Microcontrollers with dual (or more) ADC's... - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / projects

author: Skimask
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 27, 2013, 07:33:16 pm
content: Looking for more options...Specifically, I'm wanting an MCU that has more than one ADC module. NOT multiple ADC inputs to a single ADC module, but more than one ADC module, so two signals can be sampled simultaneously rather than sequentially.The only thing I've found so far is TI's Stellaris line. I'm not too keen on those, but if they work, then they'll do.

author: kripton2035
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 27, 2013, 07:40:39 pm
content: there are lots of simultaneous sampling adc, but with only an adc, it's not part of an mculook at TI and analog devices.I've never seen simultaneous adc inside a mcu.

author: andersm
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 27, 2013, 07:43:59 pm
content: Some of Microchip's PIC24 and dsPIC33 chips have 2 ADCs.

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 27, 2013, 08:50:33 pm
content: NXP has a few controllers in the LPC2000 series with dual ADCs. What do you want to do? Many ARM based microcontrollers have ADCs which can sample at 1Ms/s. If you let such an ADC system run sequentially you'll have 1us delay between the samples.

author: Skimask
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 27, 2013, 09:52:16 pm
content: @kripton2035 - Just looked over the datasheet for the LM4F120 series. Two separate ADC modules with the ability to trigger and sample both of them simultaneously.@andersm - I skipped over the PIC24/33, basically straight to the PIC32MX.@nctnico - I'll have a look-see.

author: kripton2035
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 27, 2013, 10:00:40 pm
content: yes - sorry for me an arm is no more a microcontroller, it's bigger than that !I was only looking in the pic-atmel range !

author: TinkeringSteve
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 27, 2013, 10:12:12 pm
content: stm32f103 has two ADC unitsEDIT:here's a small not hugely expensive dev board that has it, in case you care (that version does not have many pins, though...)https://www.olimex.com/Products/ARM/ST/STM32-H103/

author: Skimask
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 27, 2013, 10:32:27 pm
content: I've got 3 of the Stellaris Launchpad dev boards on the bench. That's why I looked at those first, but I'm not all that familiar with them...programming/memory map/register set/etc.Mapping out the pins now to see if I can combine everything together to "fit" to that dev board.Not very familiar with the STM range either, but looking at the datasheets now.I'm also going to be wanting to feed 4 PWM modules for "DAC" outputs to give me some sine waves to work with. With any luck, one of these MCU's will have some sort of DMA module that'll be able to feed the PWM modules.Lots of stuff to look at...In case anybody is wondering, this all ties back to the analog signature analyzer I'm building. Original plan had a "master" PIC doing control/display, and a handful of "slave" PICs to the DAC, ADC, keypad scanning, relay selection, as well as 2 6 channel digital pots (AD5206 types) doing duties as gain changing in the opamps, and a handful of other things.Just changing the design over to this LM4F120H5QR chip would put every one of those PICs onto the same chip, leaving only a very small handful of external components. But, I'm still looking at other MCUs...

author: TinkeringSteve
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 27, 2013, 10:40:22 pm
content: that stm32 also has a 12bit DAC with 2 channels, which you can clock up to 1 MHz I believe (like the ADCs), I guess you won't get that resolution & sample rate with your PWM stuff :-)And it has DMA, which you can use combind with the ADC and DAC.And with the 72 MHz & 32bit, 1-cycle hardware mul & hardware div, I reckon you can also have all your PICs replaced by one of the stm32f103's.

author: Skimask
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 27, 2013, 10:43:47 pm
content: The LM4120 has 12 bit A/D, but no DAC. Don't need much for frequency at the PWM outputs, maybe 10Khz at the most.Having a look at the STM range now...

author: TinkeringSteve
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 27, 2013, 10:49:18 pm
content: In case you like what you see there:To quick-start with the stm32f10x series, there is the free (of charge) IDE called CooCox CoIDE, the nice thing isthat it lets you select the MCU variant you have (it supports most of the ST cortex m3 & m0 ones, and even some M4), and it will provide you with the correct startup code for it, and a selection of available library components, for e.g. adc, dac, timer etc etc - and list a bunch of example code files for the selected component library, with everything coming right with the IDE.It's not AAA+ code, but mostly works well enough to demonstrate how it's done ;-)The IDE is an extremely stripped down version of Eclipse, e.g.. all those crowded menus are gone.On their page are instructions how to set up the free ARM compiler for it, it's pretty easy.

