Hi all,
We recently started to work with the Ez-kit 21369 evaluation board
from ADI. Compiling, Flashing and running algorithms works like a
charme.
BUT we suddenly destroyed 2 boards. And thus bought an antistatic mat
with antistatic wrist band. Despite of lots of precaution playing with
the board we still destroyed 3 of them after while... It seems that
the processor still runs but some or all codec channels or IN/OUT
channels are destroyed!
Do you know anything special about SHARC evaluation board that they
would be ultra-sensitive to static electricity? What are the (drastic)
precautions to be taken while manipulating the boards?
Thanks for your help, we start to be puzzled ;-)
Alexis
SHARC EZ-KIT and static electricity
Started by ●February 26, 2009
Reply by ●February 26, 20092009-02-26
Although it is possible to zap a board from static, I doubt you did this
to all of these boards.
We have lots of EZ-KITS and operate in a dry climate during winter
months (Minnesota) and we don't kill boards this way. We do use
humidifiers which certainly helps avoid problems.
I think something else is going on. The codec inputs are not really that
high impedance or sensitive so I would look at driving signals as a
possible culprit.
You might try running all test equipment and your computer from the same
power strip.
Make sure that the signals going into you boards are well behaved. Check
your AC outlets to make sure Ground and Neutral are correct.
If it is static, you might also get a black rubber floor mat. There are
special ones for this purpose, but I suspect that an ordinary mat would
be fine. Connect your antistat mats to the AC ground.
Al Clark
Danville Signal
Alexis Favrot wrote:
>
> Hi all,
>
> We recently started to work with the Ez-kit 21369 evaluation board
> from ADI. Compiling, Flashing and running algorithms works like a
> charme.
>
> BUT we suddenly destroyed 2 boards. And thus bought an antistatic mat
> with antistatic wrist band. Despite of lots of precaution playing with
> the board we still destroyed 3 of them after while... It seems that
> the processor still runs but some or all codec channels or IN/OUT
> channels are destroyed!
>
> Do you know anything special about SHARC evaluation board that they
> would be ultra-sensitive to static electricity? What are the (drastic)
> precautions to be taken while manipulating the boards?
>
> Thanks for your help, we start to be puzzled ;-)
>
> Alexis
>
>
to all of these boards.
We have lots of EZ-KITS and operate in a dry climate during winter
months (Minnesota) and we don't kill boards this way. We do use
humidifiers which certainly helps avoid problems.
I think something else is going on. The codec inputs are not really that
high impedance or sensitive so I would look at driving signals as a
possible culprit.
You might try running all test equipment and your computer from the same
power strip.
Make sure that the signals going into you boards are well behaved. Check
your AC outlets to make sure Ground and Neutral are correct.
If it is static, you might also get a black rubber floor mat. There are
special ones for this purpose, but I suspect that an ordinary mat would
be fine. Connect your antistat mats to the AC ground.
Al Clark
Danville Signal
Alexis Favrot wrote:
>
> Hi all,
>
> We recently started to work with the Ez-kit 21369 evaluation board
> from ADI. Compiling, Flashing and running algorithms works like a
> charme.
>
> BUT we suddenly destroyed 2 boards. And thus bought an antistatic mat
> with antistatic wrist band. Despite of lots of precaution playing with
> the board we still destroyed 3 of them after while... It seems that
> the processor still runs but some or all codec channels or IN/OUT
> channels are destroyed!
>
> Do you know anything special about SHARC evaluation board that they
> would be ultra-sensitive to static electricity? What are the (drastic)
> precautions to be taken while manipulating the boards?
>
> Thanks for your help, we start to be puzzled ;-)
>
> Alexis
>
>
Reply by ●February 26, 20092009-02-26
Hi Alexis,
Are you connecting external signals to the EZKIT? If so, you may want to
double check the signal levels that are being applied. You can connect a
logic analyzer to the DAI/DPI pins (P4/P3) to see if it is the CODEC or
Sharc that is being affected. It is odd that the kits are being damaged
(under normal circumstances). How dry is it there? You could just have an
environment that is perfect for creating static electricity (winter is
typically worse, as heating dries the air). The last few months at my
office have been pretty bad (ie for electronics . dry and static
electricity) and I have been connecting myself to a grounded wrist strap
all the time.
