Voxtel Opto LRF User manual

Voxtel Laser Rangefinder
Quick Start Guide
1. ADHERE TO ALL SAFETY & HANDLING GUIDANCE
This guide requires knowledge of and strict adherence to all procedures, cautions, warnings, and handling notes in the Voxtel LRF User
Manual. This quick-reference guide for setting up and performing initial testing and communications with all Voxtel LRF products
supplements—but does not replace—the LRF User Manual. For additional discussion on handling, personal, and product safety, refer
to the “Safety” section in the LRF User Manual.
⚠Warning: For all units equipped with a laser, failure to follow
laser protocols and precautions when handling the product
may result in personal injury and/or damage to the product.
⚠Caution: Failure to follow electrostatic discharge (ESD)
protocols and precautions when handling the product may
result in damage to the product. A single ESD event can cause
catastrophic or latent device failure.
For all units equipped with a laser:
In addition to the requirements in this guide: adhere to:
•“DPSS Lasers and Laser Driver Boards” section, LRF User Manual
•Safe use of laser protocols—Use ANSI Z136.1-2014
•ESD prevention protocols—Use ANSI-ESD-S20.20-2014
For units not equipped with a laser:
In addition to the requirements in this guide, adhere to:
•ESD prevention protocols—Use ANSI-ESD-S20.20-2014
2. CONNECT LRF SYSTEM COMPONENTS
Set up the LRF for initial testing and communication:
LRF with Housing
LRF without Housing
a. Plug the white connectivity
cable into the back of the
LRF.
b.
Connect the other end of
the white
connectivity
cable to the
interface
support module (ISM)
board. The cable connect
s
easily
; it can only connect in
one orientation.
a. Remove the LRF from the
metal shipping tray
. Use an
M3 driver to remove the
(6) M2 screws.
b. Connect
the connector on
the ISM board (P2)
to the
receptacle on the
LRF
system board (P1).
The plug
connects easily; it
can only
connect in one orientation.
c. (All LRFs) Connect the micro-USB to the ISM board.
d.
(All LRFs) Connect the other end of the USB cable to the PC.
b
e.(All LRFs) Connect the 5V power supply barrel plug
to the
ISM board.
f. (All LRFs) Connect the power supply to the power source.
⚠Caution: If not using the Voxtel-provided power supply, ensure no more than 5V is supplied to the LRF. More than 5V will cause
an overvoltage of the system board, which may damage the laser driver board and the laser.
g. (All LRFs) Verify cabling as shown.
3. SET UP COMMUNICATION WITH THE LRF THROUGH THE PC
Use a UART serial protocol program to establish communication with the LRF. PuTTY (recommended) is used for all examples.
a. Set the UART serial protocol to Force on. In PuTTY, enter the PuTTY Configuration menu, select the Terminal option, and enable
the Force on radial button. (If not enabled, user input will not be displayed—only LRF responses will be displayed.)
b. Set the communication port. In PuTTY, enter the PuTTY Configuration menu, expand the Connection menu, select the Serial
option, and enter the following:
i. In the Serial line to connect to field, enter the port to which
the LRF is connected (input varies by setup and may not match
example).
ii. Set Configure the serial line fields to values shown [Speed (baud):
57600; Data bits: 9; Stop bits: 1; Party: None; Flow control: None].
Values must match values shown.
For help setting up the program, refer to the “Communication” section
of the LRF User Manual.
4. CONFIRM OUT-OF-THE-BOX COMMUNICATION
Confirm communications
between the LRF and the PC using
the following command
s, in the sequence shown:
:VE This queries the LRF firmware.
:VF This queries the FPGA firmware.
:SN This queries the serial number.
The command
s and the expected
responses are shown.
Firmware
versions may vary.
Voxtel Literature LRF Quick Start Guide (MAN_LRF_0002) 15Nov2019©. Voxtel makes no warranty or representation regarding its products’ specific application
suitability and may make changes to the products described without notice.

5. PERFORM INITIAL TEST—LOW-GAIN MODE
Test for basic system functionality as follows:
a. Set up the physical layout of the testing environment.
i. Position the LRF to target an object within 10 meters.
ii. Ensure no highly reflective object is within 10 meters of
the LRF; such an object may damage the receiver.
b. Set the LRF to low-gain mode: Command
“:GN 0”. The command and response are
shown right.
c.
