PicBasic Pro code to drive MCP4291 DAC?

[jellis00]

Can anyone point me to posts/tutorials for PicBasic Pro code to drive MCP4291 DAC? I did an advanced search of the Forum using keywork DAC and came up empty. Will probably be using a PIC16F676 to control the MCP4291 DAC.

[ScaleRobotics]

Hi jellis00

Here's an example in basic (but the wrong basic) for the MCP4921. It's a little past half way through:

http://www.mikroe.com/eng/chapters/v...r-13-examples/

[aajgss]

This is what I have used to produce 3 sinewaves out of 3 MCP4921 DACs. Cant find an MCP4291

include "modedefs.bas"
ANSEL      = %00000000 'Disable analog inputs Channels 0 to 7
ANSELH     = %00000000 'Disable analog inputs Channels 8 to 11
WPUB       = %00000000 'Disable weak pull-ups
ADCON0     = %00000000 'A/D Module is OFF
CM1CON0    = %00000000 'Comparator1 Module is OFF
CM2CON0    = %00000000 'Comparator2 Module is OFF
INTCON     = %00000000 'INTerrupts CONtrol
TRISA      = %00000000 'Set Input/Output (0 to 5)
PORTA      = %00000000 'Ports High/Low (0 to 5)
TRISB      = %00000000 'Set Input/Output (4 to 7)
PORTB      = %00000000 'Ports High/Low (4 to 7)
TRISC      = %01000000 'Set Input/Output (0 to 7)
PORTC      = %01000000 'Ports High/Low (0 to 7)
addr var word [90]
addr[1]=2139
addr[2]=2278
addr[3]=2415
addr[4]=2551
addr[5]=2684
addr[6]=2813
addr[7]=2938
addr[8]=3059
addr[9]=3175
addr[10]=3285
addr[11]=3389
addr[12]=3486
addr[13]=3576
addr[14]=3658
addr[15]=3732
addr[16]=3797
addr[17]=3854
addr[18]=3902
addr[19]=3940
addr[20]=3969
addr[21]=3989
addr[22]=3998
addr[23]=3998
addr[24]=3989
addr[25]=3969
addr[26]=3940
addr[27]=3902
addr[28]=3854
addr[29]=3797
addr[30]=3732
addr[31]=3658
addr[32]=3576
addr[33]=3486
addr[34]=3389
addr[35]=3285
addr[36]=3175
addr[37]=3059
addr[38]=2938
addr[39]=2813
addr[40]=2684
addr[41]=2551
addr[42]=2415
addr[43]=2278
addr[44]=2139
addr[45]=2002
addr[46]=1861
addr[47]=1722
addr[48]=1585
addr[49]=1449
addr[50]=1316
addr[51]=1187
addr[52]=1062
addr[53]=941
addr[54]=825
addr[55]=715
addr[56]=611
addr[57]=514
addr[58]=424
addr[59]=342
addr[60]=268
addr[61]=203
addr[62]=146
addr[63]=98
addr[64]=60
addr[65]=31
addr[66]=11
addr[67]=2
addr[68]=2
addr[69]=11
addr[70]=31
addr[71]=60
addr[72]=98
addr[73]=146
addr[74]=203
addr[75]=268
addr[76]=342
addr[77]=424
addr[78]=514
addr[79]=611
addr[80]=715
addr[81]=825
addr[82]=941
addr[83]=1062
addr[84]=1187
addr[85]=1316
addr[86]=1449
addr[87]=1585
addr[88]=1722
addr[89]=1861
addr[90]=1996

                        
'-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
' Variables
SCK     VAR PORTB.6 'Clock pin
CS1     VAR PORTC.0 'Chip Select Active low
CS2     VAR PORTC.1
CS3     VAR PORTC.2
SDO     VAR PORTC.7 'Data Out pin
FREQ    VAR BYTE
SWITCH  VAR PORTC.6
counter    VAR word    
 highbit var word
 lbit var highbit.byte0
 hbit var highbit.byte1
'-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
START:
IF SWITCH THEN 
FREQ = 35 
ELSE 
FREQ = 185
ENDIF  
 for counter  = 1 to 90
  highbit = addr[counter] +20480
  
low cs1
 SHIFTOUT SDO,SCK,msbfirst,[hbit]
 SHIFTOUT SDO,SCK,msbfirst,[lbit]
high cs1 
PAUSEUS FREQ
low cs2
 SHIFTOUT SDO,SCK,msbfirst,[hbit]
 SHIFTOUT SDO,SCK,msbfirst,[lbit]
high cs2 
PAUSEUS FREQ
low cs3
 SHIFTOUT SDO,SCK,msbfirst,[hbit]
 SHIFTOUT SDO,SCK,msbfirst,[lbit]
high cs3 
PAUSEUS FREQ
 next counter
  counter=1
GOTO START:
END

regards
aajgss

[mark_s]

