UNIT 5

APPLICATIONS OF DIGITAL ELECTRONICS

4 HOURS
Multiplexing displays - Frequency counters - Time measurements -
ADC0804 - microprocessor compatible A/D converters.
CO No Course Outcome K - Level
CO5 Discuss the various applications of digital electronics. K2

MULTIPLEXING DISPLAYS
 The decimal outputs of digital instruments such as digital voltmeters (DVMs) and
frequency counters are often displayed using seven-segment indicators. Such indicators are
constructed by using a fluorescent bar, a liquid crystal bar, or a LED bar for each segment.
 LED-type indicators are convenient because they are directly compatible with TTL
circuits, do not require the higher voltages used with fluorescents, and are generally
brighter than liquid crystals.
 On the other hand, LEDs do generally require more power than either of the other two
types, and multiplexing is a technique used to reduce indicator power requirements.
 The circuit shown below is a common-anode-type seven-segment indicator used to display
a single decimal digit The 7447 BCD to seven-segment decoder is used to drive the
indicator, and the four inputs to the 7447 are the four-flip-flop outputs of the 7490 decade
counter.
 The equivalent circuit of an illuminated segment appears as follows. A 1-Hz square wave
applied at the clock input of the 7490 will cause the counter to count upward, advancing
one count each second, and the equivalent decimal number will appear on the display.

 Multiplexing is accomplished by applying current to each display digit in short, repeated

pulses rather than continuously.
 The single-digit display in Fig. 15.3a has +5 Vdc (and thus current) applied through a pnp
transistor that acts as a switch.
 When DIGIT is high, the transistor (switch) is off, mid the indicator current is zero.
When DIGIT is low, the transistor is on, and a number is displayed. If the waveform in
Fig. 15.3b is used as DIGIT, the transistor will be on and the segment will display a
number for only 1 out of every 4 ms.
 Even though the display is not illuminated for 3 out of 4 ms, the illumination will appear
to the human eye as if it were continuous. Since the display is illuminated with a pulse
that occurs once every 4 ms.

 The four-digit display in the following figure uses two 54/74153 dual 4- to 1-line
multiplexers to apply the four outputs of each 7475 sequentially to a single seven-segment
decoder.
 The BCD input data is stored in four 7475 D-type latches labeled 1, 2, 3, and 4. Latch 1
stores the MSD, and latch 4 stores the LSD. The 4-bit binary number representing the MSD
is labeled 1A1B lC1D. For instance, if the MSD = 7, then 1A1B lC1D = 0111.
 Each 74153 contains two multiplexers, and the four multiplexers are labeled A, B, C, and
D. The A and B SELECT lines of the two multiplexers are connected in parallel and are
driven by the multiplexing counter.
 When the SELECT inputs are AB= 00, the number 1 line of each multiplexer will be
connected to its output. So, the multiplexer outputs connected to the 7447 decoder will be
1A1B lC1D, which is the binary number for the MSD.
 This binary number is decoded by the 7447 and applied to all the LED displays in parallel.
However, at this same time, DIGIT 1 is selected by the 74155 decoder, so the MSD will
be displayed in the leftmost LED display. All the other displays will be turned off.
 Now, when the multiplexing counter advances to count AB = 0 I, the number 2 line of each
multiplexer will be selected, and the binary number applied to the 7447 will be 2 A2B2C2D,
which is the next MSD (the hundreds digit).
 The decoded output of the 7447 is again applied to all the displays in parallel, but DIGIT
2 is the only LOW DIGIT line, so the "hundreds" digit is now displayed.

FREQUENCY COUNTERS

 A frequency counter is a digital instrument that can be used to measure the frequency of
any periodic waveform. The fundamental concepts involved are illustrated in the block
diagram in Fig. 15.10.

