Texas Instruments DAC81404EVM User manual
EVM User's Guide: DAC81404EVM
DAC81404 Evaluation Module
Description
The 16-bit, 4-channel DAC81404 and 12-bit, 4-
channel DAC61404 are a pin-compatible family of
quad-channel, buffered, high-voltage-output digital-to-
analog converters (DACs) with an integrated 2.5-
V internal reference. These devices are specified
monotonic and provide exceptional linearity of less
than 1 LSB.
Get Started
1. Order the EVM from the product folder
(DAC81404EVM)
2. Configure EVM jumpers
3. Install DAC814xxEVM GUI from ti.com
(DAC81404EVM tool folder)
4. Connect USB and external power supplies
5. Launch DAC814xxEVM GUI
Features
• Configurable circuit to evaluate DAC
• Onboard VDD and IOVDD (1.8-V or 3.3-V) support
• Trigger output is available for synchronous
measurement
• FT4232 used to easily write to DAC using
DAC814xxEVM GUI
• External SPI connections available
Applications
•Semiconductor test
•Lab and field instrumentation
•Analog output module
•Data acquisition
• LCD test
•Servo drive control module
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DAC81404 Evaluation Module 1
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1 Evaluation Module Overview
1.1 Introduction
The DACx1404 devices offer bipolar output voltages of ±20-V, ±10-V, ±5-V, and full-scale unipolar output
voltages of 40-V, 10-V and 5-V. The DAC output range is programmable.
This user's guide describes the characteristics, operation, and recommended use cases of the DAC81404EVM.
This document provides examples and instructions on how to use the DAC81404EVM board and included
software. Throughout this document, the terms evaluation board, evaluation module, and EVM are synonymous
with the DAC81404EVM. This document also includes a schematic, reference printed circuit board (PCB)
layouts, and a complete bill of materials (BOM).
1.2 Kit Contents
Table 1-1 details the contents of the EVM kit. Contact the TI Product Information Center at (972) 644-5580 if any
component is missing. Download the latest versions of the related software on the TI website, www.ti.com.
Table 1-1. DAC81404EVM Kit Contents
Item Quantity
DAC81404EVM 1
USB-A to Micro-USB Cable 1
1.3 Specification
Figure 1-1 shows the block diagram of the DAC81404EVM board. By default, the DAC81404EVM connects to a
local machine USB port through a USB-A to micro-USB cable.
Power Supply Connections
FTDI
LDO
Level Shifters DAC81404
Supply
Selection
DAC Outputs
Common Application
Power stage
Digital Header
Figure 1-1. DAC81404EVM Functional Block Diagram
The USB provides the 5-V default VDD supply to the DAC81404. Voltage regulators generate 3.3-V and 1.8-V
from USB 5 V supply. These 3.3 V and 1.8 V supplies are used to power the FTDI controller, level shifter, and
IOVDD of DAC81404. IOVDD can be 3.3-V or 1.8-V depending on the jumper J5 setting. DVDD and IOVDD
device supply inputs for the DAC81404 can be externally supplied through banana jacks. The AVDD and AVSS
need external supply connections as well.
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1.4 Device Information
The documents in Table 1-2 provide information regarding Texas Instruments integrated circuits used in the
assembly of the DAC81404EVM. This user's guide is available from the TI web site under literature number
SLAU912. Any letter appended to the literature number corresponds to the document revision that is current at
the time of the writing of this document. Newer revisions are available from the TI web site at www.ti.com, or call
the Texas Instruments Literature Response Center at (800) 477-8924 or the Product Information Center at (972)
644-5580. When ordering, identify the document by both title and literature number.
Table 1-2. Related Device Documentation
Document Literature Number
DAC81404 product data sheet SLAU912
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2 Hardware
2.1 Power Requirements
The USB connection at J15 provides 5-V to the EVM. This connection is necessary if using the DAC814xxEVM
GUI, as the communication is done through the USB port and the FT4232 is powered by one of the LDOs on the
board. On board supply for IOVDD is available ( LDO generated 1.8-V or 3.3-V through J21). DVDD and IOVDD
power supply of DAC81404 can be provided externally through J7 and J10 respectively. AVDD and AVSS power
supply of DAC81404 need to connected externally through J8 and J9 respectively. AVSS can be connected to
GND through J22.