author: TinkeringSteve
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 27, 2013, 10:57:39 pm
content: Btw, why is it that important that you have 2 ADCs and don't use multiplexed inputs ?I mean, if you scan rather fast, it's almost like using 2 ADCs ?There are also stm32f100 things for 2..3 bucks or so, which only have 1 ADC and can only do 24 MHz, but it may still be fast enough to capture 2 inputs "sort of at the same time" ...For that thing there are cheap dev boards from ST, like the stm32vldiscovery for 15 bucks or so, with included debugger (which can also be used to debug external (from the devboard) stm32 ICs by changing 2 jumpers.)

author: Leo Bodnar
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 27, 2013, 11:17:30 pm
content: I have used multiple 14-bit external SPI ADCs by simply paralleling their SPI CS/CLK/MOSI pins and sticking MISO pins onto a parallel port input.If you bit-bang SPI clock and read ADC data in parallel you'll have them synced to a few tens of nsec.This way you can do synchronous 8 or 16-channel ADC sampling system even on the simplest of the MCUs.Try MCP4921 or AD stuff. They are 8 pin parts.No multiplexing means no settling time, etc. Additional benefit is they have true differential inputs.Leo

author: Skimask
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 27, 2013, 11:17:54 pm
content: It's for an analog signature analyzer, with a digital twist rather than a CRT (like the Huntron Tracker 2000), measuring voltage over current, like the old octopus adapters for an o'scope.At lower frequencies, it may very well be possible to do 2 successive AD conversions on 2 different channels, and get good results. But, go to the higher frequencies, and that 2nd AD result will be somewhat skewed.With a regular ol' PIC (e.g. PIC18F types), about the best you can do is 12us between AD conversions on 2 different channels. With an input signal freq of 100hz, two successive samples spaced 12us apart are only about ~.43 degrees different. Jump up to 1Khz, and the same sampling rate ends up getting spaced out by 4.33 degrees (assuming the input signal was a sine wave). (10Khz = 43.3 degrees differences).The original plan was to use a couple of PIC12F1822's, sync'd and triggered to take samples at the same time and send the data back when selected as required. More chips, more pins, more programming...

author: Skimask
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 27, 2013, 11:19:14 pm
content: @Leo - Got an example part number?Scratch that...just did a quicky search on Digikey.MCP3001 was my first hit, and that sounds like it might not be a bad idea. A small A/D chip to keep the signal input right where it needs to be rather than running a trace/wire halfway across the PCB picking up noise.

author: Leo Bodnar
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 27, 2013, 11:30:33 pm
content: Quote from: Skimask on January 27, 2013, 11:19:14 pmYes, that's the idea! This way isolating analogue and digitals sides is so much easier.There are tonnes of them around. E.g. MCP3201 is 12-bit one. In general, search for 8-pin SPI ADC parts. Bit resolution, single-ended or differential inputs, max sampling rate is up to you!Leo

author: Niklas
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 27, 2013, 11:46:40 pm
content: I think that some of the PICs, and most probably also ARMs, STM32s, AVRs, aimed at motor control have fast ADCs that sample several signals simultaneously. Used for measuring both voltage and current to get the field vectors etc.

author: Skimask
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 28, 2013, 04:38:09 am
content: Don't really need a high sample rate..wouldn't hurt though.Overall idea is to "paint a picture" of a component/circuit rather than get real time results. e.g. sampling a 1Khz signal at 1Khz would give me the same point on the waveforms every time thru, whereas sampling at an odd rate would grab samples at different places along that waveform and eventually build up a complete picture assisted incorporating a sort of "digital phosphorescence" (is that a phrase?) in software.Even still, these signals are aren't going to be much more than 10Khz at the high end, but still could get noise injected in there...somehow, someway.@Niklas - will check into that. BLDC controller types seem like they would be the likely candidates.

author: Kremmen
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 28, 2013, 07:04:54 am
content: Quote from: Skimask on January 27, 2013, 07:33:16 pmI am familiar with Atmel processors, and at least the 8/16 bit ATXMega has the capability to sample 2 channels simultaneously. It is simple enough to apply. Of the 32 bit ones at least UC3C family has a dual ADC. It may not be the most common processor family, but i like the free development environment without any artificial restrictions. And of course for both, the actual toolchain is the familiar GCC we all know and love.

