ADC Input Noise: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly. Is No Noise Good Noise?

All analog-to-digital converters (ADCs) have a certain amount of input-referred noise—modeled as a noise source connected in series with the input of a noise-free ADC. In most cases, less input noise is better; however there are some instances where input noise can actually be helpful in achieving higher resolution. Read this article to learn how some noise can be good noise.

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Noise Canceling Headphones

Locked in my office is a roaring beast--the return vent from the climate control system. The white noise might be comforting, but the low-frequency rumble is annoying. Each morning I turn on the radio, but risk bothering my co-workers if I turn it up enough to drown out the background noise. This week I tried out a pair of low-cost noise canceling headphones. Upon putting them on, I immediately noticed the dramatic decrease in background noise. The music sounded great, but I could turn the volume down and still hear it well. I'll look forward to trying them on an airplane. Here's how they work:

NoiseBuster uses a microphone inside and outside the earcup (1) to listen to the offending noise coming into the ear (2). Using electronics (3), the system takes the information from the microphone and uses it to create a noise wave that is identical to, but directly opposite of, the one coming into the ear. The "anti-noise" wave is output through a speaker (4), also located in the earcup. When the two waves (the offending noise wave and the anti-noise wave) meet, the noise is significantly reduced (5).

40 Years of Analog Dialogue

Analog Dialogue has been published at least once per year for forty years, making it the longest continuously published technical magazine by any manufacturer in the entire industry. Do you have any ideas as to how we can celebrate our anniversary?

Switching in USB Consumer Applications

The universal serial bus has become a dominant interface for rapidly transferring data between PCs and portable devices such as digital cameras, personal media players and cell phones. CMOS switches can be used for connecting and routing data lines in USB systems. Selecting suitable switches allows designers to enhance existing designs rather than developing new ones, significantly shortening design cycles.

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