ADCDAC

ADCDAC is a term used to describe systems or components that integrate analog-to-digital and digital-to-analog conversion capabilities within a single platform. Such devices combine one or more ADC channels with one or more DAC channels, often sharing a common reference, clock, and power supply, enabling bidirectional signal processing with reduced footprint and latency. ADCDAC implementations appear as ASICs, FPGAs with mixed-signal blocks, or modular data-converter boards used in instrumentation, test equipment, signal processing, and control systems.

Typical ADC types include SAR, sigma-delta, pipeline, and flash; DAC types include R-2R, binary-weighted, and current-steering. In ADCDAC designs the ADC and DAC may be tightly coupled to support closed-loop operation, calibration, and digital correction. Performance is described by resolution (bits), sampling rate, signal-to-noise ratio, total harmonic distortion, spurious-free dynamic range, integral and differential nonlinearity, latency, and power consumption. Sharing references and clocks can improve synchronization but requires careful layout to minimize noise and cross-talk between analog sections.

Applications span data acquisition, laboratory instrumentation, software-defined radios, digital audio interfaces, motor control, and other signal-processing systems where bidirectional conversion is beneficial. Design considerations include isolation between analog domains, thermal management, jitter, ground loops, and the trade-offs between integration level and flexibility.

See also data converter, ADC, DAC, mixed-signal integrated circuit, and digital signal processing.