Digital Instrumentation

and Data Acquisition

Dr. Salmiah Ahmad

Department of Mechanical Engineering
International Islamic University Malaysia
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 Outlines

 Review of Digital Fundamental

 Digital to Analog Converter (DAC) &
Analog to Digital Converter (ADC)
 Data Acquisition System

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 ADC

 Analog to Digital Conversion

 ADC falls into 3 general types of technique:

(1) parallel encoding (flash): fast; limited accuracy
(2) successive approx. (feedback): med. fast; good
accuracy
(3) single or double slope: slow; best potential accuracy

 All of these techniques use a device known as a

comparator.

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 ADC

Comparator

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 ADC

Comparator in Digital System

Va or Vb, is the variable input, and the other a

fixed value is the reference voltage.

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 ADC

Comparator
In basic form, a comparator can be made from an op-amp without
feedback:

for an ideal op-amp:

where the real open loop gain of the op-amp AOL is of order 510 or more.
Thus, some small voltage difference, V2-V1 , produces a large VOUT .
this property can be exploited in a logical operation including the effects
of amplifier saturation:

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An ideal comparator behaves in the following manner:

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 ADC

1. Flash/Parallel Converter

 a simple way to get better (more

bits of) resolution is to use more
comparators.

 for a 2-bit flash converter we can

use 2n -1 comparators, supplying
them with reference voltages that
are equally spaced over the
desired conversion range.

 the other comparator inputs are

connected to the input signal.

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 ADC

 all the digital outputs with reference input voltages below the
input signal will be true and all of the digital outputs with
reference signals above the input signal level will be false.

 the output logic circuit converts these 2n-1 binary values into an
n-bit number.

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 ADC

 the pattern of comparator

outputs is analyzed by
combinational logic
circuits (i.e. gates) to
determine the output.

 this technique is called

flash (or parallel)
encoding.

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ADC

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 ADC

2. Successive Approximation Converters

 another approach is to use a DAC to generate the
reference voltage and a single comparator to compare
this voltage and the input.
 a digital circuit can step the DAC output up through the
possible values until the comparator indicates that the
reference signal is greater than the input signal.
 the digital input to the DAC would correspond to the
voltage step that is the next-highest to the input signal.
 this approach would take up to N=2n comparisons.

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 ADC

 this is a fast method as it uses binary search.

 the control circuit first tests whether the analog input , Va is
greater or less than half of the DAC output range.
 this fixes the value of the most significant bit.
 then the controller tests whether the value is greater than or
less than the half-way point of the remaining range.
 this sets the next most-significant bit.
 the process is repeated until the values of all of the bits are
determined.
 the time required for this method is about N times the DAC
settling time.
 this method is slower than a flash converter but reduces the
number of comparators required.
 successive approximation converters are probably the most
common type of general-purpose ADCs.

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 ADC

•when the start signal is applied, the sample and hold (S&H) latches the
analog input.

•the control unit begins an iterative process where the digital value is
approximated, converted to an analog value with the DAC and compared to the
analog input with the comparator.

• when the DAC output equals the analog input, the end signal
is set by the control unit and the correct digital output is available.
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 ADC

Vin Vc

Vo

An n-bit binary number:

b1 b2 b3 … bn-1 bn
Can also be denoted as
MSB1 MSB2 MSB3 … MSBn-1 LSBn
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 ADC

Successive Approximation Method

Iteration process of digital approximation:
1. Start with MSB1 = 1 and the others are 0
• Vo < Vin , then Vc is high and the MSB1 is maintained at 1.
• Vo > Vin , then Vc is low and the MSB1 is reset to 0.

2. In the next cycle, start with MSB2 = 1 and all other lowers bit
equal 0.
• Vo < Vin , then Vc is high and the MSB2 is maintained at 1.
• Vo > Vin , then Vc is low and the MSB2 is reset to 0.

3. The process continues until all bits up to the LSB are scanned.

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 ADC

Successive Approximation Method

Example
An analog voltage Vs = 6.5 V is converted by a 4-bit
successive approximation ADC. The ADC voltage input
range is 15V (FS).

