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TINA/Spice/TIDA-00663: Several questions on Design

Part Number: TIDA-00663
Other Parts Discussed in Thread: TINA-TI, , ENERGIA, UCC27321, SN74LVC2G14, TDC7200EVM

Tool/software: TINA-TI or Spice Models

Hello all,

I've recently started working on implementing TIDA-00663 LiDAR reference design and I  came across some obstacles, enumerated next:

1) What is the function of ext_15V? I don't see any connection to this pin.

2) About the laser driver (UCC27321D) I had a huge problem. First, I only soldered the TX part of the circuit (image below) and when I connected it to an external Vcc_laser = 10V (power source), while keeping ENBL floating (internally pulled-up), it basically overheated and released a white smoke. I can assume it burnt. I already verified and all the pins are correctly connected. Furthermore, when using the MSP430F5529LP connected to the TIDA-00663, and if I connect Vcc_laser for e.g. to the board +5V pin, the board automatically disconnects from the PC. Can someone please help me understand what is going wrong? Is there something that I'm missing or doing incorrectly?

3) Is there any C++ or C code for triggering the Laser using nanosecond pulses? I used Energia but digitalWrite() is too slow and introduces delays of about 1-2us and the solution I found is to program at a lower-level. This is my code:

#define ARDUINO_MAIN

#include "wiring_private.h"
#include "pins_energia.h"

#define nop __asm__ __volatile__("nop\n\t"); //define a nop (no operation) instruction to waste only 1 clock cycle (1/25MHz = 40ns)

#define BP_TRIG P2_0 //Laser Trigger signal
#define BP_GPIO_EN P7_4 //UCC27321 (MOSFET driver) enable
#define STOP P2_1
//When this button is pressed, the Trigger signal stops by entering a infinite loop; To quit the loop, the RST (S3) button must be pressed, which restarts the Triggering Signal
#define LED P1_0 //turned-on when trigger is stopped

unsigned int T_pulse = 100; //T_pulse=1/PRR must guarantee that duty_cycle < 0.1% (Laser limit)

void my_digitalWrite(uint8_t pin, uint8_t val) //pre-defined function introduces too much delay
{
uint8_t bit = digitalPinToBitMask(pin);
volatile uint8_t *out = portOutputRegister(digitalPinToPort(pin));
(val == LOW ? *out &= ~bit : *out |= bit); // substitutes if statement - see if faster
}

void setup(){
pinMode(BP_TRIG,OUTPUT); //define both pins as outputs
pinMode(BP_GPIO_EN,OUTPUT);
pinMode(STOP, INPUT_PULLUP); //Activate STOP button
pinMode(LED,OUTPUT);
digitalWrite(BP_GPIO_EN,HIGH); //Enable Driver
my_digitalWrite(BP_TRIG,LOW); //Laser Off
attachInterrupt(STOP,trigg_stop, FALLING); // Interrupt is fired when button is pressed
my_digitalWrite(LED,LOW); //Enable Driver
}

void loop(){
delayMicroseconds(T_pulse); //OFF period in microseconds
my_digitalWrite(BP_TRIG,HIGH) ;
nop; //each nop introduces a ~40ns delay @ 25MHz
my_digitalWrite(BP_TRIG,LOW) ;/
}

void trigg_stop()
{
my_digitalWrite(BP_GPIO_EN,LOW); //Enable Driver
my_digitalWrite(BP_TRIG,LOW); //Laser OFF
my_digitalWrite(LED,HIGH);
while(true){} //infinite cycle until RST (S3) button is pressed
}

4) Is there any SPICE model for Schmitt-trigger SN74LVC2G14 or similar? Or is there any other way of simulating it ?

Thanks in advance,

Joaquim

  • HI Joaquim,

    Answering your questions:

    1) The idea is to give to the user the opportunity to power the laser both externally and from the launchpad.

    2)We have tried to power the UCC27321D with both 5V from the launchpad and external 10V. In both cases the part did not overheat. However, as mentioned in the TIdesign user guide, we have not tested the optical side of the board meaning that we have not tried to drive the laser, leaving it not soldered. Not sure what is your problem there.

    3)This TI design reuses the TDC7200EVM firmware source code. The complete TDC7200EVM firmware source code zip is part of the TDC7200EVM-GUI install folder C:\Program Files (x86)\Texas Instruments\TDC720xEVM\Firmware.

    Thanks

    Giovanni

  • Hi.
    Thanks for your response.

    I could not identify the source of the problem with the UCC27321D. Maybe it was an errror when connecting to the power sources.

    I'll try it again with another IC an check if the problems persists. Then, if I have further questions, I will ask.