29.4 Prescaling and Conversion Timing

By default, the successive approximation circuitry requires an input clock frequency between 50kHz and 200kHz to get maximum resolution. If a lower resolution than 10 bits is needed, the input clock frequency to the ADC can be higher than 200kHz to get a higher sample rate.

The ADC module contains a prescaler, which generates an acceptable ADC clock frequency from any CPU frequency above 100kHz. The prescaling is selected by the ADC Prescaler Select bits in the ADC Control and Status Register A (ADCSRA.ADPS). The prescaler starts counting from the moment the ADC is switched on by writing the ADC Enable bit ADCSRA.ADEN to '1'. The prescaler keeps running for as long as ADEN=1, and is continuously reset when ADEN=0.

When initiating a single ended conversion by writing a '1' to the ADC Start Conversion bit (ADCSRA.ADSC), the conversion starts at the following rising edge of the ADC clock cycle.

A normal conversion takes 13 ADC clock cycles. The first conversion after the ADC is switched on (i.e., ADCSRA.ADEN is written to '1') takes 25 ADC clock cycles in order to initialize the analog circuitry.

When the bandgap reference voltage is used as input to the ADC, it will take a certain time for the voltage to stabilize. If not stabilized, the first value read after the first conversion may be wrong.

The actual sample-and-hold takes place 1.5 ADC clock cycles after the start of a normal conversion and 13.5 ADC clock cycles after the start of an first conversion. When a conversion is complete, the result is written to the ADC Data Registers (ADCL and ADCH), and the ADC Interrupt Flag (ADCSRA.ADIF) is set. In Single Conversion mode, ADCSRA.ADSC is cleared simultaneously. The software may then set ADCSRA.ADSC again, and a new conversion will be initiated on the first rising ADC clock edge.

When Auto Triggering is used, the prescaler is reset when the trigger event occurs. This assures a fixed delay from the trigger event to the start of conversion. In this mode, the sample-and-hold takes place two ADC clock cycles after the rising edge on the trigger source signal. Three additional CPU clock cycles are used for synchronization logic.

In Free Running mode, a new conversion will be started immediately after the conversion completes, while ADCRSA.ADSC remains high. See also the ADC Conversion Time table below.