Objective:
In this hands-on training, you will learn how to:
- Accelerate your low-power motion sensor evaluation/development using NXP’s sensor development ecosystem tools.
- Leverage FXLS896xAF (Gemini) and FXLS8974CF (Timandra) evaluation boards to execute out-of-box sensor evaluation GUI.
- Configure sensor registers (bit-fields), run self-test, measure offset & noise, visualize sensor data and perform quick sensor evaluation.
- Get more information on sensor development ecosystem offering from NXP.
Prerequisite:
This training assumes following prior prerequisites actions to be completed:
Prepare Your Setup:
Step#1:
Install FreeMASTER Run-Time Debugging Tool
- Download FreeMASTER Run-Time Debugging Tool
- Install the tool following installer instructions.
- Double click on installed FreeMASTER application to launch.
- Once you launch the FreeMASTER application then you would see FreeMASTER welcome page
FreeMASTER Welcome Page
Step#2:
Install FreeMASTER Sensor Tool
- Download FreeMASTER Sensor Tool
- Install the tool following installer instructions.
- After successful installation, check installation directory:
C:\nxp\FreeMASTER_Sensor_Tool, lets identify installation folder as <FreeMASTER sensor tool directory>
- <FreeMASTER sensor tool directory> contains out-of-box demonstration GUI projects that can be opened in FreeMASTER.
Step#3:
Connect Sensor Evaluation Kit:
- Check and confirm FRDM-STBI-A8974 or FRDM-STBA-A8964 Sensor shield board settings as described below:
- Since the examples use I2C1, Pins 2-3 of SW2 on FRDM-STBA-A8964 should be connected.
- SW1 Pins 2-3 should be connected to select default operating mode i.e. "ACCEL NORMAL" mode.
- Connect the FRDM-STBI-A8974 or FRDM-STBA-A8964 Sensor shield board FRDM-K22F MCU. Connect FRDM-K22F to the training PC via the USB cable between the OpenSDA USB port on the board and the USB connector on the PC.
Connect Sensor Eval Kit
- Check whether you see a virtual mass storage drive on your PC with name “FRDM-K22FD”.

Execute Hands-on Demo:
- Go to <FreeMASTER sensor tool directory>\sensors\fxls8974cf or <FreeMASTER sensor tool directory>\sensors\fxls86xaf
- Drag & drop “frdmk22f_a89xx_i2c_project.bin” available to “FRDM-K22FD” virtual mass drive on your training PC.
- Once the board is programmed (bin copied successfully), disconnect and connect the USB cable between the OpenSDA USB port on the board and the USB connector on the PC.
- Launch FreeMASTER tool and click on “Connection Wizard”. Follow the instructions described below.
FreeMASTER Connection Wizard
- The FreeMASTER tool identified the COM port and detected the board.
- Click on “Open an Existing Project”.
Open Existing Project
- Browse to <FreeMASTER sensor tool directory>\sensors\fxls8974cf or <FreeMASTER sensor tool directory>\sensors\fxls86xaf
- Open the “FRDMK22F-A8974_FXLS8974CF_Demo.pmpx” or “FRDMK22F-A896x_FXLS896x_Demo.pmpx” project.
- This will open the out-of-box sensor demo project.
Out-of-Box Sensor Demo Project
- Perform register read, write, read all action on “Register Page” tab. Try modifying bit-fields of register e.g. SENS_CONFIG1 bits 1 & 2 to change the full-scale range in real-time.
- Select SENS_CONFIG1 on register page, click on bit 1 & 2 to toggle the bit values and click on “Write” to apply the register update.
- Go back to control page “Accelerometer Demo” tab and see the full-scale range value changed to align the SENS_CONFIG1 register modification (changed from ±4g to ±16g in example show below).
Sensor Register Page
- Play with all the features of the sensor out-of-box demo.
- Visualize data streaming by clicking on “DataStreaming”.
Oscilloscope Date Streaming
Learn More:
Learn more about sensor development ecosystem:
- Sensor Development Ecosystem comprises of
- Sensor Evaluation Boards,
- IoT Sensors SDK and
- Sensors Evaluation/Development Tools
Sensor Development Ecosystem
- Use the Sensor Development Ecosystem to migrate through each phase of product development with ease.
