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LDC2114EVM: Cannot configure LDC2114EVM through Sensing GUI

Martin Weinberg
Prodigy 50 points
Part Number: LDC2114EVM
Other Parts Discussed in Thread: LDC2114, , LDC3114-Q1, LDC3114

Hi,

I bought an EVM for the LDC2114 but unfortunately, I cannot configure the device without breaking the GUIs functionality.

  1. If I start the GUI and directly switch into data streaming (and press start streaming), everything works as expected
  2. If I switch to configuration, modify something and switch to data streaming, start streaming does nothing, also registers view shows 0x00 for every register then
  3. If I switch to registers view, i can read registers but if i modify one and reread registers, the initial configuration is restored automagically

GUI Version: 1.10.0
Firmware of the LDC EVM is updated to the latest version

Any advice? It seems, that switching to configure tab will completely break communication with the EVM and write of registers does not work at all

Thanks in advance,
Martin

  • 0
    TI__Mastermind 18545 points

    Hello Martin, 

    When changing the configuration, are you making sure to put the device into configuration mode, make the desired changes, then put the device back into active mode? There is a button for this on the configuration page but if you are making changes through the register map, you can use bit0 of RESET register to do the same thing. This would account for registers being restored to default. 

    Additionally, I have noticed that the data streaming can take a little longer to get started after making changes from the configuration page but it should start streaming within 30 seconds of hitting start even with additional delays. 

    Best Regards, 

    Justin Beigel

  • 0 in reply to Justin Beigel
    Prodigy 50 points

    Hi Justin,

    I think you mean the "Reset mode" on the upper left side of the configuration page?
    I thought this is a setting which will put the sensor in config mode automatically after connecting if "configure device" is selected.

    But I tried if this fixes the issue and it does not work as expected either. After 2 Minutes of waiting on new data, some data (i think 4 points or so) was plotted again and after waiting for additional 30s to 1min, new data somtimes gets plotted. But there is a delay every few packets.
    And after going into configuration again, changing some settings back to default and going back to data streaming clicking start again, the EVM was shown as disconnected and then reconnected. The GUI was reset, with every settings I made until then also reset...

    Like this, its not possible to evaluate the chip :-(

    Best Regards,
    Martin

  • 0 in reply to Martin Weinberg
    TI__Mastermind 22775 points

    Hello Martin,

    Sorry for the trouble, Justin is out of the office, so I will be helping with this situation for him while he is away.

    But that is correct, Justin was referring to the "Reset Mode" on the top left hand side of the Configuration Page. The device configuration must only be changed while this device is set to "Configure Device" and returned to "Active Processing" once you have finished completing the necessary configurations. This basically toggles the CONFIG_MODE bit, on the RESET register, between a 0 and 1 depending on which mode you have selected

    Did you try manually changing the CONFIG_MODE bit on the "Registers" page of the GUI as well to see if it yielded similar results? and if you did it yield the same results?

    Best,

    Isaac

  • 0 in reply to Isaac Lara
    Prodigy 50 points

    Hi Isaac,

    I thought this is a setting which will put the sensor in config mode automatically after connecting if "configure device" is selected and not that I have to do this manually.
    Also, I think if you are in the process of getting parameters for your design, it would be nicer to not be forced to think about setting this bit or not, because you may forget it - later more about this.

    I tried if this fixes the issue and it does not work as expected either. After 2 Minutes of waiting on new data, some data (i think 4 points or so) was plotted again and after waiting for additional 30s to 1min, new data somtimes gets plotted. But there is a delay every few packets.
    And after going into configuration again, changing some settings back to default and going back to data streaming clicking start again, the EVM was shown as disconnected and then reconnected. The GUI was reset, with every settings I made until then also reset...

    Like this, its not possible to evaluate the chip :-(

    Best Regards,
    Martin

    Addendum:

    Ok, tried again, if you:

    1. Stop the streaming (if it was started before)
    2. Go to configuration and hit "configure device"
    3. Configure your device
    4. Write down what you just configured
    5. Click "active processing"
    6. Go back to streaming view
    7. (Reset autoscale again (this setting does not get stored once activated...))
    8. Click start
    9. Wait 1 Minute

    most of the times, it works!

    But if you did something wrong (did'nt stop the streaming, don't click configure device, did't go to active processing again, something in your computer does not like the GUI), you may have to restart the gui or the GUI restarts your EVM (which in most cases also means that you have to restart the GUI because unfortunately the GUI does not expect the device to be restarted).
    At least, if you did step 4 correctly, you may remember where you left the device and start freshly with that last configuration.

    I can work with that now, but is it possible that you release a new software which is not that sensitive to any kind of user errors?

  • +1 in reply to Martin Weinberg
    TI__Mastermind 22775 points

    Hello Martin,

    Thank you for giving it another shot, and I am glad that it is working better for you. Sadly, this is still somewhat of a manual process, the device has to be placed into config mode and put into active once edits have been completed.

    Unfortunately, I was not able to replicate some of the problems you were seeing on your end. For example, if I did not stop the streaming or if I did not toggle back to "Active Processing" after changing my configuration and begin to stream data the plot would just show blank (except for the status). Restarting the device or the GUI were not necessary in these cases. The delay when starting to stream data was present and the length of time I needed to wait before seeing the data start streaming would vary but I usually experienced about 30 seconds.

    I would ensure that you have the firmware properly installed in your EVM to make sure the software issues you are seeing on your end are not related to a firmware problem not being installed on your EVM correctly. If you installed the GUI with the standard settings the firmware should be located at this file path: C:\ti\Sensing Solutions EVM GUI-1.10.0\EVM Firmware\LDC2114

    At the moment there aren't any plans to update the Sensing Solutions GUI for this device, but we will definitely take these suggestions into consideration for the next update. If you are encountering more issues please feel free to reach out for assistance. Additionally, if you are interested, we do have the LDC3114EVM which offers similar functionality as LDC2114EVM and the GUI uses a different platform which might provide a better interface for you to perform evaluation.

    Best,

    Isaac

  • 0 in reply to Isaac Lara
    Prodigy 50 points

    Hi Isaac,

    as I wrote in the first post, the firmware is updated to the latest version using the GUI.

    I'm glad to hear that you may relay my information to the technical team :-)

    Do you know, why the 3114 is using another GUI platform? I think it is a newer part than the 2114?
    I'm definitely interested as the 3114 also seems to better work for my use case (distance and linear motion sensing).
    Is the only difference between both of them the automotive qualification and the possibility to switch off button algorithms?
    The rest of the datasheet looks pretty the same.

    Thanks for your efforts,
    Martin

  • 0 in reply to Martin Weinberg
    TI__Mastermind 22775 points

    Hey Martin,

    Thanks for clearing that up and no worries, glad to help make our tools better.

    Yes the LDC3114-Q1 is a new device, and the GUI platform was changed because most new products are moving to the online GUI composer platform which we have found is easier for users to use since they can evaluate online without having to download the software onto your computer. But the LDC3114 and the LDC2114 are very similar devices, some of the key differences is that 3114 has a couple of added features that had been requested from the 2114. The LDC3114 has a pre-processed raw data mode available, a higher max scan rate of 160 SPS, and it has the option to disable the >50 second button timeout. As well as the automotive qualification that you did mention.

    Best,

    Isaac