Using the PC Software

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4

Using the PC Software

The ADS1232REF 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. The software

is designed to be used with the ADS1232REF operating in Analysis mode. Not all commands will work

with the ADS1232REF operating in Scale mode; the results will be unpredictable.

communicates with the ADS1232REF 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 ADS1232REF software is distributed in an installer program called

ADS123x-setup-withLVRT-1.1.1.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 ADS123xREF program itself, and the TI Virtual COM Port

driver.

•

If any version of the ADS123xREF 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 ADS123xREF

If the ADS1232REF 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 ADS1232REF software has a single display; see Figure 6 for a typical display example. The major

elements of the display are 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.

14

ADS1232REF User

's Guide

SBAU120B

– November 2005 – Revised July 2011

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