1

INTRODUCTION
Avoltmeterfindsitsimportancewherevervoltageistobemeasured.
Avoltmeterisaninstrumentusedformeasuringtheelectricalpotentialdifference
betweentwopointsinanelectriccircuit.Analogvoltmetersmoveapointeracrossa
scaleinproportiontothevoltageofthecircuit.Generalpurposeanalogvoltmetersmay
haveanaccuracyofafewpercentoffullscale,andareusedwithvoltagesfroma
fractionofavolttoseveralthousandvolts.
Digitalvoltmetersgiveanumericaldisplayofvoltagebyuseofanalogtodigital
converter.Digitalmeterscanbemadewithhighaccuracy,typicallybetterthan1%.
Speciallycalibratedtestinstrumentshavehigheraccuracies,withlaboratoryinstruments
capableofmeasuringtoaccuraciesofafewpartspermillion.Meters
usingamplifierscanmeasuretinyvoltagesofmicrovoltsorless.Digitalvoltmeters
(DVMs)areusuallydesignedaroundaspecialtypeofanalogtodigitalconvertercalled
anintegratingconverter.Voltmeteraccuracyisaffectedbymanyfactors,including
temperatureandsupplyvoltagevariations.Toensurethatadigitalvoltmeter'sreadingis
withinthemanufacturer'sspecifiedtolerances,theyshouldbeperiodicallycalibrated.
Digitalvoltmetersnecessarilyhaveinputamplifiers,and,likevacuumtubevoltmeters,
generallyhaveaconstantinputresistanceof10megaohmsregardlessofset
measurementrange.
ThisprojectaimsatbuildingaDigitalVoltmeterusingan8051microcontroller.Allthe
dataaccessedandprocessedbythemicrocontrolleristhedigitaldata.Andthus,the
usageofananalogtodigitalconverterfindsitsnecessityhere.Astandardanalogto
digitalconverterADC0804isusedinthecurrentproject.Theinputvoltage(whichisthe
analoginput)isrestrictedtobeintherangeof015V.Theprocesseddatainthe8051is
usedtodriveadisplayoutputonaLCDdisplayunit.Thedisplayisintheformofdigits
andisaccuratetoavalueofonedecimal.TheinputvoltageisdesiredtobethatofaDC
voltageforsteadyobservationsofthevoltagevalueontheLCDpanel.Rather,ifanAC
inputvoltageisgivenattheinputterminals,theoutputvariesindefinitelyasisthe
natureofACvoltage.Thus,theinstantaneousvalueoftheACvoltageisnotsteadily
shownontheLCDpanel.

COMPONENTS
FollowingistheentiresetofthecomponentsusedtobuildtheDigitalVoltmeter:
1. Microcontroller,AT89S52

2. AnalogtoDigitalConverter,ADC0804

3. 16x1LCD

4. Oscillatorcircuitforthemicrocontroller
4.1 12MHzCrystalCapacitor
4.2 33pFCapacitors

5. Voltagedividercircuit/Inputterminals
5.1 200k,100kResistors
5.2 100nFCapacitor

6. ADCClockCircuit
6.1 10kResistor
6.2 150pFCapacitor

7. 100kPotentiometer(toadjustthebacklightoftheLCD)

DescriptionoftheComponentsused

Microcontroller,AT89S52
TheAT89S51isalowpower,highperformanceCMOS8bitmicrocontrollerwith4K
bytesofInSystemProgrammableFlashmemory.Thedeviceismanufacturedusing
Atmelshighdensitynonvolatilememorytechnologyandiscompatiblewiththe
industrystandard80C51instructionsetandpinout.TheonchipFlashallowsthe
programmemorytobereprogrammedinsystemorbyaconventionalnonvolatile
memoryprogrammer.Bycombiningaversatile8bitCPUwithInSystemProgrammable
Flashonamonolithicchip,theAtmelAT89S51isapowerfulmicrocontrollerwhich
providesahighlyflexibleandcosteffectivesolutiontomanyembeddedcontrol
applications.TheAT89S51providesthefollowingstandardfeatures:4KbytesofFlash,
128bytesofRAM,32I/Olines,Watchdogtimer,twodatapointers,two16bit
timer/counters,afivevectortwolevelinterruptarchitecture,afullduplexserialport,
onchiposcillator,andclockcircuitry.
Inaddition,theAT89S51isdesignedwithstaticlogicforoperationdowntozero
frequencyandsupportstwosoftwareselectablepowersavingmodes.TheIdlemode
stopstheCPUwhileallowingtheRAM,timer/counters,serialport,andinterruptsystem
tocontinuefunctioning.ThePowerdownmodesavestheRAMcontentsbutfreezes
theoscillator,disablingallotherchipfunctionsuntilthenextexternalinterruptor
hardwarereset.
PinconfigurationoftheAT89S52isasfollows:
40LeadPDIP

