2-11
Conversion Clock Sources (DAS-8/PGA(G2), DAS-8/AO, and
DAS-8/LT)
The conversion clock source determines when each analog-to-digital
(A/D) conversion is initiated. DAS-8/PGA(G2),DAS-8/AO, and
DAS-8/LT boards provide the following software-selectable conversion
clock sources:
•
Software
— When using a software conversion clock, the host
computer issues a command to initiate a conversion. The host polls
the board to determine if the conversion is complete. When the
conversion is complete, the host reads the data from the ADC and
returns the value. If the host reads data before the conversion is
complete, the data will be invalid.
Software-initiated conversions are suitable for measuring DC
voltages; however, in applications where you must accurately control
the sampling rate (as when measuring time-varying signals), it is
recommended that you use either an internal or an external hardware
conversion clock source.
At power-up or system reset, the board assumes that conversions will
be initiated through software.
•
Hardware (internal clock source)
— The input to the counter/timers
used for A/D timing varies. The DAS-8 uses the PC bus clock while
the DAS-8/PGA (G2), DAS-8/AO, and DAS-8/LT have an on-board 1
MHz crystal oscillator. The frequency of the PC bus may be
determined automatically as described above.
•
The internal clock source uses the on-board 82C54 counter/timer
circuitry and a crystal-controlled 1MHz time base. The 82C54
counter/timer circuitry is normally in an idle state. When you start an
analog input operation, a conversion is initiated immediately. The
82C54 is loaded with its initial count value and begins counting
down. When the 82C54 counts down to 0, another conversion is
initiated and the process repeats.
Because the 82C54 counter/timer uses a 1MHz time base, each count
represents 1
µ
s. For example, if you load a count of 25, the time
interval between conversions is 25
µ
s; if you load a count of 65536,
the time interval between conversions is 65.536ms.
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