Digital Signal Processing - Technical MCQs

Q1:

In a flash analog-to-digital converter, the output of each comparator is connected to an input of a ________.

A decoder

B priority encoder

C multiplexer

D demultiplexer

ANS:B - priority encoder

An N bit flash ADC has 2^n comparators. When an unknown input Vin is applied to its input, all comparators whose reference voltage is less than Vin will give output 1 while others will give output 0. THe highest reference valued comparator is nearest to Vin. Thus a priority encoder will convert it to binary.