VCCSupplyvoltage.
GNDGround.
Port0Port0isan8bitopendrainbidirectionalI/Oport.Asanoutputport,eachpin
cansinkeightTTLinputs.When1sarewrittentoport0pins,thepinscanbeusedas
highimpedanceinputs.Port0canalsobeconfiguredtobethemultiplexedloworder
address/databusduringaccessestoexternalprogramanddatamemory.Inthismode,
P0hasinternalpullups.Port0alsoreceivesthecodebytesduringFlashprogramming
andoutputsthecodebytesduringprogramverification.Externalpullupsarerequired
duringprogramverification.

Port1Port1isan8bitbidirectionalI/Oportwithinternalpullups.ThePort1output
bufferscansink/sourcefourTTLinputs.When1sarewrittentoPort1pins,theyare
pulledhighbytheinternalpullupsandcanbeusedasinputs.Asinputs,Port1pinsthat
areexternallybeingpulledlowwillsourcecurrent(IIL)becauseoftheinternalpullups.
Port1alsoreceivestheloworderaddressbytesduringFlashprogrammingand
verification.

P1.5MOSI(usedforInSystemProgramming)
P1.6MISO(usedforInSystemProgramming)
P1.7SCK(usedforInSystemProgramming)

Port2Port2isan8bitbidirectionalI/Oportwithinternalpullups.ThePort2output
bufferscansink/sourcefourTTLinputs.When1sarewrittentoPort2pins,theyare
pulledhighbytheinternalpullupsandcanbeusedasinputs.Asinputs,Port2pinsthat
areexternallybeingpulledlowwillsourcecurrent(IIL)becauseoftheinternalpullups.
Port2emitsthehighorderaddressbyteduringfetchesfromexternalprogrammemory
andduringaccessestoexternaldatamemorythatuse16bitaddresses(MOVX@DPTR).
Inthisapplication,Port2usesstronginternalpullupswhenemitting1s.Duringaccesses
toexternaldatamemorythatuse8bitaddresses(MOVX@RI),Port2emitsthe
contentsoftheP2SpecialFunctionRegister.Port2alsoreceivesthehighorderaddress
bitsandsomecontrolsignalsduringFlashprogrammingandverification.

Port3Port3isan8bitbidirectionalI/Oportwithinternalpullups.ThePort3output
bufferscansink/sourcefourTTLinputs.When1sarewrittentoPort3pins,theyare
pulledhighbytheinternalpullupsandcanbeusedasinputs.Asinputs,Port3pinsthat
areexternallybeingpulledlowwillsourcecurrent(IIL)becauseofthepullups.Port3
receivessomecontrolsignalsforFlashprogrammingandverification.Port3alsoserves
thefunctionsofvariousspecialfeaturesoftheAT89S51,asshowninthefollowingtable.
Alternatefunctionsofport3,
P3.0RXD(serialinputport)
P3.1TXD(serialoutputport)
P3.2INT0(externalinterrupt0)
P3.3INT1(externalinterrupt1)
P3.4T0(timer0externalinput)
P3.5T1(timer1externalinput)
P3.6WR(externaldatamemorywritestrobe)
P3.7RD(externaldatamemoryreadstrobe)

RSTResetinput.Ahighonthispinfortwomachinecycleswhiletheoscillatoris
runningresetsthedevice.ThispindrivesHighfor98oscillatorperiodsafterthe
Watchdogtimesout.TheDISRTObitinSFRAUXR(address8EH)canbeusedtodisable
thisfeature.InthedefaultstateofbitDISRTO,theRESETHIGHoutfeatureisenabled.

ALE/PROGAddressLatchEnable(ALE)isanoutputpulseforlatchingthelowbyteof
theaddressduringaccessestoexternalmemory.Thispinisalsotheprogrampulseinput
(PROG)duringFlashprogramming.Innormaloperation,ALEisemittedataconstant
rateof1/6theoscillatorfrequencyandmaybeusedforexternaltimingorclocking
purposes.Note,however,thatoneALEpulseisskippedduringeachaccesstoexternal
datamemory.Ifdesired,ALEoperationcanbedisabledbysettingbit0ofSFRlocation
8EH.Withthebitset,ALEisactiveonlyduringaMOVXorMOVCinstruction.Otherwise,
thepinisweaklypulledhigh.SettingtheALEdisablebithasnoeffectifthe
microcontrollerisinexternalexecutionmode.

PSENProgramStoreEnable(PSEN)isthereadstrobetoexternalprogrammemory.
WhentheAT89S51isexecutingcodefromexternalprogrammemory,PSENisactivated
twiceeachmachinecycle,exceptthattwoPSENactivationsareskippedduringeach
accesstoexternaldatamemory.

