Evaluation Board for the AD7890, 12-Bit Serial, Data Acquisition System
INTRODUCTION
This application note describes the evaluation board for
the AD7890 12-bit serial data acquisition system. The
AD7890 is an eight-channel 12-bit data acquisition
system which operates from a single +5 V supply and
contains an input multiplexer, on-chip track-and-hold
amplifier, high speed 12-bit ADC, 2.5 V reference and a
high speed serial interface. The AD7890 accepts an analog input range of ±10 V, 0 to 4.096 V or 0 V to +2.5 V
depending on the version of the part being used. The
V+
SKT 11
CLKIN
IC7
1/2 74HC4050
5
DATA OUT
DATA IN
TFS
RFS
NC
NC
SCLK
DVDD
DGND
SKT 14
7
5
V
4
3
R1
10kΩ
2
V
9
1
8
6
DD
R2
10kΩ
DD
LK1
4
V
DD
R3
10kΩ
7
3
LK5
1/2 74HC125
89
56
1/2 74HC125
11
2
BA BA
V
12
3
IC8
DD
SKT 10
6
2
10kΩ
120pF
CONVST
C16
10
11
8
9
2
7
R4
V
DD
5
4
•
NORWOOD, MASSACHUSETTS 02062-9106
by Albert O’Grady
78L05
IN OUT
GND
IC6
6
CLKINV
DATA OUT
DATA IN
TFS
RFS
SMODE
SCLK
CONVST
C
EXT
AGND AGND DGND
1
REFOUT/
AD7890
MUX OUT
15
IC1
part contains an on-chip control register accessible via
the serial port and allows control of channel selection,
conversion start, and power down of the part. This
flexible serial interface allows the AD7890 to connect
directly to digital signal processors (ADSP-2101,
TMS320C25, etc.) and microcontrollers (8XC51, 68HC11,
etc.). Full data on the AD7890 is available in the AD7890
data sheet available from Analog Devices and should be
consulted in conjunction with this application note when
using the evaluation board.
C4
C3
10µF
0.1µF
12
DD
24
REFIN
V
IN
V
IN
V
IN
V
IN
V
IN
V
IN
VIN2
V
IN
SHA IN
3
C15
0.1µF
23
8
22
7
21
6
20
5
19
4
18
3
17
16
1
13
14
SKT 13SKT 12
LK3
APPLICATION NOTE
617/329-4700
•
2
V
IN
AD780
6
V
IC4
8
1
IC5
8
1
C6, C12
OUT
IC3
C7, C9
0.1µF
10
9
3
2
10
9
3
2
+
10µF
2* AD713JN
GND
4
SKT 9
EXT REF
8
V
IN
V
7
IN
6
V
IN
V
5
IN
VIN 4
V
3
IN
V
2
IN
V
1
IN
C8, C10
10µF
P
O
N
M
L
K
J
I
H
G
F
E
D
C
B
A
C5, C11
0.1µF
V+
SKT 8
SKT 7
SKT 6
SKT 5
SKT 4
SKT 3
SKT 2
SKT 1
LK4
V–
+
C14
10µF
B
LK2
C
A
12
14
13
5
7
6
12
14
13
5
7
6
IC5
MUX OUTSHA IN
Figure 1. Evaluation Board Circuit Diagram
Onboard components include an AD780, a pin programmable +2.5 V or +3 V ultrahigh precision bandgap reference, bus buffers for the serial data lines and input
buffer amplifiers to buffer the eight analog inputs. Interfacing to this board is through a 9-way D-type connector. External sockets are provided for the conversion
start input, analog inputs, clk in, mux out, sha in and
external reference input options.
OPERATING THE AD7893 EVALUATION BOARD
Power Supplies
This evaluation board has three analog power supply
inputs: AV
, AGND and VSS. These supplies are +15 V,
DD
0 V and –15 V respectively and are used to power the
onboard AD713 buffer amplifiers. The +15 V supply is
used in conjunction with the LM78L05, a 5 V linear regulator, to provide the V
for the AD7890 and the VIN for
DD
the AD780 voltage reference. There are two digital
power supply inputs, DV
and DGND, that are used to
DD
power the digital logic on the board. These supplies can
be provided through the D-type connector or through
the connection pins labelled on the board.
All supplies are decoupled to ground with 10 µF tantalum and 0.1 µF ceramic disc capacitors. The AV
V
supplies are decoupled to the AGND plane while the
SS
DV
supply is decoupled to the DGND plane.
