Adjust Arduino Due Analog Output to Match Input Range

Components and supplies

Arduino Due

C1, C2 capacitor, 100 nF, ceramic AVX or polyester

R1 resistor, 100 kΩ, ±1%, ¼ W

R2 resistor, 150 kΩ, ±1%, ¼ W

R3 resistor, 1.3 kΩ, ±1%, ¼ W

R4 resistor, 6.8 kΩ, ±1%, ¼ W

Rp resistor trimmer, 200 Ω, multi turn is better

U1 LM358 (see text)

Arduino Due does not have an analog output voltage from 0 V to Vref, but from 1/6 to 5/6 of the reference

voltage, that is, 0.55 V and 2.75V with Vref = 3.3 V. This is also confirmed by the Atmel (see bibliography 1).

The output voltage range of the DAC is only 2.75-0.55 = 2.2 V, with a resolution of 2.2 /4095 = 0.5372 mV.

A simple differential amplifier, realized with an op amp, is used to remove the 0.55 V offset and to amplify

the output signal in order to reach the desired value. The figure 1 shows the scheme of this circuit.

To generate the voltage Vp = 0.55 V, that is, the minimum value of the DAC, is used the divider formed by

R3, R4 and Rp. The trimmer pot Rp is used to adjust Vp in order to have an output value close to 0 V in

correspondence with the number 0 sent to the DAC. With a single power supply you can never get exactly

0V but you approach some mV, about 8 in my prototype.

The differential amplifier has the following gain:

Just change the gain, for a different output voltage, but less than 4 V,.

With a gain G = 3.3 /2.2 = 1.5, the output of this circuit has the desired range from 0 to 3.3V.

G = Vo/(Vi-Vp) = R2 / R1

It is recommended to use resistors with a tolerance of 1% or less, particularly for the four resistors of the

amplifier. Don’t use operational amplifier as LM741, LM1458, TL081 and other that are not suitable for

single-supply. If it is required an output maximum voltage above 3.3 V it is essential to use a rail to rail op

amp as TLC2272 or equivalent.

Manufacturing process