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 ADC

Successive Approximation Method

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 ADC

Example

A 6-bit successive approximation ADC is used to convert the signal from the
sensor. The voltage input range is 0 – 5 Volt.

a. Calculate the resolution of the ADC card.

b. Show the conversion process of the ADC card when the voltage input to the
ADC card is 3 V. Determine the binary number as the result the conversion.

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 If :Vo < Vin , then Vc is high and the MSBn is maintained at 1.
Vo > Vin , then Vc is low and the MSBn is reset to 0.
Vin= 3V, Vo is FS/2n+FS/2n+1+…..

Fractional binary number, 1/2n= ½, ¼, 1/8,…..1/128

FS/2+FS/16+
FS/2+FS/4 FS/2+FS/8 FS/2+FS/16 FS/2+FS/
VR=FS FS/2 FS/32 16+FS/
=5V 32+FS/64

Input
2.5V
3V
2.81V 2.97V
3.125V 3.05V

3.75V

1 0 0 1 1 0
Result the binary number from A/D Converter: 100110
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Relation between a fractional binary number and input voltage

1 2 Vin n
b1 2  b2 2  ....  bn 2 
VR
b1,b2…bn = n-bit digital output
Vin = analog input voltage
VR = analog reference voltage

Inherent uncertainty in the input voltage producing an ADC

output is,

V  VR 2  n

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From eq.

1 2 n Vin
b1 2  b2 2  ....  bn 2 
VR
where n=6, Vin=3 V, VR=5 V

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b1 2 1  b2 2  2  ....  bn 2  6   0. 6
5

Result in binary number from ADC: 100110

Q. Find the inherent uncertainty.

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 ADC

Vin 1 n
For bipolar ADC : binary number, N  INT [(  )2 ]
VR 2

Example:
A bipolar 8-bit successive approximation ADC is used to convert the signal
from the sensor. The voltage input range is -5 – 5 Volt (or 5V ref). Determine
the binary number as the result of the conversion, when the voltage input to
the ADC card is -0.85 volt.
 0.85 1 8
N  INT [(  )2 ]
5 2
N  INT [84.48]  8410  010101002

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 ADC

3. Integrating ADC
(Single Slope)

The basic idea behind the so-called single-slope, or integrating ADC.

 an op-amp circuit called an integrator is used to generate a sawtooth
waveform which is then compared against the analog input by a comparator.
 the time it takes for the sawtooth waveform to exceed the input signal
voltage level is measured by means of a digital counter clocked with a
precise-frequency square wave (usually from a crystal oscillator).

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 ADC

Integrating ADC

 when the comparator output is low (input voltage greater than integrator
output), the integrator is allowed to charge the capacitor in a linear fashion.
 meanwhile, the counter is counting up at a rate fixed by the precision clock
frequency.
 the time it takes for the capacitor to charge up to the same voltage level as the
input depends on the input signal level and the combination of -Vref, R, and C.

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 ADC

Integrating ADC

 when the capacitor reaches that input voltage level, the

comparator output goes high, loading the counter's output into
the shift register for a final output.

 the transistor/FET is triggered “ON" by the comparator's high

output, discharging the capacitor back to zero volts.

 when the integrator output voltage falls to zero, the comparator

output switches back to a low state, clearing the counter and
enabling the integrator to ramp up voltage again.

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 ADC

Integrating ADC Characteristics

(i) Analog voltage input

 this is a connection for the voltage to
be converted.

(ii) Power supplies

 ADC requires bipolar supply voltages
for internal op amps and a digital logic
supply connection.

(iii) Reference voltage

 must be from a stable,
well-regulated source.

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 ADC

(iv) Digital outputs

 the converter have n output lines for connection to digital
interface circuitry.

(v) Control lines

 the ADC has a number of control lines that are single-bit digital
inputs and outputs designed to control operation of the ADC and
allow for interface to a computer.
The most common lines are:
(i) SC (Start-convert)
(ii) EOC (End-of-convert)
(iii) RD (Read)

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Example
A measurement of temperature using a sensor that outputs
6.5mV/C must measure to 100 C. A 6 bit ADC with a 10V
reference is used.
Develop a circuit to interface the sensor and any of the discussed
ADC techniques.

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