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TIDEP-01012: Cascade Imaging radar sync log with camera

Dimitrios Tzagkas
Prodigy 35 points
Part Number: TIDEP-01012
Other Parts Discussed in Thread: MMWCAS-RF-EVM, LMK00804B, MMWCAS-DSP-EVM, TDA2

Dear TI team,

I am using the cascade imaging radar to log data, and I would like to sync it with another sensor. Is there a signal that I can use to sync the two sensors? Which method is suggested for minimum sync error ?

Thanks in advance.

Dimitrios

  • 0
    TI__Genius 17760 points

    Hi Dimitrios, 

    The MMWCAS-RF-EVM includes the capability of either running software triggered mode, or hardware triggered mode. Selecting the modes requires some resistor select options be soldered differently.

    In software triggered mode, which is the way the MMWCAS-RF-EVM is shipped, the master device AWR #1, is software triggered over the SPI interface. The AWR #1 device then sends out a trigger for itself as well as the attached slave devices using the DIG_SYNCIN and DIG_SYNCOUT signals and the LMK00804B (U8) clock fan-out buffer. 

    In hardware triggered mode, an external frame sync signal (3.3V buffer generated) can be input into the LMK00804B (U8) and that is fanned out to the master device and other slave devices. 

    For your specific application, I would suggest running in hardware triggered mode since this gives you direct control of the frame sync event for all the AWR devices. In hardware triggered mode, the host processor generating the sync signal is responsible for generating the frame sync events and must respect the frame timing of the programmed AWR devices. 

    Thank you,

    -Randy

  • 0 in reply to Randy Rosales
    Prodigy 35 points

    Hi Randy,

    thanks a lot for the detailed explanation. However, I was expecting to receive a message on LAN or a signal that I need to log instead of generating it, but this can work and I expect will be with minimum errors.

    In order to install the R142 where do I find the specifications, because the board has a variety of "options" as : R142, R143, R139, R144, R141.

    Then I have not found in the documentation which input I need to enable. A reference points TDA_GPIO7_27_AWR_EXT_DIG_SYNC, could you direct me where to look for that ?

    Thanks again in advance.

    Dimitrios

  • 0 in reply to Dimitrios Tzagkas
    TI__Genius 17760 points

    Hi Dimitrios, 

    For the modification I outlined above, R142, 0-ohm resistor would need to be installed and R143, 0-ohm resistor would need to be removed. That is all. 

    Unfortunately, the MMWCAS-RF-EVM does not have a good method of exporting the master AWR generated frame-sync to an external system. You could do this with a wire mod from one of the LMK00804B (U8) buffer outputs, but signal integrity of the resulting sync pulse may be a problem. So the above hardware triggered solution is the cleanest way to go, but that only solves the RF board side of the problem and pushes the synchronization problem to the connected host processor system. 

    If you are using the MMWCAS-DSP-EVM, you will most likely need to create a custom application based on the ProcessorsSDK Radar examples with a few updates.

    • Handle frame timing and drive the frame sync with this TDA_GPIO7_27 pin vs. the SPI FrameStart API call that is currently being made.
    • Select one of the available GPIO to drive the sync to the external device. 

    Those are the paths that I see with the current host and RF boards. 

    Thank you,

    -Randy

  • 0 in reply to Randy Rosales
    Prodigy 35 points

    Hi Randy,

    thanks for your reply. 

    There is different options as I can understand and the decision will be made with the accuracy of trigger we can handle for the FrameStart timing. I am using the Cascade-DSP-EVM, but I have not found yet how to use the TDA_GPIO7_27 pin. If you know which documentation refers to that please let me know. 
    If there is an example you have in mind, please refer me to that too.

    Otherwise, I feel I will have to log the initial frame start only.

    Thanks for your support!!!

    Kind Regards,

    Dimitrios

  • 0 in reply to Dimitrios Tzagkas
    TI__Genius 17760 points

    Hi Dimitrios, 

    For TDA2 GPIO control info you would need to look into the Processors SDK for Radar here: http://www.ti.com/tool/PROCESSOR-SDK-TDAX. 

    Thank you,

    -Randy