0
$\begingroup$

I am new in signal processing. I generated a signal with $f_{in}=10 \mathrm{kHz}$ and also take 64 sample from this signal after doing some process in an ADC block. I want to convert the result to the main signal and compare them whit each other. So if what is the difference between taking an FFT of the 64 points or other numbers like 1024 in the same measured time and what should be changed?

Thank you

Improve this question
$\endgroup$

1 Answer 1

Reset to default
2
$\begingroup$

It is not clear from your question why you are even taking an FFT; knowing that may also lead to additional insights- but the main point to understand is frequency resolution in the FFT; assuming you are not doing any windowing (shaping the envelope of the time domain signal before taking the FFT), the frequency resolution is 1/T where T is the length of your FFT block in seconds. From this you will see that the frequency resolution is one FFT bin, and is equal to $f_s/N$ where $f_s$ is the sampling rate used and N is the number of samples in the FFT.

For additional info on this see What happens when N increases in N-point DFT and the additional referenced posts there.

Improve this answer
$\endgroup$
6
  • $\begingroup$ Thank you for the answer, I want to test my ADC (Analog to Digital) circuit design. So I generated an input wave with fin=10 kHz then I took 64 samples from it, after processing with the circuit I have digital codes that I should convert them back to continues time by ideal block, by using ideal DAC (Digital to Analog Converter). I want to examine the accuracy of the ADC, so I should take an FFT with the 64, 128,.. points. I really don't know I should have 64 samples in the input of ADC or more for other numbers of FFT calculation like 128 points, ... $\endgroup$
    – saleh
    Commented May 16, 2017 at 22:03
  • $\begingroup$ why take an FFT? why not just take the difference and get the rms of the error signal? $\endgroup$
    – Dan Boschen
    Commented May 17, 2017 at 2:49
  • $\begingroup$ I appreciate the time that you dedicated to answering. I have a formula that should be used in it, SNR and THD ( Total harmonic distortion). By taking FFT and finding THD I could find SNR and from this, I can find the effective resolution of the ADC. I don't know exactly by using the difference with something that you said, maybe I could find my answer but I am not sure without comparing with the true answer. $\endgroup$
    – saleh
    Commented May 17, 2017 at 22:16
  • $\begingroup$ Yes taking the error and taking the variance will be equivalent for what you are trying to do but with significantly less processing. The variance of the difference will be the total power across the entire spectrum due to quantization noise and all other noise sources (integral and differential non-linearity etc) in the ADC $\endgroup$
    – Dan Boschen
    Commented May 17, 2017 at 23:05
  • $\begingroup$ If you want the power in just the harmonics then what you describe would be worth while, but if you want the total error signal what I described will get you there quickly. $\endgroup$
    – Dan Boschen
    Commented May 17, 2017 at 23:06

Your Answer

By clicking “Post Your Answer”, you agree to our terms of service and acknowledge you have read our privacy policy.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.