 A GATE ENABLE signal that has a known period t is generated with a clock oscillator
and a divider circuit and is applied to one leg of an AND gate.
 The unknown signal is applied to the other leg of the AND gate and acts as the clock for
the counter. The counter will advance one count for each transition of the unknown signal,
and at the end of the known time period, the contents of the counter will equal the number
of periods of the unknown signal that have occurred during t.
 In other words, the counter contents will be proportional to the frequency of the unknown
signal. For instance, suppose that the gate signal is exactly 1 s and the unknown input signal
is a 750-Hz square wave. At the end of I s, the counter will have counted up to 750, which
is exactly the frequency of the input signal.
 Figure 15.11 shows how the decimal point moves in a five-decimal-digit display as the
gate width is changed. In the top display, the unknown frequency is the display contents
multiplied by l 0, so the decimal point is moved one place to the right.
 The middle display provides the actual unknown frequency directly. In the bottom display,
the contents must be divided by l0 to obtain the unknown frequency, so the decimal point
is moved one place to the left.
 The logic diagram in Fig. 15.12 shows one way to construct a four-decimal-digit frequency
counter.
 The AMPLIFIER block is intended to condition the unknown input signal such that INPUT
is a TT compatible signal-a series of positive pulses going from O to +5 Vdc.
 When allowed to pass through the COUNT gate, INPUT will act as the clock for the
COUNTER. The COUNTER can be constructed from four-decade counters such as
54174160s, and it can then be connected to a multiplexed LED DISPLAY.
 The DIVIDER is composed of six-decade counters (such as 54174160s) connected in
series. Its input is a 100-kHz square wave from OSC CLOCK, and it provides 10-, 1-, and
0.1-Hz square wave outputs that are used to generate the ENABLE-gate signal.
 When the 1-Hz square wave is used to drive the GATE flip-flop, its output, Q, is a 0.5-Hz
square wave.
 Output Q will be high for exactly ls and low for ls, and it will thus be used for the ENABLE-
gate signal.
 TIME MEASUREMENT

 The logic block diagram shown below illustrates the fundamental ideas used to construct
an instrument that can be used to measure the period of any periodic waveform.

 The unknown voltage is passed through a conditioning amplifier to produce a periodic

waveform that is compatible with TTL circuits and is then applied to a JK flip-flop.
 The output of this flip-flop is used as the ENABLE-gate signal since it is high for a time t
that is exactly equal to the time period of the unknown input voltage.
 The oscillator and divider provide a series of pulses that are passed through the count gate
and serve as the clock for the counter.
 The contents of the counter and display unit will then be proportional to the time period of
the unknown input signal.
 A time-to-digital converter (TDC) is a device for recognizing events and providing a digital
representation of the time they occurred. For example, a TDC might output the time of
arrival for each incoming pulse.
 In digital electronics time-to-digital converters (TDCs) or time digitizers are devices
commonly used to measure a time interval and convert it into digital (binary) output.
 TDCs are used to determine the time interval between two signal pulses. Measurement is
started and stopped when the rising or falling edge of a signal pulse crosses a set threshold.
This pattern is seen in many physical experiments, like time-of-flight and lifetime
measurements in atomic and high energy physics, experiments that involve laser ranging
and electronic research involving the testing of integrated circuits and high-speed data
transfer.
Applications
 TDCs are used to timestamp events and measure time differences between events,
especially where picosecond precision and high accuracy is required, such as the
measurement of events in high energy physics experiments, where particles (e.g. electrons,
photons, and ions) are detected.
 Another application is cost-effective and non-mechanical water flow metering by
measuring the time difference between ultrasound pulses that travel through the flow and
arrive at different times depending on the flow speed and direction.
 ADC0804

 ADC0804 is an 8-bit analog to digital converter IC which can measure up to 8 analog input
simultaneously. That means the digital output value can vary between 0 to 255. It uses a
successive approximation converter which is based on the differential potentiometric
ladder.
 ADC0804 is a low voltage IC use to convert the low voltage analog signal to an 8-bit digital
signal. It works with 0-5 Volts, has 1 Analog input and 8 output pins.
 ADC0804 comes with an internal clock but to increase or change the clock cycle that could
be used as the external clock.
Internal Circuit
 Like other electronic devices ADC0804 also has a little complex internal circuit. ADC0804
translates the analog signal to Digital but to convert the analog signal it uses Gates,
Flipflops, Shift Register, Tristate, Clock, latch and Ladder and Decoder, etc. But the main
components used in ADC0804 to convert the signal is SAR Latch.
 SAR Latch converts continuous analog signal to digital signal/discrete signal through a
binary search by using all possible quantization/mapping levels. Other components in
“ADC0804” like tri-state, 8-bit shifter, etc are used to give the proper output according to
the given input.
 Tri-state is an internal register that is used to hold the data until a high to low pulse is given.
An 8-bit shift register is used to give the output in a sequence so other devices could read
in the form of 8-bits.
Pin Configuration

