LinearLabTools Step­by­step installation for Matlab users November, 2015 This document shows all steps for the installation of LinearLabTools for Matlab users, including the installation of PScope. Step 1: Linear Tech converter evaluation software installation Install the software required by the demo board being evaluated. This is PScope for Analog to Digital converters, or LTDACgen for high­speed DACs such as the LTC2000. This document will use PScope as an example; the procedure for LTDACgen is similar. Run the installer, preferably accepting the default installation directory: The installer will then install USB drivers for the various data capture / data generation boards. Click Okay. VERY IMPORTANT: If you have already plugged in a controller board (DC718, DC590, DC2085, etc.) Unplug it now. A connected board will interfere with driver installation. Click OK.
Click Next. Click Finish. Click OK. PScope will then open. Follow the procedure in the data converter evaluation board’s Demo Manual. This will include board configuration, connection of power supplies, clock signals, analog signals, and any other requirements. IMPORTANT: Both PScope and LinearLabTools programs will show errors if the demo boards are not connected properly. Once the hardware is set up properly, PScope should be able to collect data properly as shown below. At this point the hardware is working properly and communicating with the host computer. Quit PScope before proceeding to avoid communication conflicts with LinearLabTools programs. Step 2: Install LinearLabTools Note that both 32­bit and 64­bit installers are provided. The choice depends on the Python environment (NOT the operating system.) 64­bit will be shown below (consistent with the 64­bit Python installation.) Note that some LinearLabTools programs involve processing large sets of data, and will benefit greatly from running in a 64­bit environment. Run the installer, click Next: Preferably, keep the default installation location. Click Next.
In progress... Click Close. Step 3: Verify Installation and prepare Matlab Note: All LinearLabTools Matlab scripts are tested using the base version of Matlab with some scripts requiring signal processing toolbox for extra features. These features can be commented out if needed. Open Matlab. In the Matlab subdirectory, run Test_LinearLabTools_Matlab.m. The following screen should appear: Navigate to the \Matlab\DemoBoardExamples\LTCxxxx directory, where xxxx is the part number of the device you are evaluating. Open the LTCxxxx_DCyyyy.m file, which will typically run through a series of operations demonstrating the various features of the demo board. Add the absolute path to "linear_lab_tools\matlab" folder before running the script: Run "mex ­setup" to set up compiler and chose the option "Lcc­win32 C" as shown in the figures below: Step 5: Communicating with Hardware All of the pieces are now in place for capturing data from (or sending data to) the demo board. Open the example Matlab script for your demo board (DC2135 for the LTC2378­20 is used as an example.) Click “Run”. The script will go through the basic operations of capturing data from the board, then display time and frequency domain plots. Exact operations may vary from board to board. You should see plots similar to those below: At this point, data from the demo board is stored in an array in the program. You can then extend the functionality of the program as required for your evaluation, incorporate other test hardware such as signal generators, etc.