Intermediate
30 min

Convert digital data streams into analog signals with DAC8554 and ATmega328P

Where data shapes analog potential

DAC 8 Click with Arduino UNO Rev3

Published Feb 14, 2024

Click board™

DAC 8 Click

Dev. board

Arduino UNO Rev3

Compiler

NECTO Studio

MCU

ATmega328P

Experience the synergy of precision and transformation with our DAC solution

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Hardware Overview

How does it work?

DAC 8 Click is based on the DAC8554, a 16-bit QUAD channel, ultra-low glitch, voltage-output digital to analog converter from Texas Instruments. It offers good linearity, exceptionally low glitch, and high precision output amplifier, allowing rail-to-rail output swing over a wide supply voltage range. This component additionally has a Power-On reset function, which ensures that DAC outputs power-up at zero-scale and remains there until a proper write operation occurs. Also, it provides a power-down feature that reduces the current consumption to 175nA per channel. An external voltage reference is made user-programmable to achieve a fully flexible range of the DAC8554. For this purpose, the Click board™ uses another DAC, DAC60501, a 12-bit DAC from Texas Instruments, whose output is brought to the

VREF pin of the DAC8554. That way, the reference voltage of the DAC8554 can be set at any value between 0V and 5V, providing high precision and low power consumption as well. That makes the DAC 8 Click a fully customizable solution, well suited for applications where the maximum precision from the output 16-bit DAC is needed. DAC60501 uses the I2C serial interface to communicate with the MCU and operates at a clock rate of up to 100kHz. The DAC 6 Click communicates with MCU using the 3-Wire SPI serial interface compatible with standard SPI, QSPI™, and MICROWIRE™ and operates at clock rates up to 50 MHz. Additional functionality, such as software simultaneous update capability, is implemented and routed at the PWM pin of the mikroBUS™, which allows when new data enter

the device, all DAC outputs can be updated simultaneously and synchronously with the clock. It also possesses enable function routed at the CS pin of the mikroBUS™ that is used to connect the SPI interface to the serial port. This Click Board™ is designed to be operated with both 3.3V and 5V logic levels. The onboard SMD jumper labeled VCC SEL allows voltage selection for interfacing with 3.3V and 5V MCUs. More information about the DAC8554’s functionality, electrical specifications, and typical performance can be found in the attached datasheet. However, the Click board™ comes equipped with a library that contains easy-to-use functions and a usage example that can be used as a reference for the development.

DAC 8 Click top side image
DAC 8 Click bottom side image

Features overview

Development board

Arduino UNO is a versatile microcontroller board built around the ATmega328P chip. It offers extensive connectivity options for various projects, featuring 14 digital input/output pins, six of which are PWM-capable, along with six analog inputs. Its core components include a 16MHz ceramic resonator, a USB connection, a power jack, an

ICSP header, and a reset button, providing everything necessary to power and program the board. The Uno is ready to go, whether connected to a computer via USB or powered by an AC-to-DC adapter or battery. As the first USB Arduino board, it serves as the benchmark for the Arduino platform, with "Uno" symbolizing its status as the

first in a series. This name choice, meaning "one" in Italian, commemorates the launch of Arduino Software (IDE) 1.0. Initially introduced alongside version 1.0 of the Arduino Software (IDE), the Uno has since become the foundational model for subsequent Arduino releases, embodying the platform's evolution.

Arduino UNO Rev3 double side image

Microcontroller Overview

MCU Card / MCU

default

Architecture

AVR

MCU Memory (KB)

32

Silicon Vendor

Microchip

Pin count

28

RAM (Bytes)

2048

You complete me!