 CS: It stands for Chip select. CS Pin is used to turning on the device. When we are using
multiple ADC then this pin is used to select the required device at that time. It’s active at
a low state.
 RD: It stands for reading. Its an input pin. RD pin is used when we want to receive the
output value from the internal register. High to Low pulse will be used to perform the
operation.
 WR: It stands for Write. WR is an input pin used to start the conversion by applying high
to low pulse
 CLK IN: It is an input pin used to which represent clock. To apply the external clock this
pin will be used.
 INTR: It is an interrupt pin used to indicate that conversion is complete. It goes low
when the conversion is completed.
 Vin (+): It is an analog input pin used for the non-inverting signal. Mostly devices give
the analog signal in the non-inverting form so we use this pin as analog input.
 Vin (-): It is an analog input pin used for inverting signals. Due to the Signal nature
mostly in non-inverting form, this pin attaches to the ground.
 AGND: This pin is used for the ground of the Device where analogue input came from.
 DGND: This pin is attached to the ground of the device where the digital output goes to.
 DB0 – DB7: These pins are used for digital output in 8-bit form.
 CLK R: This pin is used for RC timing to use the internal clock.
 VCC: It is used for providing the power to the whole IC. It should not be greater than
+6.5 Volts. Mostly +5.0 Volts are used.
Working of ADC0804
 The following steps must be followed for data conversion by the ADC0804
1. Make CS=0 and send a low-to-high pulse to pin WR to start the conversion.
2. Keep monitoring the INTR pin. If INTR is low, the conversion is finished and we can
to the next step. If INTR is high keep polling until it goes low.
3. After the INTR has become low, we make CS=0 and send a high-to-low pulse to the
RD pin to get the data out of the ADC0804 chip.

ADC0804 Features
 It is compatible with all microcontrollers and microprocessors which operate at 5 Volts.
 It could calculate different voltages from 0 to 5 by using only a single 5 volts supply.
 Works with different voltage references. The minimum should be 2.5 V.
 Fully functional with CMOS and TTL electronics devices.
 It has an internal clock with frequency 640KHz.
 It works without zero adjustment
 Minimum conversion time is 110us
 Consist of usual 0.3-inch width with 20-Pin DIP Package
 Consist of Differential analog voltage input.
 Digital out range is from 0 – 255
 Input voltage range 2.5 – 6.5
 Operate as a standalone device with an internal 8-bit Microprocessor.

Applications
 Widely use with any microprocessor, microcontroller, and ICs.
 It is operated able with microprocessors of 8-bit.
 It could be used to convert the values from the temperature sensor, voltage source and
other analog sensors and power sources.

MICROPROCESSOR COMPATIBLE A/D CONVERTERS

Features
 Complete 12-Bit D/A Function
 Double-Buffered Latch
 On Chip Output Amplifier
 High Stability Buried Zener Reference
 Single Chip Construction
 Monotonicity Guaranteed Over Temperature
 Linearity Guaranteed Over Temperature: 1/2 LSB max
 Settling Time: 3 ms max to 0.01%
 Guaranteed for Operation with 612 V or 615 V Supplies
 Low Power: 300 mW Including Reference
 TTL/5 V CMOS Compatible Logic Inputs
 Low Logic Input Currents
Description
 The AD667 is a complete voltage output 12-bit digital-to-analog converter including a high
stability buried Zener voltage reference and double-buffered input latch on a single chip.
 The converter uses 12 precision high speed bipolar current steering switches and a laser-
trimmed thin-film resistor network to provide fast settling time and high accuracy.
 Microprocessor compatibility is achieved by the on-chip double-buffered latch. The design
of the input latch allows direct interface to 4-, 8-, 12-, or 16-bit buses. The 12 bits of data
from the first rank of latches can then be transferred to the second rank, avoiding generation
of spurious analog output values.
 The latch responds to strobe pulses as short as 100 ns, allowing use with the fastest
available microprocessors. The functional completeness and high performance in the
AD667 results from a combination of advanced switch design, high speed bipolar
manufacturing process, and the proven laser wafer-trimming (LWT) technology. The
AD667 is trimmed at the wafer level and is specified to ±1/4 LSB maximum linearity error
(K, B grades) at +25°C and ±1/2 LSB over the full operating temperature range.
 The subsurface (buried) Zener diode on the chip provides a low noise voltage reference
which has long-term stability and temperature drift characteristics comparable to the best
discrete reference diodes. The laser trimming process which provides the excellent
linearity, is also used to trim the absolute value of the reference as well as its temperature
coefficient.
 The AD667 is thus well suited for wide temperature range performance with ±1/2 LSB
maximum linearity error and guaranteed monotonicity over the full temperature range.
Typical full-scale gain TC is 5 ppm/°C.
Functional Block Diagram

 The AD667 is available in five performance grades.

 The AD667J and K are specified for use over the 0°C to +70°C temperature range and are
available in a 28-pin molded plastic DIP (N) or PLCC (P) package. The AD667S grade is
specified for the –55°C to +125°C range and is available in the ceramic DIP (D) or LCC
(E) package.
 The AD667A and B are specified for use over the –25°C to +85°C temperature range and
are available in a 28-pin hermetically sealed ceramic DIP (D) package.