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GATE 2016 EE – Question 20

Analog and Digital Electronics · Schmitt triggers, Sample and hold circuits, A/D and D/A converters · 1 mark · Multiple choice

A temperature in the range of $-40°$ C to $55°$ C is to be measured with a resolution of $0.1°$ C. The minimum number of ADC bits required to get a matching dynamic range of the temperature sensor is

  1. 8
  2. 10
  3. 12
  4. 14

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Correct answer: (B) 10

Explanation

The range is $55 - (-40) = 95°$ C, and a resolution of $0.1°$ C needs $\frac{95}{0.1} = 950$ levels. Since $2^9 = 512 < 950 \leq 1024 = 2^{10}$, the converter needs 10 bits.