Btw: I teach Sharc classes and we use the '369 kits for some of the
exercises. We do not have any special anti-static precautions in the class
room and the kits appear bullet proof so far.
Hope this help.
Best regards,
George Kadziolka
Kaztek Systems
www.kaztek.com
From: a... [mailto:a...] On Behalf Of Alexis
Favrot
Sent: Thursday, February 26, 2009 9:34 AM
To: a...
Subject: [adsp] SHARC EZ-KIT and static electricity
Hi all,
We recently started to work with the Ez-kit 21369 evaluation board
from ADI. Compiling, Flashing and running algorithms works like a
charme.
BUT we suddenly destroyed 2 boards. And thus bought an antistatic mat
with antistatic wrist band. Despite of lots of precaution playing with
the board we still destroyed 3 of them after while... It seems that
the processor still runs but some or all codec channels or IN/OUT
channels are destroyed!
Do you know anything special about SHARC evaluation board that they
would be ultra-sensitive to static electricity? What are the (drastic)
precautions to be taken while manipulating the boards?
Thanks for your help, we start to be puzzled ;-)
Alexis
Are you connecting external signals to the EZKIT? If so, you may want to
double check the signal levels that are being applied. You can connect a
logic analyzer to the DAI/DPI pins (P4/P3) to see if it is the CODEC or
Sharc that is being affected. It is odd that the kits are being damaged
(under normal circumstances). How dry is it there? You could just have an
environment that is perfect for creating static electricity (winter is
typically worse, as heating dries the air). The last few months at my
office have been pretty bad (ie for electronics . dry and static
electricity) and I have been connecting myself to a grounded wrist strap
all the time.
Btw: I teach Sharc classes and we use the '369 kits for some of the
exercises. We do not have any special anti-static precautions in the class
room and the kits appear bullet proof so far.
Hope this help.
Best regards,
George Kadziolka
Kaztek Systems
www.kaztek.com
From: a... [mailto:a...] On Behalf Of Alexis
Favrot
Sent: Thursday, February 26, 2009 9:34 AM
To: a...
Subject: [adsp] SHARC EZ-KIT and static electricity
Hi all,
We recently started to work with the Ez-kit 21369 evaluation board
from ADI. Compiling, Flashing and running algorithms works like a
charme.
BUT we suddenly destroyed 2 boards. And thus bought an antistatic mat
with antistatic wrist band. Despite of lots of precaution playing with
the board we still destroyed 3 of them after while... It seems that
the processor still runs but some or all codec channels or IN/OUT
channels are destroyed!
Do you know anything special about SHARC evaluation board that they
would be ultra-sensitive to static electricity? What are the (drastic)
precautions to be taken while manipulating the boards?
Thanks for your help, we start to be puzzled ;-)
Alexis
Reply by ●February 28, 20092009-02-28
Hi George, Al,
Thanks for your feedbacks.
From your answers and other answers I've got, it seems that SHARC eval kit are actually pretty robust against static electricity!
Only one guy has exactly the same issue. We could pretty safely conclude that it is not caused by static electricity but rather a flow in the codec or lines in/out!
Do you guys also handle the in/out channels really carefully? I mean when you have a class with students: they are not necessary really careful with the boards?
We will try to investigate how the signals we send to the board look like...
Thanks again for your help.
Alexis
Thanks for your feedbacks.
From your answers and other answers I've got, it seems that SHARC eval kit are actually pretty robust against static electricity!
Only one guy has exactly the same issue. We could pretty safely conclude that it is not caused by static electricity but rather a flow in the codec or lines in/out!
Do you guys also handle the in/out channels really carefully? I mean when you have a class with students: they are not necessary really careful with the boards?
We will try to investigate how the signals we send to the board look like...
Thanks again for your help.
Alexis
Reply by ●February 28, 20092009-02-28
Hello Alexis,
I have been playing with this Ez-KIT since a long time and there is no
problem at all .
Are you using the board as it is with no modification .
Check for the Ground signals and the power at the source .
As you say DSP is working check for the in/out source.
