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.
This section describes software installation, firmware upgrade, and how to update USB Driver.
4.1Installing 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.
4.2MSP430 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
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 LaunchPad 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.
This section describes how to properly set up the connections on the EVM
5.1TDC7201EVM 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