Increasing the dynamic range of a transient recorder by using two analog-to-digital converters

This article describes an algorithm for recording transient voltages with enhanced dynamic range by using two 8-bit analog-to-digital converters (ADCs). The method requires each transient to be recorded in both ADCs, with different input voltage gains. The transients then are compared and combined to produce a single signal that has less digitization noise and greater dynamic range than signals recorded by either ADC alone and with no decrease in the sampling rate of the ADCs. The selection of operating parameters is considered and guidelines are established for the performance of this type of transient recorder. The system described here was built as a data acquisition device for a time-of-flight mass spectrometer; however, the algorithm could be applied to other types of ADC-based applications to extend their dynamic range.