Circuits I, Circuits II, Electronics I, and Electronics II (EECE 0000)

Lab 00
Version: EECE_0000_2016_Rev_-

Analog to Digital Converter

Objective:

o To construct and operate an A/D Converter

o To design and build a circuit which will sample an A/C input signal

Test Equipment Required:

o 1 Breadboard
o 1 Dual Power Supply (+/12 V minimum)
o 1 DMM Bench-top
o 1 DMM Hand-held
o 1 Function Generator (bench top)
o 1 Oscilloscope (bench top)
o 1 Analog Discovery or Analog Discovery 2
o 1 Bench “Shoebox” containing cables and other test components
o Personal USB Drive (Student supplied)

Materials (Components)

o 1 National ADC0804 (8 bit μP Compatible Converter)

o 1 LF398 Sample and Hold circuit
o 1 100 pF Capacitor
o 1 150 pF Capacitor
o 1 10 μF Capacitor (Tantalum)
o 2 0.1 μF Capacitor
o 8 1.3 kΩ Resistors
o 8 NSL5027 LEDs (LED Bargraph)
o 1 10 k ohm Resistors

WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS

1. Never install or remove components from an energized circuit or equipment

2. Do not construct circuits while energized

3. Follow electrical safety precautions

Background Information

Digital-to-Analog converters (DACs) and Analog-to-Digital converters (ADC) are important building
blocks which interface sensors (e.g. temperature, pressure, light, sound, cruising speed of a car) to
digital systems such as microcontrollers or PCs. An ADC takes an analog signal and converts it into a
binary one, while a DAC converts a binary signal into an analog value. Figure 1 gives a block
diagram of such a system. An example of such a system is a PC sound card.

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 Circuits I, Circuits II, Electronics I, and Electronics II (EECE 0000)
Lab 00
Version: EECE_0000_2016_Rev_-

Figure 1: System with an ADC at the input and a DAC at the output

Sensor signals vary continuously ("analog") between a specified voltage range. As an example, the
output of a microphone gives a voltage between 0 (no speech) to 100mV (for loud speech). Any value
between these two extremes is possible. The "analog" signal needs to be converted into a "digital" word
of n-bits in order to be read into and processed by a computer (or digital signal processor - DSP). The
"analog" and "digital" signals are shown in Figure 1.

Analog-to-Digital Converter

An ADC takes an analog input and generates a digital output as shown in Figure 2a. The more bits
the output word has the better the resolution. For a 3-bit ADC, the number of steps will be 8 while a
10-bit ADC will divide the analog signal up into 1024 (=210) steps.

The input-output relationship of an ADC is shown in Figure 2b for a 3-bit converter. Notice that when
the analog input signal (on the horizontal axis) reaches a certain level, a new digital code will be
generated (see vertical axis in Figure 2b) which represents the digital output of the ADC as a function
of the analog input. The maximum analog signal the ADC can accommodate is called the Full Scale
(FS) as is shown in Fig. 2b. As an example, if the analog input is equal to 4/8xFS (Full Scale), the
output code for the example of Figure 2b will be (100). However, if one increases the magnitude of the
input signal above 4.5/8xFS, the new digital output code will be (101).

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 Circuits I, Circuits II, Electronics I, and Electronics II (EECE 0000)
Lab 00
Version: EECE_0000_2016_Rev_-

Figure 2(a) ADC (b) input-output characteristics of an Analog-to-Digital Converter

Pre-Lab Preparation

1. Ability to Log into Blackboard

2. If a “hard” copy of the lab is required, download from Blackboard and print prior to the start of the
lab
3. Read this lab and perform all required reference readings along with constructing the appropriate
tables in your lab notebook
4. Perform all calculations PRIOR TO arriving in the lab

Procedure

IMPORTANT: To gain proficiency with the bench top lab equipment, the Analog Discovery, and the DMM
Hand-held, you must perform this lab twice once with the bench top equipment and the second time using
the Analog Discovery and the DMM Hand-held. Your lab notebook and lab report must identify the
test equipment is used.

NOTE 1: When the Analog Discovery is used outside of the lab (prior approval required by the TA or
Instructor) in performance of any portion of this lab, take photographs of your setup and include them in
your lab report.

NOTE 2: Throughout this procedure, use MATLAB to perform any required calculations, producing plots,
and graphs.

1) BASIC A/D TESTER:

NOTE: If the Analog Discovery and/or hand held meter are used to perform this section outside
of the lab (prior approval required by the TA or Instructor), take photographs of your setup
and include them in your lab report.

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Circuits I, Circuits II, Electronics I, and Electronics II (EECE 0000)
Lab 00
Version: EECE_0000_2016_Rev_-

Figure 3: Basic A/D Tester

a. Using the National Semiconductor Analog to Digital Converter in a 20 – pin dual in line
package in the stand-alone mode with a 5-volt DC power supply and a 0 to 5-volt input.

b. Go to pages 23-24 section 3.0 “Testing the A/D Converter” of the ADC0804 Datasheet.

c. Assemble the test circuit shown in Figure 3 of this lab (Datasheet Figure 9).

