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Review - Details
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  • Author Author: Jan Cumps
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TI Ultrasonic Sensing RoadTest - Review

Jan Cumps

Table of contents

RoadTest: TI Ultrasonic Sensing RoadTest

Author: Jan Cumps

Creation date:

Evaluation Type: Evaluation Boards

Did you receive all parts the manufacturer stated would be included in the package?: True

What other parts do you consider comparable to this product?: I haven't evaluated comparable solutions

What were the biggest problems encountered?: The online configuration tool didn't play well with the evaluation board software (solved via support ticket). The SPI chip select signals for the main sensor ICs TDC1000 and TDC7200 are not broken out.

Detailed Review:

The  TDC1000-TDC7200EVMTDC1000-TDC7200EVM evaluation module has 5 main parts

The TDC1000 analog front-end and a pre-programmed MSP430 microcontroller on the board, a 1MHz Piezo Ceramic sensor that plugs into the board, a picosecond capable timer IC and a GUI client for on your PC.

 

I've blogged extensively about my experiences with the kit. This post is the RoadTest report.

 

image

 

The whole concept of liquid measurement, ultrasonic wave processing and piezo sensing was new to me. That was the main reason why I joined the roadtest.
And I learned a lot. I started with reviewing the webinar on element14, the videos published by Texas Instruments, and the application notes for ultrasonic sensing.

 

image

 

The whole Road Test has been a deep dive into the measure with waves and echo subject.

Theoretical subjects, such as:

- What does a piezo sensor do?
- What can I measure with it?
- How does the speed of sound help me when inspecting liquids?
- What does the time of flight of a signal tell me?

 

And practical subjects, such as:

- How do I mount a ultrasonic sensor?

- Reliable installation outside of the liquid container

- What SPI traffic is circling on the board?

- How do I configure the ICs? What are good parameters for a precise measurement?

 

The Ultrasonic Sensing landing page is a good place to start from. You can branch off to application notes that explain how to mount the sensors, presentations that explain ultrasound measurement theory and setup, and videos that walk you through the ins and outs of utlrasonic liquid inspection.

 

 

In the last couple of weeks, I've posted about every exercise I did with the board. Here's the list of posts that I made for this Road Test. Most of the blogs include video material.

 

Related Posts
RoadTest: Unboxing the TI Ultrasonic Sensing evaluation module
TI Ultrasonic Sensor - A Very First Trial of the GUI
TI Ultrasonic Sensor - Prepping the Transponder
TI Ultrasonic Sensor - First Measurements
TI Ultrasonic Sensor - Set the Parameters for Level Measurement and Content Identification
TI Ultrasonic Sensor - Show 3 Signals on a 2 Channel Oscilloscope (RIGOL DS1052E)
TI Ultrasonic Sensor - Liquid Identification and Concentration
TI Ultrasonic Sensor - Create a KiCad Part for the Sensor IC with KiPart
TI Ultrasonic Sensor - SPI Traffic Snooping

TI Ultrasonic Sensor - RoadTest Review

 

What would I like to do next?

Throughput measurement. I've played extensively with levels, speed of sound and fluid identification.
I haven't checked flow measurements yet. That's on my wishlist.

 

image

 

Can this kit be improved?

Yes. It would be great if the kit would include a second piezo sensor, so that you can measure level and concentration in one setup - or that you can set up liquid flow measurements.

And I'd also like to see a temperature sensor added. Temperature has a fairly significant impact on the measurements.

 

Both board and GUI are capable to deal with that.

If the evaluation board would include these two additional components, the engineer would be able to set up a comprehensive test installation in the lab, and be able to evaluate the full capabilities of the ultrasonic sensing solution.

 

 

End Verdict

The evaluation kit is really great. It covers a subject that we don't get to see that often, and gives you the tools to master the subject.

With the mix of hardware, documentation, datasheets, app notes, software and videos , you have a rich set of tools to learn an EE area that has real world relevance.
This is a great kit to evaluate TI's solution. But it's an even greater kit to master something that may give you an advantage in the job market. A full understanding of an industrial niche skill.

 

 

{gallery} RoadTest Impression

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Setup before first use

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Access the SPI traffic

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Access the SPI traffic

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Access the SPI traffic

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Setup with liquid

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Start signal, echo and stop pulse captured on a RIGOL1052e

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SPI traffic of the TDC100: read operation

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SPI traffic of the TDC100: write operation

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Time of Flight diagram

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GUI in action

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KiCad part made with KiCad

Anonymous

Top Comments

Parents

  • Great review Jan.

     

    I think you did a great job of exploring the capabilities of the board and sensor.

     

    DAB

  • in reply to DAB

    Thank you, DAB.

     

    I would have liked to add a flow measurement - maybe by asking to 3d-print a measurement pipe, but the costs of a piezo sensor were prohibitive (not the sensor itself, but the 50€ shipping charge - where the Belgian government kindly adds a 21% surcharge to image ).

     

    I think you can read it from my test. I was impressed by the performance of the two on-board chips.

    - the TDC1000 ultrasonic sensor analog front end performed up to the mark. My set-up was dodgy, but still the IC was able to get measurements within its performance range. I don't know if my blogs did justice to the chip, but adding a few drops of liquid - or adding a few drops of contaminating agent - were always detectable.
    - I was also impressed by the ability of the on-board TDC7200 chip. It managed to turn picosecond time lapses into information. Something that a microcontroller will not allow you to do.

     

    image

     

    This is a subject that I wasn't familiar with, and I learned a lot. That's what I'm really thankfull for: not just for the hardware or toy factor, but for the fact that I was able to grow my skills as an engineer.

    The application notes and accompanying videos gave me insight into an area that I was totally unfamiliar with. I stepped up a big learning ramp with little effort and much joy image.

     

    I hope that the fun I had doing this Road Test shines through in the blog posts.

Comment
  • in reply to DAB

    Thank you, DAB.

     

    I would have liked to add a flow measurement - maybe by asking to 3d-print a measurement pipe, but the costs of a piezo sensor were prohibitive (not the sensor itself, but the 50€ shipping charge - where the Belgian government kindly adds a 21% surcharge to image ).

     

    I think you can read it from my test. I was impressed by the performance of the two on-board chips.

    - the TDC1000 ultrasonic sensor analog front end performed up to the mark. My set-up was dodgy, but still the IC was able to get measurements within its performance range. I don't know if my blogs did justice to the chip, but adding a few drops of liquid - or adding a few drops of contaminating agent - were always detectable.
    - I was also impressed by the ability of the on-board TDC7200 chip. It managed to turn picosecond time lapses into information. Something that a microcontroller will not allow you to do.

     

    image

     

    This is a subject that I wasn't familiar with, and I learned a lot. That's what I'm really thankfull for: not just for the hardware or toy factor, but for the fact that I was able to grow my skills as an engineer.

    The application notes and accompanying videos gave me insight into an area that I was totally unfamiliar with. I stepped up a big learning ramp with little effort and much joy image.

     

    I hope that the fun I had doing this Road Test shines through in the blog posts.

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