8XC51SL/LOW VOLTAGE 8XC51SL
A/D Glossary of Terms
Absolute ErrorÐThe maximum difference between
corresponding actual and ideal code transitions. Absolute Error accounts for all deviations of an actual
converter from an ideal converter.
Actual CharacteristicÐThe characteristic of an actual converter. The characteristic of a given converter 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 conversions under the same conditions.
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).
Channel-to-Channel MatchingÐThe difference between corresponding code transitions of actual characteristics taken from different channels under the
same temperature, voltage and frequency conditions.
CharacteristicÐA graph of input voltage versus the
resultant output code for an A/D converter. It describes the transfer function of the A/D converter.
CodeÐThe digital value output by the converter.
Code CenterÐThe voltage corresponding to the
midpoint between two adjacent code transitions.
Code TransitionÐThe point at which the converter
changes from an output code of Q, to a code of Q
a
1. The input voltage corresponding to a code transition is defined to be that voltage which is equally
likely to produce either of two adjacent codes.
Code WidthÐThe voltage corresponding to the difference between two adjacent code transitions.
CrosstalkÐSee ‘‘Off-Isolation’’.
DC Input LeakageÐLeakage current to ground
from an analog input pin.
Differential Non-LinearityÐThe difference between the ideal and actual code widths of the terminal based characteristic.
FeedthroughÐAttenuation of a voltage applied on
the selected channel of the A/D Converter after the
sample window closes.
Full Scale ErrorÐThe difference between the expected and actual input voltage corresponding to
the full scale code transition.
Ideal CharacteristicÐA characteristic with its first
code transition at V
IN
e
0.5 LSB, its last code tran-
sition at V
IN
e
(V
REF
b
1.5 LSB) and all code
widths equal to one LSB.
Input ResistanceÐThe effective series resistance
from the analog input pin to the sample capacitor.
LSBÐLeast Significant BitÐThe voltage corresponding to the full scale voltage divided by 2
n
,
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 uncertainty of two digital bits, which would mean four
counts, or 80 mV).
MonotonicÐThe property of successive approximation converters which guarantees that increasing
input voltages produce adjacent codes of increasing
value, and that decreasing input voltages produce
adjacent codes of decreasing value.
No Missed CodesÐFor each and every output
code, there exists a unique input voltage range
which produces that code only.
Non-LinearityÐThe maximum deviation of code
transitions of the terminal based characteristic from
the corresponding code transitions of the ideal characteristic.
Off-IsolationÐAttenuation of a voltage applied on a
deselected channel of the A/D converter. (Also referred to as Crosstalk.)
RepeatabilityÐThe difference between corresponding code transitions from different actual characteristics taken from the same converter on the
same channel at the same temperature, voltage and
frequency conditions.
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.
Sample DelayÐThe delay from receiving the start
conversion signal to when the sample window
opens.
Sample Delay UncertaintyÐThe variation in the
sample delay.
Sample TimeÐThe time that the sample window is
open.
Sample Time UncertaintyÐThe variation in the
sample time.
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