Know More about Analog to Digital Converters October 26, 2011 at 6:19 pm
Before we are able to fully understand the concept of Analog to Digital conversion, we first should know more about the different kinds of signals that we have today.
When we are transmitting information over a media or network, the very information that we are trying to send is converted into a form of signal. Signals can be distinguished into two main categories and they are analog and digital.
Analog signals are the signals that old phone lines use. The common information that is being transmitted using an analog signal is voices, TV signals, and radio signals. The concepts of analog signals can be considered as merely approximation or estimation of information since there is no definite level when it comes to analog signals.When it comes to digital signals, the information that we are trying to send are being transmitted as binary. This means that information over a digital network is being transmitted by either 1 or 0, yes or no, and up or down. In other words, there are only two levels when it comes to digital signals. Digital signals are also the only signals that computers can read.
Since computers can only read digital signals, they need some sort of a converter which will translate the analog signal into digital one without affecting the information that is in the signal itself.
Analog to Digital converters are also known as ADC or analog signal converter. A great example of this is the modem that we use in order for us to be connected to the computer. During the early stages of the internet, before we can able to access the World Wide Web, we still need to connect our phone line into the back of the computer and dial a particular access code. Since phone lines are analog-based and computers can only read digital signals, we need a Modem so that we may be able to convert signals so that the two media can communicate.
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