{"id":7400,"date":"2023-05-12T10:28:31","date_gmt":"2023-05-12T08:28:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp.delphin.de\/?post_type=glossar&p=7400"},"modified":"2026-07-07T11:10:48","modified_gmt":"2026-07-07T09:10:48","slug":"sigma-delta-converter","status":"publish","type":"glossar","link":"https:\/\/www.delphin.de\/en\/glossar\/sigma-delta-wandler\/","title":{"rendered":"Sigma-delta converter"},"content":{"rendered":"

A Sigma-Delta Converter (\u03a3\u0394 Converter)<\/strong> is an analog-to-digital converter (A\/D converter) that converts analog signals into digital measurement values with exceptionally high accuracy and resolution. Due to its high precision, this conversion method is frequently used in industrial measurement technology, data loggers, test benches, and sophisticated measurement data acquisition systems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The basic principle of a sigma-delta converter is based on a very high sampling rate (oversampling). In this process, the analog input signal is sampled at a frequency that is significantly higher than the minimum sampling rate required by Nyquist\u2019s theorem. These internal sampling rates often range in the order of several megahertz.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In contrast, the actual quantization is initially performed at a very low resolution\u2014often just one bit. The high measurement accuracy is achieved only through subsequent digital signal processing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How a Sigma-Delta Converter Works<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In simple terms, the transformation process can be broken down into three steps:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n
  1. Oversampling of the input signal<\/strong>\n
      \n
    • The analog signal is sampled at a very high frequency.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • Sigma-Delta Modulation<\/strong>\n
        \n
      • The modulator generates a high-frequency bit stream that contains the information from the input signal.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      • Digital Filtering and Decimation<\/strong>\n
          \n
        • A digital low-pass filter filters out interference and quantization noise.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
        • At the same time, the data rate is reduced.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
        • The effective resolution of the measurement signal increases significantly.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

          Through this combination of oversampling and digital filtering, sigma-delta converters achieve exceptionally high measurement accuracy while also providing effective noise suppression.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

          Advantages of Sigma-Delta Converters<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

          Sigma-delta converters offer numerous advantages for metrology applications:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            \n
          • Very high resolution of up to 24 bits and more<\/li>\n\n\n\n
          • High measuring accuracy<\/li>\n\n\n\n
          • Excellent signal-to-noise ratio<\/li>\n\n\n\n
          • Effective suppression of power line interference (50\/60 Hz)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
          • High linearity<\/li>\n\n\n\n
          • Low error due to quantization noise<\/li>\n\n\n\n
          • Ideal for slow and medium-speed measurement signals<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

            This makes them particularly well-suited for precision measurements in which even the smallest changes in the signal must be reliably detected.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            Typical Applications<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

            Sigma-delta A\/D converters are commonly used in:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

              \n
            • Temperature Measurements<\/li>\n\n\n\n
            • Pressure Measurements<\/li>\n\n\n\n
            • Current and Voltage Measurements<\/li>\n\n\n\n
            • Energy Analyses<\/li>\n\n\n\n
            • Laboratory Applications<\/li>\n\n\n\n
            • Test benches<\/li>\n\n\n\n
            • Process monitoring<\/li>\n\n\n\n
            • data loggers<\/li>\n\n\n\n
            • Sensor Measurement Systems<\/li>\n\n\n\n
            • Calibration and Testing Equipment<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

              Sigma-delta converters offer significant advantages over less precise conversion methods, particularly for measured variables with low signal levels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

              Sigma-Delta Converters in Modern Measurement Data Acquisition<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

              In professional measurement data acquisition systems, analog sensor signals must be digitized with precision before they can be analyzed, visualized, or stored.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

              The solutions from Delphin Technology<\/strong> are designed for the high-precision acquisition of a wide variety of sensor signals\u2014such as those from thermocouples, Pt100 sensors, voltage, current, frequency, or process signals. Through the use of high-performance measurement hardware, intelligent signal processing, and high-quality A\/D conversion, measured values can be recorded with high accuracy and used for analysis, process monitoring, or test bench applications. Delphin systems support demanding applications with high data quality and reliable long-term stability. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

              Sigma-Delta Converters vs. Other A\/D Converters<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

              Compared to other conversion methods, sigma-delta converters are particularly notable for their high resolution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

              Converter Type<\/th>Strengths<\/th><\/tr>
              Sigma-delta converter<\/td>Highest accuracy, low noise, up to 24-bit resolution<\/td><\/tr>
              SAR converter<\/td>Fast measurements with good resolution<\/td><\/tr>
              Flash Converter<\/td>Extremely high speed<\/td><\/tr>
              Pipeline Converter<\/td>A good balance of speed and resolution<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

              While flash or pipeline converters are primarily used for very fast signals, sigma-delta converters are the preferred solution for high-precision measurement tasks in the range up to about 100 kHz.<\/p>","protected":false},"featured_media":0,"template":"","class_list":["post-7400","glossar","type-glossar","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.delphin.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/glossar\/7400","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.delphin.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/glossar"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.delphin.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/glossar"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.delphin.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7400"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}