Final answer:
In digitizing a video signal, the process of converting an analog stream into discrete units through regular interval measurements is called sampling. The analog signal is measured, quantized into binary digits, and encoded as a digital representation.
Step-by-step explanation:
When using an Analog-to-Digital Converter (ADC) to digitize a video signal, the process of breaking a stream of analog information into discrete units is called sampling. During sampling, the continuous analog signal is measured at regular intervals, known as the sampling rate, to capture its intensity values at those specific points in time. These individual samples are then quantized into a finite set of values, typically represented in binary form as a series of ones and zeros, to create the digital representation of the original signal. This digital data is easier to manipulate, store, and transmit without degradation, and is essential for applications such as cell phone communications and television broadcasting.
Real-world data, such as sound or visual images, are often analog and vary continuously. Through the sampling process, these data are structured into a form suitable for electronic processing. Each binary digit, or bit, captured during this process contributes to the creation of a digital signal that can be processed by computers and other digital equipment. The use of a certain voltage cut-off value helps determine the binary value (0 or 1) during the quantization step of ADC.