The TC520A serial interface adapter provides logic control for Microchip's TC500/TC500A/TC510/TC514 family of dual slope, integrating A/D converters. It directly manages TC500 converter phase control signals A, B and CMPTR, thereby reducing host processor task loading and software complexity. Communication with the TC520A is accomplished over a 3 wire serial port. Key converter operating parameters are programmable for complete user flexibility. Data conversion is initiated when the CE input is brought low. The converted data (plus overrange and polarity bits) are held in an 18-bit shift register until read by the processor or until the next conversion is completed. Data may be clocked out of the TC520A at any time, and at any rate, the user prefers. A Data Valid (DV) output is driven active at the start of each conversion cycle, indicating the 18-bit shift register update has just been completed. This signal may be polled by the processor or can be used as data ready interrupt. The TC520A timebase can be derived from an external frequency source of up to 6MHz or can operate from its own external crystal. It requires a single 5V logic supply and dissipates less than 7.5m.