Terminology in mixed-signal systems The process by which a computer system acquires and digitizes analog signals from sensors or instruments is called:

Introduction / Context:
When interfacing the physical world with digital systems, we must sample, hold, convert, and record analog phenomena. The umbrella term for this end-to-end process—from sensor to usable digital data—is important in instrumentation, IoT, and control engineering.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The computer receives data from sensors via analog front-ends.
• Conversion to digital typically involves S/H, ADC, and buffering.
• The question asks for the proper term describing the overall process.

Concept / Approach:

Data acquisition refers to sampling analog signals, converting them to digital, and storing/streaming them for processing. It includes signal conditioning, timing, and synchronization. Terms like monotonicity and resolution are specifications of converters, not the process name.

Step-by-Step Solution:

Verification / Alternative check:

Industry acronyms such as DAQ (Data Acquisition) systems and cards confirm the accepted naming of this workflow.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• Monotonicity: property of DAC/ADC transfer that output never reverses direction for increasing code.
• Analog resolution: step size or LSB definition; not a process.
• Systematic digital conversion: not a standard term of art.

Common Pitfalls:

• Using component specifications (resolution, linearity) as process names.

Final Answer:

data acquisition