• AVDD : 0 to 41.5 V (default + 15 V)
• AVSS : 0 to -21.5 V (default - 15 V)
• DVDD : 4.5 V to 5.5 V (default + 5 V)
• IOVDD : 1.7 V to 5.5 V (default + 3.3 V)
• (AVDD - AVSS) must not be greater than 43 V
Table 3-1 summarizes the external power connections.
Table 2-1. DAC81404EVM Power Supply Inputs
Terminal Name Function
J8 AVDD Positive supply voltage for the DAC81404 output buffers.
J9 AVSS Negative supply voltage for DAC81404 output buffers.
J7 DVDD Digital and analog supply voltage for the DAC81404.
J10 IOVDD IO supply voltage for setting the digital I/O operating voltage for the DAC81404.
J3 GND Ground connection.
2.2 Jumper Information
The jumpers must be connected properly to operate the DAC81404EVM for the intended operation. Table 3-2
provides the details of the configurable jumper settings on the EVM.
Table 2-2. DAC81404EVM Jumper Summary
Header Name Function
J15 VDD = USB5V Short 1-2 – VDD = 5 V supplied through USB power (default)
Open – VDD supplied through J7
J22 AVSS = GND Short 1-2 – AVSS is grounded (default)
Open – AVSS is supplied by J9
J21 IOVDD SEL Short 1-2 – IOVDD = 3.3V supplied through LDO output (default)
Short 2-3 – IOVDD = 1.8V supplied through LDO output
Open – IOVDD is supplied through J10
J1, J16, J19, J24 DAC_ANALOG_X Short 1-2 – Sense pin for the positive voltage output load is shorted to the DAC
output (default)
Short 3-4 – Sense pin for the negative voltage output load is shorted to the ground
(default)
J5 LEVEL SHIFT ENABLE Short 1-2 - Enable voltage level shifters (default)
Open -Disable voltage level shifters
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2.3 Setup
After the power and jumper configurations are set up per Figure 3-1 or Figure 3-2, and the DAC814xxEVM GUI
is fully installed, connect the USB cable from the DAC81404EVM USB port to the local machine.
Once all the connection is done, power up the DAC81404EVM hardware as described in the power requirement
section 3-1.
For basic DAC81404 device check, use one of the following sequences in the DAC814xxEVM GUI:
•From DAC81404 Register page
– Write 0x0A04 to the SPI_CONFIG (0x03) register to power up the device
– Write 0x0000 to the GEN_CONFIG (0x04) register to power up the internal reference
– Write 0x0000 to the DAC_PWDWN (0x09) register to power up the DAC outputs
– Write 0x7FFF to the DACA (0x10) register to configure the DAC_OUT to 2.5-V on DAC_OUTA (TP5)
•From DAC81404 High Level page
– Device Power Down: select Active mode to power up the device
– Reference Power-Down: select Activate internal ref to power up the internal reference
– DACA Channel Power-Down: select Activate channel to power up the DAC output
– DACA_DATA: write 0x7FFF to get 2.5-V on DAC_OUT (TP5)
The default voltage range for the DAC81404 is 0 V to 5 V. Configure the voltage range by modifying the "DACx
Voltage Range" control on DAC814xxEVM GUI High Level page, or by writing to the "DACx_RANGE" register in
the Low Level page as shown in section 2-2.
2.4 Test Points
Table 2-3. DAC81404EVM Test Points
Test Point Net Description
TP1 VDD DAC81404 VDD
TP2 AVDD DAC81404 AVDD
TP3 AVSS DAC81404 AVSS
TP4 IOVDD DAC81404 IOVDD
TP5 DAC_OUTA DAC81404 output A
TP8 DAC_OUTB DAC81404 output B
TP10 DAC_OUTC DAC81404 output C
TP13 DAC_OUTC DAC81404 output D
TP19, TP20, TP21,
TP22
GND Ground connections
TP17 HIGH CURRENT OUT Output of a high current stage
TP23 3.3V 3.3-V LDO output
TP24 1.8V 1.8-V LDO output
TP6 TRIG Trigger for FTDI
TP26 DAC_VREF Reference voltage signal for DAC81404
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2.5 High-Current Optional Stage
This output stage is designed to output high current (100-mA) for applications such as motor control. The design
uses a class AB amplifier output with a diode-and-resistor-based constant current biasing.
