Texas Instruments CBL Manual

CBLéSYSTEM
GUIDEBOOK
®
Table of Contents ➥
Guidebook
developed by: Texas Instruments
Instructional Communications
© 1994–1997 by Texas Instruments Incorporated.

Important
Texas Instruments makes no warranty, either expressed or implied,
including but not limited to any implied warranties of merchantability
and fitness for a particular purpose, regarding any programs or book
materials and makes such materials available solely on an “as-is” basis.
In no event shall Texas Instruments be liable to anyone for special,
collateral, incidental, or consequential damages in connection with or
arising out of the purchase or use of these materials, and the sole and
exclusive liability of Texas Instruments, regardless of the form of action,
shall not exceed the purchase price of this equipment. Moreover, Texas
Instruments shall not be liable for any claim of any kind whatsoever
against the use of these materials by any other party.
FCC Information Concerning Radio Frequency Interference
This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a
Class B digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC rules. These limits
are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful
interference in a residential installation. This equipment generates, uses,
and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in
accordance with the instructions, may cause harmful interference with
radio communications. However, there is no guarantee that interference
will not occur in a particular installation.
If this equipment does cause harmful interference to radio or television
reception, which can be determined by turning the equipment off and on,
you can try to correct the interference by one or more of the following
measures:
¦ Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.
¦ Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver.
¦ Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that
to which the receiver is connected.
¦ Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/television technician for
help.
CAUTION: Any changes or modifications to this equipment not
expressly approved by Texas Instruments may void your authority to
operate the equipment.
© 1994–1997 by Texas Instruments Incorporated.

CBLéSystem Guidebook 3
Table of Contents
Safety Instructions ........................................... 4
Chapter 1: What is the CBL System? An Overview
The CBL System.............................................. 6
Introduction to the CBL ....................................... 7
Special CBL Features ......................................... 9
Connecting the CBL to a Calculator ............................ 11
Chapter 2: Getting Started
About the Display ............................................ 14
About the Keyboard .......................................... 15
About the Probe Connections ................................. 17
Chapter 3: Using the CBL System
What a Typical Program Might Include ......................... 20
About Automatic Probe Identification (AutoIDENT)............ 21
Understanding Modes......................................... 22
Understanding CBL Commands................................ 24
About CMD0—All Clear....................................... 27
About CMD1—Channel Setup ................................. 28
About CMD2—Data Type and Display Setup .................... 36
About CMD3—Sample and Trigger Setup....................... 39
About CMD4—Conversion Equation Setup ..................... 47
About CMD5—Data Range Setup .............................. 49
About CMD6—Multimeter Mode Setup ......................... 52
About CMD7—Request Status ................................. 54
Appendix A: Reference Information
Error Conditions ............................................. 56
TI Probes .................................................... 58
Conversion Equation ......................................... 64
Triggering with Prestore ...................................... 65
Miscellaneous Reference Information .......................... 67
Appendix B: Command Tables
Command Tables ............................................. 77
Appendix C: Service and Warranty Information
Battery and Adapter Information .............................. 84
In Case of Difficulty .......................................... 86
Service Information .......................................... 87
One-Year Limited Warranty ................................... 88
Glossary
Index

4 CBLéSystem Guidebook
Safety Instructions
Observe all warnings, cautions, and other safety instructions indicated on the
product and in the documentation. These instructions are intended to reduce
the risk of injury, possible electrical shock, or damage to the unit.
AC Voltages
ªWARNING! Never attempt to measure AC voltages from a wall
outlet. Connecting 115/230 Volts AC to any input probe may cause
serious injury or electrical shock, and may damage the unit.
Low-Voltage Unit
ªWARNING! This product is designed for use with low voltages.
Personal injury and damage to the unit may occur if voltages exceed 30
Volts DC on CH1, CH2, or CH3; or if voltages exceed 5.5 Volts DC on
SONIC, DIG IN, or DIG OUT. To reduce risk of injury, do not connect
probes to circuits that contain voltage sources more than 30 Volts DC.
All voltage sources must be fully isolated from AC power lines.
External Power
ªCAUTION! Use the correct power adapter with the CBL. Using a
wrong power adapter may cause damage to the adapter and to the unit.
Analog Inputs
ªCAUTION! It is very important that the ground connections of the
analog inputs are never connected to different potentials. These ground
connections are all in common. Connecting the grounds to different
potentials may damage the CBL.
Batteries
ªWARNING! Do not heat, burn, or puncture batteries. Batteries
contain hazardous chemicals and may explode or leak.
In Case of Difficulty
If this unit does not operate normally, refer to “In Case of Difficulty” in
Appendix C.

