Hi,
You get 187 ADConversion results per second.
So if you have just 1 channel you get 187 conversion results per second of this channel
But if you have two (or more) channels then you have to multiplex them.
This means: Convert channel 0, convert channel 1, convert channel 0, convert channel 1 ... and so on.
So still the ADC converts 187 times per second,
but only 83 times channel 0 and 83 times channel 1
If you have 48 channels, then it conversts: ch0, ch1, ch2, ch 3, ch4 ... ch47, ch 0, ch 1, ...
Still the Adc converts 187 times per second,
but ch 0 (and any other channel) is converted just about 3.9 times per second. About 4 times per second.
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Stop reading here if deep AD details are likely to confuse you.
Indeed the "187" is not the sampling rate here.
This is because we are talking about a "DelSig" = delta sigma ADC.
A detailed tutorial on Sigma-Delta analog-to-digital converters and modulators. Learn more about over-sampling, noise shaping, and decimation filters.
A Delta sigma ADC uses oversampling and a digital modulation filter inside.
So indeed here the 187 is the "data rate". The true sampling rate is maybe 128 times higher ( 187 1/s x 128 = 24k samples/s) .. or much more higher. It depends on the internals of the DelSig.
Other ADCs:
* SAR = successive approximation converter ... typically have no oversampling, thus dataRate = samplingRate
* FLASH ADC .. the same: dataRate = samplingRate
* some audio ADCs use internal oversampling, thus the sampling rate is not the data rate.
(nowadays most audio ADCs are DelSig ADCs)
The benefits of an DelSig:
* cheap
* good linearity
* high resolution
* simple anti aliasing filters
Drawbacks:
* slow
* maybe need additional care when multiplexing input (dummy samples until the internal sigma delta modulator has fully adjusted to the new channel)
Klaus