Accessories

Click Shield for Arduino UNO has two proprietary mikroBUS™ sockets, allowing all the Click board™ devices to be interfaced with the Arduino UNO board without effort. The Arduino Uno, a microcontroller board based on the ATmega328P, provides an affordable and flexible way for users to try out new concepts and build prototypes with the ATmega328P microcontroller from various combinations of performance, power consumption, and features. The Arduino Uno has 14 digital input/output pins (of which six can be used as PWM outputs), six analog inputs, a 16 MHz ceramic resonator (CSTCE16M0V53-R0), a USB connection, a power jack, an ICSP header, and reset button. Most of the ATmega328P microcontroller pins are brought to the IO pins on the left and right edge of the board, which are then connected to two existing mikroBUS™ sockets. This Click Shield also has several switches that perform functions such as selecting the logic levels of analog signals on mikroBUS™ sockets and selecting logic voltage levels of the mikroBUS™ sockets themselves. Besides, the user is offered the possibility of using any Click board™ with the help of existing bidirectional level-shifting voltage translators, regardless of whether the Click board™ operates at a 3.3V or 5V logic voltage level. Once you connect the Arduino UNO board with our Click Shield for Arduino UNO, you can access hundreds of Click boards™, working with 3.3V or 5V logic voltage levels.

Click Shield for Arduino UNO accessories 1 image

Used MCU Pins

mikroBUS™ mapper

NC
NC
AN
SPI Enable
PD2
RST
SPI Chip Select
PB2
CS
SPI Clock
PB5
SCK
SPI Data OUT
PB4
MISO
SPI Data IN
PB3
MOSI
Power Supply
3.3V
3.3V
Ground
GND
GND
Software Update
PD6
PWM
NC
NC
INT
NC
NC
TX
NC
NC
RX
I2C Clock
PC5
SCL
I2C Data
PC4
SDA
Power Supply
5V
5V
Ground
GND
GND
1

Take a closer look

Click board™ Schematic

DAC 8 Click Schematic schematic

Step by step

Project assembly

Click Shield for Arduino UNO front image hardware assembly

Start by selecting your development board and Click board™. Begin with the Arduino UNO Rev3 as your development board.

Click Shield for Arduino UNO front image hardware assembly
Arduino UNO Rev3 front image hardware assembly
Charger 27 Click front image hardware assembly
Prog-cut hardware assembly
Charger 27 Click complete accessories setup image hardware assembly
Arduino UNO Rev3 Access MB 1 - upright/background hardware assembly
Necto image step 2 hardware assembly
Necto image step 3 hardware assembly
Necto image step 4 hardware assembly
Necto image step 5 hardware assembly
Necto image step 6 hardware assembly
Arduino UNO MCU Step hardware assembly
Necto No Display image step 8 hardware assembly
Necto image step 9 hardware assembly
Necto image step 10 hardware assembly
Debug Image Necto Step hardware assembly

Track your results in real time

Application Output

1. Application Output - In Debug mode, the 'Application Output' window enables real-time data monitoring, offering direct insight into execution results. Ensure proper data display by configuring the environment correctly using the provided tutorial.

2. UART Terminal - Use the UART Terminal to monitor data transmission via a USB to UART converter, allowing direct communication between the Click board™ and your development system. Configure the baud rate and other serial settings according to your project's requirements to ensure proper functionality. For step-by-step setup instructions, refer to the provided tutorial.

3. Plot Output - The Plot feature offers a powerful way to visualize real-time sensor data, enabling trend analysis, debugging, and comparison of multiple data points. To set it up correctly, follow the provided tutorial, which includes a step-by-step example of using the Plot feature to display Click board™ readings. To use the Plot feature in your code, use the function: plot(*insert_graph_name*, variable_name);. This is a general format, and it is up to the user to replace 'insert_graph_name' with the actual graph name and 'variable_name' with the parameter to be displayed.

Software Support

Library Description

This library contains API for DAC 8 Click driver.

Key functions:

  • dac8_device_config - This function set configuration of the DAC8554

  • dac8_load_dac - This function simultaneously update DAC with the contents of the corresponding data buffers

  • dac8_set_vref - This function set voltage reference

Open Source

Code example

The complete application code and a ready-to-use project are available through the NECTO Studio Package Manager for direct installation in the NECTO Studio. The application code can also be found on the MIKROE GitHub account.

