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www. d igilent inc.com
Revision: December 5, 2012
215 E Main Suite D | Pullman, WA 99163
(509) 334 6306 Voice and Fax
Doc: 502-241 page 1 of 2
Copyright Digilent, Inc. All rights reserved. Other product and company names mentioned may be trademarks of their respective owners.
Overview
The Digilent PmodDA3 Digital to Analog
Module Converter changes signals from digital
values to analog voltages on a single channel
with sixteen bits of resolution. The PmodDA3
uses a standard 6-pin header to interface with
your Digilent system board.
Features include:
• one Analog Devices AD5541A 16-bit
digital-to-analog converter
• 6-pin header
• 2.5V reference voltage
• very low noise
• SMA connector for analog out
Functional Description
The PmodDA3 can produce an analog output
ranging from 0V to 2.5V. It has two
simultaneous D/A conversion channels, each
with a 12-bit converter that can process
separate digital signals.
The PmodDA3 comes equipped with an
Analog Devices AD5541A digital-to-analog
converter. This converter sends commands via
the SPI/MICROWIRE™ serial bus to the D/A
converter to produce outputs. The controller
can operate with clock rates up to 50MHz. A
two byte write to the device will store the value
written into the serial input register. The LDAC
pin controls when the output synchronizes with
the stored value in the serial input register.
When the LDAC pin is brought low, the output
synchronizes simultaneously.
We designed the PmodDA3 to work with either
Digilent programmable logic system boards or
embedded control system boards. Most
Digilent system boards, such as the Nexys,
Basys, or Cerebot, have 6-pin connectors that
allow the PmodDA3 to plug directly into the
system board or to connect via a Digilent six-
wire cable
See Table 1 for a description of the signals on
the interface connectors J1 and J3. For
additional design information, please refer to
the PmodDA3 schematic available on the
Digilent web site at www.digilentinc.com.
The PmodDA3 is usually powered through the
connection with your Digilent system board.
The ground and power connections are on pins
five and six of the digital interface connector
J1. You can also power the PmodDA3 from an
external power supply provided through pins
one and two on the J3 connector. If you use an
external power supply, leave JP1 unloaded.
Damage may result if you load this jumper
when supplying power from an external
source.
Digilent conventionally recommends providing
3.3V to power your Pmod modules. However,
you can operate the PmodDA3 at any power
supply voltage between 2.7V and 5.5V.
Operators should exercise caution if using any
voltage greater than 3.3V to avoid damage to
their Digilent system board. Refer to the
reference manuals and schematics for your
PmodDA3 Reference Manual Digilent Confidential Digilent, Inc.
www.digilentinc.com Copyright Digilent, Inc. Page
2
system board for more information. These
reference documents are available on the
Digilent website.
For more information on the digital-to-analog
converter, consult the Analog Devices
AD5541A datasheet available at:
www.analog.com.
Table 1: Interface Connector Signal
Descriptions
Digital
Interface – J1 Signal
1 CS
2 DIN
3 LDAC
4 SCLK
5 GND
6 DVDD
Digital
Interface – J3
1 GND
2 AVDD