author: kripton2035
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 28, 2013, 09:24:14 am
content: simultaneous adc chips :AD7606_7606-6_7606-4.pdfAD7608.pdfAD7654 16B 2CH.pdfAD7865 14B 4CH.pdfads5204 2X10B 40MSP.pdfads8361.pdfads8364.pdfMAX11040K-MAX11060.pdfths0842 2X8B 40MSP.pdf

author: M. András
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 28, 2013, 05:37:21 pm
content: http://www.ti.com/lit/ds/symlink/ads1274.pdf, it has a 16 bit part in the same packagejust adding it to your list

author: Corporate666
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: January 29, 2013, 05:21:20 am
content: Have you checked out the Cypress PSoC?

author: kripton2035
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 29, 2013, 07:38:24 am
content: Quote from: Corporate666 on January 29, 2013, 05:21:20 amthey have 2 even 3 adc some psoc chips, but none that can do real simultaneous sampling.

author: tophathacker
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: February 01, 2013, 05:01:48 pm
content: TI's Stellaris chips are pure awesome .. you should look no further!Too bad you don't have 1.. or 4 of those on hand...... tro lolo lo lo

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 01, 2013, 05:32:31 pm
content: Too bad for you TI seems to have pulled the plug on the Stellaris devices.

author: tophathacker
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: February 01, 2013, 05:44:49 pm
content: that was kind of an inside joke but that's cool, lets run with it.Why'd they pull the plug? probably not cost effective? too many arm chips out there already? market flooded? one of their design buildings ACTUALLY flooded?

author: Skimask
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 01, 2013, 05:48:19 pm
content: Got 3 of the Stellaris eval kits sitting right next to me...if I could figure them out. Still reading the datasheets.The dual ADC on them is what really makes things simple for me.The only thing that would make it LOADS simpler is if the chip had a DAC on it.But, since it doesn't, maybe a bit of uDMA, a PWM output, a wave table in memory, and a low pass filter on the output will take care of that DAC requirement.

author: madires
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 01, 2013, 06:00:41 pm
content: Quote from: Skimask on February 01, 2013, 05:48:19 pmThe XMEGA A1 series got two 12 bit ADCs and two 12 bit DACs.

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 01, 2013, 11:12:02 pm
content: Quote from: tophathacker on February 01, 2013, 05:44:49 pmGood question. I looked at the Stellaris chips several times but never found them a good fit for any of my projects. It seems the errata sheets are also very long. Besides that JTAG programming is something I like to avoid. I once visited a seminar with about 30 other embedded programmers. When the speaker asked who doesn't like to use JTAG half the people in the room raised their hands. IOW having a bootloader which can use a serial port (UART) to download the firmware increases the market potential by 50%.

author: Unknown
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 01, 2013, 11:19:03 pm
content: Quote from: nctnico on February 01, 2013, 05:32:31 pmI think this was limited to Cortex M3 parts.

author: AlfBaz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 01, 2013, 11:23:00 pm
content: There is a couple of PIC18's that have dual 24bit sigma-delta adc's plus a 12bit SAR ads that might be worth looking intoPIC18F86J72 and PIC18F87J72

author: Skimask
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 02, 2013, 07:49:44 am
content: Quote from: madires on February 01, 2013, 06:00:41 pmNow I'm drooling a bit...Thanks for the heads up.

author: mrflibble
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 02, 2013, 10:29:52 am
content: Quote from: AlfBaz on February 01, 2013, 11:23:00 pmThat PIC18 remark made me look if there's something similar in the msp430 or stm32 range, and sure enoughthere's the MSP430AFE253with 3 simultaneous 24-bit sigma-delta ADC's. Just what I needed to pad my Mouser order.Incidentally, if 12-bit SAR is sufficient you could get for example the stm32f4 discovery board. That one has three 12-bit sar adc's on it and plenty of other goodies.