Ensure consistent calibration and false-
alarm rate (FAR) are set for the LRF—
and confirm correct
functionality of the LRF and flex cable within—as follows:
i. Query the low-
voltage detection threshold (vThLo):
Command “:CL”
ii. Verify the response is between 983 and
1148; this correlates
to a vThLo range
of 0.48V–0.56V;
“1025”, shown,
correlates to a
vThLo = 0.5V.
iii. Measure the
FAR: Command
“:FL”.
iv. Confirm the FAR is 100 – 500 Hz (factory default FAR).
v. Repeat steps (i) – (iv) several times.
vi. Verify the responses are consistent.
d. (Optional, if an IR card is available)
Confirm the laser is firing:
i. Place an IR card in front of
the laser.
ii. Issue a series of range
requests (command “:RR”
several times).
iii. Verify the laser pulse is
visible on the IR card.
e. Ensure the laser delay is in the
range of 1.0 – 2.2-ms at room
temperature:
i. Request the range (:RR).
ii. Request the laser delay (:RD).
iii. Read the laser delay value.
Laser delays vary by laser type;
typical is < ~2 ms. In the example
shown, the delay is 1.1 ns (“1139” in the response syntax).
f. Verify consistent/proper LRF
functioning:
i. Issue several more range
commands (:RR).
ii. Monitor the response from
the LRF.
In this configuration—because
the LRF will not resolve returns < 10 meters—the LRF respons
e
is “~RR no hits [1001] Errors”, as shown.
g. If there is a false hit—a non-zero
value (typically < 2 km) received
when zero is expected—check
the pulse width of the laser:
i. Request the pulse-width:
Command “:PW”.
In response to this request,
the pulse width of the
outgoing (T0) pulse is listed
first, followed by any return pulse widths; e.g., “
~PW
344404, 6072 OK” indicates the T0 pulse
width is 344
ns and the return is 6 ns.
ii. Verify that the pulse width of the T0 pulse is hundreds of ns
,
and verify that any false return value is much smaller
than
the T0 value. A typical false return is about 10 ns (or less).
If
the LRF does not pass testing, contact Voxtel:
Engineering support, [e-mail]
6. PERFORM INITIAL TEST—HIGH-GAIN MODE
Test for functionality at a distance as provided below. This process repeats several of the low-gain
command sequences in a higher-gain mode for a target at a greater distance.
a. Set up the physical layout of the testing environment:
Position the LRF to target an object at a 50 – 200-meter
range.
b. Set the LRF to high-gain mode: Command “:GN 1”.
c. Ensure consistent calibration and FAR:
i. Query vThLo: Command “:CL”.
ii. Verify the response is between 983 and 1148.
iii. Measure the FAR: Command “:FL”.
iv. Verify the FAR is 100 – 500 Hz.
v. Repeat steps (i) – (iv) several times.
vi. Verify the responses are consistent.
d. Ensure the laser delay is 1.0 – 2.2 ms at room temperature:
i. Issue a range request: Command “:RR”.
ii. Issue a laser delay request: Command “:RD”.
iii. Read the laser delay value.
e. Verify consistent/proper LRF functioning:
i. Issue several more range requests: Command “:RR”.
ii. Monitor the response.
iii. Verify that the LRF responds with non-zero values
that are consistent with the target distance.
f. If there are multiple returns/false hits, or if lighting
conditions change, reset the calibration and FAR. To reset
the calibration and FAR, repeat step (c).
g. Verify that the pulse width of
the T0 laser pulse is greater
than the pulse width of the
return(s):
i. Issue a range request:
Command “:RR”.
ii. Check the pulse width of
the returns: Command “:PW”.
The T0 pulse is reported first, followed by the return pulse(s).
A typical output for high-gain testing to a 105-meter target is
shown. Also included is an example of the return pulse widths
showing an 87.4-ns T0 pulse, a 97.5-ns return, and a typical
11.7-ns pulse-width false return.
If the LRF passes initial testing in high-gain mode:
The LRF is functioning as intended. Additional testing can be
conducted. For additional questions regarding communication
with the system board or troubleshooting, refer to the LRF
Software ICD and/or the LRF User Manual.
If the LRF does not pass testing, contact Voxtel:
Engineering support, [e-mail]