/*!
 * \file 
 * \brief Dac8 Click example
 * 
 * # Description
 * This click carries 12-bit buffered Digital-to-Analog Converter. It converts digital value to 
 * the corresponding voltage level using external voltage reference. 
 *
 * The demo application is composed of two sections :
 * 
 * ## Application Init 
 * Initialization driver enables - I2C.
 * Configure DAC60501: executes call software reset, disable sync and internal reference and 
 * disable Power-down mode, the set reference voltage is internally divided by a factor of 2,
 * amplifier for corresponding DAC has a gain of 2.
 * Initialization driver enables - SPI, enable DAC8554, also write log.
 * 
 * ## Application Task  
 * This is an example that demonstrates the use of the DAC 8 Click board.
 * DAC 8 board changeing output values:
 * Channel A ~ 2500 mV, Channel B ~ 1250 mV,
 * Channel C ~  625 mV, Channel D ~  312 mV.
 * All data logs write on USB uart changes every 5 sec.
 * 
 * 
 * \author MikroE Team
 *
 */
// ------------------------------------------------------------------- INCLUDES

#include "board.h"
#include "log.h"
#include "dac8.h"

// ------------------------------------------------------------------ VARIABLES

static dac8_t dac8;
static log_t logger;

dac8_cfg_data_t cfg_dac;

// ------------------------------------------------------ APPLICATION FUNCTIONS

void application_init ( void )
{
    log_cfg_t log_cfg;
    dac8_cfg_t cfg;

    /** 
     * Logger initialization.
     * Default baud rate: 115200
     * Default log level: LOG_LEVEL_DEBUG
     * @note If USB_UART_RX and USB_UART_TX 
     * are defined as HAL_PIN_NC, you will 
     * need to define them manually for log to work. 
     * See @b LOG_MAP_USB_UART macro definition for detailed explanation.
     */
    LOG_MAP_USB_UART( log_cfg );
    log_init( &logger, &log_cfg );
    log_info( &logger, "---- Application Init ----" );

    //  Click initialization.

    dac8_cfg_setup( &cfg );
    DAC8_MAP_MIKROBUS( cfg, MIKROBUS_1 );
    
    dac8_init( &dac8, &cfg, DAC8_MASTER_I2C );

    log_printf( &logger, "---------------------\r\n" );
    log_printf( &logger, "  I2C driver init.   \r\n" );
    Delay_ms( 100 );

    log_printf( &logger, "---------------------\r\n" );
    log_printf( &logger, "      DAC60501       \r\n" );
    log_printf( &logger, "---------------------\r\n" );
    log_printf( &logger, "     Soft reset      \r\n" );
    dac8_soft_reset( &dac8 );
    Delay_ms( 100 );

    log_printf( &logger, "---------------------\r\n" );
    log_printf( &logger, "  Disable sync. mode \r\n" );
    dac8_enable_sync( &dac8, DAC8_SYNC_DISABLE );
    Delay_ms( 100 );

    log_printf( &logger, "---------------------\r\n" );
    log_printf( &logger, "    Set config.:     \r\n" );
    log_printf( &logger, " Enable:             \r\n" );
    log_printf( &logger, " Internal reference  \r\n" );
    log_printf( &logger, " Disable:            \r\n" );
    log_printf( &logger, " Power-down mode     \r\n" );
    dac8_set_config( &dac8, DAC8_CONFIG_REF_PWDWN_ENABLE, DAC8_CONFIG_DAC_PWDWN_DISABLE );
    Delay_ms( 100 );
    
    log_printf( &logger, "---------------------\r\n" );
    log_printf( &logger, "  Vref divided by 2  \r\n" );
    log_printf( &logger, "  Set DAC gain of 2  \r\n" );
    dac8_set_gain( &dac8, DAC8_GAIN_REF_DIV_2, DAC8_GAIN_BUFF_GAIN_1 );
    Delay_ms( 100 );

