The MCP6S2X PGA Evaluation Board features the MCP6S21/91 and MCP6S26 devices. The PGA devices interface to a PIC16F676 providing versatile selection of input channels and gains to evaluate device performance. The board supports multiple input signal sources and two devices are cascaded to produce a gain between 1 V/V and 1024 V/V.

The MCP6S21/2/6/8 family of Programmable Gain Amplifiers (PGA) is available with one, two, six or eight signal input channels, respectively. The user can digitally select a specific input channel and set the gain. This family of PGAs can be evaluated using the MCP6S2X Evaluation Board (Rev. 4). This board uses the MCP6S21 and MCP6S26 to allow the user to connect two signal sources to evaluate the PGAs. The 10 kΩ pull-up resistors provide noise immunity for the PGA digital input pins.

The single-channel MCP6S21 and six-channel MCP6S26 have been selected for this evaluation board. The PIC16F676 microcontroller is used to program the PGAs according to the user inputs. User inputs are selected using the on-board DIP switch settings that are configured according to the table printed on the evaluation board. This allows the user to program the channel, gain and shutdown of each PGA. Either PGA or both PGAs can be shut down. The six channels of the MCP6S26 and the PGA gains of 1, 2, 4, 5, 8, 10, 16 and 32 V/V can be configured.

Key Applications: A/D Converter Driver, Multiplexed Analog Applications, Data Acquisition, Industrial Instrumentation, Test Equipment, Medical Instrumentation.