Microchip Technology MCP3421EV Data Sheet

Page of 42
© 2009 Microchip Technology Inc.
DS22003E-page 13
MCP3421
4.9
Digital Output Codes and 
Conversion to Real Values
4.9.1
DIGITAL OUTPUT CODE FROM 
DEVICE
The digital output code is proportional to the input
voltage and PGA settings. The output data format is a
binary two’s complement. With this code scheme, the
MSB can be considered a sign indicator. When the
MSB is a logic ‘0’, the input is positive. When the MSB
is a logic ‘1’, the input is negative. The following is an
example of the output code:
a.
for a negative full scale input voltage:
100...000
Example: (V
IN
+ - V
IN
-) 
PGA = -2.048V
b.
for a zero differential input voltage: 000...000
Example: (V
IN
+ - V
IN
-) = 0
c.
for a positive full scale input voltage:
011...111
Example: (V
IN
+ - V
IN
-) 
 PGA = 2.048V
The MSB (sign bit) is always transmitted first through
the I
2
C serial data line. The resolution for each
conversion is 18, 16, 14, or 12 bits depending on the
conversion rate selection bit settings by the user.
The output codes will not roll-over even if the input volt-
age exceeds the maximum input range. In this case,
the code will be locked at 0111...11 for all voltages
greater than (V
REF
 - 1 LSB)/PGA and 1000...00 for
voltages less than -V
REF
/PGA. 
 shows an
example of output codes of various input levels for 18
bit conversion mode. 
 shows an example of
minimum and maximum output codes for each
conversion rate option.
The number of output code is given by: 
EQUATION 4-2:
The LSB of the data conversion is given by:
EQUATION 4-3:
 shows the LSB size of each conversion rate
setting. The measured unknown input voltage is
obtained by multiplying the output codes with LSB. See
the following section for the input voltage calculation
using the output codes. 
TABLE 4-1:
RESOLUTION SETTINGS VS. 
LSB
TABLE 4-2:
EXAMPLE OF OUTPUT CODE 
FOR 18 BITS (NOTE 1,NOTE 2
)
TABLE 4-3:
MINIMUM AND MAXIMUM 
OUTPUT CODES (NOTE) 
Number of Output Code 
Maximum Code
1
+
(
PGA
V
IN
+
V
IN
-
(
)
2.048V
-----------------------------------
×
×
=
Where:
See 
 for Maximum Code.
LSB
2
V
REF
×
2
N
----------------------
2
2.048V
×
2
N
--------------------------
=
=
Where:
N = User programmable bit resolution: 
12,14,16, or 18
Resolution Setting
LSB
12 bits
1 mV
14 bits
250 µV
16 bits
62.5 µV
18 bits 
15.625 µV
Input Voltage: 
[V
IN
+ - V
IN
-] • PGA
Digital Output Code
V
REF
011111111111111111
V
REF
 - 1 LSB
011111111111111111
2 LSB
000000000000000010
1 LSB
000000000000000001
0
000000000000000000
-1 LSB
111111111111111111
-2 LSB
111111111111111110
- V
REF
100000000000000000
< -V
REF
100000000000000000
Note 1: MSB is a sign indicator:
0: Positive input (V
IN
+ > V
IN
-)
1: Negative input (V
IN
+ < V
IN
-)
2: Output data format is binary two’s 
complement.
Resolution 
Setting
Data Rate
Minimum
Code
Maximum
Code
12
240 SPS
-2048
2047
14
60 SPS
-8192
8191
16
15 SPS
-32768
32767
18
3.75 SPS
-131072
131071
Note:
Maximum n-bit code = 2
N-1
 - 1
Minimum n-bit code = -1 x 2
N-1