Original question:
Is there such a thing as too much gain when using precision Delta-Sigma ADCs?
In the seventh series installment, we looked at an example that added multiple external amplifiers to the input of the ADS1261 and measured the resulting noise performance. I then compared these combinations to the ADS1261’s baseline noise performance using its integrated programmable gain amplifier. To make the comparison easier, the noise was plotted at different gain settings for each combination, which offers several insights about how adding external amplifiers to precision ADCs affects performance, as well as how performance changes with gain. Figure 6 depicts the plot.
Figure 6: Comparing noise performance of different amplifiers plus the ADS1261 as a function of gain
What are the key takeaways from this example and the plot in Figure 6? Read part 7, “The Effects of Amplifier Noise on Delta-Sigma ADCs,” to learn more.
