Design Note 463: Upgrade Your Microcontroller ADC to True 12-Bit Performance

Introduction

Many 8-bit and 16-bit microcontrollers feature 10-bit internal ADCs. A few include 12-bit ADCs, but these often have poor or nonexistent AC specifications, and certainly lack the performance to meet the needs of an increasing number of applications. The LTC2366 and its slower speed versions offer a high performance alternative, as shown in the AC specifications in Table 1. Compare these guaranteed specifications with the ADC built into your current microcontroller.

This family’s DC specifications are equally impressive. INL and DNL are guaranteed to be less than ±1LSB. Operating from a single 2.5V, 3V or 3.3V supply, the current draw on these parts is a maximum of 4mA during a conversion. This can be reduced to less than 1μA by placing the part into SLEEP mode during periods of inactivity, which greatly reduces the average supply current at lower sample rates. 

These ADCs are available in tiny 6-lead and 8-lead TSOT-23 packages. The 8-lead devices have adjustable V_REF and OV_DD pins. The adjustable V_REF pin allows the input span to be reduced to 1.4V. This, combined with the high ADC input impedance, can eliminate the need for gain or buffer stages in many applications. The OV_DD pin, which controls the digital output level, can be adjusted from 1V to 3.6V, simplifying communication with different logic families. For applications that do not require an adjustable reference or adjustable output levels, the 6-lead device with V_REF = OV_DD = V_DD should suffice.

The SPI interface requires only three wires to communicate with the microcontroller, keeping the overall solution size small in low power, high speed applications.

Application Circuits

Figure 1 shows a single supply AC-coupled amplifier driving the LTC2366. This circuit is useful in applications where the sensor output level is too low to achieve full SNR performance from the ADC. The output of the LT6202 swings rail-to-rail. This feature maximizes the circuit’s dynamic range when the op amp output is level shifted to the center of the ADC’s swing. The FFT of Figure 2 demonstrates the low noise and distortion of this circuit.

In Figure 3, a single supply DC amplifier with a programmable gain of 0 to 4096 drives the LTC2360. With a maximum offset of 10μV and a DC to 10Hz noise of 2.5μV_P–P the LTC6915 is a good choice for high gain applications. This circuit is useful for very low level signals or for applications with a wide range of input levels.

Conclusion

The 12-bit ADCs in the LTC236x family guarantee AC specifications that most built-in microcontroller ADCs cannot meet, thus improving performance when used in place of on-chip ADCs. The LTC236x family is easily interfaced to most microcontrollers via its SPI interface. A wide range of sample rates, an external reference pin and a separate OVDD pin provide additional flexibility.

著者

Guy Hoover

Guy Hooverは、Linear Technology（現在はアナログ・デバイセズに統合）で30年以上にわたりIC設計技術者、アプリケーション・エンジニアなどの職務を果たしてきました。

Bob Dobkin氏、Bob Widlar氏、Carl Nelson氏、Tom Redfern氏の指導の下、オペアンプ、コンパレータ、スイッチング・レギュレータ、A/Dコンバータ（ADC）など、様々な製品を担当。この時期には、各製品の特性評価に使用するテスト・プログラムの開発にも携わりました。

その後は、PSpiceの習得と逐次比較型（SAR）ADCの設計に従事。設計を担当した製品には、分解能が10ビットのADCファミリ「LTC1197」や同12ビット／16ビットのADCファミリ「LTC1864」などがあります。

現在は、ミックスド・シグナル・グループで、SAR ADCのサポートを専門とするアプリケーション・エンジニアとして業務に従事。VerilogのコードやSAR ADC製品のデモ用ボードのテスト・プロシージャの設計／開発を通して、SAR ADCを使用する製品の最適化を望むお客様をサポートしています。また、アプリケーションに関する解説記事を執筆することで、各種のコンポーネントを実際に使用して学んだことをお客様に伝えるよう努めています。

デブライ工科大学（現デブライ大学）で電子工学の学士号を取得しています。