CBLéSystem Guidebook 5
Chapter 1: What is the CBL System? An Overview
This chapter provides a brief overview of the CBL system — its components, its
features, and how it works.
Chapter Contents
The CBL System.............................................. 6
Introduction to the CBL ....................................... 7
Special CBL Features ......................................... 9
Connecting the CBL to a Calculator ............................ 11
Note: Communications between different CBL-compatible calculators
and the CBL are very similar. Specific differences are described in the
CBLéCompatible Calculators Guidebook.

6 CBLéSystem Guidebook
The CBL System
What Is the CBL?
The Calculator-Based Laboratory Systemé(CBLé) is a portable,
handheld, battery-operated, data-collection device for collecting “real-
world” data. The data collected with the CBL can then be retrieved by a
calculator for further analysis. With the CBL system and appropriate
sensors, you can measure motion, temperature, light, sound, pH, force,
and more.
This Is What You Get
Light probe
Voltage probe
AA
Batteries
Temperature probe
Carrying case
CBL
TI Probes
TI provides three probes to get you started with the CBL.
¦ Temperature Probe: This probe uses a thermistor to measure
temperature.
¦ Light Probe: This probe uses a phototransistor to measure light
intensity.
¦ Voltage Probe: This generic probe measures voltage between ±10
Volts (CH1 and CH2 only).
Note: Appendix A contains detailed technical information about these
probes, pinout data, and other information to assist you in making your
own probes.
Additional sensors and probes, used with CBL through optional
adapters, can be purchased from other vendors.

CBLéSystem Guidebook 7
Introduction to the CBL
Probes Used with the CBL
Probes (sensors), provide the means by which data is collected or
sensed. In addition to the three probes provided, many existing third-
party probes such as ultrasonic motion detectors, force probes, pH
sensors, etc. can be used with the CBL system when connected with
optional adapters.
Using CBL with CBRé(Calculator-Based Rangeré)
You can use the Texas Instruments CBR as an ultrasonic motion
detector with CBL. A special cable is required. See the CBR guidebook,
Getting Started with CBRé, for information on features and commands.
Automatic Power Downé(APDé)
To prolong battery life, the APD feature turns off the CBL automatically
after 10 minutes without any activity. When you press P, the CBL
will be exactly as you left it. The CBL does not APD while it is in
Multimeter mode, nor when READY or SAMPLING is active.
Note that for sample times greater than five minutes, the connected
calculator may power down automatically by its APD feature. The CBL
cannot transfer the collected data to a calculator that is off. After turning
the calculator back on, you must resend the commands to retrieve the
collected data from the CBL.
About the Channels
Probes are connected to the CBL through input or output connections
that are called “channels.” There are six channels on the CBL to which to
connect probes. There are three analog channels (CH1, CH2, and CH3),
one ultrasonic motion detector channel (SONIC), one digital input
channel (DIG IN), and one digital output channel (DIG OUT).
¦ You can collect data at rates of up to 10,000 points per second for up
to 512 points per channel.
¦ You can collect data on up to five channels simultaneously.
¦ You can collect data and plot it in real-time at a rate of up to 14 points
per second. (The exact limit depends on the calculator program and
battery freshness.) You cannot collect and plot data in real-time for a
sample time that is greater than the APD of the connected calculator
(about five minutes).

