TDC7201: Laser rangefinder school project using TDC

Henry Schmitz

Part Number: TDC7201
Other Parts Discussed in Thread: TDC7200,

Hello,

In my senior design project our group is building a Lidar rangefinder with haptic feedback for the blind/seeing impaired.

We are looking at possibly using the TDC7200 or the TDC7201 to help us with the timing portion. Our rangefinder needs to measure in the range of 1 to 4 meters.

Although the TDC7201 is specifically geared towards LIDAR, we have not been able to find a breakout board for the nFBGA(25) package for the TDC7201. We have three questions if anyone can provide any help.

1. Will 1 TDC7200 by itself be able to handle timing the laser with a 1-4 meter range? Or would you suggest going with the TDC7201?

2. With our research of other LIDAR projects, digital down converters were used. Does the TDC7200/TDC7201 need a down converter? It is not shown in any data sheets we have looked at.

3. If the TDC7201 is used, where can we find a breakout board for the nFBGA(25) package?

Thank you,

Henry

over 8 years ago

0 Vishy Viswanathan over 8 years ago

TI__Mastermind 21685 points

1. For 1m detection, you are looking at a minimum TOF of about 6.67ns. Minimum time TDC7200 can measure is 12ns. By using 2 TDC7200s or 1 TDC7201 (that 2 has TDC channels) you can measure down to 0.25ns.
2. You can look at this TI design for one approach
www.ti.com/.../TIDA-00663
3. Did you look at TDC7201EVM? I don't know of a breakout board but you should be able to find some nFBGA(25) sockets if you search. The TI design above uses 2 TDC7200s.

Thanks,
Vishy

0 Henry Schmitz over 8 years ago in reply to Vishy Viswanathan

Prodigy 80 points

Vishy,
Thank you for the answers and the quick reply.

Thanks,
Henry

0 Henry Schmitz over 8 years ago in reply to Vishy Viswanathan

Prodigy 80 points

Vishy,

We are looking at using two TDC7200s. In our design we weren't planning on using a beamsplitter. Can we go without it and have the msp430 send the first stop signal straight to the TDC7200?

Thank you,
Henry

0 Vishy Viswanathan over 8 years ago in reply to Henry Schmitz

TI__Mastermind 21685 points

Henry,
We have not worked on the optics front end. Sorry, really can't comment on that.
Thanks,
Vishy

0 Henry Schmitz over 8 years ago in reply to Vishy Viswanathan

Prodigy 80 points

Vishy,

Thank you for all the help.

Henry

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TDC7201: Laser rangefinder school project using TDC