Increasing of Sampling Rate of Internal ADC in Microcontrollers by Equivalent-Time Sampling

Abstract

The paper describes the Equivalent-Time Sampling (ETS) in Software-Defined Instruments (SDI) -typically oscilloscopes. It introduces a possible solution of the microcontrollers drawback caused by the maximal sampling frequency and its limitations in digitizing quick transient responses. The principle of ETS used in microcontrollers is explained, and the jitter effect is taken into account. Analog-to-digital converter input model and real properties of softwaredefined oscilloscope from ETS point of view are introduced and explained. In the system for circuit behavior analysis as a step response, where a microcontroller with internal peripherals (pulse-width modulation and analog-to-digital converter) is used for a test signal generation and data digitization, the use of ETS may increase the equivalent sampling rate of the internal analog-to-digital converter up to tens of MSa/s.