AD7911/AD7921
Rev. A | Page 11 of 28
TERMINOLOGY
Integral Nonlinearity
The maximum deviation from a straight line passing through
the endpoints of the ADC transfer function. For the AD7911/
AD7921, the endpoints of the transfer function are zero scale, a
point 1 LSB below the first code transition, and full scale, a
point 1 LSB above the last code transition.
Differential Nonlinearity
The difference between the measured and the ideal 1 LSB
change between any two adjacent codes in the ADC.
Offset Error
The deviation of the first code transition (00…000) to
(00…001) from the ideal, that is, AGND + 1 LSB.
Offset Error Match
The difference in offset error between any two channels.
Gain Error
The deviation of the last code transition (111…110) to
(111…111) from the ideal, that is, V
REF
− 1 LSB after the offset
error has been adjusted out.
Gain Error Match
The difference in gain error between any two channels.
Total Unadju sted Error
A comprehensive specification that includes gain error, linearity
error, and offset error.
Channel-to-Channel Isolation
A measure of the level of crosstalk between channels. It is
measured by applying a full-scale sine wave signal of 20 kHz to
500 kHz to the nonselected input channel and determining how
much that signal is attenuated in the selected channel with a
10 kHz signal. The figure is given worst case across both
channels for the AD7911/AD7921.
Track-and-Hold Acquisition Time
The time required for the output of the track-and-hold
amplifier to reach its final value within ±1 LSB after the end of
conversion. The track-and-hold amplifier returns to track mode
at the end of conversion. See the Serial Interface section for
more details.
Signal-to-Noise and Distortion Ratio (SINAD)
The measured ratio of signal-to-noise and distortion at the
output of the A/D converter. The signal is the rms value of the
sine wave, and noise is the rms sum of all nonfundamental
signals up to half the sampling frequency (fs/2), including
harmonics but excluding dc.
Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR)
The measured ratio of signal to noise at the output to the A/D
converter. The signal is the rms value of the sine wave input.
Noise is the rms quantization error within the Nyquist
bandwidth (fs/2). The rms value of a sine wave is one-half its
peak-to-peak value divided by √2, and the rms value for the
quantization noise is q/√12. The ratio is dependent on the
number of quantization levels in the digitization process; the
more levels, the smaller the quantization noise. For an ideal
N-bit converter, the SNR is defined as
dB761026 .N.SNR
Therefore, for a 12-bit converter, SNR is 74 dB; for a 10-bit
converter, SNR is 62 dB.
However, various error sources in the ADC cause the measured
SNR to be less than the theoretical value. These errors occur
due to integral and differential nonlinearities, internal ac noise
sources, and so on.
Total Harmonic Distortion (THD)
The ratio of the rms sum of harmonics to the fundamental,
which is defined as
1
2
6
2
5
2
4
22
2
V
VVVVV
THD
++++
=
3
log20)dB(
where:
V
1
is the rms amplitude of the fundamental.
V
2
, V
3
, V
4
, V
5
, and V
6
are the rms amplitudes of the second
through the sixth harmonics.
Peak Harmonic or Spurious Noise
The ratio of the rms value of the next largest component in the
ADC output spectrum (up to fs/2 and excluding dc) to the rms
value of the fundamental. Normally, the value of this specifica-
tion is determined by the largest harmonic in the spectrum, but
for ADCs where the harmonics are buried in the noise floor, it
is a noise peak.