EA/VPPExternalAccessEnable.EAmustbestrappedtoGNDinordertoenablethe
devicetofetchcodefromexternalprogrammemorylocationsstartingat0000Hupto
FFFFH.Note,however,thatiflockbit1isprogrammed,EAwillbeinternallylatchedon
reset.EAshouldbestrappedtoVCCforinternalprogramexecutions.Thispinalso
receivesthe12voltprogrammingenablevoltage(VPP)duringFlashprogramming.

XTAL1Inputtotheinvertingoscillatoramplifierandinputtotheinternalclock
operatingcircuit.

XTAL2Outputfromtheinvertingoscillatoramplifier.

MemoryOrganisation,
ProgramMemory:IftheEApinisconnectedtoGND,allprogramfetchesaredirected
toexternalmemory.OntheAT89S51,ifEAisconnectedtoVCC,programfetchesto
addresses0000HthroughFFFHaredirectedtointernalmemoryandfetchesto
addresses1000HthroughFFFFHaredirectedtoexternalmemory.
DataMemory:TheAT89S51implements128bytesofonchipRAM.The128bytesare
accessibleviadirectandindirectaddressingmodes.Stackoperationsareexamplesof
indirectaddressing,sothe128bytesofdataRAMareavailableasstackspace.

Interrupts:TheAT89S51hasatotaloffiveinterruptvectors:twoexternalinterrupts
(INT0andINT1),twotimerinterrupts(Timers0and1),andtheserialportinterrupt.
Eachoftheseinterruptsourcescanbeindividuallyenabledordisabledbysettingor
clearingabitinSpecialFunctionRegisterIE.IEalsocontainsaglobaldisablebit,EA,
whichdisablesallinterruptsatonce.TheTimer0andTimer1flags,TF0andTF1,areset
atS5P2ofthecycleinwhichthetimersoverflow.Thevaluesarethenpolledbythe
circuitryinthenextcycle.

ADC0804
TheADC080XfamilyareCMOS8Bit,successiveapproximationA/Dconverterswhich
useamodifiedpotentiometricladderandaredesignedtooperatewiththe8080A
controlbusviathreestateoutputs.Theseconvertersappeartotheprocessoras
memorylocationsorI/Oports,andhencenointerfacinglogicisrequired.The
differentialanalogvoltageinputhasgoodcommonmoderejectionandpermits
offsettingtheanalogzeroinputvoltagevalue.Inaddition,thevoltagereferenceinput
canbeadjustedtoalowencodinganysmalleranalogvoltagespantothefull8bitsof
resolution.

ThefunctionaldiagramoftheADC080XseriesofA/Dconvertersoperatesonthe
successiveapproximationprinciple.Analogswitchesareclosedsequentiallyby
successiveapproximationlogicuntiltheanalogdifferentialinputvoltage[VlN(+)VlN()]
matchesavoltagederivedfromatappedresistorstringacrossthereferencevoltage.
Themostsignificantbitistestedfirstandafter8comparisons(64clockcycles),an8bit
binarycode(11111111=fullscale)istransferredtoanoutputlatch.Thenormal
operationproceedsasfollows.OnthehightolowtransitionoftheWRinput,the
internalSARlatchesandtheshiftregisterstagesarereset,andtheINTRoutputwillbe
sethigh.AslongastheCSinputandWRinputremainlow,theA/Dwillremaininareset
state.Conversionwillstartfrom1to8clockperiodsafteratleastoneoftheseinputs
makesalowtohightransition.Aftertherequisitenumberofclockpulsestocomplete
theconversion,theINTRpinwillmakeahightolowtransition.Thiscanbeusedto
interruptaprocessor,orotherwisesignaltheavailabilityofanewconversion.ARD
operation(withCSlow)willcleartheINTRlinehighagain.Thedevicemaybeoperated
inthefreerunningmodeconnectingINTRtotheWRinputwithCS=0.Toensurestart

upunderallpossibleconditions,anexternalWRpulseisrequiredduringthefirstpower
upcycle.Aconversioninprocesscanbeinterruptedbyissuingasecondstartcommand.

