ScioSense AS6500-QF DK User manual

Development Kit User Guide
AS6500-QF_DK
AS6500-QF_DK User Guide
Revision: 2
Release Date: 2021-10-22
Document Status: Production

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AS6500-DK User Guide SC-001504-UG 2 / 2021-10-22 / Production
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Content Guide
Content Guide .................................................................................................... 2
1Introduction ................................................................................................. 3
1.1 Ordering Codes .........................................................................................3
2Quick Start Guide .......................................................................................... 4
2.1 Install the Software ....................................................................................4
2.2 Install the Hardware: ..................................................................................4
2.3 Start Software ..........................................................................................5
3Hardware Description ..................................................................................... 5
4Software Description ...................................................................................... 6
4.1 Main Window ............................................................................................6
4.1.1 Stop Page ...........................................................................................6
4.1.2 REFCLK/SPI Page...................................................................................7
4.2 Menu & Support Windows .............................................................................7
4.2.1 File...................................................................................................7
4.2.2 Tools.................................................................................................8
5Schematics, Layers & BOM .............................................................................. 10
6RoHS Compliance & ScioSense Green Statement.................................................... 13
7Copyrights & Disclaimer.................................................................................. 13
8Revision information ..................................................................................... 14

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1Introduction
The AS6500-DK development kit allows customers a quick and intuitive approach to using the AS6500
TDC applications.
The kit includes of four elements:
AS6500-QF_DK_RB reference board V2.0, based on
AS6500-BQFM in QFN48 package
Cable to connect the PICOPROG USB-to-SPI interface
with the reference board
PICOPROG V3.0 interface
USB cable to connect the PICOPROG with a PC
Figure 1: Functional Blocks
Please download the latest software for the kit from
https://www.downloads.sciosense.com/AS6500
1.1 Ordering Codes
Table 1: Pin description
Ordering code
Part Number
Description
AS6500-QF_DK V1.0
221050003
AS6500 Demo kit including PICOPROG and cables
AS6500-QF_DK_RB V2.0
221050003
AS6500 reference board

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2Quick Start Guide
This section describes how to set up the GPX2-EVA-KIT, establish basic operation and make
measurements quickly.
2.1 Install the Software
Please download the latest software for the kit from:
Link: https://downloads.sciosense.com/as6500
It is crucial to install the software before connecting the evaluation kit to your computer. A default
driver loading of your OS may interfere with correct installation.
Table 2: Software installation
Step
Screen
Download the latest software installation
package to the desired directory.
Unzip the package to the desired directory.
Open “setup.exe” from the unzipped directory.
Follow the instructions on the screen. The the
software will be available from the Program
Files folder or the Start menu.
When connecting the PicoProg to the USB port
it will be listed first as “picoprog v2.0 un-
programmed” device. This is true also for
PicoProg V3.0.
In the drivers folder you find the driver for a
manual installation.
Starting the software will download a special
firmware into the PICOPROG,
picoprog_gpx2_v005.hex or higher, and the
device will now be listed as “UNIPRO”:
2.2 Install the Hardware:
•Make sure software is installed correctly before proceeding with this step!
•Connect your computer with the PicoProg V3.0 using USB cable.
•Connect PicoProg V3.0 and the evaluation board DB15 cable or directly. The board is supplied via
the USB.
•The green LED on the evaluation kit should be on.
•Connect your signal source.

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2.3 Start Software
•Execute the AS6500 front panel Software. The communication status should be green
•The software starts with an initial configuration, that can be opened the default configuration
file config_default.cfg.
•Press “Power On Reset! – “Write Config” – “Init Reset”
•Press “Start Measurement”
The measurement should run and results should be displayed now.
3Hardware Description
The AS6500-QF_DK_RB board, shown in Figure 2, is a basic board for the 4-channel time-to-digital
converter AS6500. The reference clock can be applied from external via pin or from the on-board
5 MHz quartz oscillator (X1).
INTN ——
MISO ——
SCK ——
MOSI ——
SSN ——
- ——
VCC_LEVEL ——
GND ——
VCC ——
Icc
Signal source:
—— STOP1
—— STOP2
—— REFCLK
—— STOP3
—— STOP4
Figure 2: Reference board
The board is connected to the PC via the PICOPROG, a USB-to-SPI converter. The PICOPROG is
registered by the operating system initially as “PICOPROG v2.0 unprogrammed”. As soon as the
AS6500-QF_DK_RB evaluation software starts, a special firmware is written into the PICOPROG to
handle the SPI communication with the AS6500-DK. The PICOPROG is now listed as “UNIPRO” in the
device manager. For SPI communication only, PICOPROG version 2.0 is sufficient.
The flat connector connecting the PICOPROG and the AS6500-QF_DK_RB. includes the power lines
and the SPI communication lines. VCC_LEVEL is the voltage feedback for the PICOPROG level shifters.

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4Software Description
This section describes how to quickly set up theAS6500-DK, establish basic operation and make
measurements.
4.1 Main Window
The main windows shows two pages, one for configuration and one for results display:
4.1.1 Stop Page
On this window major settings are made:
•1. Selects the input pins that are used in the application
•2. Enable the internal measurement channels. Each pin refers to minimum one internal channel.
Two will be needed in case of channel combination.
•3. Select the resolution. High resolution achieves a betters single-shot rms noise, but at the cost
of pulse-pair resolution.
•4. Selects optional channel combination
•This can be for better pulse-pair resolution or for pulse width measurement. Both options demand
internally two channels per stop pin.
•5. Having done the settings, download the configuration and initialize the chip.
•6. Start the measurement.
•7. At the bottom the results for the four stop channels are displayed.
•8. In many cases the differences between the channels are of interest. This can be activated
here.
1
345
26
7
8
Figure 3: Stop page

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4.1.2 REFCLK/SPI Page
PageAt this point, after successful completion of the above steps, a basic operation of the kit should
be possible.
Parameter REFCLK_DIVISIONS has to be set so that the frequency calculated is the same of the
reference clock used (5 MHz for the on-board reference). Then the output data will come with 1 LSB
= 1ps.
1
2
3
Figure 4: Setup page
4.2 Menu & Support Windows
Beside main window, the software menu allows the opening of other windows. There are some menu
items which are redundant to available buttons of main window.
4.2.1 File
•Load Config
This dialog box allows the path selection of a configuration file, covering the register settings,
necessary for a proper configuration of the AS6500. After opening this file, the control settings
are updated in the GUI.
•Save Config
This menu item allows the saving of the current GUI control settings into a configuration file
•Save Graph Data
Allows to store the measurement data as they are stored in the data buffer for the graphical

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display. It is possible to store the STOP data only or the STOP together with the reference
numbers.
Figure 5: Menu
•Close
Close all open windows of the AS6500-QF_DK Evaluation software.
4.2.2 Tools
•Run Measurement
Same function as “Start/Stop Measurement” button in “Measurement” tab of main window.
•Graph
Opens the window for a graphical display of the measurement data
Figure 6: Menu
•Registers
Opens a separate window for the display and setting of the configuration registers and the display
of the read registers.

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Figure 7: Configuration registers Figure 8: Result registers

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5Schematics, Layers & BOM
Figure 9: AS6500-QF_DK_RB schematics