This user's guide describes the operation and use of the ADS8861 evaluation module (EVM). The
ADS8861 is an 16-bit, true-differential, unipolar, successive approximation register (SAR), analog-to-digital
converter (ADC) with a maximum throughput of 1 MSPS. This ADC is very low power with excellent noise
and distortion performance for ac or dc signals. The performance demonstration kit (PDK) eases EVM
evaluation with additional hardware and software for computer connectivity through universal serial bus
(USB). The ADS8861EVM-PDK includes the ADS8861EVM as a daughter card, MMB0 motherboard,
A-to-B USB cable, and 6-V wall-adapter power supply. This user's guide covers the circuit description,
schematic diagram, and bill of materials for the ADS8861EVM daughter card.
The related documents shown in Related Documentation are available for download at www.ti.com.
Related Documentation
DeviceLiterature Number
ADS8861SBAS557
REF5045SBOS410
OPA333SBOS351
OPA330SBOS432
THS4281SLOS432
THS4521SBOS458
TPS78833SLVS382
ADCPro is a trademark of Texas Instruments.
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I2C is a trademark of NXP Semiconductors.
Samtec is a trademark of Samtec, Inc.
All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
The ADS8861EVM is an evaluation module built to the TI modular EVM system specifications. The EVM
by itself does not have a microprocessor and cannot run software. Thus, the EVM is available as part of
the ADS8861EVM-PDK kit that combines the ADS8861EVM as a daughter board with the DSP-based
MMB0 motherboard using ADCPro™ software as a graphical user interface (GUI).
ADCPro software collects, records, and analyzes data from ADC evaluation boards. ADCPro runs different
plug-in programs to easily expand testing and data collection capabilities. In combination with the
ADS8861EVM plug-in program, ADCPro offers a comprehensive evaluation environment for the
ADS8861. For more details on ADCPro, see the ADCPro Analog-to-Digital Converter Evaluation SoftwareUser's Guide (SBAU128), available for download from www.ti.com.
ADS8861EVM Daughter Board Features:
•Includes support circuitry as a design example to match ADC performance
•3.3-V slave serial peripheral interface (SPI)
•Serial interface header for easy connection to TI DSP-based communication systems
•Compatible with the TI modular EVM system
•Designed for 5-V analog supply
•Onboard 4.5-V voltage reference
•Bipolar (–4.3 V to 4.3 V) or unipolar (0 V to 8.6 V) input range
•Allows single-ended or differential input signals
ADS8861EVM-PDK Overview
ADS8861EVM-PDK Kit Additional Features:
•USB port for computer interfacing
•Regulated 5-V and 3.3-V supplies for powering the EVM daughter board
•Easy-to-use evaluation software for Windows®operating systems
•Data collection to text files
•Built-in analysis tools including scope, FFT, and histogram displays
•Easily expandable with new analysis plug-in tools from Texas Instruments
The ADS8861EVM is designed for easy interfacing to multiple analog sources. SMA connectors allow the
EVM to have input signals connected through coaxial cables. In addition, the Samtec™ connector
provides a convenient 10-pin, dual-row, header and socket combination at J1. Consult Samtec at
www.samtec.com or call 1-800-SAMTEC-9 for a variety of mating connector options. All analog inputs are
buffered by the THS4521 high-speed, fully-differential amplifier in order to properly drive the ADS8861
ADC inputs.
Use appropriate caution when handling these pins. Table 1 summarizes the pinout for the analog interface
J1.
Pin NumberSignalDescription
J1.10A0(–)
J1.12A0(+)Channel 0 positive differential input or input for single-ended signals.
Table 2 lists the SMA analog inputs.
Pin NumberSignalDescription
J4A0(–)
J5A0(+)Channel 0 positive differential input or input for single-ended signals.
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Table 1. J1: Analog Interface Pinout (Samtec 10 x 2)
Channel 0 negative differential input. This pin can be grounded for singleended signals.
Table 2. SMA Analog Inputs
Channel 0 negative differential input. This pin can be grounded for singleended signals.
2.1Differential Input Signal Configuration
Although the ADS8861 can only convert unipolar differential signals, bipolar differential signals can be
applied at the EVM inputs because the EVM inputs are conditioned by the THS4521 fully-differential
amplifier. This EVM sets the THS4521 output common-mode voltage to 2.25 V, corresponding to V
Thus, a bipolar differential signal with a common-mode voltage of 0 V can be applied at the EVM inputs
A0(–) and A0(+). Then, the THS4521 shifts the common-mode voltage to 2.25 V. Even though the input
common-mode voltage can be corrected, the input signals must limit the differential range from –4.3 V to
4.3 V to avoid saturating the amplifier output because the THS4521 is powered by a 5-V supply. Figure 1
shows an input signal with a 0-V common-mode voltage and an 8.6-V differential voltage, where the
common-mode voltage is changed from 0 V to 2.25 V.
