The ADC10 offers several features to reduce CPU loading, improve performance, and lower current consumption. A sample start can be triggered with software or by using an output from a timer for a precise start independent of CPU activity (SOC = Start Of Conversion). User software does not have to be burdened to start a conversion. It can be done more precisely, using less code, with timer hardware. Also, the auto-scan feature allows channels to be sequenced automatically (for example A3-A2-A1-A0 A3-A2-A1-A0) without CPU intervention. Again, this relieves the software of performing this basic, but important task in many multi-channel applications.