IC/RC ADC COMPREHENSIVE STUDY
GUIDE 2026 FULL QUESTIONS AND
SOLUTIONS GRADED A+
◍ Data Converter.
Answer: A device that converts signals between analog and digital domains.
◍ ADC (Analog-to-Digital Converter).
Answer: Converts a continuous analog signal into a discrete digital
representation.
◍ DAC (Digital-to-Analog Converter).
Answer: Converts a digital code into a continuous analog signal.
◍ Resolution.
Answer: The number of bits in the digital output/input. More bits = finer
granularity.
◍ LSB (Least Significant Bit).
Answer: The smallest voltage step a converter can resolve. LSB = V_ref /
2^N.
◍ MSB (Most Significant Bit).
Answer: The bit with the highest weight in a binary word.
◍ Full-Scale Range (FSR).
Answer: The total span of voltages a converter can represent.
◍ Reference Voltage (V_ref).
Answer: The voltage that defines the full-scale range of the converter.
◍ Quantization.
Answer: The process of mapping a continuous signal to one of a finite
number of discrete levels.
, ◍ Quantization Error.
Answer: The difference between the actual analog value and the nearest
digital code. Max error = ±½ LSB ideally.
◍ DNL (Differential Nonlinearity).
Answer: The deviation of each step size from the ideal 1 LSB step. Units:
LSB.
◍ INL (Integral Nonlinearity).
Answer: The deviation of the transfer function from a straight line. Units:
LSB.
◍ Offset Error.
Answer: A constant shift of the entire transfer function from zero. First code
transition doesn't occur at ½ LSB.
◍ Gain Error.
Answer: The difference between actual and ideal full-scale slopes. Affects
all codes proportionally.
◍ Missing Codes.
Answer: When certain output codes are never produced by an ADC; occurs
when DNL ≤ −1 LSB.
◍ Monotonicity.
Answer: A DAC is monotonic if output always increases (or stays flat) as
the digital code increases. Requires DNL > −1 LSB.
◍ Code Width.
Answer: The range of analog input voltages that map to a single digital
code.
◍ Transition Noise.
Answer: Random variation in the analog input level at which a code
transition occurs.
◍ Zero-Scale Error.
Answer: Error at the lowest code (all zeros), also called offset error.
GUIDE 2026 FULL QUESTIONS AND
SOLUTIONS GRADED A+
◍ Data Converter.
Answer: A device that converts signals between analog and digital domains.
◍ ADC (Analog-to-Digital Converter).
Answer: Converts a continuous analog signal into a discrete digital
representation.
◍ DAC (Digital-to-Analog Converter).
Answer: Converts a digital code into a continuous analog signal.
◍ Resolution.
Answer: The number of bits in the digital output/input. More bits = finer
granularity.
◍ LSB (Least Significant Bit).
Answer: The smallest voltage step a converter can resolve. LSB = V_ref /
2^N.
◍ MSB (Most Significant Bit).
Answer: The bit with the highest weight in a binary word.
◍ Full-Scale Range (FSR).
Answer: The total span of voltages a converter can represent.
◍ Reference Voltage (V_ref).
Answer: The voltage that defines the full-scale range of the converter.
◍ Quantization.
Answer: The process of mapping a continuous signal to one of a finite
number of discrete levels.
, ◍ Quantization Error.
Answer: The difference between the actual analog value and the nearest
digital code. Max error = ±½ LSB ideally.
◍ DNL (Differential Nonlinearity).
Answer: The deviation of each step size from the ideal 1 LSB step. Units:
LSB.
◍ INL (Integral Nonlinearity).
Answer: The deviation of the transfer function from a straight line. Units:
LSB.
◍ Offset Error.
Answer: A constant shift of the entire transfer function from zero. First code
transition doesn't occur at ½ LSB.
◍ Gain Error.
Answer: The difference between actual and ideal full-scale slopes. Affects
all codes proportionally.
◍ Missing Codes.
Answer: When certain output codes are never produced by an ADC; occurs
when DNL ≤ −1 LSB.
◍ Monotonicity.
Answer: A DAC is monotonic if output always increases (or stays flat) as
the digital code increases. Requires DNL > −1 LSB.
◍ Code Width.
Answer: The range of analog input voltages that map to a single digital
code.
◍ Transition Noise.
Answer: Random variation in the analog input level at which a code
transition occurs.
◍ Zero-Scale Error.
Answer: Error at the lowest code (all zeros), also called offset error.
