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AWR1243: Make AWR1243 generate constant sine wave?

Alexey Kudinov
Prodigy 60 points
Part Number: AWR1243

Dear Sirs!

We have built a 77-GHz sensor board bases on AWR1243.

As the antenna array configuration has a great impact on overall system performance it would be good to analyze antenna subsytem performance.

Is it possible to make AWR1243 generate a constant sine wave (not FMCW-modulated chirps) so we could measure out antenna system frequency responce and directivity?
Maybe there is some (factory) test mode or similar ability?

  • 0
    TI__Mastermind 31680 points

    Hello Alexey,

    For constant frequency chirps, you could use zero slope chirps or continuous streaming mode (also known as CW mode). 

    You can read more about this in the mmWave ICD document (look for API "AWR CONT STREAMING MODE EN SB").

    We recommend using mmWave studio for that purpose. You could refer to the steps highlighted by me in the below thread to achieve this :

     

    Regards,

    Ishita

  • 0 in reply to Ishita Kochar
    Prodigy 60 points

    Dear Ishita,

    Thank You for the information You have provided.

    We are using our custom-built PCB with AWR1243 which is controlled by host CPU.

    We used "mmwavelink_example_nonos" to built a program to control AWR1243 through SPI.

    Unfortunately when we change "unsigned char gLinkContModeTest = FALSE;" to "unsigned char gLinkContModeTest = TRUE;" on line 112 of "mmwavelink_example_nonos.c" assuming it should enable CW mode we get "BSS CPU fault" error from AWR1243 although the configuration process seems to have no errors:

    LaneConfig success for deviceMap 1
    LvdsLaneConfig success for deviceMap 1
    CSI2/LVDS Lane Configuration success for deviceMap 1
    ====================================================================

    Calling rlSetAdvFrameConfig with
    numOfSubFrames[1]
    forceProfile[1]
    numFrames[0]
    triggerSelect[1]ms
    Adv Frame Configuration success for deviceMap 1
    ====================================================================

    Calling setContMode with
     digOurSampleRate[15000]
    startFreqConst[1464949668]
    txOutPowerBackoffCode[0]
    RXGain[30]

    Continuous mode Config successful for deviceMap 1

    BSS CPU fault

    That is strange as AWR1243 does not have a CPU core embedded into it. What can be the cause of this error?

    We shall try to find AWR1243BOOST board and try to configure it with mmWaveStudio as You have described to try to confirm that error. But it is our board that we need to put into CW mode as it has its own antennae design that we try to analyze.

  • 0 in reply to Alexey Kudinov
    TI__Mastermind 31680 points

    Hello Alexey,

    Extremely sorry for the delay. I was on leave for the later part of the last week and hence couldn't respond back. 

    Let me forward your query to one of our expert for CW (continuous mode). Meanwhile, please see if you can use zero slope chirps for your purpose if that's helpful.

    Regards,

    Ishita

  • 0 in reply to Alexey Kudinov
    TI__Guru 69960 points

    Hi,

    Can you capture that BSS CPU fault async-event message data and post to us?

    If BSS finds some of configuration wrong then it may generates this fault async-event message to Host over SPI.

    DFP example stores all these msg to trace.txt file which you can capture freshly and provide us with this error.

    Meanwhile I would suggest you to try mmwave Studio to capture CW mode. 

    Regards,

    Jitendra