Performance-Based Assessments for Digital Circuit Competencies

In this activity, students are asked to figure out the details of configuring the ADC: what power supply voltage to use, what resistor values, etc. The best source for this information is the ADC’s datasheet!

For those students who have trouble figuring out how to calculate resolution, I recommend the following formula:

Where,

V_range = “Span” of analog voltage input (how many volts of range it has from 00000000 to 11111111)

n = Number of output bits for the ADC

Here, I let students choose appropriate values for R_pulldown and R_limit, rather than specify them as given conditions.

Here, I let students design and build their own transistor drive circuit to interpose between the MCU and the DC motor.