1. What is ADC Sample Resolution?

ADC (Analog-to-Digital Converter) sample resolution represents the smallest voltage change that can be detected by the ADC. It determines the precision of analog signal conversion to digital values and is a critical parameter in data acquisition systems.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the ADC resolution formula:

Where:

• \( Resolution \) — Smallest detectable voltage change (V)
• \( Range \) — Full-scale input voltage range (V)
• \( n \) — Number of ADC bits (resolution in bits)

Explanation: The formula calculates the voltage step size between adjacent digital codes. A higher bit count results in finer resolution and better measurement precision.

3. Importance of Resolution Calculation

Details: Accurate resolution calculation is essential for selecting appropriate ADCs, designing measurement systems, and ensuring signal integrity in applications like instrumentation, audio processing, and sensor interfaces.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the full voltage range of the ADC and the number of bits. Both values must be positive (range > 0, bits between 1-32).

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What is the difference between resolution and accuracy?
A: Resolution is the smallest detectable change, while accuracy refers to how close the measured value is to the true value. High resolution doesn't guarantee high accuracy.

Q2: How does bit depth affect resolution?
A: Each additional bit doubles the number of quantization levels, halving the resolution (smaller step size) and improving measurement precision.

Q3: What are typical ADC resolutions?
A: Common resolutions include 8-bit (consumer audio), 12-bit (industrial), 16-bit (professional audio), and 24-bit (high-precision measurement).

Q4: Why subtract 1 in the denominator?
A: For n bits, there are 2^n digital codes, but only (2^n - 1) steps between them, since the first code represents 0V.

Q5: How does range affect resolution?
A: Larger voltage ranges result in coarser resolution (larger step sizes) for the same bit depth, while smaller ranges provide finer resolution.