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analogue-to-digital conversion
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Block diagram of a digital telecommunications system. Basic steps in analog-to-digital conversionAn analog signal is sampled at regular intervals. The amplitude at each interval is quantized, or assigned a value, and the values are mapped into a series of binary digits, or bits. The information is transmitted as a digital signal to the receiver, where it is decoded and the analog signal reconstituted. Analog multiplexing, as employed in the North American telephone systemIn frequency-division multiplexing (FDM), 12 separate voice signals, each of 4-kilohertz bandwidth, are modulated onto carrier waves in the 60–108-kilohertz range. These modulated signals are combined to form a single complex group signal. Groups are further combined to form a hierarchy of increasing bandwidth and voice-carrying capacity.
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analogue-to-digital conversion

technology
Also known as: A/D conversion, analog-to-digital conversion
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Block diagram of a digital telecommunications system.
Block diagram of a digital telecommunications system.

Analogue-to-digital (A/D) conversion is the process of transforming analog signals, which have a continuous range of values, into digital signals, which are binary (composed of 1s and 0s). This is crucial for digital communication systems because many real-world signals, like voice or video, are analog and need to be converted into a digital format for transmission.12

The A/D conversion process involves several steps:
* Sampling: Measuring the amplitude of the analog waveform at regular time intervals. The rate of sampling is determined by the signal's bandwidth, following the sampling theorem.2
* Quantization: Assigning a discrete numerical value to each sample.1
* Binary Encoding: Mapping these numerical values into a binary sequence (bits). For example, 2n levels require n bits.1

This digital signal can then be transmitted with greater fidelity, as it is less susceptible to distortion and noise. The reverse process, digital-to-analog conversion (DAC), is used to convert digital signals back into analog signals.13

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
4 Britannica Sources
  1. digital-to-analog conversion
  2. telecommunication - Bit mapping
  3. telecommunication - Sampling
  4. television - Digital television

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