Here's another example like aajgss's for the MCP4921. It generates a sine or cosine wave.
Would like to try speeding it up, using the MSSI or MSSp modules. If anyone has an idea for this
please post.

'****************************************************************
'*  Name    : DAC_MCP4921_WAVE.PBP                              *
'*  Author  : MARK S                                         *
'*  Date    : 4/30/2011                                         *
'*  Version : 1.0                                               *
'*  Notes   : DEMO 12BIT DAC MCP4921 - OUTPUTS SINE OR COSINE WAVE  *
'*          : FIXED FREQUENCY SHIFTOUT VERY SLOW, TRY MSSP MODULE                                                 *
'****************************************************************
'PIC18F4680   PBP2.6, MPASM
DEFINE  OSC 20
'REGISTERS
    INTCON = %00000000
    INTCON2.7 = 0       'weak pullups portB
    'ADCON0 = %00000001 'A/D module enabled, channel 0
    ADCON1 =%00001111   'ALL DIGITAL
    'ADCON2 = %10101011 'Right justified, 12 Tad, Frc clock
    CMCON  =%00000111   'COMP OFF
    T3CON = 0
    CCP1CON = 0 'ECCP OFF
    ECCP1AS = 0
    ECCP1DEL = 0
'PORTS
 TRISA = %00000000  ' PORTA ALL OUTPUT
 TRISB = %00000000  ' PORTB   
 TRISC = %00000000  ' PortC TMR1 RC0 = INPUT
 TRISD = %00000000   
    TRISE = %00000111
'VARIABLES & DAC CONNECTIONS  VREF PIN6 4921 TIED TO +5V
    SCLK        VAR PORTD.0      'SPI CLOCK   PIN3 4921
    SDAT        VAR PORTD.1      'SPI DATA    PIN4 4921
    CS_DAC      VAR PORTD.2      'Chip select PIN2 4921
    LOAD_DAC    VAR PORTD.3      'PIN5 4921
    WAVE_INDEX  VAR WORD         'TABLE POINTER
    DAC_OUT     VAR WORD         '0-4095 OUTPUT 0 TO 5V, value returned from table

MAIN:
HIGH LOAD_DAC
HIGH CS_DAC
FOR WAVE_INDEX = 0 TO 255
'GOSUB COS_TABLE
GOSUB SINE_TABLE
'PAUSEUS 500  'LOWER OUTPUT FREQ
'----------------------
LOW CS_DAC 
SHIFTOUT SDAT,SCLK,1,[%0011,DAC_OUT\12] 'Set DAC out
HIGH CS_DAC
LOW LOAD_DAC
@   NOP
HIGH LOAD_DAC
'----------------------
NEXT WAVE_INDEX
GOTO MAIN
SINE_TABLE:
                  
