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CozIR-Blink Sensor Evaluation Board User Guide
CozIR-Blink Sensor Evaluation Board User Guide
The CozIR®-Blink Evaluation Board is designed for evaluating the CozIR®-Blink-N sensor, which requires power cycling for each reading. It supports both PC-controlled and standalone operations, allowing users to evaluate hardware and software functions.
A USB-A to USB-Mini B cable and driver are needed for PC interfacing. The driver can be automatically installed on Windows or downloaded from the FTDI website. Evaluation software is available on the GSS website.
The sensor is mounted on the board using fixing cams and should be installed before powering the board or connecting the USB interface.
The board includes a USB interface, microcontroller, and environmental sensors (temperature, humidity, pressure, and current). It supports UART and I2C interfaces for sensor communication.
The sensor can be isolated from the board's electronics for direct control via edge connectors. DIP switches are used to disconnect the sensor from the microcontroller.
Three power supply methods are available: external power supply, USB power supply, and variable external power supply. Each method requires power cycling for sensor operation.
The software allows monitoring and storing of environmental conditions such as pressure, humidity, and temperature.
The board includes various buttons, jumpers, and LEDs for configuration and status indication.
The software provides a graphical interface for sensor functions and a terminal mode for direct data interaction.
The software supports CO2 measurement and other environmental sensors.
The board can measure the sensor's current consumption in different modes.
Data can be graphed for analysis.
Zero-point settings can be adjusted in various conditions, and pressure compensation is available.
Settings for blink mode and auto-zero intervals and levels are configurable.
Data display, datalogging, and terminal views for UART and I2C communication are supported.
The document includes a mechanical diagram and important notices regarding usage.
The document provides a history of revisions for reference.
The CozIR®-Blink-N sensor requires specific power cycling to operate correctly. It must be power-cycled by removing and reapplying power, with a downtime of more than 4 seconds to ensure proper reset. The sensor interfaces through I2C and UART, with specific pin configurations detailed for connections on J3, J4, and J5.
The sensor evaluation board includes a high-precision current-sense amplifier to measure power consumption. This feature is only available when using power method 2. The application software displays the sensor's current draw graphically.
In addition to CO2, the evaluation board can measure humidity, temperature, and pressure. These measurements are independent of the CO2 sensor and can be displayed and stored using the application software.
The board includes buttons for power control and mode selection, jumpers for power isolation, and LED indicators for operational status. The software interface allows for easy control and monitoring of sensor functions.
The software provides a user-friendly interface for controlling the sensor and evaluation board. Users can connect to the sensor via the correct COM port and select the appropriate sensor type and range. The software supports automatic and manual power cycling for CO2 measurement.
The CozIR®-Blink-N sensor takes multiple measurements to produce a single reading. The power-on time is determined by the 'nPulse' setting, with a default of 16 pulses. Users can set the measurement period and manually cycle power for readings.
The board supports manual and automatic readings for temperature, humidity, and pressure sensors. Users can set measurement intervals independently of the CO2 sensor.
Current consumption is measured in 'Manual Measurement' mode, with graphical display options. The average current is calculated over a complete power cycle period.
Users can graph sensor data for analysis, with options to update and manually poll data. Current measurement requires disabling automatic power cycling.
The sensor's zero point can be set using nitrogen, ambient air, or a known gas concentration. The software provides options for setting and storing zero-point values.
The sensor can be configured to correct for barometric pressure variations by entering the mean pressure value.
The sensor's measurement rate and noise level can be adjusted by setting the 'nPulse' value, affecting the time and accuracy of readings.
The document provides detailed instructions on configuring and operating a gas sensor. It highlights the importance of disabling the automatic power cycling mode when changing settings, such as the measurement interval (nPulse), and re-enabling it afterward.
The sensor includes an auto-zero function that requires exposure to typical fresh air levels (~400ppm) to recalibrate. Users can adjust the auto-zero interval and the default background concentration value, which is stored in the sensor.
The sensor supports UART and I2C communication modes. Users can switch between these modes via the interface, with power cycling automatically disabled during changes.
Essential sensor data, such as CO2 concentration, temperature, pressure, and humidity, is displayed in the user interface. This data updates based on the sensor's measurement mode.
Users can record sensor data in a .csv file, which includes timestamps for easy analysis. The document provides an example of recorded data with various environmental parameters.
The Terminal View allows direct communication with the sensor for reading and writing commands. It supports both UART and I2C modes, with specific instructions for each.
The document includes a disclaimer about the use of GSS products, emphasizing that they are not intended for life support or critical systems. It also outlines the company's terms and conditions regarding product changes and liability.
The document concludes with a revision history, noting updates to the user guide.
Catalog excerpts
CozIR®-Blink Evaluation Board User Guide Gas Sensing Solutions Ltd. Page | 1 For regular updates, sign up at https://gassensing.co.uk Revision 1.2, 29 March 2021 Copyright © 2021 Gas Sensing Solutions Ltd.
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For regular updates, sign up at https://gassensing.co.uk Revision 1.2, 29 March 2021 Copyright © 2021 Gas Sensing Solutions Ltd.
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Gas Sensing Solutions Ltd. Page | 3 For regular updates, sign up at https://gassensing.co.uk Revision 1.2, 29 March 2021 Copyright © 2021 Gas Sensing Solutions
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USER GUIDE INTRODUCTION This evaluation board is designed to provide a fast and easy start for evaluation of the GSS CozIR®Blink-N sensor. The CozIR®-Blink-N sensor is designed to be power cycled and pre-programmed to take one reading per power cycle. This means that power to the sensor must be removed and reapplied before the sensor will take another reading. Power cycling can be done using the evaluation board software, or manually. The evaluation board brings several interfaces and interconnections shown in Figure 1. The CozIR®-Blink-N Evaluation Board is designed to allow the user to evaluate...
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USER GUIDE USB DRIVER To interface to a PC, the evaluation board requires a USB-A to USB-Mini B cable and a USB driver to function correctly. Recent versions of Windows will automatically identify and install the USB driver when you plug in the lead. If the USB driver is not installed, or the evaluation board will not connect to a COM port, please download the USB driver from the FTDI website: https://www.ftdichip.com/Drivers/VCP.htm Choose “VCP Drivers” and select the correct driver for your operating system. SOFTWARE INSTALLATION The GSS evaluation board software is available direct from the...
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USER GUIDE EVALUATION BOARD CONCEPT Figure 1: Evaluation Board Key Components The evaluation board consists of a USB interface device, which connects to an on-board microcontroller. The on-board microcontroller connects to the sensor using either its UART or I2C interface. The interface mode from the microcontroller to the sensor is user selectable. The microcontroller also interfaces to the environmental monitoring sensors. The evaluation board comes with temperature, humidity, pressure, and current sensors. Gas Sensing Solutions Ltd. Page | 6 For regular updates, sign up at https://gassensing.co.uk...
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USER GUIDE Figure 2: Top Side Evaluation Board Figure 3: Bottom Side Evaluation Board Gas Sensing Solutions Ltd. Page | 7 For regular updates, sign up at https://gassensing.co.uk Revision 1.2, 29 March 2021 Copyright © 2021 Gas Sensing Solutions Ltd.
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USER GUIDE STANDALONE OPERATION The sensor can be completely isolated from the rest of the evaluation board electronics. This allows the user to conveniently control the sensor directly via edge connectors J3, J4 and J5. To operate in this manner, the DIP switches (S5) must be set to isolate the sensor from the microcontroller by putting them into the off position. SWITCH POSITION Page | 8 For regular updates, sign up at https://gassensing.co.uk Copyright © 2021 Gas Sensing Solutions Ltd.
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USER GUIDE SENSOR POWER SUPPLY If the sensor is to be evaluated in isolation and separately from the evaluation board USB interface and software, it must be provided with power. There are three methods to provide power to the sensor. In all cases, the CozIR®-Blink-N must be powered cycled to function correctly. The CozIR®Blink-N is pre-programmed to take a single reading per power cycle. This means that power to the sensor must be removed and re-applied before the sensor will take another reading. Note the sensor must be powered via the USB interface (method 2) if the GSS evaluation software...
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USER GUIDE Method 3 - Variable External Power Supply The user can also drive the sensor directly with an external power supply, bypassing the on-board low noise LDO and FET switch. This allows the user to evaluate the behaviour of the sensor with different supply voltages or power sources. To enable this mode of operation, the following settings need to be configured. The evaluation board has pull-up resistors for the I2C serial data input/output lines in each of these modes. They pull-up to either the on-board 3.3V supply, or the external VDD on J5, pin 2 and pin 4. All the sensor connections...
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Page | 11 For regular updates, sign up at https://gassensing.co.uk Copyright © 2021 Gas Sensing Solutions Ltd.
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USER GUIDE SENSOR POWER CONSUMPTION MEASUREMENT The sensor evaluation board contains circuitry to allow the user to accurately measure sensor current consumption. A high-precision, high-side current-sense amplifier is used to measure the current through a 1.5ohm resistor R6. The signal is digitised by the on-board microcontroller. The application software graphically displays the current draw of the sensor over the initial part of the measurement cycle and displays the average current draw whilst it is powered up. The sensor power consumption measurement application operates when using sensor...
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USER GUIDE SOFTWARE USER INTERFACE All the main sensor and evaluation board functions are controlled through a single user interface, displayed above. Hovering over a button will display the tips for that function. Gas Sensing Solutions Ltd. Page | 13 For regular updates, sign up at https://gassensing.co.uk Revision 1.2, 29 March 2021 Copyright © 2021 Gas Sensing Solutions Ltd.
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USER GUIDE RUNNING THE SOFTWARE The software may start automatically after installation. If it does not, you can start it from the “Program” Menu in the Start Menu. Look for the filename GSS Customer Evaluation Board. The opening screen is below. To connect to the sensor, select the correct COM port from the drop-down Connection list, and click the CONNECT button. The drop-down list will only show ports with active devices attached. If you do not know the appropriate port select “device manager” on your PC, select Ports, and unplug the SEB and then plug back in. The Com port will show up when...
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