DigitalOperation
TheconverterisstartedbyhavingCSandWRsimultaneouslylow.Thissetsthestartflip
flop(F/F)andtheresulting1levelresetsthe8bitshiftregister,resetstheInterrupt
(INTR)F/Fandinputsa1totheDflipflop,DFF1,whichisattheinputendofthe8bit
shiftregister.Internalclocksignalsthentransferthis1totheQoutputofDFF1.The
ANDgate,G1,combinesthis1outputwithaclocksignaltoprovidearesetsignalto
thestartF/F.Ifthesetsignalisnolongerpresent(eitherWRorCSisa1),thestartF/F
isresetandthe8bitshiftregisterthencanhavethe1clockedin,whichstartsthe
conversionprocess.Ifthesetsignalweretostillbepresent,thisresetpulsewouldhave
noeffect(bothoutputsofthestartF/Fwouldbeata1level)andthe8bitshift
registerwouldcontinuetobeheldintheresetmode.Thisallowsforasynchronousor
wideCSandWRsignals.Afterthe1isclockedthroughthe8bitshiftregister(which
completestheSARoperation)itappearsastheinputtoDFF2.Assoonasthis1is
outputfromtheshiftregister,theANDgate,G2,causesthenewdigitalwordtotransfer
totheThreeStateoutputlatches.WhenDFF2issubsequentlyclocked,theQoutput
makesahightolowtransitionwhichcausestheINTRF/Ftoset.Aninvertingbufferthen
suppliestheINTRoutputsignal.Whendataistoberead,thecombinationofbothCS
andRDbeinglowwillcausetheINTRF/Ftoberesetandthethreestateoutputlatches
willbeenabledtoprovidethe8bitdigitaloutputs.

DigitalControlInputs
Thedigitalcontrolinputs(CS,RD,andWR)meetstandardTTLlogicvoltagelevels.These
signalsareessentiallyequivalenttothestandardA/DStartandOutputEnablecontrol
signals,andareactivelowtoallowaneasyinterfacetomicroprocessorcontrolbusses.
Fornonmicroprocessorbasedapplications,theCSinput(pin1)canbegroundedand
thestandardA/DStartfunctionobtainedbyanactivelowpulseattheWRinput(pin3).
TheOutputEnablefunctionisachievedbyanactivelowpulseattheRDinput(pin2).

AnalogOperation
Theanalogcomparisonsareperformedbyacapacitivechargesummingcircuit.Three
capacitors(withpreciseratioedvalues)shareacommonnodewiththeinputtoan
autozeroedcomparator.TheinputcapacitorisswitchedbetweenVlN(+)andVlN(),
whiletworatioedreferencecapacitorsareswitchedbetweentapsonthereference
voltagedividerstring.Thenetchargecorrespondstotheweighteddifferencebetween
theinputandthecurrenttotalvaluesetbythesuccessiveapproximationregister.A
correctionismadetooffsetthecomparisonby1/2LSB.

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AnalogDifferentialVoltageInputsandCommon
ModeRejection
ThisA/Dgainsconsiderableapplicationsflexibilityfromtheanalogdifferentialvoltage
input.TheVlN()input(pin7)canbeusedtoautomaticallysubtractafixedvoltagevalue
fromtheinputreading(tarecorrection).Thisisalsousefulin4mA20mAcurrentloop
conversion.Inaddition,commonmodenoisecanbereducedbyuseofthedifferential
input.ThetimeintervalbetweensamplingVIN(+)andVlN()is41/2clockperiods.There
ismaximumerrorvoltageduetothisslighttimedifferencebetweentheinputvoltage
samples.

Theallowedrangeofanaloginputvoltageusuallyplacesmoresevererestrictionson
inputcommonmodevoltagelevelsthanthis.Ananaloginputvoltagewithareduced
spanandarelativelylargezerooffsetcanbeeasilyhandledbymakinguseofthe
differentialinput.

AnalogInputCurrent
Theinternalswitchingactioncausesdisplacementcurrentstoflowattheanaloginputs.
Thevoltageontheonchipcapacitancetogroundisswitchedthroughtheanalog
differentialinputvoltage,resultinginproportionalcurrentsenteringtheVIN(+)input
andleavingtheVIN()input.Thesecurrenttransientsoccurattheleadingedgeofthe
internalclocks.Theyrapidlydecayanddonotinherentlycauseerrorsastheonchip
comparatorisstrobedattheendoftheclockperiod.

InputBypassCapacitors
BypasscapacitorsattheinputswillaveragethesechargesandcauseaDCcurrentto
flowthroughtheoutputresistancesoftheanalogsignalsources.Thischargepumping
actionisworseforcontinuousconversionswiththeVIN(+)inputvoltageatfullscale.For
a640kHzclockfrequencywiththeVIN(+)inputat5V,thisDCcurrentisatamaximumof
approximately5uA.Therefore,bypasscapacitorsshouldnotbeusedattheanalog
inputsortheVREF/2pinforhighresistancesources(>1kOhm.)Ifinputbypasscapacitors
arenecessaryfornoisefilteringandhighsourceresistanceisdesirabletominimize
capacitorsize,theeffectsofthevoltagedropacrossthisinputresistance,duetothe
averagevalueoftheinputcurrent,canbecompensatedbyafullscaleadjustmentwhile
thegivensourceresistorandinputbypasscapacitorarebothinplace.Thisispossible
becausetheaveragevalueoftheinputcurrentisapreciselinearfunctionofthe
differentialinputvoltageataconstantconversionrate.