Question: What signal from the A/D converter will turn on the LEDs?

Question: If you want the LEDs to turn on with the opposite output of the A/D converter,
how would you change the circuit? Would this be a good idea in this case? Why?

NOTE: THE CIRCUIT SHOWN IN FIGURE 3 WILL ALSO BE USED IN THE

NEXT LAB. SAVE TIME BY NOT DISASSEMBLING!

d. Connect the test circuit VCC to the fixed +5 volt DC supply. Vref/2, pin 9, is an output pin;
do not apply a voltage to this pin.

e. Connect the input pin to the variable plus DC supply and measure the voltage with the
multimeter.

WARNING: Do not connect a voltage greater than +5 volts to this input.

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 Circuits I, Circuits II, Electronics I, and Electronics II (EECE 0000)
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Version: EECE_0000_2016_Rev_-

Start with 0 volts. Increase the voltage in 0.5 volt steps up to 5 volts. Observe the output
display. Make a table like the one on page 25 of the data sheet … decoding the Digital
Output LEDs.

f. Now calculate the Vstep with:

Vmax − Vmin
Vstep =
256

Using a stepable voltage standard DC supply, check your Vstep and the table decoding the
LEDs Output.

g. Calculate the frequency of the A/D Clock using the R – C values in the test circuit (see
page 23 of the data sheet).

h. Measure this frequency with the oscilloscope. Capture the oscilloscope output.

i. Change the value of C and note the changes. Capture the oscilloscope output.

j. Input a slow AC signal (less than 1 Hz) between 0 and 5 volts and note the results.

Now increase the frequency and note the results. At what frequency will the A/D not be
able to process the data?

k. From the data sheet find the following information:

i. What is the conversion time with the test circuit Clock frequency?

ii. Determine the supply current used in the test circuit.

iii. What is the max clock frequency that can be used?

iv. Are the resistors selected for the LEDs in the test circuit the correct value? What
would be an ideal value for these resistors? Now defend the value you selected.

v. What device would you add to the test circuit to make a better A/D converter (list
at least two)?

l. PRIOR TO DISASSEMBLY, have a TA or the instructor verify proper operation of your

circuit. The TA or Instructor shall initial in your Notebook. When the Analog Discovery
and/or DMM Hand-held are used to perform this section outside of the lab (prior
approval required by the TA or Instructor), take photographs of your setup and
include them in your lab report.

2) SAMPLE AN AC INPUT SIGNAL:

NOTE: If the Analog Discovery and/or hand held meter are used to perform this section outside
of the lab (prior approval required by the TA or Instructor), take photographs of your setup
and include them in your lab report.

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Circuits I, Circuits II, Electronics I, and Electronics II (EECE 0000)
Lab 00
Version: EECE_0000_2016_Rev_-

a. Build the circuit “Sampling an AC Input Signal” shown in Figure 4 (see also page 16 of
the datasheet). You will keep the A/D Basic Tester circuit and add the LF398 Sample and
Hold integrated circuit. The DS005671 IC is not needed; just tie the input to the proper
signal level.

CH = 100pF

Figure 4: Sampling an AC Input Signal

b. Apply a low frequency sine wave keeping in mind the voltage restrictions on the input
when using a single +5 volt Vcc on the S/H and A/D chips. The TTL control signal is 0 to
+5 volts. The active low pass filter is not needed for this experiment but is a good idea on
a true design. Note output.

c. Change the frequency and note changes. NOTE: This will require the use of an
oscilloscope.

i. Adjust the sample and conversion time and note changes.

ii. Are your findings different or the same as Part 1.j?

iii. Did the S/H change anything? Xx

d. PRIOR TO DISASSEMBLY, have a TA or the instructor verify proper operation of your

circuit. The TA or Instructor shall initial in your Notebook. If the Analog Discovery
and/or DMM Hand-held are used to perform this section outside of the lab (prior
approval required by the TA or Instructor), take photographs of your setup and
include them in your lab report.

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 Circuits I, Circuits II, Electronics I, and Electronics II (EECE 0000)
Lab 00
Version: EECE_0000_2016_Rev_-

SUMMARY:

This lab provided an introduction to the Analog to Digital converter.

Lab Notebook Requirements:

1) Ensure that you have recorded all the data requested during the lab in your lab notebook as well
as your lab report.

Lab Report:

1) Use the course required format.

Lab Questions:

1) See questions throughout this lab.

References:

1) Recitation textbook
2) http://www.seas.upenn.edu/~ese206/labs/adc206/adc206.html
3) This lab was developed from:
Bowdena, D. A. (2015). Analog to Digital Converter – Lab #5. ETEC 3680

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