36.5.4.2 Conversion Trigger Sources and Control

The following are the possible sources for each trigger signal:

External trigger selection through the TRGSRCx[4:0] bits in the ADCTRGx registers. This capability is supported only for Class 2 analog inputs. Typically, the user specifies a particular trigger source to initiate a conversion for specific input. All of the analog inputs may select the same trigger source if desired. In such an event, the result resembles a scanned conversion, which has its order of completion enforced by the priority of the inputs associated with the same trigger source. The first trigger selection is ‘00000’ (no trigger), which amounts to temporarily disabling that particular trigger and, consequently, temporarily disabling that analog input from being converted. The next two selections for trigger source (GSWTRG and GLSWTRG) are software-generated trigger sources. The second software-generated trigger selection is the Global Software Trigger (GSWTRG). This trigger links to the GSWTRG bit in the ADCCON3 register, which may be used to enable the user application to initiate a single conversion. GSWTRG is a self-clearing bit; therefore, it clears itself on the next ADC clock cycle after being set by the user application. The third software-generated trigger selection is the Global Level Software Trigger (GLSWTRG), which is linked to the GLSWTRG bit in the ADCCON3 register. This trigger may be used by the user application to initiate a burst of consecutive samples as the GLSWTRG bit is not self-clearing. The fourth trigger selection is a special selection, the Scan Trigger selection, which allows the Class 2 analog inputs to be included as members of a global scan of all inputs.
Scanned trigger selection via the STRGSRC[4:0] bits in the ADCCON1 register and select bits in the ADCCSS1 registers. This mode is typically used to initiate the conversion of a group of analog inputs. This capability works for 2 and 3 analog inputs but is typically used for Class 3 inputs because they do not have individual associated TRGSRC bits. One of the trigger selections is the GSWTRG bit in the ADCCON3 register, which may be used to enable the user software to initiate a conversion.
User-initiated trigger via the ADINSEL[5:0] bits and the RQCNVRT bit in the ADCCON3 register. This mode enables the user application to create an individual conversion trigger request for a specified analog input. Using this mode enables the user application to trigger the conversion of an input without changing the trigger source configuration of the ADC. This is useful in handling error situations where another software module wants ADC information without disrupting the normal operation of the ADC. This is also the preferred method to generate the initial trigger to start a digital filter sequence.
User-controlled sampling of Class 2 and Class 3 inputs via the ADINSEL[5:0] bits and the SAMP bit in the ADCCON3 register. Setting the SAMP bit causes the Class 2 and Class 3 inputs to be in the Sampling mode while ignoring the selection of the SAMC[9:0] bits. This mode is also useful in software conversion of ADC with software-selectable sample time.