What is another term for a simultaneous ADC?

A simultaneous ADC is commonly referred to as a parallel converter because it converts multiple input signals simultaneously rather than sequentially. In a parallel converter, multiple resolution bits are created at the same time, allowing for very fast conversion of the analog signal to a digital signal. This design is particularly beneficial when time is a critical factor in the application and allows for the acquisition of data from multiple channels without delay.

In contrast, the other types of converters mentioned operate on different principles. For instance, a pipeline ADC processes analog signals in stages, meaning that each stage essentially operates as part of a pipeline, which can lead to higher throughput but involves sequential processing of signals. A successive approximation converter works by gradually narrowing down the range of possible digital values by comparing the input signal to a generated signal, which takes time as each comparison must occur in sequence. A flash converter, while fast, uses a large number of comparators to achieve its speed and does not process multiple inputs simultaneously like a parallel converter.