8 CBLéSystem Guidebook
Introduction to the CBL (Continued)
How the CBL and Graphing Calculators Work Together
The CBL connects to a calculator through the input/output ports on the
calculator and on the bottom left edge of the CBL. The cable used to
connect the CBL and a calculator is the same input/output cable that is
normally used to transfer data between two graphing calculators. This
cable is provided with the graphing calculator.
The CBL is an “intelligent” device with its own microprocessor and
memory for collecting and temporarily storing data. The CBL can be
used to collect data as a stand-alone device and display the results on its
built-in LCD display. But its real power is apparent when it is used
interactively with a calculator.
To control the CBL, you send a list such as {1,2,3} from a calculator to
the CBL. The CBL interprets the lists as commands, which then control
what the CBL does.
There are eight commands defined for the CBL system (CMD0 to CMD7).
These commands tell the CBL such things as which channel to use for
data collection, what kind of data to collect, how often to collect data,
and how many data points to collect.
The elements of the command lists are the parameters for the
commands. The first element of every command list must be the
command number.
The manual trigger option lets you disconnect the CBL from the
calculator to collect data. After the data has been collected, the
calculator can be reconnected and the data retrieved from the CBL.
Communicating with CBL
Commands are sent to the CBL using instructions appropriate for the
calculator. Refer to the CBLéCompatible Calculators Guidebook or the
TI website at www.ti.com/calc/docs/sgraph for information specific to
your calculator.

CBLéSystem Guidebook 9
Special CBL Features
Automatic Probe Identification
The CBL has a feature called Automatic Probe Identification
(AutoIDENT). This lets the CBL automatically identify specific probes
connected to the CBL.
When you connect any of the provided TI probes to a CBL channel, the
AutoIDENT feature does the following:
¦It detects the probe and turns on the indicator for that channel in the
CBL display.
¦It determines what kind of data is going to be measured.
¦It loads an equation for converting the data into the appropriate
measurement unit.
Conversion Equations and Post-Processing
Conversion Equations: The three analog channels and the ultrasonic
channel each have an associated conversion equation. These equations
convert the physical unit measured by the CBL into a more useful
measurement unit.
For example, a thermistor is an electronic component whose resistance
changes with temperature. The CBL can measure only the resistance of
the thermistor. But an appropriate conversion equation can transform
the measured resistance value into a temperature value. The data
displayed on the CBL and retrieved by the calculator will then be in
temperature units.
Post-Processing: The CBL can perform certain calculations on
collected data when requested. These calculations are referred to as
post-processing (processing performed after data is collected).
The CBL supports three types of post-processing calculations: first
derivative, first and second derivatives, and statistics. For example, if
first and second derivative post-processing is selected, the first and
second derivatives of the collected data are computed and stored in the
CBL.
If statistics is selected, the mean, standard deviation, minimum, and
maximum values for the collected data are computed and stored in the
CBL. This computed data can then be retrieved into the calculator in the
same manner as the collected data.

10 CBLéSystem Guidebook
Special CBL Features (Continued)
Data Filtering
Sometimes collected data is affected by extraneous “noise” that may
cause false or spurious signals to show up in the data when it is
retrieved.
The CBL uses a sophisticated data-filtering algorithm to help resolve
these problems. Various degrees of data filtering can be selected.
Record Time
The absolute time (time from beginning of the sample in seconds) or
relative time (time between samples) can be stored as data is collected
and then retrieved into the calculator.
Viewing Collected Data
As data is collected, it is displayed on the CBL screen. Pressing O
alternates among active channels and displays data as it is collected on
each channel in the CBL display.
The CBL display also contains several status indicators to inform you
when the status has changed. The status might be changed by a CBL
command sent from a calculator, the AutoIDENT feature, or a key press.
Summary
On the following pages you will learn more about the CBL and how to
use a calculator to send commands and retrieve collected data. Although
the CBL can perform complex experiments and complex operations, its
use is simplified by many built-in automatic features and supplied
programs.

CBLéSystem Guidebook 11
Connecting the CBL to a Calculator
Installing Batteries
1. Holding the CBL upright, push the latch on the battery cover down
with your finger and pull the cover out.
2. Install all four AA alkaline batteries. Position the batteries according
to the diagram inside the battery compartment. Replace the cover.
3. Press Pto turn on the CBL. The initial power-on display is
shown below. Press L[OFF]to turn off the CBL.
DIG OUT
Automatic Power Downé(APDé)
To prolong the life of batteries, the APD feature turns off the CBL
automatically after 10 minutes without any activity. When you press
P, the CBL will be exactly as you left it. The CBL does not APD
while it is in Multimeter mode, nor when READY or SAMPLING is active.
How to Connect the CBL to a Calculator
Connecting the CBL to a calculator is as simple as connecting two
graphing calculators together.
*( *›
1. Connect one end of the input/output cable that was provided with the
calculator into the input/output port of the calculator.
2. Connect the other end of the cable to the port on the bottom left edge
of the CBL.
Note: Push in all connectors firmly. If there is a communication
problem, one or both ends of the cable are probably not fully inserted.

