8XC51GB
Ideal CharacteristicÐA characteristic with its first
e
A/D Glossary of Terms
code transition at V
0.5 LSB, its last code tran-
b
IN
e
widths equal to one LSB.
sition at V
(V
1.5 LSB) and all code
Absolute ErrorÐThe maximum difference between
corresponding actual and ideal code transitions. Ab-
solute Error accounts for all deviations of an actual
converter from an ideal converter.
IN
REF
Input ResistanceÐThe effective series resistance
from the analog input pin to the sample capacitor.
Actual CharacteristicÐThe characteristic of an ac-
tual converter. The characteristic of a given convert-
er may vary over temperature, supply voltage, and
frequency conditions. An actual characteristic rarely
has ideal first and last transition locations or ideal
code widths. It may even vary over multiple conver-
sions under the same conditions.
LSBÐLeast Significant BitÐThe voltage corre-
n
sponding to the full scale voltage divided by 2 ,
where n is the number of bits of resolution of the
converter. For an 8-bit converter with a reference
voltage of 5.12V, one LSB is 20 mV. Note that this is
different than digital LSBs since an uncertainty of
two LSBs, when referring to an A/D converter,
equals 40 mV. (This has been confused with an un-
certainty of two digital bits, which would mean four
counts, or 80 mV).
Break-Before-MakeÐThe property of a multiplexer
which guarantees that a previously selected channel
will be deselected before a new channel is selected
(e.g., the converter will not short inputs together).
MonotonicÐThe property of successive approxi-
mation converters which guarantees that increasing
input voltages produce adjacent codes of increasing
value, and that decreasing input voltages produce
adjacent codes of decreasing value.
Channel-to-Channel MatchingÐThe difference be-
tween corresponding code transitions of actual char-
acteristics taken from different channels under the
same temperature, voltage and frequency condi-
tions.
No Missed CodesÐFor each and every output
code, there exists a unique input voltage range
which produces that code only.
CharacteristicÐA graph of input voltage versus the
resultant output code for an A/D converter. It de-
scribes the transfer function of the A/D converter.
Non-LinearityÐThe maximum deviation of code
transitions of the terminal based characteristic from
the corresponding code transitions of the ideal char-
acteristic.
CodeÐThe digital value output by the converter.
Code CenterÐThe voltage corresponding to the
midpoint between two adjacent code transitions.
Off-IsolationÐAttenuation of a voltage applied on a
deselected channel of the A/D converter. (Also re-
ferred to as Crosstalk.)
Code TransitionÐThe point at which the converter
a
changes from an output code of Q, to a code of Q
1. The input voltage corresponding to a code tran-
sition is defined to be that voltage which is equally
likely to produce either of two adjacent codes.
RepeatabilityÐThe difference between corre-
sponding code transitions from different actual char-
acteristics taken from the same converter on the
same channel at the same temperature, voltage and
frequency conditions.
Code WidthÐThe voltage corresponding to the dif-
ference between two adjacent code transitions.
ResolutionÐThe number of input voltage levels
that the converter can unambiguously distinguish
between. Also defines the number of useful bits of
information which the converter can return.
CrosstalkÐSee ‘‘Off-Isolation’’.
DC Input LeakageÐLeakage current to ground
from an analog input pin.
Sample DelayÐThe delay from receiving the start
conversion signal to when the sample window
opens.
Differential Non-LinearityÐThe difference be-
tween the ideal and actual code widths of the termi-
nal based characteristic.
Sample Delay UncertaintyÐThe variation in the
sample delay.
FeedthroughÐAttenuation of a voltage applied on
the selected channel of the A/D Converter after the
sample window closes.
Sample TimeÐThe time that the sample window is
open.
Full Scale ErrorÐThe difference between the ex-
pected and actual input voltage corresponding to
the full scale code transition.
Sample Time UncertaintyÐThe variation in the
sample time.
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