SNAS648C October   2014  – February 2023 TDC1000

PRODUCTION DATA  

  1. 1 Features
  2. 2 Applications
  3. 3 Description
  4. 4 Revision History
  5. 5 Pin Configuration and Functions
  6. 6 Specifications
    1. 6.1 Absolute Maximum Ratings
    2. 6.2 ESD Ratings
    3. 6.3 Recommended Operating Conditions
    4. 6.4 Thermal Information (1)
    5. 6.5 Electrical Characteristics
    6. 6.6 Timing Requirements
    7. 6.7 Switching Characteristics
    8. 6.8 Typical Characteristics
  7. 7 Parameter Measurement Information
  8. 8 Detailed Description
    1. 8.1 Overview
    2. 8.2 Functional Block Diagram
    3. 8.3 Feature Description
      1. 8.3.1 Transmitter Signal Path
      2. 8.3.2 Receiver Signal Path
      3. 8.3.3 Low Noise Amplifier (LNA)
      4. 8.3.4 Programmable Gain Amplifier (PGA)
      5. 8.3.5 Receiver Filters
      6. 8.3.6 Comparators for STOP Pulse Generation
        1. 8.3.6.1 Threshold Detector and DAC
        2. 8.3.6.2 Zero-Cross Detect Comparator
        3. 8.3.6.3 Event Manager
      7. 8.3.7 Common-Mode Buffer (VCOM)
      8. 8.3.8 Temperature Sensor
        1. 8.3.8.1 Temperature Measurement With Multiple RTDs
        2. 8.3.8.2 Temperature Measurement With a Single RTD
    4. 8.4 Device Functional Modes
      1. 8.4.1 Time-of-Flight Measurement Mode
        1. 8.4.1.1 Mode 0
        2. 8.4.1.2 Mode 1
        3. 8.4.1.3 Mode 2
      2. 8.4.2 State Machine
      3. 8.4.3 TRANSMIT Operation
        1. 8.4.3.1 Transmission Pulse Count
        2. 8.4.3.2 TX 180° Pulse Shift
        3. 8.4.3.3 Transmitter Damping
      4. 8.4.4 RECEIVE Operation
        1. 8.4.4.1 Single Echo Receive Mode
        2. 8.4.4.2 Multiple Echo Receive Mode
      5. 8.4.5 Timing
        1. 8.4.5.1 Timing Control and Frequency Scaling (CLKIN)
        2. 8.4.5.2 TX/RX Measurement Sequencing and Timing
      6. 8.4.6 Time-of-Flight (TOF) Control
        1. 8.4.6.1 Short TOF Measurement
        2. 8.4.6.2 Standard TOF Measurement
        3. 8.4.6.3 Standard TOF Measurement With Power Blanking
        4. 8.4.6.4 Common-Mode Reference Settling Time
        5. 8.4.6.5 TOF Measurement Interval
      7. 8.4.7 Averaging and Channel Selection
      8. 8.4.8 Error Reporting
    5. 8.5 Programming
      1. 8.5.1 Serial Peripheral Interface (SPI)
        1. 8.5.1.1 Chip Select Bar (CSB)
        2. 8.5.1.2 Serial Clock (SCLK)
        3. 8.5.1.3 Serial Data Input (SDI)
        4. 8.5.1.4 Serial Data Output (SDO)
    6. 8.6 Register Maps
  9. 9 Application and Implementation
    1. 9.1 Application Information
    2. 9.2 Typical Applications
      1. 9.2.1 Level and Fluid Identification Measurements
        1. 9.2.1.1 Design Requirements
        2. 9.2.1.2 Detailed Design Procedure
          1. 9.2.1.2.1 Level Measurements
          2. 9.2.1.2.2 Fluid Identification
        3. 9.2.1.3 Application Curves
      2. 9.2.2 Water Flow Metering
        1. 9.2.2.1 Design Requirements
        2. 9.2.2.2 Detailed Design Procedure
          1. 9.2.2.2.1 Regulations and Accuracy
          2. 9.2.2.2.2 Transit-Time in Ultrasonic Flow Meters
          3. 9.2.2.2.3 ΔTOF Accuracy Requirement Calculation
          4. 9.2.2.2.4 Operation
        3. 9.2.2.3 Application Curves
    3. 9.3 Power Supply Recommendations
    4. 9.4 Layout
      1. 9.4.1 Layout Guidelines
      2. 9.4.2 Layout Example
  10. 10Device and Documentation Support
    1. 10.1 Device Support
      1. 10.1.1 Development Support
    2. 10.2 Receiving Notification of Documentation Updates
    3. 10.3 Support Resources
    4. 10.4 Trademarks
    5. 10.5 Electrostatic Discharge Caution
    6. 10.6 Glossary
  11. 11Mechanical, Packaging, and Orderable Information

8.1 Overview

The main functional blocks of TDC1000 are the Transmit (TX) and the Receive (RX) Channels. The transmitter supports flexible settings for driving various ultrasonic transducers, and the receiver provides configurable blocks with a wide range of settings for signal conditioning in various applications. The receive signal chain consists of an LNA (Low Noise Amplifier), a PGA (Programmable Gain Amplifier), and two auto-zeroed comparators for echo qualification and STOP pulse generation.

The TDC1000 provides three modes of operation: Mode 0, Mode 1 and Mode 2. Each mode is intended for one or more applications such as flow/concentration measurement, container level measurement, proximity detection, distance measurement, and a range of other applications where a precision measurement of Time-of-Flight (TOF) is required.

A measurement cycle is initiated with a trigger signal on the TRIGGER pin of the device. After a trigger signal is asserted, an output pulse is generated on the START pin. This signal is used as the time reference to begin a TOF measurement. The transmitter generates programmable TX pulses, synchronous to the rising edge of the START pulse, to drive an ultrasonic transducer and generate an ultrasonic wave that is shot through an acoustic medium. The receiver detects the ultrasound wave that traveled through the medium and generates STOP signals. Whether the ultrasound wave is received directly or from a reflection will depend on the system configuration. The STOP signals are used by an external Time-to-Digital Converter (TDC), which functions as a very accurate stopwatch. The system must include a TDC to measure the TOF based on the interval between the START and STOP pulses. In some applications with medium-range accuracy requirements (ns range), a microcontroller can be used to measure the TOF duration. In applications with high-range accuracy requirements (ps range), TI recommends using the TDC7200 time-to-digital converter to measure the TOF duration.

In each application, the TDC1000 has to be configured by a serial interface (SPI) for one of the three modes of operation available. In addition, the device must be programmed to various application-specific parameters that are explained in the following sections.