DD
DD
and
The evaluation board uses extensive ground planing to
minimize any high frequency noise interference from
the onboard clocks or any other sources. Once again,
the ground planing for the analog section is kept separate from that for the digital section and they are joined
only at the AD7890 AGND and DGND pins.
Shorting Plug Options
There are five shorting plug options that must be set
before using the evaluation board. These are outlined
below:
LK1 This is a double link used to configure the bidirec-
tional buffer on the SCLK and
RFS inputs to the
AD7890. The position of this link also controls the
SMODE pin on the AD7890 configuring the part for
self-clocking or external clocking mode of operation. In the external clocking mode both links of
LK1 must be in Position A, setting the SMODE pin
on the AD7890 to a logic high and routing the
RFS
and SCLK signals from the 9-way D-type connector
to the AD7890. In the self-clocking mode both links
on LK1 must be in Position B, configuring the
SMODE pin on the AD7890 to a logic low and routing the
RFS and SCLK output signals from the
AD7890 to the 9-way D-type connector.
LK2 This option is used to select the reference source
for the AD7890 REFIN/REFOUT pin.
With this link in Position A, the on-chip 2.5 V refer-
ence is used as the reference for the AD7890. The
output impedance of this reference is 2 kΩ allowing this reference to be overdriven when using an
external 2.5 V reference. In Position B, the AD780
2.5 V reference is selected as the reference for the
AD7890. In Position C the reference for the part is
provided from the external socket SKT9.
LK3 This link, when in place, connects the MUX OUT to
the SHA IN. When this link is removed, the output
of the multiplexer appears at the MUX OUT pin
and also at MUX OUT (SKT12), and thus the user
can insert an antialiasing filter or signal conditioning between the multiplexer and the ADC. The output range from the MUX OUT is 0 V to 2.5V and
the output impedance is 3.5 kΩ. The SHA IN is the
input to the on-chip track and hold and is a high
impedance input and accepts signals in the range
of 0 V to 2.5 V. The SHA IN pin can be driven
directly from SKT13 with LK3 removed.
LK4 This provides two options on each of the analog
input channels. Option one selects the analog
input for each channel from the external socket.
The second option facilitates the use of the grid for
signal conditioning and the signal can be linked to
the V
. The following table describes the options
IN
associated with LK4.
Table I. Options Associated with LK4
OptionFunction
AGrid to V
BSKT1 to V
CGrid to V
DSKT2 to V
EGrid to V
FSKT3 to V
GGrid to V
HSKT4 to V
IGrid to V
JSKT5 to V
KGrid to V
LSKT6 to V
MGrid to V
NSKT7 to V
OGrid to V
PSKT8 to V
LK5 This link in place connects
via buffer amplifier
IN1
via buffer amplifier
IN1
via buffer amplifier
IN2
via buffer amplifier
IN2
via buffer amplifier
IN3
via buffer amplifier
IN3
via buffer amplifier
IN4
via buffer amplifier
IN4
via buffer amplifier
IN5
via buffer amplifier
IN5
via buffer amplifier
IN6
via buffer amplifier
IN6
via buffer amplifier
IN7
via buffer amplifier
IN7
via buffer amplifier
IN8
via buffer amplifier
IN8
RFS and TFS together
and is useful in applications which require that
data be transmitted and received at the same time.
–2–
EVALUATION BOARD INTERFACING
Interfacing to the evaluation board is via a 9-way D-Type
connector, SKT14. The pinout for this connector is
shown in Figure 2, and its pin designations are given in
Table II.
SKT14 PIN DESCRIPTION
SCLKSerial Clock Input/Output. In the external
clocking mode (LK1 in Position A) an external serial clock is applied through this input
to load data to the control register and to access data from the output register. In the
self-clocking mode (LK1 in Position B) the internal serial clock is used to load data to the
control register and to access data from the
data register. This clock appears at the SCLK
pin. The internal serial clock is derived from
the master clock. This serial clock is buffered
using a 74HC125 three-state buffer on the
evaluation board and LK1 determines the
direction of this bidirectional buffer depending on the mode of operation.
RFSReceive Frame Sync. This can be an input or
output depending on the mode of operation.
In external clocking mode this pin is used to
provide an active low framing pulse to
access data from the data register. In the
self-clocking mode an active low framing
pulse which is internally generated by the
part appears at this pin. This
RFS signal is
buffered on the board using a 74HC125
three-state buffer configured for bidirectional operation using LK1.