The ADS8861 can only convert single-ended signals between 0 V and V
single-ended signal to a differential signal, thus allowing a larger input voltage range for the EVM input
A0(+). The single-ended signal range can be 0 V to 8.6 V or –4.3 V to 4.3 V to avoid saturating the
amplifier output. The EVM A0(–) input should be grounded for single-ended signals, as shown in Figure 2.
Figure 2. Single-Ended Signal Example
2.3Voltage Reference
The reference voltage should be below 5 V because the EVM is powered by a 5-V analog supply. This
EVM uses a 4.5 V value created by the onboard REF5045. This value is then filtered by an RC filter with a
160-Hz cutoff frequency to minimize noise contribution. Finally, the filtered reference value is buffered by
the THS4281 that functions as the driver for the ADC reference input pin. To meet performance
specifications, a 10-μF capacitor with a small ESR is also present at the ADC reference input pin. This
large capacitive load reduces the THS4281 effective bandwidth to 2 MHz, making the THS4281 total noise
contribution approximately 22 μ
complement the THS4281 by minimizing offset and drift.
. The OPA333 and the additional feedback are optional, but do
VRMS
EVM Analog Interface
. The THS4521 can condition a
REF
Figure 3. THS4281 Reference Driver with Complementary OPA333 for Drift and Offset Correction
Samtec part numbers SSW-110-22-F-D-VS-K and TSM-110-01-L-DV-P provide convenient 10-pin, dualrow, header and socket combinations at P1. The header and socket provides access to the ADC digital
control pins. Consult Samtec at www.samtec.com or call 1-800-SAMTEC-9 for a variety of mating
connector options.
Table 3 summarizes the pinouts for the digital interface J2.
Pin NumberSignalDescription
J2.1CS or CONVSTChip-select input that can be used as a convert start
J2.3SCLKSerial clock input
J2.7CS or CONVST
J2:13SDO or MISOSDO or MISO output
J2.15INT
J2.17CONVSTDirectly connects to the convert start pin if JP3 is installed
J2.4, J2.10, and J2.18GNDDigital ground connections
J2.16, J2.20I2C™ bus
J2.2, J2.5-6, J2.8-9, J2.11-12,
J2.14, and J2:19
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Table 3. J2: Serial Interface Header
Chip-select input that can be used as a convert start intended for
the MMB0 motherboard
20-kΩ pull-up resistor for detecting falling edges at the end of
conversions
I2C bus; used only used to program the U4 EEPROM on the
EVM board
UnusedUnused
3.1Serial Interface (SPI)
The ADS8861 ADC uses SPI serial communication in mode 1 (CPOL = 0, CPHA = 1) with high-speed
clocks greater than 30 MHz or uses mode 0 (CPOL = 0, CPHA = 0) for slower clocks. Because the serial
clock (SCLK) frequency can be as fast as 80 MHz, the ADS8861EVM offers 47-Ω resistors between the
SPI signals and J2 to aid with signal integrity. Typically, in high-speed SPI communication, fast signal
edges can cause overshoot; these 47-Ω resistors slow down the signal edges in order to minimize signal
overshoot.
3.2I2C Bus for Onboard EEPROM
The ADS8861EVM has an I2C bus that records the board name and assembly date to communicate with
the onboard EEPROM. This bus is not used in any form by the ADS8861 converter.
J3 is the power-supply input connector. Table 4 lists the configuration details for J3.
Pin NumberPin NameFunctionRequired
J3.3+5VA5-V analog supplyYes
J3.5GNDDigital ground inputYes
J3.6GNDAnalog ground inputYes
J3.71.8 VD1.8-V digital supplyOptional
J3.93.3 VD3.3-V digital supplyYes
J3.105 VD5-V digital supplyNo
P3.1-2, P3.4, and P3.7-8UnusedUnusedNo
4.1Analog Power Options
The ADS8861EVM board is designed to function with a 5-V analog power supply connected to J3.3. The
ADS8861 is limited to 3.6 V as an analog supply. Therefore, the board regulates down the 5-V analog
supply with an onboard 3.3-V LDO (TPS78833).
4.2Digital Power Options
The ADS8861EVM connects the digital power supply of the ADS8861 to 3.3 VD (J3.10) with a 0-Ω
resistor. This 3.3-V supply matches the 3.3-V logic level of the MMB0 motherboard.
EVM Power-Supply Inputs
Table 4. J3: Power-Supply Interface Header
4.3Analog and Digital Grounds
The EVM only has one ground plane for analog and digital supplies; thus, pins J3.5 and J3.6 are tied
together to this ground plane. Therefore, both supply grounds should be connected to pins J3.5–6 in order
to share the same ground.