FXLS8964AF/FXLS8974CF Hands-on Training using Sensors Development Ecosystem

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:

Availability of FXLS8974CF or FXLS8964AF evaluation boards along with windows 10 PC.
FRDM-K22F board pre-programmed with the latest OpenSDA bootloader and firmware application.
FreeMASTER Run-Time Debugging Tool is downloaded and installed on the training PC.
Sensor evaluation tool: FreeMASTER Sensor Tool is downloaded and installed on the training PC.
mbed windows serial drivers are installed on training PC.

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