lookup2 WAVE_INDEX, [0,1,2,6,10,15,22,30,39,50,61,74,88,103,120,137,156,_
        176, 197,219,242,266,291,318,345,374,403,433,465,497,_
        531,565,600,636,673,710,749,788,828,869,910,952,995,_
        1039,1083,1127,1172,1218,1264,1311,1358,1406,1453,1502,1550,1599,_
        1648,1698,1747,1797,1847,1897,1948,1998,2048,2098,2148,2199,2249,_
        2299,2349,2398,2448,2497,2546,2594,2643,2690,2738,2785,2832,2878,_
        2924,2969,3013,3057,3101,3144,3186,3227,3268,3308,3347,3386,3423,_
        3460,3496,3531,3565,3599,3631,3663,3693,3722,3751,3778,3805,3830,_
        3854,3877,3899,3920,3940,3959,3976,3993,4008,4022,4035,4046,4057,_
        4066,4074,4081,4086,4090,4094,4095,4095,4095,4094,4090,4086,4081,_
        4074,4066,4057,4046,4035,4022,4008,3993,3976,3959,3940,3920,3899,_
        3877,3854,3830,3805,3778,3751,3722,3693,3663,3631,3599,3565,3531,_
        3496,3460,3423,3386,3347,3308,3268,3227,3186,3144,3101,3057,3013,_
        2969,2924,2878,2832,2785,2738,2690,2643,2594,2546,2497,2448,2398,_
        2349,2299,2249,2199,2148,2098,2048,1998,1948,1897,1847,1797,1747,_
        1698,1648,1599,1550,1502,1453,1406,1358,1311,1264,1218,1172,1127,_
        1083,1039,995,952,910,869,828,788,749,710,673,636,600,_
        565,531,497,465,433,403,374,345,318,291,266,242,219,_
        197,176,156,137,120,103,88,74,61,50,39,30,22,15,10,6,_
        2,1],DAC_OUT
        
 RETURN
 
 COS_TABLE:
 lookup2 WAVE_INDEX, [4095,4095,4094,4090,4086,4081,_
        4074,4066,4057,4046,4035,4022,4008,3993,3976,3959,3940,3920,3899,_
        3877,3854,3830,3805,3778,3751,3722,3693,3663,3631,3599,3565,3531,_
        3496,3460,3423,3386,3347,3308,3268,3227,3186,3144,3101,3057,3013,_
        2969,2924,2878,2832,2785,2738,2690,2643,2594,2546,2497,2448,2398,_
        2349,2299,2249,2199,2148,2098,2048,1998,1948,1897,1847,1797,1747,_
        1698,1648,1599,1550,1502,1453,1406,1358,1311,1264,1218,1172,1127,_
        1083,1039,995,952,910,869,828,788,749,710,673,636,600,_
        565,531,497,465,433,403,374,345,318,291,266,242,219,_
        197,176,156,137,120,103,88,74,61,50,39,30,22,15,10,6,_
        2,1,0,1,2,6,10,15,22,30,39,50,61,74,88,103,120,137,156,_         
        176, 197,219,242,266,291,318,345,374,403,433,465,497,_
        531,565,600,636,673,710,749,788,828,869,910,952,995,_
        1039,1083,1127,1172,1218,1264,1311,1358,1406,1453,1502,1550,1599,_
        1648,1698,1747,1797,1847,1897,1948,1998,2048,2098,2148,2199,2249,_
        2299,2349,2398,2448,2497,2546,2594,2643,2690,2738,2785,2832,2878,_
        2924,2969,3013,3057,3101,3144,3186,3227,3268,3308,3347,3386,3423,_
        3460,3496,3531,3565,3599,3631,3663,3693,3722,3751,3778,3805,3830,_
        3854,3877,3899,3920,3940,3959,3976,3993,4008,4022,4035,4046,4057,_
        4066,4074,4081,4086,4090,4094,4095],DAC_OUT
        
 RETURN
 END

[aajgss]

Mark_s

What speed are you looking for?
Mine was running at about 9 Hz on an 18F14K50. By setting Config1 to $F100 I now get around 70hZ which is what I was after.

aajgss

[mark_s]

aajgss,
I was getting similar frequencies as you, at 20mhz and 40mhz clock settings. My lookup table has 256
values, so it takes long time to cycle. I going to try the MSSP tonight and see what is gained. I know a dspic running at 80mhz can output about 4khz with the same dac and MSSP. So I am trying for 1 to 2khz. Maybe a pipe dream? I'll post the code if it works.

regards

[aajgss]

Mark_s

I'll be interested in how you go. I did try the MSSP and actually got slower. I know it was the code I had written, because its just logical it should be faster and was going to continue with it to see if I could find my error(s), but the change to the CONFIG1 gave me the frequency I wanted. If I could get it faster and use 2 degree steps instead of 4 degree steps it would be better.

regards
aajgss

[mark_s]

Okay I hammered out a routine to use the MSSP module. It gave me
a 6x speed increase over shiftout. I'm just a hack so there maybe a
better way to do it.
Results:
Shiftout MSSP
10mhz 10hz 66hz
20mhz 21hz 117hz
40mhz 42hz 2 63hz
80mhz 83hz 526hz
The 80mhz is 20mhz crystal 4xpll, overclocking probably not reliable? but worked!