With regards ,
Wallman
On Thu, Feb 26, 2009 at 11:33 PM, Alexis Favrot > wrote:
> Hi all,
>
> We recently started to work with the Ez-kit 21369 evaluation board
> from ADI. Compiling, Flashing and running algorithms works like a
> charme.
>
> BUT we suddenly destroyed 2 boards. And thus bought an antistatic mat
> with antistatic wrist band. Despite of lots of precaution playing with
> the board we still destroyed 3 of them after while... It seems that
> the processor still runs but some or all codec channels or IN/OUT
> channels are destroyed!
>
> Do you know anything special about SHARC evaluation board that they
> would be ultra-sensitive to static electricity? What are the (drastic)
> precautions to be taken while manipulating the boards?
>
> Thanks for your help, we start to be puzzled ;-)
>
> Alexis
>
>
--
Thanking you
With best regards and wishes
Vatsa
I have been playing with this Ez-KIT since a long time and there is no
problem at all .
Are you using the board as it is with no modification .
Check for the Ground signals and the power at the source .
As you say DSP is working check for the in/out source.
With regards ,
Wallman
On Thu, Feb 26, 2009 at 11:33 PM, Alexis Favrot > wrote:
> Hi all,
>
> We recently started to work with the Ez-kit 21369 evaluation board
> from ADI. Compiling, Flashing and running algorithms works like a
> charme.
>
> BUT we suddenly destroyed 2 boards. And thus bought an antistatic mat
> with antistatic wrist band. Despite of lots of precaution playing with
> the board we still destroyed 3 of them after while... It seems that
> the processor still runs but some or all codec channels or IN/OUT
> channels are destroyed!
>
> Do you know anything special about SHARC evaluation board that they
> would be ultra-sensitive to static electricity? What are the (drastic)
> precautions to be taken while manipulating the boards?
>
> Thanks for your help, we start to be puzzled ;-)
>
> Alexis
>
>
--
Thanking you
With best regards and wishes
Vatsa
Reply by ●February 28, 20092009-02-28
Hi Alexis,
If I'm not sure about what a device has as an output level, I will monitor
it with an oscilloscope to make sure it has a safe level for the board
input. Most of the time, our exercises only use facilities on the EZKITs
(eg pushbuttons and LEDs to get familiar with programming SRU, interrupt
handlers, timers, etc). For audio demo's, I've used my laptop speaker
output with a cable adapter (ie mini stereo plug to a pair of RCA plugs) to
feed the audio inputs on the EZKIT. There is reasonable care in the class,
but nothing like antistatic mats or wrist straps.
Cheers,
George
From: a... [mailto:a...] On Behalf Of
a...@illusonic.com
Sent: Friday, February 27, 2009 6:36 AM
To: a...
Subject: [adsp] Re: SHARC EZ-KIT and static electricity
Hi George, Al,
Thanks for your feedbacks.
>From your answers and other answers I've got, it seems that SHARC eval kit
are actually pretty robust against static electricity!
Only one guy has exactly the same issue. We could pretty safely conclude
that it is not caused by static electricity but rather a flow in the codec
or lines in/out!
Do you guys also handle the in/out channels really carefully? I mean when
you have a class with students: they are not necessary really careful with
the boards?
We will try to investigate how the signals we send to the board look like...
Thanks again for your help.
Alexis
If I'm not sure about what a device has as an output level, I will monitor
it with an oscilloscope to make sure it has a safe level for the board
input. Most of the time, our exercises only use facilities on the EZKITs
(eg pushbuttons and LEDs to get familiar with programming SRU, interrupt
handlers, timers, etc). For audio demo's, I've used my laptop speaker
output with a cable adapter (ie mini stereo plug to a pair of RCA plugs) to
feed the audio inputs on the EZKIT. There is reasonable care in the class,
but nothing like antistatic mats or wrist straps.
Cheers,
George
From: a... [mailto:a...] On Behalf Of
a...@illusonic.com
Sent: Friday, February 27, 2009 6:36 AM
To: a...
Subject: [adsp] Re: SHARC EZ-KIT and static electricity
Hi George, Al,
Thanks for your feedbacks.
