First, I would like to say thanks to element14, Texas Instruments, and Würth Elektronik for selecting me to participate in this Roadtest+.
The application I have in mind is a:
Machine Vision LED lighting controller.
Introduction
LED Light Controllers are an essential element of any vision system which needs to optimise illumination intensity and precision trigger sequencing between vision cameras and lights. Mainly LEDs are driven in continuous mode, where the lighting is on all the time. This is the easiest mode to use as the intensity of the lighting is the only parameter that needs to be set. No overdriving is permitted. In pulsed mode however the lighting is switched on only when required. The controller receives a trigger signal when a pulse is required. The delay from the trigger to the output pulse, the length of the pulse and the intensity of the pulse are all configurable.
Using pulsing, it is possible to freeze the image of moving objects. Controllers on the market have fine adjustment of the pulse timing, which is often more flexible than the camera’s timing. The camera can be set for a longer exposure time and the light pulsed on for a short time to freeze the motion. At their specified current rating, LEDs and LED Lights output 100% brightness. However, it is possible to obtain more than 100% brightness by driving with more current rating for short pulses.
What I want to build
Given what I described in the introduction, I want to build a machine vision lightning controller. as follows:
- The TPS92512EVM is ideal for driving LEDs in strobed mode, due to its PWM input.
- The MSP430FR4133 LaunchPad Development Kit will be used as the main controller, it will generate the PWM signal based on user input and camera trigger outputs. I will make a control program which will make it also possible to trigger the camera and LED driver, and program delays which will be needed to synchronize the LEDs to the camera or vice versa. Using a sensor input, for instance with a photocell makes it possible to freeze moving objects.
- Although the Bluetooth Low Energy Light Development Kit is very nice, I currently don't see any use for it in my application, but I keep the option open, who knows.
- For both the Farnell/Newark and Würth vouchers is plenty of usage, since my application needs both LEDs as one or more boosterpacks to interface the outside world to the MSP430FR4133 LaunchPad.
Un-boxing
But as requested herewith I start with my unboxing video: