Renesas HI7188EVAL

Overview

HI7188EVAL from Intersil is an evaluation kit designed to characterize the HI7188 16-bit sigma-delta analog-to-digital converter, featuring on-board reference circuitry, crystal oscillator, dual single-ended-to-differential converters, resistor ladder networks, and PC interface circuitry for serial communication with evaluation software.

For engineers reviewing the HI7188EVAL datasheet, HI7188EVAL pinout, HI7188EVAL application, or HI7188EVAL equivalent, this kit supports rapid validation of HI7188 performance in industrial weight scales, process control systems, and precision measurement applications requiring ±5V supply operation, 8-channel multiplexed input, and 240-SPS per channel with 60Hz line noise rejection.

Technical Context

The HI7188EVAL board implements a 4-layer PCB architecture with separate analog and digital ground planes and dedicated power planes (AVDD = +5V, AVSS = –5V, DVDD = +5V) to minimize noise coupling into the HI7188's sensitive analog front-end and sigma-delta modulator path.

It provides external clock and reference inputs, two differential input conditioning paths, and a prototype area with analog ground plane access-enabling direct signal conditioning before the HI7188's 8:1 multiplexer and programmable-gain instrumentation amplifier (gain = 1–8).

Key Specifications

Availability

HI7188EVAL is available at Aetrix Electronics and suitable for industrial weight scale development, process control system prototyping, and precision measurement equipment validation requiring stable component supply and full-spectrum ADC evaluation capability.

Supply support for HI7188EVAL includes scheduled delivery planning, volume procurement assistance, BOM continuity management, traceable sourcing, and lifecycle availability coordination for OEM customers, industrial embedded developers, connected-device designers, and electronics production programs.

Manufacturer

Intersil Corporation was a U.S.-based semiconductor company specializing in high-performance analog and mixed-signal ICs, later acquired by Renesas Electronics in 2017.

The HI7188EVAL belongs to Intersil's precision data acquisition evaluation platform family, engineered specifically to accelerate design-in of sigma-delta ADCs in noise-sensitive industrial instrumentation applications.

FAQ

What is the primary function of the HI7188EVAL evaluation kit?

The HI7188EVAL evaluation kit is a hardware-software solution for evaluating the HI7188 8-channel sigma-delta ADC. It provides all necessary circuitry-including reference generation, clocking, input conditioning, and PC interface-to validate conversion accuracy, line-noise rejection, and serial data transfer performance under real-world industrial conditions.

Does the HI7188EVAL support external reference and clock inputs?

Yes, the HI7188EVAL supports both external reference (via VRHI/VRLO pins) and external clock inputs. The board includes dedicated connectors and routing for low-noise external sourcing, allowing users to replace on-board references or oscillators when validating HI7188 behavior under custom supply or timing conditions.

How does the HI7188EVAL handle analog and digital noise separation?

The HI7188EVAL uses a 4-layer PCB with physically separated analog and digital ground planes and isolated AVDD/AVSS/DVDD power planes. This layout prevents digital switching noise from corrupting the HI7188's sigma-delta modulator output and ensures >100dB 60Hz line noise rejection during evaluation.

Can the HI7188EVAL be used to evaluate multi-channel scan timing and EOS interrupt behavior?

Yes, the HI7188EVAL enables full verification of the HI7188's End-of-Scan (EOS) interrupt and channel scan sequencing. With all 8 channels active, the board captures timing between conversions and validates that EOS asserts after the final channel update-confirming correct operation at 240 samples per second per channel.

Is the HI7188EVAL compatible with standard PC interfaces without additional adapters?

The HI7188EVAL includes level-shifted digital line drivers and receivers for direct connection to a PC's parallel or serial port using the included evaluation software. No USB-to-serial adapters or FPGA-based controllers are required-the interface is fully self-contained within the HI7188EVAL board and配套 software stack.