InputSourceResistance
Largevaluesofsourceresistancewhereaninputbypasscapacitorisnotusedwillnot
causeerrorssincetheinputcurrentssettleoutpriortothecomparisontime.Ifalow
passfilterisrequiredinthesystem,usealowvalueseriesresistorforapassiveRC
sectionoraddanopampRCactivelowpassfilter.Forlowsourceresistance
applications,a0.1uFbypasscapacitorattheinputswillminimizeEMIduetotheseries
leadinductanceofalongwire.A100Ohmseriesresistorcanbeusedtoisolatethis

11

capacitor(boththeRandCareplacedoutsidethefeedbackloop)fromtheoutputofan
opamp,ifused.

StrayPickup
Theleadstotheanaloginputs(pins6and7)shouldbekeptasshortaspossibleto
minimizestraysignalpickup(EMI).BothEMIandundesireddigitalclockcouplingto
theseinputscancausesystemerrors.Thesourceresistancefortheseinputsshould,in
general,bekeptbelow5k.Largervaluesofsourceresistancecancauseundesired
signalpickup.Inputbypasscapacitors,placedfromtheanaloginputstoground,will
eliminatethispickupbutcancreateanalogscaleerrorsasthesecapacitorswillaverage
thetransientinputswitchingcurrentsoftheA/D(seeAnalogInputCurrent).Thisscale
errordependsonbothalargesourceresistanceandtheuseofaninputbypass
capacitor.ThiserrorcanbecompensatedbyafullscaleadjustmentoftheA/D(seeFull
ScaleAdjustment)withthesourceresistanceandinputbypasscapacitorinplace,and
thedesiredconversionrate.

ReferenceVoltageSpanAdjust
Formaximumapplicationflexibility,theseA/Dshavebeendesignedtoaccommodatea
5V,2.5Voranadjustedvoltagereference.ThishasbeenachievedinthedesignoftheIC.
NoticethatthereferencevoltagefortheICiseither1/2ofthevoltagewhichisapplied
totheV+supplypin,orisequaltothevoltagewhichisexternallyforcedattheVREF/2
pin.Thisallowsforapseudoratiometricvoltagereferenceusing,fortheV+supply,a5V
referencevoltage.Alternatively,avoltagelessthan2.5VcanbeappliedtotheVREF/2
input.TheinternalgaintotheVREF/2inputis2toallowthisfactorof2reductioninthe
referencevoltage.

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ZeroError
ThezerooftheA/Ddoesnotrequireadjustment.Iftheminimumanaloginputvoltage
value,VlN(MlN),isnotground,azerooffsetcanbedone.Theconvertercanbemadeto
output00000000digitalcodeforthisminimuminputvoltagebybiasingtheA/DVIN()
inputatthisVlN(MlN)value.ThisutilizesthedifferentialmodeoperationoftheA/D.The
zeroerroroftheA/Dconverterrelatestothelocationofthefirstriserofthetransfer
functionandcanbemeasuredbygroundingtheVIN()inputandapplyingasmall
magnitudepositivevoltagetotheVIN(+)input.Zeroerroristhedifferencebetweenthe
actualDCinputvoltagewhichisnecessarytojustcauseanoutputdigitalcodetransition
from00000000to00000001andtheideal1/2LSBvalue(1/2LSB=9.8mVforVREF/2=
2.500V).

FullScaleAdjust
Thefullscaleadjustmentcanbemadebyapplyingadifferentialinputvoltagewhichis
11/2LSBdownfromthedesiredanalogfullscalevoltagerangeandthenadjustingthe
magnitudeoftheVREF/2input(pin9)foradigitaloutputcodewhichisjustchanging
from11111110to11111111.Whenoffsettingthezeroandusingaspanadjusted
VREF/2voltage,thefullscaleadjustmentismadebyinputtingVMlNtotheVIN()input
oftheA/DandapplyingavoltagetotheVIN(+)input.

ClockingOption
TheclockfortheA/DcanbederivedfromanexternalsourcesuchastheCPUclockoran
externalRCnetworkcanbeaddedtoprovideselfclocking.TheCLKIN(pin4)makesuse
ofaSchmitttrigger.
HeavycapacitiveorDCloadingoftheCLKRpinshouldbeavoidedasthiswilldisturb
normalconverteroperation.Loadslessthan50pF,suchasdrivingupto7A/Dconverter

13

clockinputsfromasingleCLKRpinof1converter,areallowed.Forlargerclockline
loading,aCMOSorlowpowerTTLbufferorPNPinputlogicshouldbeusedtominimize
theloadingontheCLKRpin(donotuseastandardTTLbuffer).

