AD9279
Rev. 0 | Page 37 of 44
SERIAL PORT INTERFACE (SPI)
The AD9279 serial port interface allows the user to configure
the signal chain for specific functions or operations through a
structured register space provided inside the chip. The SPI
offers the user added flexibility and customization, depending
on the application. Addresses are accessed via the serial port
and can be written to or read from via the port. Memory is
organized into bytes that can be further divided into fields, as
documented in the
Memory Map section. Detailed operational
information can be found in the AN-877 Application Note,
Interfacing to High Speed ADCs via SPI.
Three pins define the serial port interface, or SPI: SCLK, SDIO,
and CSB (see
Table 17). The SCLK (serial clock) pin is used to
synchronize the read and write data presented to the device. The
SDIO (serial data input/output) pin is a dual-purpose pin that
allows data to be sent to and read from the internal memory map
registers of the device. The CSB (chip select bar) pin is an active
low control that enables or disables the read and write cycles.
Table 17. Serial Port Pins
Pin
Function
SCLK
Serial clock. Serial shift clock input. SCLK is used to
synchronize serial interface reads and writes.
SDIO
Serial data input/output. Dual-purpose pin that
typically serves as an input or an output, depending
on the instruction sent and the relative position in
the timing frame.
CSB
Chip select bar (active low). This control gates the
read and write cycles.
The falling edge of CSB in conjunction with the rising edge of
SCLK determines the start of the framing sequence. During an
instruction phase, a 16-bit instruction is transmitted, followed
by one or more data bytes, which is determined by Bit Field W0
and Bit Field W1. An example of the serial timing and its defini-
During normal operation, CSB is used to signal to the device
that SPI commands are to be received and processed. When
CSB is brought low, the device processes SCLK and SDIO to
execute instructions. Normally, CSB remains low until the
communication cycle is complete. However, if connected to a
slow device, CSB can be brought high between bytes, allowing
older microcontrollers enough time to transfer data into shift
registers. CSB can be stalled when transferring one, two, or three
bytes of data. When W0 and W1 are set to 11, the device enters
streaming mode and continues to process data, either reading
or writing, until CSB is taken high to end the communication
cycle. This allows complete memory transfers without the need
for additional instructions. Regardless of the mode, if CSB is taken
high in the middle of a byte transfer, the SPI state machine is
reset and the device waits for a new instruction.
In addition to the operation modes, the SPI port can be configured
to operate in different manners. For applications that do not
require a control port, the CSB line can be tied and held high.
This places the remainder of the SPI pins in their secondary
can also be tied low to enable 2-wire mode. When CSB is tied
low, SCLK and SDIO are the only pins required for communication.
Although the device is synchronized during power-up, caution
must be exercised when using this mode to ensure that the
serial port remains synchronized with the CSB line. When
operating in 2-wire mode, it is recommended that a 1-, 2-, or
3-byte transfer be used exclusively. Without an active CSB line,
streaming mode can be entered but not exited.
In addition to word length, the instruction phase determines
whether the serial frame is a read or write operation, allowing
the serial port to be used to both program the chip and to read
the contents of the on-chip memory. If the instruction is a read-
back operation, performing a readback causes the serial data
input/output (SDIO) pin to change direction from an input to
an output at the appropriate point in the serial frame.
Data can be sent in MSB first mode or LSB first mode. MSB
first mode is the default at power-up and can be changed by
adjusting the configuration register. For more information
Interfacing to High Speed ADCs via SPI.
HARDWARE INTERFACE
The pins described in
Table 17 constitute the physical interface
between the user’s programming device and the serial port of
the AD9279. The SCLK and CSB pins function as inputs when
using the SPI. The SDIO pin is bidirectional, functioning as an
input during write phases and as an output during readback.
If multiple SDIO pins share a common connection, ensure that
proper VOH levels are met. Figure 68 shows the number of SDIO pins that can be connected together and the resulting VOH level,
assuming the same load for each AD9279.
09
42
3-
0
68
NUMBER OF SDIO PINS CONNECTED TOGETHER
V
OH
(V
)
1.715
1.720
1.725
1.730
1.735
1.740
1.745
1.750
1.755
1.760
1.765
1.770
1.775
1.780
1.785
1.790
1.795
1.800
030
20
10
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
Figure 68. SDIO Pin Loading