AD5693R 16-Bit DAC Breakout Board with I2C

Jargon buster

Plain-language definitions for the technical terms used above.

AD5693R

The AD5693R is a single-channel digital-to-analogue converter (DAC) chip that turns numbers sent from a microcontroller into a precise analogue output voltage. When a board is built around it, the part number determines the resolution, output voltage range, interface and accuracy features you can expect.

breakout

A breakout board carries a small or fine-pitched component and brings its connections out to standard, breadboard- and header-friendly pins. Describing a part as a breakout means it can be wired into a project without soldering directly to the component's tiny contacts.

DAC

A digital-to-analogue converter turns numbers from the microcontroller into a real analogue voltage. It matters if you want to generate simple waveforms, audio-style signals, or variable control voltages rather than just on/off outputs.

FSR

FSR usually means full-scale range, the total span between the lowest and highest value a converter can output or measure, so error figures quoted as a percentage of FSR depend on the selected range such as 2.5 V or 5 V. In other contexts FSR can instead mean a force-sensing resistor, a component whose resistance changes with applied pressure, so check which sense is meant.

Gain error

Gain error is a scaling error in which a device's output grows slightly too much or too little across its range, affecting converters, amplifiers and sensors alike. It matters wherever the exact relationship between the input value and the resulting output needs to be accurate.

I2C

I2C is a two-wire communication bus used by many sensors and small modules. It matters because several I2C devices can share the same two wires, but each device needs a compatible address and your controller must support I2C.

INL

Integral non-linearity (INL) measures how closely a converter's actual response follows an ideal straight line across its range, and it applies to both DACs and ADCs. Lower INL means conversions are more predictable and accurate, which matters when you need precise analogue control or measurement.

Internal reference

An internal reference is a stable voltage source built into a converter chip that it uses as the fixed point for translating between digital values and voltages. When a DAC or ADC includes one you usually do not need to add a separate precision reference part, though an external reference can sometimes give better accuracy or a different range.

LSB

Least significant bit (LSB) is the lowest-order bit in a binary number, the bit that some serial protocols send first or last. In analogue-to-digital and digital-to-analogue converters, one LSB also means the smallest step the device can resolve, equal to its full-scale range divided by the number of steps.

microcontroller

A microcontroller is a small computer on a single chip that runs a stored program and controls connected inputs and outputs such as buttons, sensors, displays and communication interfaces. In a device built around one, it is the part that executes the code and coordinates the device's behaviour.

Offset error

Offset error is a small, roughly constant error that remains even when the input or output should be at or near zero, and it appears in converters, amplifiers and sensors. It matters when accurate low-level signals or fine analogue adjustments are needed.

PCB

A printed circuit board (PCB) is a board, usually rigid, with etched copper tracks that connect electronic components together without loose wiring. Components are mounted on the board and signals route between them through the copper layout.

ppm

ppm means parts per million, a common way to express very small gas concentrations in air. For CO₂ sensors, the ppm range tells you what levels the sensor can measure, such as normal indoor air through to poorly ventilated spaces.

Qwiic

Qwiic is a plug-in connector system for I2C devices that uses small 4-pin cables, so you can connect compatible sensors without soldering. It matters because your controller or adapter also needs Qwiic, or you will need a cable or breakout to wire it up.

STEMMA

A plug-and-cable connection system used on some maker electronics boards to make wiring simpler. If a product uses STEMMA, you need the matching cable or connector type to plug it in without soldering.

STEMMA QT

A small plug-in connector system for I2C boards that lets you connect compatible sensors and controllers without soldering. It matters because it can make wiring faster and less error-prone, especially when adding several small modules to a project.

Terminal block

A terminal block is a connector that joins wires together in a neat, removable, or serviceable way, usually clamping each wire under a screw or spring instead of soldering. It makes it easier to connect, change, or service wiring without permanent joints.

TUE

Total unadjusted error (TUE) combines several individual accuracy errors, such as offset, gain and non-linearity, into one overall figure. It helps you estimate how far a converter's real result might be from the ideal value, whether that is a DAC's output voltage or an ADC's reading.