Overview of analog-to-digital conversion

ADC is a critical process in embedded systems that allows our microcontrollers to interpret and process real-world analog signals. In this section, we will walk through this process, explaining each step involved in converting an analog signal into digital values.

What is analog-to-digital conversion?

Analog-to-digital conversion is the process of converting a continuous analog signal into a discrete digital representation. Analog signals, which can have any value within a certain range, are transformed into digital signals, which have specific, quantized levels. This conversion is essential because microcontrollers and digital systems can only process digital data.

The conversion process typically involves several key steps: sampling, quantization, and encoding. Let’s break down these steps, starting with sampling.

Sampling

Sampling involves measuring the amplitude of an analog signal at regular intervals, called sampling...