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MSP430FR6047: EVM_USS_WaterDemo App getting started... need help/advice

Kenneth Scharf1
Prodigy 60 points
Part Number: MSP430FR6047

I've started working with the EVM kit with the factory installed firmware app.  I've downloaded the CSS development environment and the UltrasonicWaterFR604x_02_20_00_08 source code, which I hope is the correct/latest version that was installed on the EVM board kit.

I connected a flow pipe (3/4" dia) with two transducers that we hope to use in the actual flow meter to the EVM board.  The pipe is plumbed into a test rack that uses a pump to flow water through the system.  There are several valves to control the water flow volume, and some reference flow meters to compare against.   Our meters read out in GALLONS while the Ti software reports LITERS, but this is just a simple conversion.  We can convert this in our system that will be connected to the water flow meters, or modify the interface in the meter to report in GALLONS once we get a basic flow meter working.

I selected the parameters based on the videos and tech notes on line, and picked a transmission frequency that matched the peak response of our transducers as seen in the frequency sweep.  I fine tuned some of the delays to get the pulse waveform centered to nearly match what was shown in the examples.

The water flow reading on the LCD does not remain steady, the readings either jump up and down, or rise/fall depending on what flow rate is actually set by the valves.  I've tried reversing the transducers (I'm not sure which of the two connections on the board should be the input or output end of the pipe), and didn't see any differences.  I'm not sure what's going on here, do we need to make any changes to the code for our hardware starting point?   I don't see how to attach files in the forum post,  I could include some of the captured waveform files if this would help. (Insert file doesn't seem to do what I want).

Looking at the source code, I've noticed the following options that were NOT enabled:

USS_APP_RESONATOR_CALIBRATE_ENABLE
USS_APP_DC_OFFSET_CANCELLATION_ENABLE
USS_APP_AGC_CALIBRATE_ENABLE
APPLICATION_ENABLE_ABSTOF_DTOF_OFFSET_CALIBRATION
__MSP430_HAS_SAPH_A__
APPLICATION_ENABLE_BINARY_PATTERN_SIZE_SCALING
DEBUG_CLOCK_CORRECTION

and two that were enabled:

__ENABLE_LPM__
__WATCHDOG_ENABLE__

I would expect that we would want the watchdog enabled in our final product, but I'm not sure of the other settings.  The low power mode setting might be desirable for a battery operated device, are there any disadvantages to this setting?  What about the ones that were NOT enabled.  I think the __MPS430_HAS_SAPH_A__ might be specific to the gas flow meter application, and not used for water.  Do we need any of the calibration or offset options, or are these only for debugging?

  • 0
    TI__Expert 7365 points

    Hi Ken,

    1. LCD: The default setting displays the instantaneous volume flow rate measurement which does jump up and down around a mean value. Please look at section 3.1.2.3.2 "LCD Stand-Alone Mode" in the TI Water flow meter TI Design document at http://www.ti.com/tool/TIDM-02005 -> http://www.ti.com/lit/ug/tidues5/tidues5.pdf for more information. There is an option to display the "Average flow rate" that should be more steady.

    2. Reversing the transducers should not make any difference.

    3. __ENABLE_LPM__ is the suggested configuration setting to put the device in LPM3 between measurements and also between the upstream and downstream excitation. Disabling this setting will put the device in LPM0 mode which has a higher current consumption. You can look at sections 5.6 & 5.7 of the device datasheet at http://www.ti.com/lit/ds/symlink/msp430fr6043.pdf for the differences in the current consumption.

    4. You can ignore all the others for your initial measurements. Each of them serves a specific purpose and some of them need to be enabled for your production devices. These will need to be enabled for the final version for water flow meter. The others are necessary for gas flow meter application.

    USS_APP_RESONATOR_CALIBRATE_ENABLE
    USS_APP_DC_OFFSET_CANCELLATION_ENABLE
    USS_APP_AGC_CALIBRATE_ENABLE
    APPLICATION_ENABLE_ABSTOF_DTOF_OFFSET_CALIBRATION

    5. You should be able to use the "Insert File" button to add any data files to your post.

    Srinivas

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