Intermediate
30 min

Bridge the gap between the digital and analog world with DAC80501 and ATmega328P

Craft your analog path with DAC innovation

DAC 9 Click with Arduino UNO Rev3

Published Feb 14, 2024

Click board™

DAC 9 Click

Dev. board

Arduino UNO Rev3

Compiler

NECTO Studio

MCU

ATmega328P

By translating binary codes into voltage levels, this solution amplifies data's voice, enabling systems to interpret, respond to, and leverage digital insights for various applications

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Hardware Overview

How does it work?

DAC 9 Click is based on the DAC80501, a single-channel, buffered, 16-bit resolution digital-to-analog converter from Texas Instruments. It includes a 2.5V, 5ppm/˚C internal reference, giving full-scale output voltage ranges of 1.25V, 2.5V, or 5V, and incorporates a Power-On Reset function. This function makes sure that the DAC80501 output powers up at zero scale or midscale and remains at that scale until a valid code is written to the device. High resolution and simple interface features make this Click board™ suitable for applications such as battery testers, communications equipment, factory automation, control, test and measurement, and more. The output channel, which DAC80501 routed to the VOUT terminal, consists of a rail-to-rail ladder

architecture with an output buffer amplifier that generates rail-to-rail voltages, giving a maximum output range of 0V to VDD. The full-scale output range of the DAC output is determined by the reference voltage on the VREFIO pin, the reference divider setting, and the gain configuration for that channel set by the corresponding BUFF-GAIN bit. When the DAC80501 uses an internal reference, this voltage is externally available at the VREF terminal and can source up to 5mA. Besides, the user can bring the external reference voltage on this terminal in the case of the DAC80501 external reference configuration. DAC 9 Click provides the possibility of using both I2C and SPI interfaces. The selection can be performed by positioning SMD jumpers labeled COMM SEL to an appropriate

position. Note that all jumpers must be placed on the same side, or the Click board™ may become unresponsive. In SPI mode, the DAC80501 uses a 3-Wire SPI serial interface that operates at clock rates of up to 50MHz, while in I2C mode, the DAC80501 can operate in Standard Mode (100 kbps), Fast Mode (400 kbps) and Fast-Plus Mode (1.0 Mbps). This Click board™ can operate with either 3.3V or 5V logic voltage levels selected via the VCC SEL jumper. This way, both 3.3V and 5V capable MCUs can use the communication lines properly. Also, this Click board™ comes equipped with a library containing easy-to-use functions and an example code that can be used, as a reference, for further development.

DAC 9 Click hardware overview 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
NC
NC
RST
SPI Chip Select
PB2
CS
SPI Clock
PB5
SCK
NC
NC
MISO
SPI Data IN
PB3
MOSI
Power Supply
3.3V
3.3V
Ground
GND
GND
NC
NC
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 9 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
Board mapper by product8 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 9 Click driver.

Key functions:

  • dac9_set_config - Set config function

  • dac9_set_gain - Set gain function

  • dac9_set_vout - Set Vout function

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 main.c
 * @brief DAC9 Click example
 *
 * # Description
 * This is an example that demonstrates the use of the DAC 9 Click board.
 *
 * The demo application is composed of two sections :
 *
 * ## Application Init
 * Initalizes SPI or I2C driver and applies default settings.
 *
 * ## Application Task
 * Demonstrates use of DAC 9 Click board by changing output values every two seconds.
 *
 * @author Stefan Ilic
 *
 */

#include "board.h"
#include "log.h"
#include "dac9.h"

static dac9_t dac9;
static log_t logger;
static uint16_t res = 2500;

void application_init ( void ) {
    log_cfg_t log_cfg;  /**< Logger config object. */
    dac9_cfg_t dac9_cfg;  /**< Click config object. */

    /** 
     * 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.
    dac9_cfg_setup( &dac9_cfg );
    DAC9_MAP_MIKROBUS( dac9_cfg, MIKROBUS_1 );
    err_t init_flag  = dac9_init( &dac9, &dac9_cfg );
    if ( ( I2C_MASTER_ERROR == init_flag ) || ( SPI_MASTER_ERROR == init_flag ) ) {
        log_error( &logger, " Application Init Error. " );
        log_info( &logger, " Please, run program again... " );

        for ( ; ; );
    }
    log_printf( &logger, "---------------------\r\n" );
    log_printf( &logger, "     Soft reset      \r\n" );
    dac9_soft_reset( &dac9 );
    Delay_ms ( 200 );

    log_printf( &logger, "---------------------\r\n" );
    log_printf( &logger, "  Vref divided by 2  \r\n" );
    log_printf( &logger, "  Set DAC gain of 2  \r\n" );
    dac9_set_gain( &dac9, DAC9_GAIN_REF_DIV_2, DAC9_GAIN_BUFF_GAIN_2 );
    Delay_ms ( 100 );

    log_printf( &logger, "---------------------\r\n" );
    log_info( &logger, " Application Task " );
}

void application_task ( void ) {
    uint16_t n_cnt;
    for ( n_cnt = 0; n_cnt <= res; n_cnt += 500 ) {
        log_printf( &logger, "Output Voltage : %d mV\r\n", ( uint16_t ) n_cnt );
        dac9_set_vout( &dac9, n_cnt );
        Delay_ms ( 1000 ); 
        Delay_ms ( 1000 );
    }
}

int main ( void ) 
{
    /* Do not remove this line or clock might not be set correctly. */
    #ifdef PREINIT_SUPPORTED
    preinit();
    #endif
    
    application_init( );
    
    for ( ; ; ) 
    {
        application_task( );
    }

    return 0;
}

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

Additional Support

Resources

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