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 onboard embedded LED, which demonstrates threshold detection.
Chapter 1
SNAU150–September 2013
LDC1000 Evaluation Module
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.
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.
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.
2. Click on the "Configuration Section" icon in the main window toolbar.
www.ti.com
Figure 2-2. Stop Streaming
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.
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.
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.
3.2Host 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.
3.3EVM 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
Chapter 3
SNAU150–September 2013
Inductive Sensing GUI User Guide
3.4Hardware 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).
3.5Icon Toolbar
The icon toolbar contains various icons which navigate between sections and perform various functions.
SNAU150–September 2013Inductive Sensing GUI User Guide
Connection InformationIndicates whether an EVM is connected to
the PC, and if so, provides details of the
connected device.
www.ti.com
• EVM is connected
• EVM is disconnected
OpenOpens saved register settings and
SaveSaves all current register settings and
Register SettingsShow Register Settings Section
ConfigurationShow Configuration Section
StreamingShow Streaming Section
3.6Connecting and Disconnecting
Device discovery, connection, and disconnection is performed automatically.
3.7Multiple 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.
3.8General Configuration
defaults
defaults
In the configuration section, all registers of the device can be accessed. To access this section, streaming
must be stopped.
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Inductive Sensing GUI User GuideSNAU150–September 2013
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.
3.9Register Settings
In the register settings section, all registers of the device can be accessed. To read/write registers,
streaming must be stopped.
SNAU150–September 2013Inductive Sensing GUI User Guide
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.
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.
Figure 3-3. Register Settings
Figure 3-4. Read/Write Register Dialog
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Inductive Sensing GUI User GuideSNAU150–September 2013
The sampling rate can only be set when streaming is stopped.
3.10.1 Average, Point, Min, Max Values
Average is the default display type. To toggle between sample point, min, and max values, right-click the
display.
AverageThe average of all the data points currently in the plot
PointThe newest data point value currently in the plot
MinThe minimum data point value currently in the plot
MaxThe maximum data point value currently in the plot
A larger number of samples would result in a larger averaging window.
3.10.2 Zooming and Scaling
Plots are interactive. Zooming options are available by right-clicking the plot and selecting an option from
the context menu.
Data Streaming
Zoom to...Zooms to window
AutoscaleAutoscales the data in the plot
ResetResets the Zoom window to its default setting
HelpDisplays shortcut keys and mouse mappings for scaling and
SNAU150–September 2013Inductive Sensing GUI User Guide
To display Rp Thresholds, right-click the plot and select “Toggle Markers.”
www.ti.com
Figure 3-7. Toggling Markets
3.11 Saving and Loading
3.11.1 Configurations
Configurations can be saved and loaded. To save a configuration, click on the "Save" icon. To load a
configuration, click on the "Open" icon.
Configurations include all register names, current values, and default values. They are saved in CommaSeparated Files (*.csv) and can be modified using a text or spreadsheet editor.
3.11.2 Plot Data
Right-click a plot and select “Save Data…”
Data can be saved to a new file or an existing one. If an existing file is chosen, data will be appended.
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Inductive Sensing GUI User GuideSNAU150–September 2013
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