Kvantisointivirheenä

Kvantisointivirheenä is a Finnish term that translates to "quantization error" in English. It refers to the difference between the original analog signal and its digital representation after the analog-to-digital conversion (ADC) process. When an analog signal is converted into a digital signal, its continuous range of values is mapped to a finite set of discrete levels. This process inevitably introduces an error because the digital representation cannot perfectly capture all the nuances of the original analog signal.

The magnitude of the quantization error is dependent on the number of bits used in the digital representation. A higher number of bits allows for more discrete levels, resulting in a finer resolution and a smaller quantization error. Conversely, a lower number of bits leads to fewer levels and a larger quantization error. This error can manifest as noise in audio signals, loss of detail in images, or inaccuracies in measurements.

Quantization error is a fundamental limitation in digital signal processing and is present in virtually all digital systems that involve converting analog data. Techniques such as oversampling and noise shaping are often employed to minimize the perceptual impact of quantization error, especially in applications like digital audio and video. Understanding and managing quantization error is crucial for achieving desired signal fidelity and accuracy in digital systems.