>From your answers and other answers I've got, it seems that SHARC eval kit
are actually pretty robust against static electricity!
Only one guy has exactly the same issue. We could pretty safely conclude
that it is not caused by static electricity but rather a flow in the codec
or lines in/out!
Do you guys also handle the in/out channels really carefully? I mean when
you have a class with students: they are not necessary really careful with
the boards?
We will try to investigate how the signals we send to the board look like...
Thanks again for your help.
Alexis
Reply by ●March 2, 20092009-03-02
Hi,I need to convert accelerometer output to corresponding
velocity conversion.we can use integrator for this.
Suppose if ADC sampling frequency is Fs, and integrator
time constant (RC time constant) Tcon.
1)
I want to know the relation between Time constant Vs
Sampling frequency
I mean
1/Fs
>Tcon or 1/Fs <
Tcon?
2)
Suppose if I want to implement Integrator in
digital domain ( using Trapezoidal rule)
how can get interpret RC time constant in digital domain?
Can anyone through some light on this? Thanks in advance .
Regards,
SVS
velocity conversion.we can use integrator for this.
Suppose if ADC sampling frequency is Fs, and integrator
time constant (RC time constant) Tcon.
1)
I want to know the relation between Time constant Vs
Sampling frequency
I mean
1/Fs
>Tcon or 1/Fs <
Tcon?
2)
Suppose if I want to implement Integrator in
digital domain ( using Trapezoidal rule)
how can get interpret RC time constant in digital domain?
Can anyone through some light on this? Thanks in advance .
Regards,
SVS
Reply by ●March 2, 20092009-03-02
On Mon, 2 Mar 2009, rama raju wrote:
> Hi,I need to convert accelerometer output to corresponding
> velocity conversion.we can use integrator for this.
> Suppose if ADC sampling frequency is Fs, and integrator
> time constant (RC time constant) Tcon.
>
> 1)
> I want to know the relation between Time constant Vs
> Sampling frequency
>
> I mean
> 1/Fs > Tcon or 1/Fs < Tcon?
>
> 2)
> Suppose if I want to implement Integrator in
> digital domain ( using Trapezoidal rule)
> how can get interpret RC time constant in digital domain?
>
> Can anyone through some light on this? Thanks in advance .
There are a couple of ways to look at this. If your analog voltage has
step changes, then the RC time won't make any difference after 5*RC. So
if 1/Fs > 5*RC it's the same thing.
Normally it doesn't do that - you usually have smooth continuous changes.
So think of the integrator as part of a transfer function. In the time
domain it is a convolution, in the frequency domain it is a
multiplication. For analog signals you would use a Laplace transform, for
digital signals you would use a Z transform.
I don't think you can directly compare the sampling frequency with the RC
time. There may well be an optimum sampling frequency that gives a
comparable result to RC in terms of output between digital and analog
domains, but I suspect it is not that obvious.
Patience, persistence, truth,
Dr. mike
> Hi,I need to convert accelerometer output to corresponding
> velocity conversion.we can use integrator for this.
> Suppose if ADC sampling frequency is Fs, and integrator
> time constant (RC time constant) Tcon.
>
> 1)
> I want to know the relation between Time constant Vs
> Sampling frequency
>
> I mean
> 1/Fs > Tcon or 1/Fs < Tcon?
>
> 2)
> Suppose if I want to implement Integrator in
> digital domain ( using Trapezoidal rule)
> how can get interpret RC time constant in digital domain?
>
> Can anyone through some light on this? Thanks in advance .
There are a couple of ways to look at this. If your analog voltage has
step changes, then the RC time won't make any difference after 5*RC. So
if 1/Fs > 5*RC it's the same thing.
Normally it doesn't do that - you usually have smooth continuous changes.
So think of the integrator as part of a transfer function. In the time
domain it is a convolution, in the frequency domain it is a
multiplication. For analog signals you would use a Laplace transform, for
digital signals you would use a Z transform.
I don't think you can directly compare the sampling frequency with the RC
time. There may well be an optimum sampling frequency that gives a
comparable result to RC in terms of output between digital and analog
domains, but I suspect it is not that obvious.
Patience, persistence, truth,
Dr. mike
