Analog Devices’ analog microcontroller offers highest accuracy, lowest power

Analog Devices, Inc. introduced the ADuCM360, a fully integrated, 4-kSPS, 24-bit data acquisition system-on-a-chip incorporating dual, high-performance, multi-channel sigma-delta A/D converters, a 32-bit ARM CortexTMM3MCU, and flash/EE memory. This device draws 1-mA of operating current and is designed for direct interfacing to external 4- to 20-mA loop-powered precision sensors in industrial process control. Low sleep current further enhances ADuCM360 use in battery powered applications.

The ADuCM360 microcontroller core is a low power 32-bit ARM RISC machine and incorporates a flexible 11-channel DMA (direct memory access) controller supporting wired (SPI, UART, I²C) communication peripherals. In addition there are 128k bytes of non-volatile flash/EE and 8k bytes of SRAM, all integrated on-chip.

The ADuCM360 analog sub-system consists of two A/D converters connected to a flexible input multiplexer (with up to 11 input channels) and each with its own programmable gain amplifier. Both converters can operate in fully differential or single-ended modes. The ADuCM360 is ideal for applications where the second A/D converter is needed for temperature compensation on the sensor or for dual-sensor applications. Available in August will be the ADuCM361, which contains all the features of the ADuCM360 but includes only one A/D converter.

• View the ADuCM360 product page, order samples, and download the data sheet: www.analog.com/en/processors-dsp/analog-microcontrollers/aducm360/processors/product.html.
• Access the Circuits from the Lab™ reference circuit note to learn how to integrate the ADuCM360 into your design, visit: www.analog.com/en/circuits-from-the-lab/CN0221/vc.html.
• Get support at ADI’s EngineerZone™ online technical support community: www.analog.com/ezzone_precision_adcs.

“The ADuCM360 consumes just 1 mA in full operation, with both A/D converters and programmable gain amps active, making them ideal for use in 4- to 20-mA loop-powered systems,” said Leo McHugh, director Precision A/D Converters, Analog Devices. “The ADuCM360/361 delivers the industry’s highest accuracy analog conversion and more processing-per-mW of power than any other analog microcontroller solution for industrial smart sensor applications.”

ADuCM360 Analog Microcontroller Key Features and Benefits

• A complete, single-chip analog front-end including input signal conditioning, dual PGAs, voltage reference, dual 24-bit sigma-delta A/D converters and a buffered voltage-output D/A converter resulting in higher accuracy, reduced board space and lower power consumption.
• An integrated, low power, 32-bit, 20-MIPs ARM Cortex M3 core enables advanced diagnostics at a sensor node – wired or wireless – for higher accuracy measurements.
• Up to 12 programmable sensor excitation current sources from 10µA to 1mA can be used with bridge sensors and resistive temperature sensors.
• The on-chip D/A converter that can be used for 4- to 20-mA loop control.
• Supported with the low-cost QuickStartTMDevelopment Kit, which includes sample code, function libraries, compilers and emulators for faster and less expensive software development.
• Specified for a wide industrial temperature range of –40°C to +125°C.

On-chip factory firmware supports in-circuit serial download via a serial wire interface (2-pin JTAG system) and UART while non-intrusive emulation is also supported via the serial wire interface. These features are incorporated into a low-cost QuickStart™ Development Kit supporting this precision analog microcontroller family.

This new data acquisition system is available in a 48-lead, 7mm x 7mm LFCSP package and operates from a 1.8-V to 3.3-V supply.

Pricing, Availability and Complementary Products

Complementary components include ADI’s AD5700 HART modem IC, a single-chip implementation for encoding and decoding the HART communications protocol, and the AD5421 16-bit D/A converter for loop-powered smart transmitter applications.