'****************************************************************
'*  Name    : DAC_12BIT_MSSP                                    *
'*  Author  : MARK S                                            *
'*  Date    : 6/9/2011
'* SINE WAVE GENERATOR USING MCP4921 12BIT DAC                  *
'* USES MSSP MODULE vs SHIFTOUT                                 *
'* PIC18F4680, PBP2.6 MPASM                                     *
'*                                                              *
'****************************************************************
DEFINE  OSC 20
'REGISTER SET
INTCON = %00000000
INTCON2.7 = 0       'weak pullups portB
ADCON1 =%00001111   'ALL DIGITAL
CMCON  =%00000111   'COMP OFF
T3CON = 0
CCP1CON = 0 'ECCP OFF
ECCP1AS = 0
ECCP1DEL = 0
SSPSTAT = %00000000   'TX IDLE LOW,SAMPLE MIDDLE
SSPCON1 = %00100000 ' ENABLE MSSP,CLK IDLE LOW,FOSC/4
'-----------------------------------------------------
'PORTS
 TRISA = %00000000  ' PORTA ALL OUTPUT        ' 
 TRISB = %00000000  ' PORTB  
 PORTB = %00000000  ' CLEAR PORTB 
 TRISC = %00000000  ' PortC 
 TRISD = %00000000   
    TRISE = %00000000
'----------------------------------------------------
'DAC CONNECTIONS  
'VREF     PIN6 MCP4921 TIED TO +5V
'CLOCK    PIN3 MCP4921 TO PORTC.3  "SCK"
'DATA     PIN4 MCP4921 TO PORTC.5  "SDO"
'CS       PIN2 MCP4921 TO PORTD.2
'LOAD     PIN5 MCP4921 TO PORTD.3   CONNECT THIS TO GROUND TO SAVE A PORT PIN
'--------------------------------------------------
'VARIABLES 
CS_DAC      VAR PORTD.2
LOAD_DAC    VAR PORTD.3    'KEEP LOW
WAVE_INDEX  VAR WORD
DAC_OUT     VAR WORD       
DAC_OUT1    VAR WORD       
SSPIF       VAR PIR1.3     ' SPI interrupt flag
'----------------------------------------------------
'START    
SSPBUF = 0          ' CLEAR SPI BUFFER
SSPIF = 0           ' CLEAR SPI INTERUPT FLAG.
LOW LOAD_DAC
'===================================================================   
MAIN:
HIGH CS_DAC
FOR WAVE_INDEX = 0 TO 255
          
GOSUB SINE_TABLE
    LOW CS_DAC 
      DAC_OUT1 =$3000 | DAC_OUT   ' Combine table value with dac reg control
            SSPBUF = DAC_OUT1.HIGHBYTE  'SEND HIGH 
            While SSPIF = 0            ' WAIT FOR TX TO COMPLETE
                Wend 
                SSPIF = 0               'RESET INT FLAG
            SSPBUF = DAC_OUT1.LOWBYTE   'SEND LOW
            While SSPIF = 0            ' WAIT FOR TX TO COMPLETE   
                Wend
                SSPIF = 0               'RESET INT FLAG
    HIGH CS_DAC
NEXT WAVE_INDEX
GOTO MAIN
   
SINE_TABLE:
                   
