Just a quick update:
I finally got all the hardware and started putting it all together. For the time being I run Angström on a Beagle Bone Black and I'm using the SPI1 module for interfacing the ADIS16480. It seems that the kernel (3.8.11...) that ships with the beaglebone Angström does not incorporate the ADIS IIO driver. However, a kernel module called adis_lib.ko is available. I am just recompiling Angström and the kernel, this time with the ADIS driver installed.
My question is: Do I need to predefine the ADIS at boot time as suggested on the driver page by modifying the board file?
The new Linux kernels don't seem to be used like this but instead by using a device tree overlay as shown here: http://elinux.org/BeagleBone_and_the_3.8_Kernel
I'm a little bit confused as how (if it is possible at all) to convert the spi_board_info file into an overlay. Especially since in the file the ADIS16480 driver is never specified. Is it found by matching the .modalias name?
Thanks a lot
-Rapha