Digital Signal Processing: Instant Access

Chapter 2. The Analog-Digital Interface

Definitions

In most systems, whether electronic, financial or social, the majority of problems arise in the interface between different subparts. This is also true for digital signal processing systems. Most signals in real life are continuous in amplitude and time—that is, analog—but our digital system is working with amplitude- and time-discrete signals, or so-called digital signals. So, the input signals entering our system need to be converted from analog to digital form before the actual signal processing can take place.

For the same reason, the output signals from our DSP device usually need to be reconverted back from digital to analog form, to be used in, for instance, hydraulic valves or loudspeakers ...