SBASAE4 December 2025 ADS125P08
PRODUCTION DATA
The FIFO buffer is implemented as a circular memory with two internal pointers, a read pointer and a write pointer, as shown in Figure 7-17.
In a circular FIFO concept, the memory address of the incoming data is in the write pointer. The address of the first data word in the FIFO that is to be read out is in the read pointer. After reset, both pointers indicate the same memory location. After each write operation, the write pointer is set to the next memory location. The reading of a data word sets the read pointer to the next data word that is to be read out. The read pointer constantly follows the write pointer. When the read pointer reaches the write pointer, the FIFO is empty (underflow). If the write pointer catches up with the read pointer, the FIFO is full (overflow).
Figure 7-17 illustrates the principle of a circular FIFO with two pointers, including an example of reading data and advancing the read pointer as well as writing data and advancing the write pointer. In this example, one data word is read (ADC sample #1) which advances the read pointer to the address of sample #2. Afterwards, one new data word is written (ADC sample #502) which advances the write pointer to the next available address.