The minimum rate (or frequency) at which an input signal should be sampled is determined by Nyquist [1]
Calculator
Enter the frequency of the input signal (F) and the tool will calculate the minimum sampling rate (Fmin).
Formula
Fmin = 2*F
Where,
- Fmin is the minimum sampling rate
- F is the highest frequency component present in the analog signal
In the case of a sine wave, F is equal to the frequency of the sine wave. Use this calculator to find F for different waveform types.
Example Calculation
For an input frequency of 100 MHz, the minimum sampling rate is 200 MHz.
The digitally sampled signal can be accurately reconstructed from the samples when the minimum (Nyquist) criterion is met. This is essential for applications such as audio recording, image processing, and data acquisition.
It’s important to note that while the minimum sampling rate is required for accurate representation, higher sampling rates may be chosen for various reasons, including better signal fidelity, reduced quantization noise, or improved processing capabilities. The choice of sampling rate depends on the specific requirements of the application and the characteristics of the analog signal.
References
[1] Nyquist-Shannon sampling theorem
Related Calculators
- Aliasing – if a signal is sampled at a rate lower than the minimum – this calculator provides the frequency at which the input will appear in the output spectrum.
- Input frequency – calculate the max value of the input frequency based on the type of waveform. Enter this number in the calculator above and it will calculate the minimum rate.
- Sampling Rate