Converter Parameters
Set bit depth, voltage range & configuration
12bits
bits
V
ENOB / SINAD (Optional)
dB
Calculated Results
Live computed values
Bit Depth
12
bits
Total Levels (2โฟ)
4096
discrete steps
LSB Step Size (ฮ)
1.221
mV per step
Full-Scale Range
5.000
V
Max Count
4095
decimal
Ideal SNR
74.0
dB
Dynamic Range
74.0
dB
ENOB (Eff. Number of Bits)
12.00
bits (from SINAD or ideal)
Max Voltage
5.000
V
Min Voltage
0.000
V
Hex Max Code
0xFFF
hexadecimal
SNR Quality Indicator
Quantisation Visualisation
Key Formulas
N levels = 2โฟ
LSB = Vref / 2โฟ (unipolar) | Vref / 2โฟโปยน (bipolar)
Ideal SNR = 6.02n + 1.76 dB
Dynamic Range = 20 ร logโโ(2โฟ) dB
ENOB = (SINAD โ 1.76) / 6.02
Bit Depth Comparison Table
Common ADC/DAC resolutions โ highlighted row matches your selection
| Bits (n) | Levels (2โฟ) | LSB @ 5V | LSB @ 3.3V | Ideal SNR | Dyn. Range | Hex Max | Typical Use |
|---|
Understanding ADC & DAC Parameters
Essential concepts for converter selection
Resolution (n bits)
The number of discrete output levels = 2โฟ. More bits means finer granularity. Doubling bits roughly quadruples the number of levels.
LSB (Least Significant Bit)
The smallest voltage step a converter can resolve. LSB = V_ref / 2โฟ for unipolar. Smaller LSB = higher precision in measurement or output.
SNR & Dynamic Range
Ideal SNR = 6.02n + 1.76 dB. Each additional bit adds ~6 dB SNR. Dynamic range = 20ยทlogโโ(2โฟ) dB, representing the ratio of largest to smallest measurable signal.
ENOB (Effective Number of Bits)
Accounts for real-world noise and distortion. ENOB = (SINAD โ 1.76) / 6.02. An 12-bit ADC might have ENOB of 10.5 due to noise floor.
Unipolar vs Bipolar
Unipolar: 0 to V_ref (all positive). Bipolar: โV_ref/2 to +V_ref/2 (positive and negative). Bipolar effectively halves the LSB step for the same bit count.
Typical Applications
8-bit: PWM, motor control. 10-12 bit: Arduino, general sensors. 16-bit: audio, precision instruments. 24-bit: industrial weighing, precision measurement.