Analog Output Basics and Applications: D/A Boards are Ideal for PID Loop Control

A Digital-to-Analog (D/A) converter is the basic component of an analog output board. All of our Analog Output boards work in the same manner. The full-scale output range is usually divided into 4096 steps (2¹² for 12-bit resolution) or 65536 steps (2¹⁶ for 16-bit resolution). For example, a 12-bit word (which corresponds to the desired number of steps out of 4096), is written to an address register for each analog output port on the board. The speed at which you write data to this register becomes the rate at which you can update the analog output voltage level. Control of your waveform frequency is determined by the timing of your software loop. Because each analog output channel maintains a constant level until the next time the output register is updated, analog output boards are perfect for common applications like PID control. D/A boards are not designed to output precise waveshapes, though they can be used to generate waveforms with well-written software. They maintain a constant output level unless instructed otherwise.

Need just a couple of D/A channels? Many of our Analog Input boards have analog outputs, as well. Each instruNet™ box has 8 analog output channels, most of our WIN boards have 4 D/A channels. Some of our CyDAS™, PCIDAQ™, PMF, & PC-series cards also include D/A channels.