Texas Instruments TDC7201-ZAX-EVM User manual

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TDC7201-ZAX-EVM
User's Guide
SNAU198A–May 2016–Revised May 2016
TDC7201-ZAX-EVM
This guide details the use of the TDC7201-ZAX-EVM Evaluation Module (referred to as TDC7201EVM for
the remainder of this document). The TDC7201EVM is an evaluation module that allows users to evaluate
the operation and performance of the TDC7201 Time-to-Digital Converter. One example application that
requires accurate time-to-digital conversion is LIDAR.
The TDC7201EVM connects to the MSP430 LaunchPad evaluation kit for capturing data, and it connects
to a user-friendly Graphic User Interface (GUI) to modify the registers and display the data.
Contents
1 General Description ......................................................................................................... 1
2 Equipment List ............................................................................................................... 3
3 Quick Start.................................................................................................................... 3
4 Software Installation......................................................................................................... 4
5 Hardware Configuration..................................................................................................... 7
6 GUI and Operation......................................................................................................... 10
7 Board Layout................................................................................................................ 14
8 TDC7201EVM Schematic................................................................................................. 17
9 Bill of Materials ............................................................................................................. 19
Trademarks
1 General Description
1.1 TDC7201EVM Key Features
1. Evaluate TDC7201 Time-to-Digital Converter
2. Connects with MSP430 Launch Pad (MSP-EXP430F5529LP)
3. User-friendly TDC720xEVM GUI interface
4. Connection for START1, START2, STOP1, and STOP2 inputs
5. Powered by MSP430 LaunchPad (no external power needed)

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1.2 TDC7201EVM
Figure 1. TDC7201EVM Evaluation Board

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2 Equipment List
1. TDC7201EVM
2. TDC720xEVM GUI (http://www.ti.com/tool/tdc7201-zax-evm)
3. MSP430 launchpad (http://www.ti.com/tool/msp-exp430f5529lp)
4. Micro-USB cable
5. Dual function generator (for example: Tektronix AFG3102 1GS/s, 100MHz)
6. PC with Windows XP or Windows 7
7. 4 BNC-to-SMA cables
3 Quick Start
1. Download and Install TDC720xEVM (GUI) Software. See Section 4 for more information.
2. Connect the USB cable from the MSP430 LaunchPad to the PC.
3. Connect the TDC7201EVM to the MSP430 LaunchPad via J1 and J2.
4. Connect START1 and STOP1 pulses to the TDC7201EVM via J5 and J4. See Section 5 for more
information.
5. Launch the GUI. See Section 6 for more information.
6. On the GRAPH tab, press the START GRAPH button.

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4 Software Installation
This section describes software installation, firmware upgrade, and how to update USB Driver.
4.1 Installing the TDC720xEVM GUI
1. Download the TDC720xEVM Software GUI zip file to your desktop. This should be located in
http://www.ti.com/tool/tdc7201-zax-evm.
2. Unzip the file.
3. Run the setup.exe file.
4. Follow the instructions to install the GUI.
5. Once done, you should be able to see the installation in default installation folder; for example,
C:\Program Files (x86)\Texas Instruments\TDC720xEVM.
4.2 MSP430 Firmware Upgrade (This is only needed for a new Launchpad.)
1. Open the TDC720xEVM GUI.
2. Click on the Debug tab.
3. Click on Update Firmware.
4. Click Next to proceed on the first prompt; read and accept the license agreement, and click Next to
continue.
5. Choose Select Firmware, and then click Browse.
a. Go to the folder where you downloaded the TDC720xEVM GUI. The default install folder is
C:\Program Files (x86)\Texas Instruments\TDC720xEVM
b. Find the Firmware folder. It is located within the default installation folder, C:\Program Files
(x86)\Texas Instruments\TDC720xEVM\Firmware
c. Select the TDC720xEVM firmware text file.
6. On the MSP430 LaunchPad board, press the BSL button (S5) and connect the MSP430 Launch
Pad to your PC using a USB cable. If detected, the text displayed on the Firmware Upgrade tool
changes from No device connected to Found 1 device. See Figure 2.
7. On the MSP430 USB Firmware Upgrade GUI, click Upgrade Firmware.
8. Click Close when done.
Figure 2. Upgrading MSP430 Firmware

