"AD74416H! SWIO! - Configurability! Flexibility! Wow!" Marketing is good at spotlighting key features. What it rarely answers is the practical question: where do I begin?
Modern chips can support a wide range of configurations, modes, and capabilities. Trying to absorb all of it upfront slows teams down. The smarter path is progressive mastery. Start with the basics. Get one configuration working. Then layer in more capability as you go. Over time, you build your Configurability IQ — the practical knowledge required to deploy, configure, and fully leverage SWIO technology with confidence.
So Back to Start
Industrial, process control, building automation, robotics, and data center coolant distribution units require configurable I/O (Input/Output). Simply put, modes of operation vary by application and may need to be determined in later stages of system-level integration. Flexibility is welcome and cost-effective, enabling a more agile approach to system integration. Multipurpose, configurable chips address the growing demand and evolving requirements of today’s and tomorrow’s intelligence.
The goal of this blogging series is not only to increase users’ Configurability IQ but also to uncover advanced features and capabilities integrated into a single-chip solution through practical, simple experiments.
What You Need
To follow this series, it is highly recommended to order the EV-AD74416H-ARDZ evaluation board and the SDP-K1 controller board. Links are provided. A laptop with ACE software installed and a +24V power supply will be required. Additionally, you will need basic components, such as resistors and potentiometers, depending on the mode of operation.
First Setup – Hello New World - GPIO ON
User guide UG-2153 outlines the setup guidelines. Two boards need to be connected together as shown in Figure 1- the USB-C connected to a controller board and a +24V voltage supply to the P54.
Figure 1: Connected AD74416H EV KIT with GPIO_B LED ON
After installing and starting the ACE software, open the AD74416H chip plugin. To turn on the GPIO_x LED, click on the relevant circle in the bottom left corner of the block diagram. The GPIO settings are shown in the figure; with this configuration, the GPIO_B LED should light up.
Figure 2: AD74416H ACE plugin, GPIO_B LED enabled
Additional Insights
GPIOs (General Purpose Input/Output) are useful for controlling additional peripherals or circuits beyond the integrated functions of the SWIO chip itself.
GPIOs are particularly useful for controlling ideal diode FETs in DO (Digital Output) mode, as they help reduce dissipated power in high-current DO modes.
AD74416H provides a total of six GPIOs-fully configurable and universal. Besides their typical functionality, they also allow sensing of a DIN (Digital Input) signal or controlling the DO level, offering more flexibility for users in time-critical applications.
AD74416H is a highly versatile component that operates in multiple modes and is suitable for a range of applications.
From Buzzwords to Real‑World Know‑How
The Configurability IQ blogging series will guide readers through the basics of universal I/O configurations and explore more integrated functionality within the AD74416H single-chip SWIO solution. Understanding the marketing buzz and maintaining Configurability IQ will help ensure users are prepared for end applications, aware of all the features SWIO offers, and ready to leverage them in the next project.
Read all the blogs in the Configurability IQ series.