RestartDuringaConversion
IftheA/Disrestarted(CSandWRgolowandreturnhigh)duringaconversion,the
converterisresetandanewconversionisstarted.Theoutputdatalatchisnotupdated
iftheconversioninprogressisnotcompleted.Thedatafromthepreviousconversion
remaininthislatch.

ContinuousConversions
Inthisapplication,theCSinputisgroundedandtheWRinputistiedtotheINTRoutput.
ThisWRandINTRnodeshouldbemomentarilyforcedtologiclowfollowingapowerup
cycletoinsurecircuitoperation.

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InterfacingtheMicrocontroller

InterfacingtheADC0804with8051

Asshowninthetypicacircuit,ADC0804canbeinterfacedwithanymicrocontroller.A
minimumof11pinsarerequiredtointerfacetheADC0804,eightfordatapinsand3for
controlpins.Asshowninthetypicalcircuitthechipselectpincanbemadelowifyou
arenotusingthemicrocontrollerportforanyotherperipheral(multiplexing).

ThereisauniversalruletofindouthowtouseanIC.Allweneedisthedatasheetofthe
ICweareworkingwithandalookatthetimingdiagramoftheICwhichshowshowto
sendthedata,whichsignaltoassertandatwhattimethesignalshouldbemadehighor
low,etc.

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TimingDiagrams,

PinDescription
1.CS,ChipSelect:ThisisanactivelowpinandusedtoactivatetheADC0804.
2.RD, Read: This is an input pin and active low. After converting the analog data, the
ADCstorestheresultinaninternalregister.Thispinisusedtogetthedataoutofthe
ADC0804chip.WhenCS=0&hightolowpulseisgiventothispin,thedigitaloutputis
shownonthepinsD0D7.

16

3.WR,Write:Thisisaninputpinandactivelow.ThisisusedtoinstructtheADCtostart
theconversionprocess.IfCS=0andWRmakesalowtohightransition,theADCstarts
theconversionprocess.
4.CLKIN,ClockIN:Thisisaninputpinconnectedtoanexternalclocksource.
5.INTR, Interrupt: This is an active low output pin. This pin goes low when the
conversionisover.
6.Vin+:AnalogInput.
7.Vin:AnalogInput.Connectedtoground.
8.AGND:AnalogGround.
9.Vref/2: This pin is used to set the reference voltage. If this is not connected the
defaultreferencevoltageis5V.Insomeapplicationitisrequiredtoreducethestepsize.
Thiscanbedonebyusingthispin.
10.DGND:DigitalGround.
1118.OutputDataBits(D7D0).
19.CLKR:ClockReset.
20.Vcc:PositiveSupply

TheabovetimingdiagramsarefromADC0804datasheet.Thefirstdiagramshowshow
tostartaconversion.Alsoyoucanseewhichsignalsaretobeassertedandatwhattime
tostartaconversion.Solookingintothetimingdiagramwenotedownthestepsorsay
theorderinwhichsignalsaretobeassertedtostartaconversionofADC.Aswehave
decidedtomakeChipselectpinaslowsoweneednottobotherabouttheCSsignalin
thetimingdiagram.BelowstepsareforstartinganADCconversion.Iamalsoincluding
CSsignaltogiveyouaclearpicture.Whileprogrammingwewillnotusethissignal.
1.
2.
3.
4.

Makechipselect(CS)signallow.
Makewrite(WR)signallow.
Makechipselect(CS)high.
WaitforINTRpintogolow(meansconversionends).

OncetheconversioninADCisdone,thedataisavailableintheoutputlatchoftheADC.
Lookingattheseconddiagram,whichshowsthetimingdiagramofhowtoreadthe
convertedvaluefromtheoutputlatchoftheADC,dataofthenewconversionisonly
availableforreadingafterADC0804madeINTRpinloworsaywhentheconversionis
over.BelowarethestepstoreadoutputfromtheADC0804.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Makechipselect(CS)pinlow.
Makeread(RD)signallow.
ReadthedatafromportwhereADCisconnected.
Makeread(RD)signalhigh.
Makechipselect(CS)high.

