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Why digitize analog signals

Short answer

Analog signals are digitized to allow processing by microprocessors/DSPs, provide noise immunity, enable accurate long‑distance transmission and storage with error correction, simplify digital display and logging, permit programmability for calibration and control, and facilitate multiplexing of many channels.

Why analog signals need to be transferred to digital?

Analog signals are converted to digital form because:

  1. Processing by a digital system: microprocessors, computers and DSPs work only on binary numbers, so measurement, calculation, linearisation, filtering and control can be done by software.
  2. Noise immunity: a digital signal has only two levels, so noise does not change the value as long as it is below the threshold; analog signals degrade with every stage and cable.
  3. Accurate storage and transmission: data can be stored in memory and sent over long distances with error detection and correction without loss of quality.
  4. Display and logging: digital values are easily shown on LCD/LED, logged and printed.
  5. Flexibility and accuracy: calibration, scaling and decisions can be changed by program, and accuracy depends on the number of bits.
  6. Multiplexing and integration: many channels can be shared on one converter and connected to networks.

✓ Answer checked by Claude Sonnet 5.5

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