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ADC Absolute Error

Last modified by Microchip on 2023/11/10 11:07

Analog-to-Digital Converter (ADC) absolute error (absolute accuracy) is the total uncompensated error and includes quantization error, offset error, gain error, and nonlinearity. It is the amount of deviation from the ideal ADC transfer function without compensating for gain or offset errors. The absolute error is also called the total unadjusted error. This error specification gives the designer details of the worst-case ADC performance without any form of error compensation.

Ideally, the absolute error is 0.5 Least Significant Bit (LSB) which is due to the quantization error. Gain and offset errors are more significant contributors to absolute error. The absolute error represents a reduction in the ADC range. Engineers should consider keeping some margins against the minimum and maximum input values to avoid the absolute error impact

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