17

InterfacingtheLCDwith8051

PinInformationofLCD:

PinNo

Name

Description

Vss

Ground

Vdd

+5V

Vee

ContrastAdjustment2Vto5V

RS

RegisterSelect

RW

1Read,0Write

EnableStrobe

D0

DataLine

D1

DataLine

D2

DataLine

10

D3

DataLine

11

D4

DataLine

12

D5

DataLine

13

D6

DataLine

14

D7

DataLine

LED+

BacklitLED+VVdd(Optional
signal)

LED

BacklitLEDVVss(Optional
signal)

15
16

AlgorithmtosenddatatoLCD:
1.MakeR/Wlow
2.MakeRS=0;ifdatabyteiscommand
RS=1;ifdatabyteisdata(ASCIIvalue)
3.Placedatabyteondataregister
4.PulseE(HIGHtoLOW)

18

5.Repeatthestepstosendanotherdatabyte

LCDInitialization:
ProperworkingofLCDdependonthehowtheLCDisinitialized.Wehavetosendfew
commandbytestoinitializetheLCD.SimplestepstoinitializetheLCD
1. Specify function set: Send38Hfor 8bit, double line and 5x7 dot character
format.
2. DisplayOnOffcontrol:Send0FHfordisplayandblinkcursoron.
3. Entrymodeset:Send06Hforcursorinincrementpositionandshiftisinvisible.
4. Cleardisplay:Send01Htocleardisplayandreturncursortohomeposition.

Writingsoftware:
The LCD module is an intelligent component. We communicate to LCD module by
sending commands from microcontroller. To write data to LCD module separate
sequenceisfollowedfor4bitand8bitmode.
Writingcommandfor8Bitmode:

Write8bitdataonD0D7
GeneratestrobebytakingENfromhightolow

Writingcommandfor4Bitmode:

Write4bitdata(uppernibble)onD4D7
GeneratestrobebytakingENfromhightolow
Write4bitdata(lowernibble)onD4D7
GeneratestrobebytakingENfromhightolow

19

LCDCommands:

Instruction

RS RW D7 D6 D5 D4 D3

D2 D1 D0 Description

NOP

Clear
Display
Cursor
Home

Entrymode
set

Display
Control

0
0

Cursor/
Displayshift 0

Functionset 0

SetCGRAM
Address

SetDDRAM
Address

0
0

0
0

0
0

0
0

0
0

0
0

DL N

0
0

NoOperation

ClearDisplayand
Addresscounter
=0

Addresscounter
=0

I/D S

Setcursor
direction(I/D)
andautodisplay
shift(S)

Turndisplay(D)
andcursor(C)
ON/OFF.Set
cursorblinking(B)

Shift
display/cursor
(S),specify
direction(R/L)

SetInterface
datawidth(DL),
numberof
displaylines(N),
characterfont(F)

SetCGRAM
address(D0D5),
CGRAMdatais
sentafterthis
command

SetDDRAM
address(D0D6),
DDRAMdatais
sentafterthis
command

0
1

R/L x

BusyFlag
andAddress 0

BF

Readbusyflag
(BF)andaddress
counter(D0D6)

WriteData

Writedata(D0

20

D7)into
DDRAM/CGRAM

ReadData

Legendsusedintable:
I/D:1Increment,0Decrement
S:1AutoDisplayshift,0Nodisplayshift
D:1DisplayON,0DisplayOFF
C:1CursorON,0CursorOFF
B:1CursorblinkingON,0CursorblinkingOFF
S:1DisplayShift,0Cursormove
R/L:1Shiftright,0Shiftleft
DL:18bitinterface,04bitinterface
N:12lines,01line
F:15X10dotsfont,05X7dotsfont
BF:BusyFlag

ProgrammingtheLCD,subpartoftheprogram:
#include "lcd.h"
void busy()
{
flag=1;
rs=0;
rw=1;
while(flag!=0)
{
en=0;
en=1;
}
}

Readdata(D0
D7)from
DDRAM/CGRAM

21

void wrt_cmd(unsigned char val_lcd)

{
busy();
lcd_port=val_lcd;
rs=0;
rw=0;
en=1;
en=0;
}
void wrt_data(unsigned char dat)
{
busy();
lcd_port=dat;
rs=1;
rw=0;
en=1;
en=0;
}

void wrt_string(unsigned char *string)

{
while(*string)
wrt_data(*string++);
}

void LCD_INI(void)
{
wrt_cmd(0X30);
wrt_cmd(0X0C);
wrt_cmd(0X01); wrt_cmd(0X06);

22

void hex2lcd(unsigned char hex)

{
char temp1,temp2;
temp1 = hex;
temp2=0;
do{
temp1 = temp1-100;
if(temp1>=0)
temp2++;
} while(temp1>=0);
if(temp2>0)
wrt_data(temp2+0x30);
temp2=0;
temp1 = temp1+100;
do{
temp1 = temp1-10;
if(temp1>=0)
temp2++;
} while(temp1>=0);
wrt_data(temp2+0x30);
temp2 = temp1+10;
wrt_data(temp2+0x30);
}

23

EntireProgramusedfortheDigitalVoltmeter
#include <REGX51.H>
#include "lcd.h"
#define adc_port P1

