Assorted Sensor Evaluation Kits
The Timing Scope and the hx29 hardware can be useful for a conclusive test of all hexamite ultrasonic sensors and possibly be a fast modular route to the end market. The xmega Microcontrollers with unprecedented digital access to the real analog world, significantly reduce signal conditioning needs. Below is a brief description of the hardware and software offered by hexamite.
The image on the right shows one hx29 structure that forms a complete instrument. Composed of three units: interface module (USB), xmega processing module and a signal conditioning module; this structure brings the realm of ultrasound to the programmers fingertips. The modules form a "pin socket bus" (PSB) piggybacked for space saving functionality. Four 3m screws that hold the modules together add strength to a snapped together ABS structure. In the following we will dissect the structure, module for module.
Note that the USB can be replaced with WiFi module
The
image on the left shows an application ready stack with a closed face.
The hexamite timing scope comes as a default program loaded into the processing unit. When the instrument stack receives power from the USB port it emits pulse train through the sensor. Following the pulses the stack transmits ascii data representing signals received by the sensor. The ascii data stream is interpreted and displayed by the windows PC timing scope as shown above. The three piggybacked modules will facilitate tests for all sensors offered by hexamite.
The Hexamite Timing Scope Software
The Actuation Signal bar can command sonic bursts up to 500Khz, with user selectable repetition. The length of the sonic burst can also be controlled. Timing options allow dead time and acquisition interval controls. The vertical scroll on the left side sets a trigger level, and the vertical scroll on the right side adjusts the signal to the middle of the frame. Sampling rates up to 1MS/S, and 7 gain steps can be selected. The signal frame is 12 bits wide meaning that the least significant bit represents change of about 4 micro volts at 64 x gain sufficient for most applications. With signal conditioning pre-amplification the least significant bit level goes down into the nanovolt range, well beneath the thermal noise level of most sensors.
Removed from the holding frames image on the right shows raw board stack. Piggybacked the bottom of a board plugs into the top of another, thus forming a bus system we refer to as "Pin Socket Bus" PSB. This configuration reduces the need for a special bus board, hence saving significant space. Total number of pins or bus lines are 36. Some pins are fixed and cannot be redefined, most of the lines are defined by the processor running the system. for the Xmega ATxmega128a4 the bus is defined as follows.
