SUCCESSIVE APPROXIMATION ADC IAW SDNY ‘Sample and Hold Creut soormation [es J Fister 1 1 se fae SAR Binary oe = voc DAC VREF Digital to Analog Converter ‘Successive Approximation (SAR) ADC‘An Analog to Digital Converter (ADC) isa type of device which helps us to process the chaotic realworld data in digital standpoint. To understand realworld data lke temperature, humidity, pressure, position, we need transducers, all of those measure certain parameters and give us an electrical signal back in the form of voltage and current. Since the majority of our devices nowadays are digital, it becomes necessary to convert those signals into digital signals. That is where the ADC comes in, though there are many different types of ‘ADCs out there but in this article, we are going to talk about one of the most used ADC types which are known ‘a the successive approximation ADC. In an early article, we have talked about the basis of ADC withthe help ‘of Arduino, ou can check that out if you are new to electronics and want to learn more about ADC, What is a Successive Approximation ADC? ‘The Successive Approximation ADC is the ADC of choice for low-cost medium to hightesolution applications, the resolution for SAR ADCs ranges from 8 - 18 bits, with sample speeds up to 5 mega-samples per second (Msps). Also, it can be constructed in a small form factor with low power consumption, which is why ths type ‘of ADC is used for portable battery powered instruments. ‘As the name implies this ADC applies a binary search algorithm to convert the values, which is why the internal circuitry may be running at several MHZ but the actual sample rate is much less due to the Successive Approximation algorithmWorking of Successive Approximation ADC ‘The cover image shows the basic successive approximation ADC circuit. But to understand the working principle a litle better, we are going to use a 4-bit version of it. The Image below shows exactly that. ‘Sample and Hold Circuit Sronetaton Vin— S/H 2 J our SAR Bi inary Comparator Output voc _-t = DAC vREF— Digital to ‘Analog Converter ‘As you can see, this ADC consists of @ comparator, a digital to analog converte, and @ successive approximation register along with the control circuit. Now, whenever @ new conversation starts, the sample ‘and hold circuit samples the input signal. And that signal is compared with the specific output signal of the bac.‘Sample and ‘Successive 5.2v Hold Circuit ‘Approximation . Register vo{on} zB J on Hl SAR Binary ‘Comparator Output svvoc 4 = DAC VREF——+_] aev Digital to ‘Analog Converter ‘Now let's say, the sampled input signal is §.8V. The reference of the ADC is 10V. When the conversion stars, the successive approximation register sets the most significant bit to 1 and ll other bits to zero. This means the value becomes 1,0, 0,0, which means, for a 10V reference voltage, the DAC will produce a value of SV which is half of the reference voltage. Now this voltage will be compared to the input voltage and based on the comparator output, the output of the successive approximation register will be changed. The image below will clarify it more. Further, you can look at a generic reference table for more details on DAC. Previously we hhave made many projects on ADCs and DACs, you can check those out for more information.This means if Vins greater than the ouput of the DAC, the most significant bit wil stay as tis, and the next bit wil beset for @ new comparison. Otherwise, if the input voltage is less than the DAC value, the most significant bt wl be set to ze, andthe next bit wil be set to 1 fora new comparison. Now if you see the below image, the DAC voltage Is SV and as Is less than the Input voltage, the next bit before the most significant bit wil sett one, and other its wil set to zr, this proces will continue unt the value closest ‘the input voltage reaches. VDAC > VIN VIN > VDAC OeThis is how the successive approximation ADC changes 1 bit at a time to determine the input voltage and produce the output value. And whatever the value might be in four iterations, we will get the output digital code from the input value. Finally a ist of all possible combinations for a four-bit successive approximation ‘ADC Is shown below.