author: ptricks
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 02, 2013, 01:29:06 pm
content: Ti has the new ADC/DAC chips.http://www.ti.com/product/amc782312-Bit ADC (200kSPS):Eight Analog InputsInput Range 0 to 2 × VREFProgrammable VREF, 1.25V or 2.5VEight 12-Bit DACs (2µs Settling Time)Four Analog Input Out-of-Range AlarmsSix General-Purpose Digital I/OInternal Bandgap ReferenceOn-Chip Temperature SensorPrecision Current SourceSPI™ Interface, 3V or 5V Logic CompatibleSingle 3V to 5V SupplyPower-Down Mode/Low PowerSmall Package (QFN-40, 6 × 6 mm)

author: Skimask
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 02, 2013, 05:07:46 pm
content: UGH!!! So many options! Now if I only had the capabilities to prototype with more of the SMT packages, I'd be in REALLY good shape.

author: mrflibble
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 02, 2013, 05:51:49 pm
content: Quote from: Skimask on February 02, 2013, 05:07:46 pmHot air stations are quite affordable these days. Other than that, quite a few of the smd's listed are fairly easy to use dead bug style. Certainly up to 0.65 mm pitch. 0.5 mm gets a little finickey. Main ingredient is patience.

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 02, 2013, 11:44:50 pm
content: Not patience. Flux and a BIG soldering tip are the key to soldering fine pitch chips. Don't try to solder each pin but solder 3 or 4 pins at the same time or just move the tip along the pins (but don't push or the pins will bend or the pads may get loose!). A big tip can transfer a lot of heat so you can finish soldering before the flux wears out. It also helps to have the pads extend about 0.5mm beyond the pins.

author: kripton2035
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 03, 2013, 09:45:47 am
content: you can soldier some tiny chip (ssop or qfp) on a dip adaptor, there are plenty on the baythen you can use your tiny adapted chip on a breadboard and prototype as you want.

author: mrflibble
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 03, 2013, 11:21:09 am
content: Quote from: nctnico on February 02, 2013, 11:44:50 pmYes patience. Last time I did some dead bug style a big soldering tip would not really help, but patience did.Other than that if you already have a proper pcb to solder it on then yes, flux + big tip. But that's not what I was referring to. So dead bug style, yes patience. Because every time I do some dead bug style prototyping I do not run out of flux, nor do I run out of big soldering tips. The resource constraint always seems to be patience. ;-)Anyways, the gist of the argument is that smd parts are easy enough to handle for the hobbyist, whatever your particular chosen method.

author: KedasProbe
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 04, 2013, 06:43:04 pm
content: I'm planning to use this STM32F37x MCU in the future. (due to its 16 bit ADCs and one shared fast ADC)http://www.st.com/internet/mcu/product/253084.jsp

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 04, 2013, 08:15:07 pm
content: I'd read the datasheet very carefull when it comes to ST devices.

author: Smokey
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 24, 2017, 05:58:30 am
content: Any new thoughts on this in 2017?The TI Tiva seem to have dual ADCs.

author: JPortici
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 24, 2017, 07:17:07 am
content: microchip:one family of pic16 has 2 ADCsall dspics have one 12 bit ADC that can alternatively be used as 4 simultaneous 10 bit adcspic32mz have 5 adcspic32mx has 3 i thinkthen other pic24/dspic have dual 16 bit SAR adcto make it simple, microchip MAPS, select 2 for min adc module (though it overlooks the quad adc on the dspic)stm32:many from each family, on product selection select more than 2 ADC modulesnxp:ditto.psoc:they usually have a SAR and a delta sigmaothers, i don't know but you get the idea.

author: Siwastaja
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 24, 2017, 07:41:53 am
content: Quote from: Smokey on February 24, 2017, 05:58:30 amPick almost any STM32 (ignoring the smallest sub 1$ chips), and it seems to have dual if not triple ADC.

author: vealmike
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 24, 2017, 08:07:13 am
content: PSoCs are available with multiple ADCs. Pretty sure they are delta-sigma though which may not be appropriate for you.

author: capt bullshot
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 24, 2017, 08:16:24 am
content: The STM32Fxxx series has up to 4 parallel ADCs, Infineon XMC4xxx also up to 4If you don't want ARM Cortex, look for some Renesas RX series.Multiple simultaneous sampling ADCs is pretty much standard today.No need to go for ugly (complex and not easy to use) Sitara chips. The Tiva (TM4x) appear to be a dead end, same for the Infineon XMC series

author: Fungus
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 24, 2017, 10:29:22 am
content: Quote from: Smokey on February 24, 2017, 05:58:30 amWhy not use an external ADC? (SPI/I2C interface)There's plenty to choose from and that way you can use a favorite/cheap microcontroller. For two channels you can get them in 8-pin packages - no big deal for space and I'm sure it will be cheaper overall.

