To sample a continuous-time signal x(t) is to represent xs(t) at a discrete number of points t = nT, where T is the sampling period, which is the time between the samples, and n is an integer that establishes the time position of each sample. The encoder maps each quantized sample value onto digital word. The second component in an A/D converter is a quantizer, which quantizes the continuous range of sample values into a finite number of sample values so that each sample value can be represented by a digital word of finite precision or wordlength.
These signals are often referred to as sampled data signals. Analog-to-Digital Conversion The output of the sampler is a discrete-time signal but a continuous-amplitude signal, since the sample values assume the same continuous range of values assumed by the input signal.
