Complex Engineering Problem

8-bit Analog to Digital Converter (A/D converter)

using successive approximation Technique

Subject: Integrated Electronics

Submitted by:
Umair Asghar
Muhammad Hunzilah Ahmad Sheikh
Muhammad Hassan

Instructor: Dr. Haroon Ur Rashid

Department of Electrical Engineering

Pakistan Institute of Engineering and Applied Sciences
Nilore, Islamabad

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 Complex Engineering Problem

8-bit Analog to Digital Converter (A/D converter)

using successive approximation Technique

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1/8/21
Table of Contents
Abstract ................................................................................................................................ 3
Analog to Digital Converter:................................................................................................... 3
Successive Approximation type ADC: .................................................................................................. 4
Components:............................................................................................................................................ 4
Block Diagram: ....................................................................................................................................... 5
Working Principle: ................................................................................................................................. 5
What is Resolution: ................................................................................................................................. 6
Flow Diagram:......................................................................................................................................... 7
Example of Successive approximation type 8-bit ADC: ........................................................... 7
Output waveform according to the input voltage: ............................................................................... 9
Circuit diagram ...................................................................................................................... 9
Comparison with other techniques of A/D convertor ........................................................... 10
Comparison-1: Required characteristics ............................................................................................ 10
Comparison-2: Conversion Method .................................................................................................... 10
Comparison-3: Encoding Methods ...................................................................................................... 11
Comparison-4: Disadvantages ............................................................................................................. 11
Comparison-5: Conversion time .......................................................................................................... 11
Comparison-6: Size ............................................................................................................................... 12
Comparison-7: Resolution.................................................................................................................... 12

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Abstract

In this Report an analog to digital convertor of 8 bits is described using successive approximation
technique. It is explained by using an example with its output waveform. And in the last this
technique is compared with other methods of A/D conversions.

Analog to Digital Converter:

Analog to Digital Converter (ADC) is an electronic integrated circuit used to convert the analog
signals such as voltages to digital or binary form consisting of 1s and 0s.

Figure 1 An ADC

Figure 2 Output Vs Input of an ADC

Most of the ADCs take a voltage input as 0 to 10V, -5V to +5V, etc. and correspondingly
produces digital output as some sort of a binary number.

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Successive Approximation type ADC:

Successive Approximation type ADC is the most widely used and popular ADC method. The
conversion time is maintained constant in successive approximation type ADC, and is proportional
to the number of bits in the digital-output. The basic principle of this type of A/D converter is that
the unknown analog input voltage is approximated against an n-bit digital value by trying one bit
at a time, beginning with the MSB. A successive approximation ADC takes as many clock cycles
as there are output bits to perform a conversion.

Components:
The following basic components are used for the circuit of successive approximation A/D
convertor
• Sample and hold circuit
• A comparator
• Successive Approximation register (N-bit SAR)

Figure 3_ 8-Bit SAR

• Digital to analog convertor (N-bit DAC)

Figure 4_ 8-bit DAC

• Output register to control the required binary output.

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Block Diagram:

5 Block Diagram of ADC

It consists of a successive approximation register (SAR Successive Approximation Register: Used
to perform the analog-to-digital conversion in successive steps in analog-to-digital), DAC (Digital
to Analog Converter) and comparator (Here used to compare voltage from DAC Vd and input
voltage Vin). The output of SAR is given to n-bit DAC. The equivalent analog output voltage of
DAC, Vd is applied to the non-inverting input of the comparator. The second input to the
comparator is the unknown analog input voltage Vin. The output of the comparator is used to
activate the successive approximation logic of SAR.
When the start command is applied, the SAR sets the MSB to logic 1 and other bits are made logic
0, so that the trial code becomes 10000000.

Note:

Here, MSB = a7 and LSB = a0. At SOC (Start of Conversion) an impulse is applied to start A/D
conversion. At EOC (End of Conversion) an impulse is given by the SAR to tell the system that
the conversion has stopped.

Working Principle:

The principle of successive approximation process for 8-bit conversion is explained here. This
type of ADC operates by successively dividing the voltage range by half, as explained in the
following steps.

(1) The MSB is initially set to 1 with the remaining SEVEN bits set as 0000000. The digital
equivalent voltage is compared with the unknown analog input voltage.

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(2) If the analog input voltage Vin is higher than the digital equivalent voltage Vd, the MSB is
retained as 1 and the second MSB is set to 1. Otherwise, the MSB is set to 0 and the second MSB
is set to 1. Comparison is made as given in step (1) to decide whether to retain or reset the second
MSB.

