Texas Instruments LDC1000 User manual

LDC1000/LDC1041/LDC1051 Evaluation Module
User's Guide
Literature Number: SNAU150A
September 2013–Revised March 2014

Chapter 1
SNAU150A–September 2013–Revised March 2014
LDC1000/LDC1041/LDC1051 Evaluation Module
1.1 Overview
The LDC10xx Evaluation Module is designed to provide an example LC tank and coil structure application
which interfaces to a host computer. The module can be used independently of the GUI by the on-board
embedded LED, which demonstrates threshold detection.
Figure 1-1. Evaluation Module
The EVM includes an example PCB sensor which is a 2 layer, 23 turn, 14mm diameter inductor with a
100pF 1% NP0 capacitor connected in parallel to form an LC tank.
The EVM is perforated at two locations to provide the option to interface to various system configurations.
The first perforation, between the coil and the LDC10xx, can be used to snap off the PCB coil and connect
a custom coil. The second perforation is between the LDC10xx and the MSP430, and provides the option
to connect the LDC10xx and the sensor to a different system or to use multiple sensors in one system for
prototyping.
Figure 1-2. LDC1000+Sensor
When the evaluation module first powers up from the USB port, it will flash a series of green and red LED
lights to indicate self-test. When the self-test is finished, the green LED indicates the status of the
LDC10xx INTB pin. When the INTB pin is asserted, the green LED is lit. By default, INTB is configured
for threshold detection.
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Chapter 2
SNAU150A–September 2013–Revised March 2014
Quick Start Guide LDC10xx Evaluation Module
2.1 LDC10xx Evaluation Module Overview
The LDC10xx Evaluation Module (EVM) enables the user to test out analog and digital capabilities of the
LDC10xx Inductance-to-Digital Converter. The EVM is a USB device used with a host computer and
accessed using the Inductive Sensing Graphical User Interface (GUI) software, which is documented in
Chapter 3.
To quickly get started on the LDC10xx GUI, follow the steps below to load and configure a device:
2.1.1 Evaluation Module
Set Up Requirements:
1. The LDC10xx GUI and drivers must be installed on the host.
2. Available USB port on host computer.
Loading and Running:
1. Plug the EVM into the host computer. The host computer should automatically detect the device as a
LDC10xxEVM.
2. Launch the GUI. It should automatically detect the presence of the EVM, read all the configuration
registers, and begin streaming data.
Figure 2-1. Streaming Section
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Reconnecting the EVM
If the EVM is disconnected from the host at any time, simply reconnect the device and the GUI will
automatically discover and re-establish the streaming abilities with the device.
Configuring the Device Manually
1. The GUI puts the device in streaming mode by default. Click on "Stop" in the streaming section to stop
continuous LDC10xx conversion.
Figure 2-2. Stop Streaming
2. Click on the Configuration icon in the main window toolbar.
Figure 2-3. Configuration Icon
3. Select the parameter to change. When entering the comparator thresholds, press ENTER to confirm
the change. Changes are applied immediately.
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Figure 2-4. Configuration Section
Saving Device Configuration
1. Click on the "Save" icon in the toolbar.
Figure 2-5. Save Icon
2. Type a name for the file.
Configuring the Device with Configuration File Defaults
1. The GUI puts the device in streaming mode by default. Click on "Stop" in the streaming section to stop
streaming.
2. Click on the "Open" icon in the toolbar.
Figure 2-6. Open Icon
3. Select the configuration file.
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4. After the configuration file is loaded, current values are written once to all supported registers. To
restore defaults defined in the configuration file, click on Restore Defaults to write all current registers
with the new configuration file defaults.
Figure 2-7. Restore Defaults
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Chapter 3
SNAU150A–September 2013–Revised March 2014
Inductive Sensing GUI User Guide
3.1 Inductive Sensing GUI Overview
The inductive sensing GUI provides graphical configuration and streaming support for the LDC10xx. The
GUI package includes drivers for use with the LDC10xx Evaluation Modules (EVM). The EVM
provides a device abstraction layer for the GUI to communicate with the LDC10xx through SPI, and
includes other extended functionality.
3.2 Host Platform Requirements
The Inductive Sensing GUI supports:
• 32-bit and 64-bit Windows 7
• 32-bit and 64-bit Windows XP
The host machine is required for device configuration and data streaming. Below are the steps which are
necessary to prepare the EVM for the GUI:
• The GUI must be installed on the host.
• The EVM driver must be installed on the host.
• The EVM must be connected to a full speed USB port (USB 1.0 or above).
3.3 EVM Information
For the TI LDC10xx EVM:
• The EVM allows the GUI to:
– Configuring register data through SPI (CSB, SCLK, SDO, SDI)
– Stream register data through SPI
– Stream register data through SPI
– Detect interrupts through SPI
3.4 Icon Toolbar
The icon toolbar contains various icons which navigate between sections and perform various functions.
Figure 3-1. Icon Toolbar
Name Description Icon
Connection Information Indicates whether an EVM is connected to • EVM is connected
the PC, and if so, provides details of the
connected EVM
• EVM is disconnected
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Open Opens saved register settings and
defaults
Save Saves all current register settings and
defaults
Register Settings Show LDC10xx Register Settings
Configuration Show EVM Configuration
Streaming Show Streaming Section
3.5 Multiple EVMs
To connect multiple EVMs to a single host, multiple instances of the GUI should be launched. Each EVM
will interface to only one instance of the GUI; multiple instances cannot connect to the same EVM. Use
the following procedure to setup multiple EVMs:
1. Connect the desired number of EVMs to the available USB ports.
2. Open one instance of the GUI, note the COM port number at the top of the GUI. This EVM is the
highest priority. Remove and replace each EVM individually until the COM port number changes. Note
the new COM port number.
3. This EVM is the next highest priority. Repeat this process until no EVMs are connected and the EVM
with the lowest priority has been identified.
4. When all of the EVMs are to be used simultaneously, open one GUI for each EVM and plug in the
EVMs from lowest priority to highest priority – each will claim their own instance of GUI.
3.6 General Configuration
In the configuration section, all registers of the device can be accessed. To access this section, streaming
must be stopped.
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Figure 3-2. Configuration Section
In the configuration window, select the parameter to change. When entering the comparator thresholds,
press ENTER to confirm the change. Changes are applied immediately.
Press “Read All” to refresh all configuration, status, and data settings.
Press “Restore from Defaults” to write values from the default column (if they exist) to the current register
values.
Press "Save Values as Defaults" to set the current configuration settings as the default settings.
3.7 Register Settings
In the register settings section, all registers of the device can be accessed. To read/write registers,
streaming must be stopped.
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Figure 3-3. Register Settings
Double-click on a register in the table to read/write. If a register is read only, the selected register is read
immediately and the table value updated. If the register is read/write, a dialog pops up and the user can
set a new register value. If the value is not changed, it will default to a read.
Figure 3-4. Read/Write Register Dialog
Press “Read All” to refresh all configuration, status, and data.
Press “Restore Defaults” to write values from the default column (if they exist) to the current register value.
3.8 Data Streaming
Data is streamed from the EVM to the GUI when streaming is started. The sampling rate of the EVM and
the number of samples to plot can be configured. The sampling rate is the rate at which the micro-
controller on the EVM retrieves a measurement from the LDC10xx.
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