Using the PC Software

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Power-down mode: When ENT or SEL is pressed on this screen, the ADS1x31REF causes the installed

ADS device to enter power-down mode. This action occurs by pulling the PDWN line low. While the

PDWN line is low, the display reads POWER DN. When a button is pressed from this display, the

ADS1x31REF powers the converter on and returns to the analysis display, exiting configuration mode.

This mode can be used to test the current consumption of the board when the installed ADS device is

powered down.

Version number: This screen displays the version number of the ADS1x31REF firmware.

4

Using the PC Software

The ADS1x31REF is supplied with software that performs various analyses on data received from the

board via the USB connection. It also provides a means of recording received data to a file.

communicates with the ADS1x31REF using a virtual COM port driver that causes the USB connection to

appear to Windows as a normal serial port. The necessary driver is installed with the EVM software.

4.1

Installation and Setup

The ADS1x31REF software is distributed in an installer program called

ADS1x3x-setup-withLVRT-1.3.0.exe

(the version number in the file name may differ), distributed on the

CD-ROM or available from Texas Instruments. To install the software, execute this program. The program

guides you through the installation process.

Note the following points:

•

The installer installs two packages: the ADS1x3xREF program itself, and the TI Virtual COM Port

driver.

•

If any version of the ADS1x3xREF program is already installed, the installer uninstalls it and quits. You

must run the installer again to complete the installation.

•

If the Virtual COM Port driver is already installed, the installer offers to uninstall it. Do not uninstall it;

cancel this part of the installation.

The installer displays messages reminding you of these points.

4.1.1

First Time Connection of the ADS1x3xREF

If the ADS1x31REF has never been connected to your computer before, Windows detects the device as

unknown hardware and takes you through a series of dialogs to install the correct driver. Accept the

default settings; the driver is present and only needs to be copied to the correct location. If the driver is

successfully installed, Windows does not issue this prompt again.

On some computers, if the board is connected to a different USB port, the operating system detects the

board as new hardware. If this action occurs, proceed through the new hardware dialogs as usual, and

allow Windows to reinstall the driver.

4.2

The Display

The ADS1x31REF software has a single display; see Figure 6 for a typical display. The major elements of

the display discussed next.

Strip chart: This feature displays a scrolling graph of data received from the board.

Histogram: A sliding histogram of data received from the board is also displayed. The number of points

used in the analysis is adjustable.

DC analysis section: The results of RMS noise analysis, peak-to-peak analysis, and a running voltage

number are shown in this section. The number of analysis points and the reference voltage used for

voltage calculations are also adjustable here.

Recording section: This feature controls recording of data to a file.

Device control section: This section allows device parameters to be adjusted.

14

ADS1131REF and ADS1231REF

SBAU175A

– July 2010 – Revised August 2011

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