ADC (analog to digital converter) is a very common peripheral used to convert an analog signal such as voltage to a digital form so that it can be read and processed by a microcontroller.
ADCs are very useful in control and monitoring applications since most sensors (e.g., temperature, pressure, force) produce analog output voltages.
Note
Each SoC or module has a different number of ADC's with a different number of channels and pins available. Refer to datasheet of each board for more info.
The ADC OneShot mode API is fully compatible with Arduino's analogRead function.
When you call the analogRead or analogReadMilliVolts function, it returns the result of a single conversion on the requested pin.
This function is used to get the ADC raw value for a given pin/ADC channel.
uint16_t analogRead(uint8_t pin);
pinGPIO pin to read analog value
This function will return analog raw value (non-calibrated).
This function is used to get ADC raw value for a given pin/ADC channel and convert it to calibrated result in millivolts.
uint32_t analogReadMilliVolts(uint8_t pin);
pinGPIO pin to read analog value
This function will return analog value in millivolts (calibrated).
This function is used to set the resolution of analogRead return value. Default is 12 bits (range from 0 to 4095)
for all chips except ESP32-S3 where default is 13 bits (range from 0 to 8191).
When different resolution is set, the values read will be shifted to match the given resolution.
Range is 1 - 16 .The default value will be used, if this function is not used.
Note
For the ESP32, the resolution is between 9 to12 and it will change the ADC hardware resolution. Else value will be shifted.
void analogReadResolution(uint8_t bits);
bitssets analog read resolution
This function is used to set the attenuation for all channels.
Input voltages can be attenuated before being input to the ADCs. There are 4 available attenuation options, the higher the attenuation is, the higher the measurable input voltage could be.
The measurable input voltage differs for each chip, see table below for detailed information.
.. tabs::
.. tab:: ESP32
===================== ===========================================
Attenuation Measurable input voltage range
===================== ===========================================
``ADC_ATTEN_DB_0`` 100 mV ~ 950 mV
``ADC_ATTEN_DB_2_5`` 100 mV ~ 1250 mV
``ADC_ATTEN_DB_6`` 150 mV ~ 1750 mV
``ADC_ATTEN_DB_11`` 150 mV ~ 3100 mV
===================== ===========================================
.. tab:: ESP32-S2
===================== ===========================================
Attenuation Measurable input voltage range
===================== ===========================================
``ADC_ATTEN_DB_0`` 0 mV ~ 750 mV
``ADC_ATTEN_DB_2_5`` 0 mV ~ 1050 mV
``ADC_ATTEN_DB_6`` 0 mV ~ 1300 mV
``ADC_ATTEN_DB_11`` 0 mV ~ 2500 mV
===================== ===========================================
.. tab:: ESP32-C3
===================== ===========================================
Attenuation Measurable input voltage range
===================== ===========================================
``ADC_ATTEN_DB_0`` 0 mV ~ 750 mV
``ADC_ATTEN_DB_2_5`` 0 mV ~ 1050 mV
``ADC_ATTEN_DB_6`` 0 mV ~ 1300 mV
``ADC_ATTEN_DB_11`` 0 mV ~ 2500 mV
===================== ===========================================
.. tab:: ESP32-S3
===================== ===========================================
Attenuation Measurable input voltage range
===================== ===========================================
``ADC_ATTEN_DB_0`` 0 mV ~ 950 mV
``ADC_ATTEN_DB_2_5`` 0 mV ~ 1250 mV
``ADC_ATTEN_DB_6`` 0 mV ~ 1750 mV
``ADC_ATTEN_DB_11`` 0 mV ~ 3100 mV
===================== ===========================================
void analogSetAttenuation(adc_attenuation_t attenuation);
attenuationsets the attenuation.
This function is used to set the attenuation for a specific pin/ADC channel. For more information refer to analogSetAttenuation.
void analogSetPinAttenuation(uint8_t pin, adc_attenuation_t attenuation);
pinselects specific pin for attenuation settings.attenuationsets the attenuation.
Note
This function is only available for ESP32 chip.
This function is used to set the hardware sample bits and read resolution. Default is 12 bits (0 - 4095). Range is 9 - 12.
void analogSetWidth(uint8_t bits);
ADC Continuous mode is an API designed for performing analog conversions on multiple pins in the background, with the feature of receiving a callback upon completion of these conversions to access the results.
This API allows you to specify the desired number of conversions per pin within a single cycle, along with its corresponding sampling rate.
The outcome of the analogContinuousRead function is an array of adc_continuous_data_t structures.
These structures hold both the raw average value and the average value in millivolts for each pin.
This function is used to configure ADC continuous peripheral on selected pins.
bool analogContinuous(const uint8_t pins[], size_t pins_count, uint32_t conversions_per_pin, uint32_t sampling_freq_hz, void (*userFunc)(void));
pins[]array of pins to be set uppins_countcount of pins in arrayconversions_per_pinsets how many conversions per pin will run each ADC cyclesampling_freq_hzsets sampling frequency of ADC in HzuserFuncsets callback function to be called after adc conversion is done (can be set toNULL)
This function will return true if configuration is successful.
If false is returned, error occurs and ADC continuous was not configured.
This function is used to read ADC continuous data to the result buffer. The result buffer is an array of adc_continuous_data_t.
typedef struct {
uint8_t pin; /*!<ADC pin */
uint8_t channel; /*!<ADC channel */
int avg_read_raw; /*!<ADC average raw data */
int avg_read_mvolts; /*!<ADC average voltage in mV */
} adc_continuous_data_t;
bool analogContinuousRead(adc_continuous_data_t ** buffer, uint32_t timeout_ms);
bufferconversion result buffer to read from ADC in adc_continuous_data_t format.timeout_mstime to wait for data in milliseconds.
This function will return true if reading is successful and buffer is filled with data.
If false is returned, reading has failed and buffer is set to NULL.
This function is used to start ADC continuous conversions.
bool analogContinuousStart();
This function will return true if ADC continuous is successfully started.
If false is returned, starting ADC continuous has failed.
This function is used to stop ADC continuous conversions.
bool analogContinuousStop();
This function will return true if ADC continuous is successfully stopped.
If false is returned, stopping ADC continuous has failed.
This function is used to deinitialize ADC continuous peripheral.
bool analogContinuousDeinit();
This function will return true if ADC continuous is successfully deinitialized.
If false is returned, deinitilization of ADC continuous has failed.
This function is used to set the attenuation for ADC continuous peripheral. For more information refer to analogSetAttenuation.
void analogContinuousSetAtten(adc_attenuation_t attenuation);
attenuationsets the attenuation (default is 11 dB).
This function is used to set the hardware resolution bits. Default value for all chips is 12 bits (0 - 4095).
Note
This function will take effect only for ESP32 chip, as it allows to set resolution in range 9-12 bits.
void analogContinuousSetWidth(uint8_t bits);
bitssets resolution bits.
Here is an example of how to use the ADC in OneShot mode or you can run Arduino example 01.Basics -> AnalogReadSerial.
.. literalinclude:: ../../../libraries/ESP32/examples/AnalogRead/AnalogRead.ino
:language: arduino
Here is an example of how to use the ADC in Continuous mode.
.. literalinclude:: ../../../libraries/ESP32/examples/AnalogReadContinuous/AnalogReadContinuous.ino
:language: arduino