Analog Outputs

Uses

Analog outputs can be used for

d'Arsonval movements (meter movements, eg used in analog multimeters)
dimmable Lamps
speed controllers, eg for fans (avionics cooling comes to mind :)
valves
other actuators
speakers (eg. used in CD players and MP3 players) and others

In connection with a modulation scheme, it can be used eg. to control air-core instruments (like those found on a car dashboard).

Ways to generate an analog voltage from a digital signal

PWM, Pulse Width Modulation (this is the method discussed here and used by PHCC)
R2R Ladder, basically a bunch of (precision) resistors connected together in a way that looks like a ladder. Built from Resistors of two values, R and 2R (ie twice the value of the first).

For more detals see the DAC section on allaboutcircuits.com

PWM generated analog voltages

In most cases, when Digital-to-Analog is required, PWM (pulse width modulation) can be used as the method to generate these voltages.

PWM is usually the cheapest and easiest method for this. However, PWM is still only 0 Volts or it is 5Volts (for TTL level logic). The key is to calculate the average voltage of the PWM pulse. Often there is a low pass filter between the PWM output pin and the analog out terminal. This low pass filter "smoothes" the signal so it looks more like a real analog voltage than a bunch of HIGH/LOW pulses.

Nowadays, PWM is used for many purposes, here are just a few:

switched power supply
speed control of several different kinds of motors, DC, AC, three-phase
stepping motors: current limiting, speed control, and microstepping
servo control
battery charging
brightness control for lamps and LEDs
and others

Available or planned PHCC Analog Out Daughterboards

DOA_AnOut1

Features:

16 channels
8 bit resolution
uses DOA protocol
primarily for d'Arsonval type of instruments
other light loads can also be controlled with the built-in transistor outputs, eg to control cooling fan speed or dimmable lamps.
open collector outputs, max 45V (or more, depending on transistor)
software controllable refresh rate (usually called "PWM period")

Schematic and Layout

Rev.0B

Rev.0B Schematic

Rev.0B Layout

Rev.0C

Rev. Schematic

Rev. Layout

Assembly Instructions

Formats available:

all in one big HTML page: AnOut1_assembly_tutorial.html
PDF version: AnOut1_assembly_tutorial.pdf

Bill of Materials

see download page.

Eagle and Gerber files