TFSTransmit Frame Sync. This buffered input
controls the AD7890
TFS input, and serial
data is expected after the falling edge of this
signal. There is a 10 kΩ pull-up resistor on
this line to pull it to its inactive state if left
unconnected.
DATA INThis buffered input pin is used to provide
the serial data to be loaded to the control
register of the AD7890.
DGNDDigital Ground. This line is connected to the
digital ground plane on the evaluation
board. It allows the user to provide the digital supply via the connector along with the
other digital signals.
DATAOUT Serial Data Output. Serial data from the part
is obtained at this output. This data is buffered by 74HC4050 hex buffer before arriving
at the DATAOUT pin of the connector. The
serial data is clocked out by the rising edge
of SCLK and is valid on the falling of SCLK.
DV
DD
Digital +5 V Supply. This line is connected
to the DV
supply line on the evaluation
DD
board. It allows the user to provide the digital supply via the connector along with the
other digital signals.
12345
6789
Figure 2. Pin Configuration for SKT14, D-Type Connector
Table II. SKT14 Pin Functions
Pin No.Mnemonic
1SCLK
2N/C
3RFS
4
TFS
5DATA IN
6DGND
7DATAOUT
8DV
DD
9N/C
SOCKETS
There are fourteen sockets relevant to the operation of
the AD7890 on this evaluation board. The functions of
these sockets are outlined in Table III.
Table III. Socket Functions
SocketFunction
SKT1–SKT8 Subminiature BNC Sockets for the Eight
Analog Input Channels
SKT9Subminiature BNC Socket for External
Reference
SKT10Subminiature BNC Socket for CONVST
Input
SKT11Subminiature BNC Socket for Master
Clock Input
SKT12Subminiature BNC Socket for MUX OUT.
The output of the on-chip multiplexer
appears at this pin.
SKT13Subminiature BNC Socket for the SHA IN
Pin. An input to the on-chip track/hold
can be applied to this socket.
SKT149-Way D-Type Connector
–3–
SET-UP CONDITIONS
Care should be taken before applying power and signals
to the evaluation board to ensure that all link positions
are as per the required operating mode. Figure 5 shows
the silkscreen layout of the board in order to ease setup.
The following are the required link positions for the two
modes of operation.
Software conversion starts are initiated by writing a
logic 1 to the CONV bit of the control register. The internal pulse and the conversion process are initiated after
the sixth serial clock cycle of the write cycle if a 1 is written to the CONV bit. With a 1 in the CONV bit the external
CONVST input is disabled. Writing a 0 to the CONV bit in
the control register enables the external convert start.
External Clocking Mode
LK1 Both links in Position A configuring both SCLK and
RFS as inputs.
LK2 This link selects the reference input and can be
placed in any of the 3 positions. A–internal reference, B–AD780, C–external reference from SKT9.
LK3 This should be in place connecting MUX OUT to
SHA IN.
LK4 There should be a link inserted in each of the fol-
lowing positions to connect the analog inputs
from SKT1 to SKT8 to their respective input, B, D,
F, H, J, L, N and P.
LK5 This link is put in place for applications that require
data to be transmitted and received at the same
time, i.e., it ties
TFS and RFS together. If this facil-
ity is not required then the link is omitted.
Internal Clocking Mode
LK1 Both links in Position B configuring both SCLK and
RFS as outputs.
All other links can be configured as for the external
clocking mode described above.
CONTROLLING THE AD7890
There are two modes (external clocking and selfclocking) of operation applicable to the AD7890 and are
selected by the SMODE pin which is controlled from LK1
on the evaluation board. Channel selection is controlled
through a 5-bit control register which is accessible
through the serial port (SKT14). This control register
contains three bits for channel address, a software conversion start bit and a bit to put the part into sleep mode.
There are two methods of initiating a conversion on the
AD7890, the software conversion start and a hardware
conversion start which can be applied through the conversion start input (SKT10). A rising edge on this
CONVST input puts the track/hold into hold mode and a
conversion is initiated. The conversion time for the part
is determined from the clock signal applied to CLK IN
(SKT11) on the board. With a 2.5 MHz master clock, conversion time for the AD7890 is 5.9 µs from the rising
edge of the
CONVST signal. 2 µs is required for track/
hold acquisition time. An internal pulse is generated and
appears on C
whenever a multiplexer address is
EXT
loaded to the AD7890 control register, and its duration
will depend on the value of C
used. In applications
EXT
where the multiplexer is switched and conversion is initiated at the same time a 120 pF capacitor should be connected to C
to allow for the acquisition time of the
EXT
track/hold before conversion is initiated.
