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TIDA-060024 - maximum sensing frequency and the availability of raw echo envelope

Other Parts Discussed in Thread: TIDA-060024, PGA460, TUSS4440, TUSS4470

I would like to know about the performance of this module. I would like to get echo response data (up to 5m) 10 times a second at least. Is it possible with this module?

It seems that the echo data is provided thru USART, but I'm not surre about that. The echo response is provided to host MCU thru USART?

If yes to above qustion, where can I get more information about the commands and responses from the module?

Best regards,
Kyle

  • Hi Kyle,

    Responding to your questions:

    1) Yes, the TIDA-060024 with the included PUI Audio UTR-1440K-TT-R transducer is able to detect up to 6m as shown in figure 14 of the Ultrasonic Proximity-Sensing Module (PSM) Reference Design report.

    2) There are three means of extracting echo data:

    • Ultrasonic measurement result: provides a 16 bit time of flight value, 8 bit echo amplitude, and 8 bit echo width result per return echo (up to eight echo results can be recorded per measurement). This output is available through UART or USART/SPI. See table 3 of the PGA460 datasheet for more information on command 5. This is the typical means of extracting results from the PGA460 because it uses all of the devices integrated features and offloads the TOF calculation from the MCU to the PGA460.
    • Echo data dump: downsampled 128 byte representation of the entire echo envelope. This low resolution representation of the envelope is typically used to help set the threshold map for the ultrasonic measurement result. This output is available through UART or USART/SPI. See table 3 of the PGA460 datasheet for more information on command 5. 
    • Direct Data Burst Through USART/ Synchronous Mode is the highest resolution version of the echo envelope, returning a continous data stream of 8 bits at 1us or 12 bits at 2us. You can read more about this mode in section 7.3.7.2 of the datasheet. This output is exclusive to USART/SPI.

    Note: USART is SPI without chip-select.

    If you are only seeking an analog output signal, then consider using the TUSS4470 (direct drive) or TUSS4440 (transformer drive) devices, both which are analog front end devices that use a log amp AFE for automatic gain control. You can connect its output to your own external ADC or MCU for additional post-processing.

  • I think AFE will be more suitable for my project. Before staring my own research about AFE, would you please briefly tell the difference between direct drive and transformer driver?


    And can you recommend an ADC, which can be used with this AFE?


    Best regards,

    Kyle

  • Kyle,

    Here is a summary comparing the differences between direct and transformer driver:

    Parameter Direct Transformer
    Excitation wave Square Sinusoidal
    Supported voltage up to 36V up to 500V
    External component requirement 2.2uF charge cap Center-tap transformer and 100uF charge cap
    Optimization options Damping resistor only to decrease blindzone Damping resistor and tuning capacitor to match the resonant frequency of the transducer to the transformer to decrease blindzone and maximize transmitted sound pressure level.
    Better for short range No Yes
    Better for long range No Yes
    Better for low cost Yes No
    Better for small size Yes No

    You can compare the application sections of the TUSS4470 and TUSS4440 in the datasheet to see the differences between the circuits and performance.

    More information on these two driver modes is available in the Ultrasonic Sensing Basics app report.