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LM3S8962 Evaluation Toolkit

Other Parts Discussed in Thread: LM3S8962, EK-TM4C1294XL

Hi Community,

I bought a stellaris EKS-LM3S8962 EVALUATION KIT.

My project requires me to do digital signal processing. 

My question to the community is that, for the LM3S8962 micro-controller board, there are many pins on the board that labelled as gnd and vcc. If I wish to do any forms of soldering on the board, can I just connect to any gnd pin and it will work? I bought a electret microphone amplifier which has out,gnd,vcc pins. I have to create a connection between the mic and the micro-controller board. As such, does it have any difference if i just choose any pin that labelled as gnd and just solder them and create the connectivity? On the board itself, all the pins that labelled gnd are the same right? I can just solder to any gnd?

  • Hi Xingjun,

    Moving this thread to the TM4C forum since it deals with a Stellaris microcontroller. However I can say that this board most likely has a GND plane that all GND pins should be connected to, forming a common GND. You should be find soldering to any GND point since they are all connected (not an official answer however since I have no experience with this board design).

    Regards,
    Ryan
  • May I suggest something (outside) of what you're asking?   I've been at this forum forever - and "know" that your kit is rather old, expensive and RETIRED!  

    You propose soldering & connecting to an expensive board - which is NOT replaceable!   Is that (really) wise?  

    There is a far safer alternative - purchase an inexpensive Launch Pad (LPad - and hold your EKS-LM3S8962 for (later) times - (after) you've gained much needed experience.   The LPad can achieve most all that you seek - is low cost - AND replaceable.  (should the worst happen)

    Soldering as you note (usually) is not required w/the LPad.   Male headers and female sockets enable quick and painless connections.   Ground is marked at several locations - and based upon the output voltage levels of your mic - you (may) be able to connect that to an Analog (MCU) input.   CAUTION - the mic output voltage must remain - at all times - w/in the input specification range of your MCU's ADC.   (which is normally 3.3V, maximum and never dips below 0V)

    I'll add that from a business/finance stance - your EKS-LM3S8962 may have (and may grow) into a "highly sought item!"   (due to its rarity)   Using so rare a board as, "Beast of Burden" makes NO financial sense - and any disturbance to that board will drive down its potential value.

  • Hello Xingjun,

    I hope that you realize that EKS-LM3S8962 is NRND and EOL'ed. From a connection stand point the VCC and GND can be used, but just don't solder any VCC and GND without having to understand what circuit you want to connect and its requirement.

    Regards
    Amit
  • Hi, let's say i don't solder. But can I just connect jumper wire loosely to it to form a connection. Because I want to tap a signal. Which brings another point is, I called up TI headquarters so that someone can tell me how should I do it.

    I flash my algorithm into the micontroller. But, can't prove it is really working until I send an input signal and I receive an output signal. I create a capacitor breadboard so that it can check the Pwm output if it has changes in voltage value when I send a input signal.  I cannot assess a laboratory and the only way to check my codes are actually working is this way. I check its output voltage. Well if it is not recommended, and if I need to buy a new launch pad. That makes no sense again,  no one will be willing to teach me how to use it exactly.

    Therefore, is there a way where I can check if my codes are working without the need to do any extra steps that may causes harm to the board? I need a step by step solution. I call TI headquarters they don't bother to answer my questions and direct me to this site. Is there anyone who can offer me a solution here?

  • So, we confirm that the gnd are all common gnd. So i can tap into any of which and it is the same. Another point is that, i dont solder anything to it. I just tap with my jumper wire, that will be fine right, as it wont cause any damage to it. I use a mic for the input and connect some jumper wire to the micro-controller board and then use breadboard with a parallel circuit capacitor to test its pwm output, since this board only have ADC but do not have DAC. So, i play a music, the mic receive it some adc conversion is being done and process by the algorithm with the board and then output is pwm. i test the voltage of the pwm output with my voltmeter. this way, i check if the whole process is working. buying another board, provided i can talk to someone who knows what I need, and maybe through a phone call or something. I am a non-technical person, so I need some step by step answer. If there is any?
  • Xingjun Goh said:
    I am a non-technical person

    The nature of your question signaled that.  

    Your construction of a breadboard - unless implemented & operated properly (btw "all of the time") - has the potential to damage your (irreplaceable) LM3S8962 board!   This is why a "lesser board" (replaceable) was suggested.

    Have you checked for nearby technical schools, or clubs, or others w/similar interests?

  • One final point - coming from one who is perhaps more business oriented - than most here.

    You've rejected the guidance to acquire low cost LPad - "sticking" instead w/your existing (very old) board?

    That board is at least 5 years old - possibly older. How do you know that it has been properly handled - at all times - throughout its life? (can you even know?) And - are you familiar w/ESD (look that up) which can silently and un-notably DESTROY your board?

    Further - vendor here has "given up" on that board. As you've noted - most will not "touch it" and why should they - it's LONG discontinued. (the exception here is vendor's Amit who is (and remains) "off the chart" helpful & willing)

    Your movement to a brand new - known good - LPad makes far more sense than your continuing w/an old board, blessed w/unknown performance status!

    Your time & efforts are of value - risk/reward points supremely towards the LPad.

  • Hello Xingjun,

    Using the older EVM is something we do not support any further. I would suggest the EK-TM4C1294XL where it would be possible to have better support. What you are suggesting is possible, but would need a lot of components

    1. The Mic prestage
    2. Audio Amp
    3. Compression and Decompression of Audio stream
    4. Network protocol.

    Regards
    Amit
  • Xingjun Goh said:
    I am a non-technical person

    Greetings Amit,

    This quote appeared w/in poster's 07 Apr 2016 (22:11) posting.

    Might the rich technical detail you've provided - when contrasted to poster's "self-description" (above) - suggest (other) than, "Match made in heaven?"

    Is it (ever) possible to discourage a user when the App, is "too demanding" - the equipment, "too uncertain" and vendor phone support, "too brief?"

    Along these lines - do not many (most) advanced courses require (necessary) pre-requisites?    That's been discounted here - has it not?   Is that good?

  • Hi cb1,

    Thank you for your information and help. I actually posted alot of sos around the world map. Most of the time I am stuck up with a recommendation that I do not know how to begin with. I am doing a school final project now, what I am doing is disregard by the community as it is not something new. My project needs to do real time digital signal processing and then comment on the performance analysis. I ask community vendors and company in Singapore for guidance and assistance. Everyone heard is school project they stop helping. I did program my fft to process an incoming signal. Was not being guided to the exact point of step by step but left to discover by my own. Successfully program my fft c algorithm and flash into the chip.

    So, right now i want to test if I can get an incoming signal and being processed by the algorithm and achieved a successful output. 

    Maybe someone can tell me, how I can get an incoming signal into my lm3s8962 board? I didnt know this board is old, until recently and I only left with 8 days to submit my project. So, technically if I buy a launchpad, what difference can it make? Will someone be able to tell me how to program a new set of fft algorithm and flash it into the launchpad? I need to learn how to program fft in c algorithm. Or anyone is willing to send me their fft codes and I use it for my project?

  • Feel your pain - yet you must understand & accept that (none here) bear (any) responsibility for your (quickly) approaching deadline!

    Now I recommended that you search/find a "nearby tech school" - and (just now) we learn that you are a (member) of such a school! Many such students are "helped" here - repeatedly.

    Suspect that the school had "something (everything) to do" w/your being given (or purchasing from them) so very old (and suspect) a board! That's unwise - and subjects ALL of your work to variables which (often) may plague all of your efforts - and those of your helpers. Can that be good? Is it fair? Again - how can you (ever) know that your (irreplaceable) board has not received (some) damage? (3-legged horses - even fast ones - are unlikely to do well @ Kentucky Derby)

    If your school is at all serious - there (must) be (some) stock of Launch Pads. This eliminates (at least greatly reduces) the odds that your LPad board has been damaged. As an alternative - ask your school to place a "Rush order" for several LPads - vendors usually will "want" to assist schools and their (many) students. (future customers)

    To your FFT - cannot you speak w/fellow students - or teachers - or assistants? You must do the bulk of the work yourself - but you are likely to benefit from the (considered) input of others. And - via the "Search Box" atop this forum - you may enter FFT and see what results.

    Students should not choose material (far) from their existing knowledge bank and/or (all) necessary reference material. Outcomes - as you present here - are entirely predictable - and (most always) avoidable...
  • Hello Xingjun,

    The best that can be done under the circumstance is using the application note on CMSIS DSP

    www.ti.com/.../spma041g.pdf

    which was designed for Cortex M4F on TM4C12x device and back fit for Cortex M3 of the evaluation board. It has a simple FFT example. I thik the only change you need to do is to replace the Cortex M4F and FPU present define.

    Regards
    Amit
  • Hi Amit and cb1,

    Thank you for your guidance and sharing. I will do what is best recommended by both of you. Really appreciate all the efforts. Nevertheless I will still fly to Houston, since TI has their head office in Houston if I remember correctly. Most of the talks and seminars are in Houston, which Singapore does not have. My school is new, everything very rush and not ready. So, students are a bit left to depend on themselves to do alot of research. haha. Nevertheless, as a student, there is always a question in mind. Which is we will not know what is the question to ask because we do not know what is it that we need to know to do a task, only through after some time of realization and asking of many many questions that we know what to ask from our collective of information received. Thank you for the kind assistance. I am graduating in 2 weeks time. So, really appreciate the guides here. Thank you so much for willing to share information with me.
  • Hello Xingjun,

    TI is based out of Dallas. But a lot of the seminars and talks are not available as part of online Video Training Series (webinar)

    Well self-research is a fertile ground for ideas and innovations.

    Regards
    Amit

    EDIT: The "not" came by mistake.

  • When in the U.S. it would (very well) serve your purposes if you would purchase several Launch Pads.

    Contacting your destination's Sales Office first may enable them to have LPads "at the ready" for your eased purchase.

    Amit's provided very good, targeted, subject advice.    Would it not prove best to exhaustively review it - and only then make your long journey?   (many of your issues & questions may (then) be resolved - and/or you'll be able to form (better) questions through the experience & (new) knowledge gained...)