Interfacing A/D converters to microcomputers

This chapter explains interfacing of digital-to-analog (D/A) converters to microcomputers. There are numerous applications where a microcomputer needs to control analog devices, or operate as a part of a control process using analog signals. Each of the microcomputers can be given the ability to generate such signals by interfacing it to D/A converters. In situations where an analog signal needs to be supplied from a microcomputer to an analog device, it must undergo a D/A conversion. This can be achieved by the use of a D/A converter. Interfacing such a device to a microcomputer provides the latter with the ability to control external analog devices. This can be achieved if the converter is correctly interfaced to the microcomputer. Before using a data converter, it needs to be tested to ensure that it operates correctly and achieves the required performance. An essential first step is to examine the hardware connections to ensure that no damage to the microcomputer would result from connecting the D/A converter to its port. When a microcomputer controls a multichannel D/A converter, it supplies each of the channels with a corresponding digital value. These values might have been obtained by other parts of the program and are stored in sequential memory locations.