12 CBLéSystem Guidebook

CBLéSystem Guidebook 13
Chapter 2: Getting Started
This chapter describes the contents of the display, the functions of the
keyboard keys, and the six probe connections.
Chapter Contents
About the Display ............................................ 14
About the Keyboard .......................................... 15
About the Probe Connections ................................. 17

14 CBLéSystem Guidebook
About the Display
Display Panel
The display shows you information about the mode, the active channels
(input/output), and other data pertaining to the experiment in progress.
VA Ω EQ3 CH1 VA Ω SecHz EQ
MULTIMETER
INTERNAL
DONE
SAMPLING
READY
VA Ω EQ2 EQ4
REC TIME
STATS
mVA
Ft
Mk
Ω
mSec
kHz
C
F
K
CH1
CH2
CH3
SONIC
MFt
2nd
LOW
DIG IN
DIG OUT
1
tt
2
2
2
1
3
4
5
Display Layout
aDisplays information for each of the six channels. When an *
eDisplays digital collected data values and error codes, the units of the
collected data (meters, ohms, seconds, etc.), and a low-battery
indicator.
Note: The displayed units in aare the units being measured and not the
final conversion units. If applicable, the final conversion units are
displayed in e. For example, the TI temperature probe measures the
resistance of a thermistor when measuring temperature—the ΩΩindicator
is lit in aand the ºC indicator is lit in e. The resistance measured by
the CBL is converted into temperature units.

CBLéSystem Guidebook 15
About the Keyboard
CH1 V
REC TIME
CH1
EQ1
CBL SYSTEM
C
SAMPLING
Keypress Functions
Key Description
LSelects the function above M, O, and P.
MToggles the CBL between Multimeter mode and
Communications mode.
L[INTERNAL]In Communications mode puts the CBL in Internal
mode. Mor L[INTERNAL]returns the CBL to
Communications mode
NWhen the READY indicator is on, Nstarts data
collection if the Manual trigger option or Manual and
Sample trigger option is selected in CMD3
(pages 39–40).
L+NWhen the READY indicator is on, overrides the trigger
condition and begins data collection immediately.

16 CBLéSystem Guidebook
Keypress Functions (Continued)
OCommunications Mode: Rotates through all active
channels in sequence and displays the data being
collected on that channel. When a channel is selected,
its indicator blinks every 0.25 seconds.
Multimeter Mode: Rotates through CH1 and SONIC
and the operations for those channels (three dashes
appear momentarily between each key press).
For example, CH1: 0–5 Volts, CH1: ±10 Volts, CH1:
amps, CH1: ohms, CH1: seconds, CH1: Hz, SONIC:
meters, SONIC: feet, CH1: 0–5 Volts, etc. (The same V
indicator is used for both voltage ranges.)
Internal Mode: Does not apply because only V
(Volts) is active, which indicates the internal battery
v
oltage.
L[XMIT 85]During the DONE state sends collected data to a
connected TI-85 graphing calculator when the TI-85 is
in Receive mode. Manual data transmission is required
on the standard TI-85 because programming
commands to send and receive data are not provided.
PTurns the CBL on. If the CBL is on, aborts any pending
operation and stops data sampling. Any data collected
is saved in the CBL and is available to be retrieved into
the calculator.
L[OFF]Turns the CBL off. The state of the CBL is retained
when the CBL is turned back on.
Note: Some CBL keys are sampled less frequently to minimize power
use. The L, M, and Okeys should be pressed and held until
the command is recognized.