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4.3 Checking Connection
1. If you haven’t done so, connect the USB cable from the MSP430 Launch Pad to your PC.
2. If you haven’t done so, connect the TDC7201EVM to the MSP430 Launch Pad via J1 and J2 as shown
in Figure 6.
3. Open the computer’s Device Manager . To do this, right-click My Computer, click Properties, and
select Device Manager.
4. Scroll down to Ports (COM & LPT) and check TDC7200EVM (COMx) connection as shown in
Figure 3.
Figure 3. Device Manager

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4.4 Opening the GUI
1. If you haven’t done so, connect the USB cable from the MSP430 Launch Pad to your PC.
2. If you haven’t done so, connect the TDC7201EVM to the MSP430 Launch Pad via J1 and J2 as shown
in Figure 6.
3. Run the TDC720xEVM GUI from the Start Menu. By default, it is located in Programs\Texas
Instruments\TDC720xEVM.
4. GUI should automatically connect and show the screen depicted in Figure 4.
Figure 4. TDC720xEVM GUI

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5 Hardware Configuration
This section describes how to properly set up the connections on the EVM
5.1 TDC7201EVM Connections
1. If you haven’t done so, connect the USB cable from the MSP430 Launch Pad to your PC.
2. If you haven't done so, connect the TDC7201EVM to the MSP430 Launch Pad via J1 and J2 as
shown in Figure 6.
3. Setting the Dual Channel Function Generator:
i. Set channel 1 of the dual function generator to the following (see Figure 5):
i. Pulse 1-Cycle
ii. Burst mode
iii. Freq = 40 kHz
iv. Delay = 0 s
v. Amplitude = 3.3 Vpp
vi. Offset = 1.65 V
vii. Duty = 20%
viii. Burst Trigger Source = External
ii. Set channel 2 of the dual function generator to the following (see Figure 5):
i. Pulse 1-Cycle
ii. Burst mode
iii. Freq = 40 kHz
iv. Delay = 19 µs --> this is the time-of-flight (TOF)
v. Amplitude = 3.3 Vpp
vi. Offset = 1.65 V
vii. Duty = 20%
viii. Burst Trigger Source = External
Figure 5. START and STOP Signals Scope Shot

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4. Connecting the Input Signal:
a. Using a USB-to-SMA cable, connect channel 1 of the dual function generator to TDC7201EVM’s
START1_EXT connector (J5).
b. Using a USB-to-SMA cable, connect channel 2 of the dual function generator to TDC7201EVM’s
STOP1_EXT connector (J4). See Figure 6.
5. Connecting the Trigger Input:
a. Connect DTG_TRIG (TP9) to the TRIGG input of the dual function generator. DTG_TRIG is
generated by the MCU whenever a new measurement is started by the TDC7201. See Figure 6
and Figure 7.
Figure 6. TDC7201EVM Connection Setup

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Figure 7. Tektronix AFG3102 Connections

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5.2 Jumpers
The following shows the jumper connection:
1. JP1: Jumper for VCC power
a. Connect Pin 1 to Pin 2 – power VCC via MSP430 (recommended)
b. Open Pin 1 and Pin 2 – no connection to VCC via MSP430; need to apply external power
2. JP2: Jumper for CLOCK source
a. Connect Pin 1 to Pin 2 – power VCC via MSP430 (recommended)
b. Open Pin 1 and Pin 2 – no connection to VCC via MSP430; need to apply external power
6 GUI and Operation
1. If you haven’t done so, open the TDC720xEVM GUI. The EVM GUI software can be run by clicking on
Start, then clicking All Programs, Texas Instruments, and TDC720xEVM and selecting
TDC720xEVM.
2. Click on the TDC720x tab and make sure TDC1 is selected with the register configuration in Figure 8:
Figure 8. Recommended TDC7201:TDC1 Register Configuration