    log_printf( &logger, "---------------------\r\n" );
    log_printf( &logger, " Set Vref ~ 2500 mV  \r\n" );
    dac8_set_vref( &dac8, 2500 );
    Delay_ms( 1000 );

    dac8_init( &dac8, &cfg, DAC8_MASTER_SPI );
    log_printf( &logger, "---------------------\r\n" );
    log_printf( &logger, "  SPI driver init.   \r\n" );
    Delay_ms( 1000 );
    
    log_printf( &logger, "---------------------\r\n" );
    log_printf( &logger, "       DAC8554       \r\n" );
    log_printf( &logger, "---------------------\r\n" );
    log_printf( &logger, "    Enable DAC8554   \r\n" );
    dac8_device_enable( &dac8, DAC8_DAC8554_ENABLE );
    Delay_ms( 100 );
}

void application_task ( void )
{
    log_printf( &logger, "---------------------\r\n" );
    
    cfg_dac.addr = DAC8_ADDR_DEFAULT;
    cfg_dac.ctrl_upd_an_out = DAC8_CTRL_UPD_AN_OUT_SINGLE_CH_STORE;
    cfg_dac.dac_sel = DAC8_DAC_SEL_CH_A;
    cfg_dac.pwr_mode = DAC8_PWR_MODE_POWER_UP;
    cfg_dac.dac_val = 0xFFFF;
    
    log_printf( &logger, " Channel A ~ 2500 mV \r\n" );
    dac8_device_config( &dac8, cfg_dac );
    dac8_load_dac(  &dac8 );
    Delay_ms( 5000 );
    
    log_printf( &logger, "---------------------\r\n" );

    cfg_dac.addr = DAC8_ADDR_DEFAULT;
    cfg_dac.ctrl_upd_an_out = DAC8_CTRL_UPD_AN_OUT_SINGLE_CH_STORE;
    cfg_dac.dac_sel = DAC8_DAC_SEL_CH_B;
    cfg_dac.pwr_mode = DAC8_PWR_MODE_POWER_UP;
    cfg_dac.dac_val = 0x7FFF;

    log_printf( &logger, " Channel B ~ 1250 mV \r\n" );
    dac8_device_config(  &dac8, cfg_dac );
    dac8_load_dac( &dac8 );
    Delay_ms( 5000 );
    
    log_printf( &logger, "---------------------\r\n" );
    
    cfg_dac.addr = DAC8_ADDR_DEFAULT;
    cfg_dac.ctrl_upd_an_out = DAC8_CTRL_UPD_AN_OUT_SINGLE_CH_STORE;
    cfg_dac.dac_sel = DAC8_DAC_SEL_CH_C;
    cfg_dac.pwr_mode = DAC8_PWR_MODE_POWER_UP;
    cfg_dac.dac_val = 0x3FFF;

    log_printf( &logger, " Channel C ~  625 mV \r\n" );
    dac8_device_config(  &dac8, cfg_dac );
    dac8_load_dac( &dac8 );
    Delay_ms( 5000 );
    
    log_printf( &logger, "---------------------\r\n" );

    cfg_dac.addr = DAC8_ADDR_DEFAULT;
    cfg_dac.ctrl_upd_an_out = DAC8_CTRL_UPD_AN_OUT_SINGLE_CH_STORE;
    cfg_dac.dac_sel = DAC8_DAC_SEL_CH_D;
    cfg_dac.pwr_mode = DAC8_PWR_MODE_POWER_UP;
    cfg_dac.dac_val = 0x1FFF;

    log_printf( &logger, " Channel D ~  312 mV\r\n" );
    dac8_device_config(  &dac8, cfg_dac );
    dac8_load_dac(  &dac8 );
    Delay_ms( 5000 );
}

void main ( void )
{
    application_init( );

    for ( ; ; )
    {
        application_task( );
    }
}

// ------------------------------------------------------------------------ END

Additional Support

Resources

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