author: Siwastaja
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 24, 2017, 12:05:42 pm
content: Quote from: Fungus on February 24, 2017, 10:29:22 amWhy not, indeed, and separate ADC is probably the way to go if you can't find a suitable one with integrated ADCs. Separate may also give better performance.But, it appears that today, cheap microcontrollers -- or those I could consider calling "favorite" --, tend to have dual or triple ADCs -- unless the "favorite" means some 1990's 8-bit controller families, which, by the way, aren't any cheaper than the modern ones, some mid-range AVRs are ridiculously expensive for what they have.So, in most cases, if you just can't find a suitable MCU with dual ADCs and that's the only reason you consider going to a separate ADC, you are not looking very well at modern microcontrollers. Most modern $2-$3 MCUs do dual ADC along with a ton of other very useful peripherals that greatly simplifies CPU tasks compared to an AVR or PIC, such as DMA, which is a huge blessing from the software simplicity viewpoint, especially with multi-channel, multi-ADC.

author: Lunasix
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 24, 2017, 12:19:45 pm
content: PIC32MZxxEF has 6 (5 + 1) 12 bits ADCI use one for signal processing, with 6 output dac, and capabiity, with DMA channels, is impressive. Who said PIC are just for toys ?You can also look at MCP3903.

author: cyberfish
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 24, 2017, 12:44:56 pm
content: Quote from: Lunasix on February 24, 2017, 12:19:45 pmThat's because when most people say PIC they mean the 8-bit stuff, since that's what they are known for, by far. The 32-bit stuff isn't any simpler than other 32-bit stuff, including some very powerful ARM chips like the STM32F7. And simplicity is what draws most hobbyists to 8-bit micros. Most hobbyists don't care about the $2 price difference when they are only building a few prototypes.The ADCs on PIC32 are impressive, though. High end STM32s only have triple 12-bit 2.4Msps ADCs.

author: JPortici
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 24, 2017, 01:23:16 pm
content: Then you read the reference manual and the errata...Then you read the reference manual and the errata from their competitors and really start crying and cursing marketing departments.

author: hli
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 24, 2017, 09:12:58 pm
content: Quote from: vealmike on February 24, 2017, 08:07:13 amPSoC5 comes with dual SAR ADC and (in the bigger models) one DelSig ADC. You can easily trigger them from the same internal timer signal. In addition you can have 4 S&Hs before the ADCs, giving you 4 channels. And then you also have some OpAmps...

author: Molenaar
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 24, 2017, 10:46:36 pm
content: Beware that for the TI cortex devices simultaneous sampling will introduce an offset. It's described in the errata.

author: Howardlong
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 24, 2017, 11:48:56 pm
content: PIC32MZ EF has 5 + 1 ADCs, and they're reasonably high speed too, about 3MSa/s each for 12 bit resolution. The sixth ADC can be used similarly to the other five except its triggering works differently and also supports many multiplexed inputs.They're a bit of a bugger to configure.

author: Smokey
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 25, 2017, 12:06:06 am
content: So it's pretty funny because I'm the stereotypical engineer that used lots of 8bit PICs back in the day and was looking forward to something new.. PIC32MZ has a ton of peripherals for the price through (but no DAC dammit!)....This probably deserves it's own thread... but...What's the "real" cost of using the PIC32MZ with stuff like Ethernet and USB?Such as:1) Compiler cost?2) Ethernet stack?3) USB stack?4) etc?

author: Howardlong
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 25, 2017, 12:16:13 am
content: Biggest cost will be your time learning/fighting the Harmony framework nonsense which you pretty much have to use if you want to use Ethernet or USB.Personally I work on a hybrid way, coding up everything else in the usual way at register level with my own libraries, and let Harmony do the network and USB stacks.You can use the free compilers to do this.

author: JPortici
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 25, 2017, 12:52:31 am
content: Quote from: Howardlong on February 25, 2017, 12:16:13 amimplying it's not the same with.. say... ST. except that microchip examples usually compiles out of the box.

