Preface

This book has something for everyone involved in electronics. No matter what your skill level, this book shows you how to design and experiment with data converters, both analog-to-digital and digital-to-analog.

For experimenters, students, and serious hobbyists, the book provides sufficient information to design and build data-converter circuits from scratch. The design approach here is the same one used in all my books on simplified and practical design.

The first three chapters provide the basics for all phases of practical design, including testing and troubleshooting of completed circuits. The other seven chapters include worked-out design examples that can be put to immediate use.

Throughout the book, design problems start with guidelines for selecting all components on a trial-value basis. The assumption is that one has a specific design goal and set of conditions. Then with the guideline values in experimental circuits, one can produce the desired results (resolution, accuracy, linearity, conversion rate, monotonicity) by varying the experimental component values, if needed.

If you are a working engineer responsible for designing data-converter circuits or selecting integrated-circuit data converters, the variety of circuit configurations described herein should generally simplify your task. The book not only describes converter-circuit designs but also covers the most popular forms of data-converter integrated circuits available. Throughout the book, you will find a wealth of information on data-converter integrated circuits and related components.

Chapter 1 is devoted to basic data converters, particularly circuits found in integrated-circuit form. This information is included for those who are not completely familiar with data converters and for those who need a quick refresher. The descriptions here form the basis for understanding the operation of the many integrated circuits covered in Chapters 2 through 10. Such an understanding is essential for simplified, practical design.

Chapter 2 describes data-converter terms, particularly those found on converter integrated-circuit data sheets. The emphasis is on how the listed parameters relate to design problems.

Chapter 3 concentrates on practical design considerations. Emphasis is on how the reader can select a converter to suit a specific system need but still keep overspecification (with the usual high cost) to a minimum.

Chapter 4 describes simplified-design approaches for a typical analog-to-digital integrated-circuit converter. The chapter concludes with design for a fully isolated 12-bit ADC using serial-to-parallel conversion.

Chapter 5 describes simplified-design approaches for a typical high-speed flash-type converter. The chapter concludes with design for a high-speed interface circuit.

Chapter 6 describes simplified-design approaches for a typical digital-to-analog converter, with three-wire serial interface. The chapter concludes with design for a typical bipolar output circuit.

Chapter 7 describes simplified-design approaches for a typical digital-to-analog converter with parallel input. The chapter concludes with a typical four-quadrant multiplication circuit.

Chapter 8 is devoted to simplified design approaches for a cross section of data-converter integrated circuits. The circuits in this chapter represent both classic and state-of-the-art applications.

Chapter 9 describes a converter integrated circuit that contains all major components of a data-acquisition system. Because the device operates from a single 5-V supply and draws very low power, the system is well suited to portable applications.

Chapter 10 describes a converter integrated circuit that contains the major components of a 3 ¾-digit digital multimeter and can be used for portable data-acquisition systems under microprocessor control.