Question
How many different input levels can be encoded by an analog-to-digital converter with 8-bit resolution?
Answer Options
- A) 8
- B) 8 multiplied by the gain of the input amplifier
- C) 256 divided by the gain of the input amplifier
- D) 256
Correct Answer: D
Explanation
The resolution (number of bits) of an Analog-to-Digital Converter (ADC) determines the number of unique discrete steps, or codes, it can generate to represent the analog input voltage across its total range. Each additional bit doubles the possible resolution.
An ADC with N bits of resolution can encode 2^N different input levels. For an 8-bit ADC, the number of unique levels is 2^8 = 256. This means the ADC divides its full input voltage range into 256 discrete digital values. Higher bit counts (e.g., 16-bit, 65,536 levels) are necessary to achieve the high fidelity and wide dynamic range of modern receivers.
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