why calibration adc and dac is important in stm32f4?

Question

I am using STM32F4 to perform sensing on my circuit. Before doing so, I would like to calibrate it first. I am doing this because I read that calibration is 'important,' but I don't understand why calibration 'must' be done. I say this because I previously used the ADC and DAC directly without calibration, and it worked fine. Therefore, I want to clarify why calibration must be done. Is it possible to proceed without it? I am using STM32F4, and when I use "HAL_ADCEx_Calibration_Start(&hadc1, ADC_SINGLE_ENDED);" it doesn't work and throws an error. I have run out of ideas for calibration besides the above method. Is it true that STM32F4 does not have calibration, or is there information that I missed? Please help.

Answer 1

Looking at the HAL ADC Extended module for stm32f4xx it doesn't look like a function by the name of HAL_ADCEx_Calibration_Start exists. The 'calibration' that you typically do for an ADC is setting the appropriate resolution, sample rate, reference voltages and operation mode to fully capture the data you're looking for.

It also seems like the ADC can only read values between its positive and negative reference values (page 395 of the reference guide). Using the same voltages as you input to the potentiometer should be fine.