𝒂𝟎 𝒂𝟏 𝒂𝟐 𝒂𝟑 𝒂𝟒 𝒂𝟓 𝒂𝟔 𝒂𝟕
𝑽𝒅 = 𝑽𝒓𝒆𝒇 + + + + + + +
𝟐𝟓𝟔 𝟏𝟐𝟖 𝟔𝟒 𝟑𝟐 𝟏𝟔 𝟖 𝟒 𝟐

What is Resolution:

The resolution of an ADC is determined by the reference input and by the word width. The
resolution defines the smallest voltage change that can be measured by the ADC. As mentioned
earlier, the resolution is the same as the smallest step size, and can be calculated by dividing the
reference voltage (maximum voltage that ADC can take as input) by the number of possible
conversion values. The only way to increase resolution without reducing the range is to use an
ADC with more bits.

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Flow Diagram:

6 Conversion Diagram

Example of Successive approximation type 8-bit ADC:

The above steps are more accurately illustrated with the help of an example.
Let us assume that the 8-bit ADC is used and the analog input voltage is Vin =11.5. when the
conversion starts, the MSB bit is set to 1. Vd will be 8V according to formula with equivalent
binary no. [10000000]2.

Now Vin = 11.5V > Vd = 8V

Since the unknown analog input voltage Vin is greater than the equivalent digital voltage Vd, as
discussed in step (2), the MSB is remained at 1 and second MSB set to 1 as [11000000]2

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 Now Vin = 11.5V < Vd = 12V
Here now, the unknown analog input voltage Vin is lower than the equivalent digital voltage Vd.
As discussed in step (2), the second MSB is set to 0 and next MSB set to 1 as [10100000]2

Now again Vin = 11.5V > Vd = 10V

Again as discussed in step (2) Vin>Vd, hence the third MSB is remained at 1 and the next bit is
set to 1. The Vd = 11 for [10110000]2

Now again Vin = 11.5V > Vd = 11V

Again as discussed in step (2) Vin>Vd, hence the fourth MSB is remained at 1 and the next bit is
set to 1. The new code word is = [10111000]2

Now again Vin = 11.5V = Vd = 11.5V

Now finally Vin = Vd, and the conversion stops.

Ans: Hence the input voltage 11.5 V in successive approximation ADC with 16V-DAC, we get
the digital(binary) output 10111000

Example Flow Diagram: Vin =11.5V

Vin=Vd

11000000 10011100
Vin>Vd
Vin<Vd Vin>Vd
10110000
10000000
Vin>Vd
10100000

7 Conversion Diagram When Vin=11.5V

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 Output waveform according to the input voltage:

VDAC
16V

8V 12V 10V 11V 11.5V 11.5V

Vin=11.5V

8V

time
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

8 Successive approximation timing waveform

Circuit diagram

Figure 9 Circuit Diagram OF SAR ADC

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Comparison with other techniques of A/D convertor
Further practices used for A/D convertor including successive approximation method, includes:

• Flash ADC
• Sigma Delta ADC
• Pipelined ADC

Comparison-1: Required characteristics

Flash ADC For High Speed when power consumption not primary concern

Sigma-Delta For High resolution, low to medium speed

Pipeline For High speeds, few MSPS to 100+ MSPS, 8 bits to 16 bits, lower power

Successive For Medium to high resolution (8 to 20 bit),

Approximation
Conversion speed up to 10 Mega samples per second (MSPS),

low power consumption, small size.

Comparison-2: Conversion Method

Flash ADC N bits - 2N -1 Comparators Complication increase by a factor of 2 for each
bit.

Sigma-Delta Oversampling ADC, 5-Hz - 60H rejection programmable data output.

Pipeline Small parallel structure, each stage work on one to a few bits.

Successive Binary search algorithm, internal circuitry runs higher speed.

Approximation

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Comparison-3: Encoding Methods
Flash ADC Thermometer Code Encoding

Sigma-Delta Over-Sampling Modulator, Digital Decimation Filter

Pipeline Digital Correction Logic

Successive Successive Approximation

Approximation

Comparison-4: Disadvantages
Flash ADC Sparkle codes / metastability, high power consumption, large size,
expensive.

Sigma-Delta Higher order (4th order or higher) - multibit ADC and multibit feedback
DAC

Pipeline Parallelism increases throughput at the expense of power and latency

Successive Speed limited to ~5Msps. May require anti-aliasing filter

Approximation

Comparison-5: Conversion time

Flash ADC Conversion Time does not change with increased resolution

Sigma-Delta Tradeoff between data output rate and noise free resolution

Pipeline Increases linearly with increased resolution

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 Successive Increases linearly with increased resolution
Approximation
Tc = N x Tclk ; N : No. of bits of ADC )

Comparison-6: Size
Flash ADC 2^N-1 comparators, Die size and power increases exponentially with
resolution

Sigma-Delta Core die size will not materially change with increase in resolution

Pipeline Die increases linearly with increase in resolution

Successive Die increases linearly with increase in resolution

Approximation

Comparison-7: Resolution
Flash ADC Component matching typically limits resolution to 8 bits

Sigma-Delta Component matching requirements double with every bit increase in

resolution

Pipeline Component matching requirements double with every bit increase in

resolution

Successive Component matching requirements double with every bit increase in

Approximation resolution

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