Texas Instruments LDC1000 User manual

LDC1000 Evaluation Module
User's Guide
Literature Number: SNAU150
September 2013

Chapter 1
SNAU150–September 2013
LDC1000 Evaluation Module
1.1 Overview
The LDC1000 Evaluation Module is designed to provide an example LC tank and coil structure
application, to interface 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 14mm in diameter and contains 2 layers. A 100pF
1% COG cap is connected, in parallel, to the PCB coil, in order to form an LC tank.
The EVM is perforated at two locations: One between Coil and LDC1000, which provides the option to
snap the PCB coil and connect a custom coil required in the application. The second perforation is
between LDC1000 and MSP430, and provides the option to connect the LDC1000+Sensor into a different
system or use multiple of such 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 self-test is finished, the green LED indicates the status of the LDC1000
INT pin. When INT is asserted, the green LED is lit. By default, INT is configured for threshold detection.
2LDC1000 Evaluation Module SNAU150–September 2013
Submit Documentation Feedback
Copyright © 2013, Texas Instruments Incorporated

Chapter 2
SNAU150–September 2013
Quick Start Guide LDC1000 Evaluation Module
2.1 LDC1000 Evaluation Module Overview
The LDC1000 Evaluation Module (EVM) enables the user to test out analog and digital capabilities of the
LDC1000 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 LDC1000 GUI, follow the steps below to load and configure a device.
2.1.1 Evaluation Module
Set Up Requirements
1. The LDC1000 GUI and drivers must be installed on the host.
2. The USB port of the EVM must be connected to the host.
Loading and Running
1. Plug the EVM into the host computer. The host computer should automatically detect the device as
LDC1000EVM.
2. Launch the GUI. It should automatically detect the target, read all the configuration registers, and begin
streaming data.
Figure 2-1. Streaming Section
3
SNAU150–September 2013 Quick Start Guide LDC1000 Evaluation Module
Submit Documentation Feedback Copyright © 2013, Texas Instruments Incorporated

LDC1000 Evaluation Module Overview www.ti.com
Reloading the Device
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 streaming.
Figure 2-2. Stop Streaming
2. Click on the "Configuration Section" icon in the main window toolbar.
Figure 2-3. Configuration Section Icon
3. Select the parameter to change. When entering the comparator thresholds, press ENTER to confirm
the change. Changes are applied immediately.
4Quick Start Guide LDC1000 Evaluation Module SNAU150–September 2013
Submit Documentation Feedback
Copyright © 2013, Texas Instruments Incorporated

www.ti.com LDC1000 Evaluation Module Overview
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.
5
SNAU150–September 2013 Quick Start Guide LDC1000 Evaluation Module
Submit Documentation Feedback Copyright © 2013, Texas Instruments Incorporated

LDC1000 Evaluation Module Overview www.ti.com
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
6Quick Start Guide LDC1000 Evaluation Module SNAU150–September 2013
Submit Documentation Feedback
Copyright © 2013, Texas Instruments Incorporated

Chapter 3
SNAU150–September 2013
Inductive Sensing GUI User Guide
3.1 Inductive Sensing GUI Overview
The inductive sensing GUI provides graphical configuration and streaming support for the LDC1000. The
GUI package includes drivers for use with the LDC1000 Evaluation Modules (EVM). The EVM
provides a device abstraction layer for the GUI to communicate with the LDC1000 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.
3.3 EVM Information
For the TI LDC1000 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 Hardware Setup
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 (1.0 or above).
3.5 Icon Toolbar
The icon toolbar contains various icons which navigate between sections and perform various functions.
Figure 3-1. Icon Toolbar
7
SNAU150–September 2013 Inductive Sensing GUI User Guide
Submit Documentation Feedback Copyright © 2013, Texas Instruments Incorporated

Connecting and Disconnecting www.ti.com
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 device.
• EVM is disconnected
Open Opens saved register settings and
defaults
Save Saves all current register settings and
defaults
Register Settings Show Register Settings Section
Configuration Show Configuration Section
Streaming Show Streaming Section
3.6 Connecting and Disconnecting
Device discovery, connection, and disconnection is performed automatically.
3.7 Multiple EVMs
If the user desires to connect to multiple EVMs, multiple instances of the GUI can be launched. Multiple
instances cannot connect to the same EVM; only one instance of the GUI can be connected to one EVM.
3.8 General Configuration
In the configuration section, all registers of the device can be accessed. To access this section, streaming
must be stopped.
8Inductive Sensing GUI User Guide SNAU150–September 2013
Submit Documentation Feedback
Copyright © 2013, Texas Instruments Incorporated

www.ti.com Register Settings
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.
Press “Restore Defaults” to write values from the default column (if they exist) to the current register value.
3.9 Register Settings
In the register settings section, all registers of the device can be accessed. To read/write registers,
streaming must be stopped.
9
SNAU150–September 2013 Inductive Sensing GUI User Guide
Submit Documentation Feedback Copyright © 2013, Texas Instruments Incorporated

Data Streaming www.ti.com
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
choose 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.
3.10 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.
10 Inductive Sensing GUI User Guide SNAU150–September 2013
Submit Documentation Feedback
Copyright © 2013, Texas Instruments Incorporated