CBLéSystem Guidebook 17
About the Probe Connections
Input and Output Channels
Three analog inputs, an ultrasonic motion detector input, a digital input,
and a digital output let you connect various probes and sensors to the
CBL. With the variety of probes, you can measure temperature, light,
voltage, sound, force, motion, pH, and more.
Indicators in section aof the display (page 14) show you when CH1,
CH2, CH3, SONIC, DIG IN or DIG OUT have been set up. More than one
probe may be connected and collecting data at the same time.
The connectors for analog, digital, and ultrasonic probes are different to
make sure that you do not plug a probe into the wrong channel. For
example, you cannot plug a motion detector (SONIC) into an analog or
digital channel, or a voltage probe (analog) into a digital or ultrasonic
channel.
Additionally, the labeling on CH1, CH2, and CH3 is green and matches
the green band on the CBL DIN adapter and TI temperature, light, and
voltage probes. The labeling for SONIC is red and matches the red band
on the CBL RJ-11 adapter. The labeling for DIG IN and DIG OUT is blue
and matches the blue band on the cable in the CBL digital probe kit
(page 85).
Note: The included voltage probe (for ±10 Volts) can only be used on
CH1 and CH2.
Analog Inputs
CHI, CH2, and CH3 are analog inputs for probes that produce a voltage
output such as for sound or force. These channels also can measure
resistance. Only CH1 has provisions for measuring period and frequency.
CH1 and CH2 are on the top of the CBL; CH3 is on the left side of the
unit.
IMPORTANT: It is very important that the ground connections of the
analog inputs are not connected to different potentials. These ground
connections are all in common. Connecting the grounds to different
potentials may damage the CBL.
Ultrasonic Motion Detector Input
The ultrasonic motion detector input lets you connect a motion detector,
such as the CBRé(Calculator-Based Rangeré), to measure distance.
The motion detector (SONIC) channel is on the left side of the unit next
to CH3.
Digital Input and Digital Output
The digital input and digital output let you connect the CBL to 0–5 Volt
binary signals. The digital input (DIG IN) and the digital output
(DIG OUT) channels are on the right side of the CBL.

18 CBLéSystem Guidebook

CBLéSystem Guidebook 19
Chapter 3: Using the CBL System
This chapter describes how the CBL is set up and controlled by commands
sent from a connected calculator. Parameter descriptions are provided for each
of the commands.
Chapter Contents
What a Typical Program Might Include ......................... 20
About Automatic Probe Identification (AutoIDENT)............ 21
Understanding Modes......................................... 22
Understanding CBL Commands................................ 24
About CMD0—All Clear....................................... 27
About CMD1—Channel Setup ................................. 28
About CMD2—Data Type and Display Setup.................... 36
About CMD3—Sample and Trigger Setup....................... 39
About CMD4—Conversion Equation Setup ..................... 47
About CMD5—Data Range Setup .............................. 49
About CMD6—Multimeter Mode Setup ......................... 52
About CMD7—Request Status ................................. 54

20 CBLéSystem Guidebook
What a Typical Program Might Include
About a Typical Program Format
Programs are created on a calculator to set up the CBL operations for
the experiments that you want to perform.
A typical CBL program format might include the following basic tasks:
1. Clearing all channels of their previous settings with {1,0} (page 28).
2. Setting up one or more input channels to collect data with {1,1}, {1,2},
{1,3}, etc. (page 28).
3. Defining the sample time, how many samples to collect, and when to
start collecting data with a CMD3 (page 39). This must be the last
setup command sent to the CBL before data collection begins.
4. Retrieving the collected data from the CBL into a calculator (Refer to
the CBLéCompatible Calculators Guidebook.)
Below is a sample program for a TI-82 graphing calculator.
PROGRAM:TEMP
:PlotsOff:Func
:FnOff:AxesOn
:1→Xmin:30→Xmax
:10→Xscl:-20→Ymin
:60→Ymax:10→YScl
:ClrHome
:{1,0}→L
:Send(L)
:{1,1,1}→L
:Send(L)
:30→dim Lƒ
:{3,1,-1,0}→L
:Send(L)
:ClrDraw
:For(I,1,30,1)
:Get(Lƒ(I))
:Pt-On(I,(Lƒ(I))
:End
Initialize graphing functions.
Set up the window variables.
Clear all channels; turn off CH and EQ
indicators; clear collected data.
Send command to CBL.
Set CH1 to AutoIDENT (page 21).
Send command to CBL.
Dimension list where data will be stored.
Take a sample once every second; get next
sample immediately.
Send command to CBL.
Repeat 30 times.
Get a data point from the CBL.
Plot the next point.