What is a digitizer?

A digitizer, also known as an analog-to-digital converter (ADC), converts the analog signal generated by a spectrometer’s detector into digital data that can be processed and analyzed by a computer.

The digitizer’s resolution is specified in bits. A higher bit depth allows the spectrometer to distinguish smaller differences in signal intensity. For example, a 16-bit digitizer can represent 65,536 discrete intensity levels (0–65,535) for each pixel, while a 14-bit digitizer provides 16,384 levels and a 12-bit digitizer provides 4,096 levels.

Higher-resolution digitizers can improve measurement precision, particularly when detecting subtle changes in signal intensity across a wide dynamic range.

Many older spectrometers use 12-bit or 14-bit digitizers. Depending on your spectrometer model, it may be possible to upgrade to newer electronics with improved performance. Contact your application scientist to learn more.