lookup2 WAVE_INDEX, [0,1,2,6,10,15,22,30,39,50,61,74,88,103,120,137,156,_
        176, 197,219,242,266,291,318,345,374,403,433,465,497,_
        531,565,600,636,673,710,749,788,828,869,910,952,995,_
        1039,1083,1127,1172,1218,1264,1311,1358,1406,1453,1502,1550,1599,_
        1648,1698,1747,1797,1847,1897,1948,1998,2048,2098,2148,2199,2249,_
        2299,2349,2398,2448,2497,2546,2594,2643,2690,2738,2785,2832,2878,_
        2924,2969,3013,3057,3101,3144,3186,3227,3268,3308,3347,3386,3423,_
        3460,3496,3531,3565,3599,3631,3663,3693,3722,3751,3778,3805,3830,_
        3854,3877,3899,3920,3940,3959,3976,3993,4008,4022,4035,4046,4057,_
        4066,4074,4081,4086,4090,4094,4095,4095,4095,4094,4090,4086,4081,_
        4074,4066,4057,4046,4035,4022,4008,3993,3976,3959,3940,3920,3899,_
        3877,3854,3830,3805,3778,3751,3722,3693,3663,3631,3599,3565,3531,_
        3496,3460,3423,3386,3347,3308,3268,3227,3186,3144,3101,3057,3013,_
        2969,2924,2878,2832,2785,2738,2690,2643,2594,2546,2497,2448,2398,_
        2349,2299,2249,2199,2148,2098,2048,1998,1948,1897,1847,1797,1747,_
        1698,1648,1599,1550,1502,1453,1406,1358,1311,1264,1218,1172,1127,_
        1083,1039,995,952,910,869,828,788,749,710,673,636,600,_
        565,531,497,465,433,403,374,345,318,291,266,242,219,_
        197,176,156,137,120,103,88,74,61,50,39,30,22,15,10,6,_
        2,1],DAC_OUT
        
 RETURN
 END

[rmteo]

I don't know what the OP's application is but using a PIC and a serial DAC (MCP4921) to generate sine waves is extremely inefficient. It consumes a tremendous amount of CPU resources and gives very poor performance - limited frequency range and resolution. Using a DDS chip such as the AD8937 (which incidentally costs about the same as then MCP4921) allows you to generate sine (and triangle and square) waveforms from 0-16MHz with 0.06Hz (28-bit) resolution. For low frequency applications (such as VFDs) you can use a lower speed clock - with a 1MHz clock you get 0-1MHz and 0.004Hz resolution. It uses the same SPI interface as the MCP4921 and the slowest 4MHz PIC will still be able to generate up to a 16MHz sine wave.

[gadelhas]

I don't know what the OP's application is but using a PIC and a serial DAC (MCP4921) to generate sine waves is extremely inefficient. It consumes a tremendous amount of CPU resources and gives very poor performance - limited frequency range and resolution. Using a DDS chip such as the AD8937 (which incidentally costs about the same as then MCP4921) allows you to generate sine (and triangle and square) waveforms from 0-16MHz with 0.06Hz (28-bit) resolution. For low frequency applications (such as VFDs) you can use a lower speed clock - with a 1MHz clock you get 0-1MHz and 0.004Hz resolution. It uses the same SPI interface as the MCP4921 and the slowest 4MHz PIC will still be able to generate up to a 16MHz sine wave.

rmteo, isn't AD9837?

[rmteo]

Yes, it is AD9837. Sorry for the typo.

[gadelhas]

Very interesting chip....

[mark_s]

rmteo,
You are correct an spi dac is not suited for generating sine waves. My goal was to
learn how to use this dac, which I did. I have used the AD9835 and AD9850 which are lower
resolution versions of the AD9837, which you mentioned. The 28 bits of resolution is fantastic and
I may request a sample since Digikey and Mouser don't stock the AD9837 yet.

Regards

[jellis00]

Here's another example like aajgss's for the MCP4921. It generates a sine or cosine wave.
Would like to try speeding it up, using the MSSI or MSSp modules. If anyone has an idea for this
please post.

Thank you aajgss and mark_s. I should have been more specific in my original post, but I am not using the DAC to generate sinusoidal, triangular or square waveforms. All I am doing is outputing an analog voltage value that equates to a calculation performed by the MCU. So I don't think I need the complexity of a look-up table for generating an output analog waveform. Instead, I am just looking for example code to output an analog voltage by the DAC that will change in value relatively slowly every 20 to 100 msecs. Anyone have suggestion as to how to do this, or better yet example PICBASIC Pro code? Oh, and BTW, the DAC I am using is an MCP4921 not a MCP4291 (typo on my part).

[aajgss]

Good stuff Mark_s

I tried your code and got a slightly faster speed than before. The difference being I was doing 360 Degrees in 90 steps where yours is 360 degrees in 510 steps so you code has sped it up by neary 6 times.

Thanks
aajgss

[kmsharaf]

Has Anyone used AD9837 and got programmable pure sine wave above 10MHz?

[Normnet]

Would the PIC16F178X with 16 bit PWM be of any help with this application?


Norm

[ascpicforum]

jellis00, i am trying to get the same code for the mcp4921 to output 0-5v. Did you ever find the sample code to do this?