Information Communication Technology ICT – 1 Types and components of computer systems | e-Consult

Here's how a light intensity sensor converts light into a digital signal:

Process: The light intensity sensor typically contains a photodiode or phototransistor. When light strikes the sensor, it generates an electrical current that is proportional to the light intensity. This current is an analogue signal. To convert this analogue signal into a digital signal, an Analog-to-Digital Converter (ADC) is used.

ADC Role: The ADC takes the analogue voltage from the sensor and converts it into a series of binary digits (bits). The number of bits in the ADC determines the resolution – the number of distinct light intensity levels that can be detected. For example, a 10-bit ADC can represent 2¹⁰ = 1024 different light intensity levels.

Diagram:

Explanation of Diagram: The diagram shows a simplified ADC block. The analogue signal from the sensor is fed into the ADC. The ADC compares the analogue voltage to a series of reference voltages and outputs a binary code representing the closest match. The more bits in the ADC, the finer the resolution and the more accurate the representation of the light intensity.