CoherentSamplingCalculator(CSC).docVIP

APPLICATION NOTE ?3190 Coherent Sampling Calculator (CSC) Abstract:?This calculator provides a quick and easy way to select sinusoidal input test tones for the test of analog-to-digital (ADC) converters. Based on the theory of coherent sampling, the calculator allows a user to chose input and sampling frequencies as well as number of integer cycles within the sampling window and the resolution (number of data point) of the FFT. When evaluating the dynamic performance of analog-to-digital converters (ADCs) using Fast Fourier Transforms (FFTs), one must decide whether to use coherent sampling or window sampling. Maxims application note  HYPERLINK /appnotes.cfm/an_pk/1040 Coherent Sampling vs. Window Sampling details the advantages and disadvantages of each sampling technique, but, in general, coherent sampling produces the best quality in high-resolution FFTs.The purpose of coherent sampling is to force an integer number of input cycles within the sampling window. Figure 1 shows several examples of coherent sampling in the time domain.Figure 1a.Figure 1b.Figure 1c.Figure 1d.Figure 1a-d. Coherently sampled data contains an integer number of cycles within the sampling window. These figures show four sets of coherently sampled data. Each data set has 13 cycles within the sampling window and contains 64 data points. NWINDOW=13, NRECORD=64 Mathematically, coherent sampling is expressed as: where: fIN is the input frequency of the ADC under test. fSAMPLE is the sampling frequency of the ADC under test. NWINDOW is the integer number of cycles within the sampling window. This value must be an odd or prime number. NRECORD is the number of data points used to create your FFT. This value must be a power of 2. Finding an fIN and an fSAMPLE that satisfy the above relationship is an iterative process. An Excel spreadsheet titled  HYPERLINK /images/appnotes/3190/Coherent_Sampling_Calculator.xls Coherent Sampling Calculator is available for download t