STMicroelectronics STEVAL-AKI001V1

Overview

STEVAL-AKI001V1 from STMicroelectronics is an evaluation board for the ADC120 - a low-power, 8-channel, 12-bit successive approximation register (SAR) analog-to-digital converter with 50 ksps to 1 Msps conversion rate, 3.3 V supply, SPI serial interface, and internal track-and-hold. It supports on-board temperature sensing (STLM20), strain gauge measurement, ±5 V input scaling, and external signal injection for performance validation in precision data acquisition systems.

For engineers reviewing the STEVAL-AKI001V1 datasheet, STEVAL-AKI001V1 pinout, STEVAL-AKI001V1 application, or STEVAL-AKI001V1 equivalent, this board enables rapid characterization of ADC120's linearity, SNR, THD, channel crosstalk, and SPI timing margins under real-world analog front-end conditions including sensor excitation, reference buffering, and rail-to-rail input conditioning.

Technical Context

The board implements a complete signal chain around the ADC120 IC: dual-stage instrumentation amplification for Wheatstone bridge strain gauges (TSZ121/TSZ122), precision voltage reference generation (TS3431 + TSX711 buffers), and calibrated resistor dividers for ±5 V to 0–3 V input scaling. All analog paths are decoupled with 0.1 µF–10 µF ceramic and tantalum capacitors per ST layout guidelines.

It supports two operational modes: standalone (via onboard LDK220M 3.3 V regulator and AVCC/DVCC separation) and NUCLEO-L476RG-hosted (via CN10 morpho connector), enabling firmware-controlled sampling, real-time FFT analysis, and PC streaming via STM32 USB-CDC or UART-USB bridge.

Key Specifications

Availability

STEVAL-AKI001V1 is available at Aetrix Electronics and suitable for precision sensor evaluation, industrial data acquisition system prototyping, and embedded ADC performance validation requiring stable component supply, traceable calibration sources, and documented signal-chain topology.

Supply support for STEVAL-AKI001V1 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

STMicroelectronics is a global semiconductor leader headquartered in Geneva, designing and manufacturing microcontrollers, power management ICs, sensors, analog components, and development tools for industrial, automotive, and consumer applications.

This board belongs to ST's STEVAL (ST Evaluation) series - purpose-built to accelerate validation of ST's precision analog ICs, especially high-resolution ADCs and sensor signal conditioners, in real-world measurement environments.

FAQ

Does STEVAL-AKI001V1 include the ADC120 IC?

Yes. The board integrates the ADC120 8-channel, 12-bit SAR ADC as its core device. All schematics, layout, and BOM in DB4137 confirm ADC120 U1 placement with full decoupling, reference buffering, and SPI routing. No daughterboard or socket is required - it is soldered and functional out-of-box.

Can STEVAL-AKI001V1 operate without a NUCLEO board?

Yes. It operates in standalone mode using its onboard LDK220M 3.3 V regulator and discrete power sequencing. External ±5 V or 3.3 V supplies can power analog and digital sections independently. On-board test points allow direct SPI probing with logic analyzers or Aardvark adapters without MCU dependency.

What is the role of the TSX711 op-amps on the reference path?

The TSX711 op-amps buffer and stabilize the 2.5 V reference generated by TS3431. They provide low-output-impedance drive to all eight ADC channels' reference pins, minimizing code-dependent reference droop and ensuring <0.01% gain error across full-scale input range per ST characterization data.

Which strain gauge configurations does the board support?

The board supports full-bridge, half-bridge, and quarter-bridge configurations via J41/J42 terminals and programmable gain instrumentation amplifier (TSZ121/TSZ122). Default R_G = 0 Ω yields gain = 1; populating R47/R49 enables gains up to 100×. Excitation is provided by AVCC (3.3 V) with dedicated Kelvin-sense routing for accuracy.