//ADC Port

#define rd P3_7

//Read signal P3.7

#define wr P3_6

//Write signal P3.6

#define cs P3_5

//Chip Select P3.5

#define intr P3_4

//INTR signal P3.4

void conv();

//Start of conversion function

void read();

//Read ADC function

unsigned int adc_avg,adc;

void main(){
char i;
LCD_INI();
while(1){

//Forever loop

adc_avg = 0;
for(i=0;i<10;i++){
conv();

//Start conversion

read();

//Read ADC

adc_avg += adc;
}
adc_avg = adc_avg/10;
wrt_cmd(0x80);
wrt_string("V(DC): ");
adc = adc_avg * 59;

24

hex2lcd((unsigned char)(adc/1000));
wrt_data('.');
adc = adc%1000;
hex2lcd((unsigned char)(adc/10));

wrt_data('V');
}
}

void conv(){
cs = 0;

//Make CS low

wr = 0;

//Make WR low

wr = 1;

//Make WR high

cs = 1;

//Make CS high

while(intr);

//Wait for INTR to go low

void read(){
cs = 0;

//Make CS low

rd = 0;

//Make RD low

adc = adc_port; //Read ADC port

rd = 1;

//Make RD high

cs = 1;

//Make CS high

LCD Header File:

#ifndef __LCD_H__
#define __LCD_H__

25

#include <REGX51.H>

#define lcd_port P2
#define rs P3_0
#define rw P3_1
#define en P3_2
#define flag P2_7

void wrt_cmd(unsigned char);

void wrt_data(unsigned char);
void wrt_string(unsigned char*);
void LCD_INI(void);
void busy(void);
void hex2lcd(unsigned char);

#endif

26

TheoryoftheVoltageCalculationinthecircuit

AllwewantisinputvoltagetoADCshouldnotincrease5Vandourmaximuminput
voltagetovoltmeteris15Vonly.Sowedesignthevoltagedividercircuitasfollows.

VmaxisMaximuminputvoltagetovoltmeter.
VipisinputvoltagetoADC.
R1andR2areresistanceofvoltagedividercircuit.

Vmax=15V

V=R2*Vmax/(R1+R2)

5/15=R2/R1+R2

3=R1/R2+1

2=R1/R2

R2=R1/2

LetstakeR1as200KandR2willbe100K

Maximumcurrent:Imax=(VmaxVi/pmax)/R1(approx)

Vmax=15V
Vi/pmax=5V
R1=200K

Imax=(155)/200=10/200=0.02mA

27

ObservedOutput

Atableisdrawnwhichcomparestheactualvoltageappliedpriortothevoltagedivider
circuitandthefinalvoltagereadbythedigitalvoltmeter.
Also,acomparisionismadebetweenthevoltagereadbythedigitalvoltmeteranda
separatelyusedmultimeteratthesamelocation.

VoltageApplied(Volts)

VoltageaftertheVoltage

VoltageValueasseenin

DividerCircuit(Volts)

theDVM:

0.7

1.9

1.67

4.9

2.33

6.9

3.00

9.0

10

3.33

10.0

12

4.00

12.0

13

4.33

13.0

14

4.67

14.1

Conclusion

Adigitalvoltmeterhasbeensuccessfullydesignedusingamicrocontroller,which
handledallthecontrollogicandinterfacingwiththeADC0804andadisplay
interfacingwiththeLCD.

Although,theerroroccurringinthesuccessiveapproximationsmadebythe
AnalogtoDigitalConverter(ADC0804)inobtainingthedigitaldatafromthe
voltageappliedhasbeencarriedforwarduntilthevoltagebeingdisplayedonthe
LCDscreen.

28

Thevoltagestobemeasuredlimitstoahighervalueof14VandDCvoltagesare
muchconsiderablyviewed.Indeed,ACvoltagesalsocouldbeviewedbut,the
displayedchangesasfrequentlyasthemagnitudeoftheACvoltageissaidto
changebyitsnature.

Also,thevoltagedropacrossthevoltagedividercircuitvaries,withthe
continuoususageoftheDVM,andthusaresultingerrorinthevoltagevalue
mightbeseenwhenitsdisplayedontheLCDscreen.

Advantages
Thedigitalvoltmeterdesignedusesamicrocontrollerwhichissaidtobehighlyefficient
inhandlingthedatacarrieroperationintermsofbeingfasterandbeingerrorfreeand
accurate.Thus,itcanbeconsideredasareliabledeviceforobservingvoltagesof
magnitudesfrom0to14V.
Ratherthanusingtheobsoleteanaloguewaysoffindingoutthevoltages,thedigital
voltmeterprovidesmuchmorepreciseandaccuratevaluesofvoltagesinagivencircuit
intherangeofthevoltmeter.