage. If the D/A output is < Vin then the MSB is left at 1 and the next bit is then tested.

Successive-Approximation A/D

analog input

D/A Converter

Vref
Digital Output Data

comparator Successive Approximation Register clock

STRT

If the D/A output is > Vin then the MSB is set to 0 and the next bit is set equal to 1.

Successive bits are set and tested by comparing the DAC output to the input Vin in an 8 step process (for an 8-bit converter) that results in a valid 8-bit binary output that represents the input voltage.

analog input voltage


FS

FS

D/A output for 8-bit conversion with output code 1011 0111

FS

CLOCK PERIOD

Successive approximation search tree

for a 4-bit A/D


1111 1110 1101 1100 1011 1010

D/A output compared with Vin to see if larger or smaller


1000

1001
0111 0110 0101

0100
0011 0010 0001

Note that the successive approximation process takes a fixed time - 8 clock cycles for the 8-bit example.

For greater accuracy, one must use a higher bit converter, i.e. 10-bit, 12-bit, etc. However, the depth of the search and the time required increases with the bit count.

Workbench Models flash adc(works).ewb dac_dig.ewb

adc-dac2.ewb

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