Figure 2-1 shows the schematic of the stage.
DAC81404 DAC OUTPUT C
J31, J33
High-current output
DAC SENSEP C
DAC SENSEN C
R13
R12
Q2
Q1
Q3
D6
D5
R10
R16
AVSS
AVDD
Figure 2-1. DAC81404EVM High-current Output Stage Diagram
The power is disconnected to the high-current output stage by default. Refer to Table 2-4 for power connection
information.
Table 2-4. DAC81404EVM High-Current Stage Headers
Header Name Function
J29 AVDD
ON
Short 1-2 – Connect AVDD to the high-current output stage.
Open – AVDD is disconnected from the high-current output stage (default).
J32 DAC
VOUT ON
Short 1-2 – Connect output of channel C of the DAC to the high-current output
stage.
Short 2-3 – Connect the high-current output stage input to the ground.
Open – high-current output stage input is floating (default).
J35 AVSS ON Short 1-2 – Connect AVSS to the system.
Open – AVSS is disconnected from the high-current output stage (default).
J27 LOAD Short 1-2 – Connect high current output of the system to the on-board resistive
load.
Open – The high current output stage is disconnected from the on-board resistive
load (default).
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3 Software
3.1 GUI Installation
This section provides the procedure for EVM software installation.
The EVM software is compatible with the Windows® 10 operating system. Before installing the software, make
sure that the DAC80404EVM is not connected to the local machine.
Download the latest version of the EVM graphical user interface (GUI) installer from the Order and start
development subsection of the DAC81404EVM tool folder on TI.com. Run the GUI installer to install the
DAC81404EVM GUI software on your local machine.
When the DAC804xxEVM GUI is launched, an installation dialog window opens and prompts the user to
select an installation directory. If left unchanged, then Figure 3-1 shows that the software location defaults to
C:\Program Files (x86)\Texas Instruments\DAC814xxEVM.
Figure 3-1. Software Installation Path
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The EVM software also installs the Future Technology Devices International Limited (FTDI) USB drivers using
a separate executable file. Figure 3-2 shows the FTDI USB drivers installation window that is automatically
launched after the DAC814xxEVM software installation is complete.
Figure 3-2. FTDI USB Drivers
3.2 Software Development
To launch the software, locate the DAC814xxEVM icon in the Start Menu, and select the DAC814xxEVM icon as
shown in Figure 3-3.
Figure 3-3. DAC814xxEVM Software Installation in Start Menu
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Upon launching the software, a drop-down menu pops up. Select an appropriate device. For the scope of this
EVM, select DAC81404 option.
Figure 3-4 shows that if the onboard FTDI controller is connected correctly, then the status bar at the bottom of
the screen displays CONNECTED. If the controller is not properly connected or not connected at all, then the
status displays DEMO. If the graphical user interface (GUI) does not display the CONNECTED status while the
EVM is connected, then unplug and reconnect the EVM and relaunch the GUI software.
Figure 3-4. DAC814xxEVM GUI Connection Detection
DAC81404 High Level page provides quick access to basic DAC81404 functionality as shown in Figure 3-5.
Figure 3-5. DAC81404EVM High Level Page
The DAC81404 Registers page allows the user to access low-level communication directly with the DAC81404
registers as shown in Figure 3-6. Selecting a register on the Register Map list shows a description of the values
in that register, as well as information on the register address, default value, size, and current value. Values are
read from and written to the registers by writing to the Value or bit field of the GUI.
The Register Map page also provides the FTDI GPIO controls for DAC81404EVM. For example, OPE_EN, TRIG
and FAULT pins, under the FTDI section.
Figure 3-6. DAC81404EVM Registers Page
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To store the values of the register map locally, select Save Configuration under the File menu option. The stored
configuration files can be recalled and loaded by selecting Open Configuration as shown in Figure 3-7.
Figure 3-7. DAC81404EVM Save/Open Configuration
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