Application Note: Maxim Managing Noise Part 2

This is the second in a three-part series on noise in the signal chain. In Part 1 we identified the origins and characteristics of noise found in all semiconductor devices and explained how it is specified in device data sheets. We showed how to estimate the output noise of a voltage reference under real-world conditions that are not specified in the data sheet. In this article we focus on the sources of noise and distortion particular to ADCs and DACs. As before, we show how this noise is specified in a data sheet. Part 3 of the series will bring Parts 1 and 2 together, and show readers how to optimize their noise budget and choose the most appropriate data converter for their application.