author: Howardlong
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 25, 2017, 09:44:13 am
content: Quote from: JPortici on February 25, 2017, 12:52:31 amI don't have any experience with ST, and presumeably you're referring to their Cube thing which as I understand it is a similar concept to harmony, and I assume it comes baggaged with the same impenetrable over engineered proprietary bug ridden strait jacketed bloat designed by computer scientists living in blinkered utopian ivory towers.The alternative for the mid-level embedded world is a simple and reasonably clean API such as that offered by NXP in LPCxpresso.The old MAL/MLA was not without its own problems, mostly around non uniform messy software stacks and hardware specific #ifdefs everywhere, but to replace one mediocre solution with a worse one is unfogiveable!

author: JPortici
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 25, 2017, 09:45:56 am
content: I am referring at ye olde hal, cube aaaand spl.The example projects (which by the way they have provided not to show functionality but because they can't write a decent datasheet that explains how to set up peripherals) should.. no MUST work out of the box. Open, compile, flash. With st even that doesn't happen

author: Siwastaja
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 02, 2017, 07:27:50 pm
content: I have no issue with STM32, but OTOH, I have refused to even try using the bloat libraries (where configuring the GPIO direction bit requires you to construct a configuration struct and pass it to a config function!).From the very start, I used STM32 series products exactly how I used Atmel AVR MCU's from the 90's: by reading the peripheral documentation, and accessing the registers I want. No issues, despite all the naysayers! It works fairly well, because most STM32 peripheral configuration registers make actually a more sense than AVR registers, for example; they have to, because there is more complexity to manage due to having order of magnitude more features.The biggest issue to me with the horror libraries is that every idiot likes using them, so any code examples and forum threads on the net are unusable and need a lot of deciphering.Silicon bugs and severe documentation errors, most often totally unmentioned on errata, are still a problem, but you live with them with every manufacturer.

author: Howardlong
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 02, 2017, 07:32:17 pm
content: It's also a nightmare to try to create and share minimal code to reproduce a problem, with Harmony even a blinky is about a dozen odd files.

author: danadak
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 03, 2017, 11:33:56 am
content: The PSOC 5LP family, some members have up to dual 12 bit SAR and a 20 bitdelsig.The SAR can be HW triggered with external clock, so that both ADC can implement simultaneoussampling.Alternatively, you can get even more channels, by using S/H onchip component. Note Ihave not done a resource count, I think you can get 4 S/H + 2 12 Bit SAR + 20 Bit DelSigas a solution. Note the sequencing SAR block uses 1 of the 2 SARs.Regards, Dana.

author: danadak
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 03, 2017, 11:39:05 am
content: For me what stands out is -1) Routability2) Fast 12 bit SAR A/D and slow 20 bit DelSig3) DFB (Digital Filter Block) that is dual channel, handle FIR or IIR filters, or DFBcan be used as a GP fast processor block, similar to RISC block4) MSI logic elements GUI based and/or the UDB Verilog capability. Eg. the FPGAlike capability5) Onboard Vref6) IDAC, VDAC, OpAmps (up to 4), comparator, mixer, switch cap, analog mux....7) LCD, COM, UART, I2C, I2S, One Wire, SPI, Parallel, LIN, CAN, BLE, USB9) Custom components capability, create with schematic capture or Verilog10) DMA to offload processes like filters, COM, Display11) ARM M0 (PSOC 4) or M3 (PSOC 5LP) or 8051 core(PSOC 3)12) Extensive clock generation capabilities13) All components supported by extensive prewritten APIshttps://www.element14.com/community/thread/23736/l/100-projects-in-100-days?displayFullThread=truehttp://www.cypress.com/documentation/code-examples/psoc-345-code-examplesGreat video libraryAttached component list. A component is an on chip HW resource.Free GUI design tool with schematic capture, "Creator". Components have rich API library attachedto each component. Compilers free as well.PSOC 4 is low end of family, consider 5LP parts as well. PSOC 4 also has arduino footprint boards (pioneer) as wellhttps://www.elektormagazine.com/labs/robot-build-with-cypress-psochttp://www.cypress.com/products/32-bit-arm-cortex-m-psocRegards, Dana.