External Clocking Mode
The AD7890 is configured for its external clocking mode
by tying the SMODE pin of the device to a logic high
(LK1 on evaluation board in Position A). In this mode,
SCLK and
RFS of the AD7890 are configured as inputs.
This external clocking mode is designed for direct interface to systems which provide a serial clock output
which is synchronized to the serial data output including
microcontrollers such as the 80C51, 87C51, 68HC11 and
68HC05 and most digital signal processors. Figure 3
shows a timing and control sequence required to obtain
optimum performance from the part in external clocking
mode.
In the sequence shown in Figure 3, conversion is initiated on the rising edge of
CONVST, and new data is
available in the output register of the AD7890 5.9 µs
later. Once the read operation has taken place, a further
500 ns should be allowed before the next rising edge of
CONVST to optimize the settling of the track/hold before
the next conversion is initiated. The diagram shows the
read operation and the write operation taking place in
parallel. On the sixth falling edge of SCLK in the write
sequence, the internal pulse will be initiated. Assuming
MUX OUT is connected to SHA IN, 2 µs are required
between this sixth falling edge of SCLK and the rising
edge of
CONVST to allow for the full acquisition time of
the track/hold amplifier. With the serial clock rate at its
maximum of 10 MHz, the achievable throughput rate
for the part is 5.9 µs (conversion time) plus 0.6 µs (six
serial clock pulses before internal pulse is initiated)
plus 2 µs (acquisition time). This results in a minimum
throughput time of 8.5 µ s (equivalent to a throughput
rate of 117 kHz). If the part is operated with a slower
serial clock, it will impact the achievable throughput
rate.
Applications that want to achieve optimum performance
from the AD7890 will have to ensure that the data read
does not occur during conversion or during 500 ns prior
to the rising edge of
CONVST. This can be achieved in
either of two ways. The first is to ensure in software that
the read operation is not initiated until 5.9 µs after the
rising edge of
software knows when the
The second scheme would be to use the
CONVST. This will only be possible if the
CONVST command is issued.
CONVST signal
as both the conversion start signal and an interrupt signal. The simplest way to do this would be to generate a
square wave signal for
CONVST with high and low times
of 5.9 µs (see Figure 4). Conversion is initiated on the
rising edge of
CONVST. The falling edge of CONVST
occurs 5.9 µs later and can be used as either an active
low or falling edge-triggered interrupt signal to tell the
–4–
processor to read the data from the AD7890. Provided
the read operation is completed 500 ns before the rising
edge of
CONVST, the AD7890 will operate to specification. This scheme limits the throughput rate to 11.8 µ s
minimum.
Self-Clocking Mode
The AD7890 is configured for its self-clocking mode by
tying the SMODE pin of the device to a logic low (LK1 on
board in position B). In this mode, the AD7890 provides
CONVST
SCLK
RFS
TFS
the serial clock signal and the serial data framing signal
used for the transfer of data from the AD7890. This selfclocking mode can be used with processors that allow
an external device to clock their serial port including
most digital signal processors. Interface timing can be
obtained from the AD7890 data sheet.
t
CONVERSION IS
INITIATED AND
TRACK/HOLD GOES
INTO HOLD
CONVERT
CONVERSION
ENDS 5.9µs
LATER
SERIAL READ
& WRITE
OPERATIONS
READ & WRITE
OPERATIONS SHOULD
END 500ns PRIOR TO
NEXT RISING EDGE OF
CONVST
500ns MIN
CONVERSION
START COMMAND
Figure 3. Control Sequence to Obtain Optimum Performance from the AD7890
CONVST
SCLK
RFS
TFS
t
CONVERSION IS
INITIATED AND
TRACK/HOLD GOES
INTO HOLD
CONVERT
CONVERSION
ENDS 5.9µs
LATER
µP INT
SERVICE OR
POLLING
ROUTINE
SERIAL READ
& WRITE
OPERATIONS
OPERATIONS SHOULD
END 500ns PRIOR TO
NEXT RISING EDGE OF
500ns MIN
READ & WRITE
CONVST
NEXT
NEXT CONVST
RISING EDGE
Figure 4. Sequence Using
CONVST
–5–
as an Interrupt Signal
COMPONENT LIST
Integrated Circuits
IC1AD7890
IC3AD780 Voltage Reference
IC4, IC5AD713 Buffer Amplifier
IC6LM78L05 Voltage Regulator
IC774HC4050 Hex Buffer
IC874HC125 Quad Bus Buffers with