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Getting Started With MSP-EXP430G2 LaunchPad
3
Getting Started With MSP-EXP430G2 LaunchPad
3.1
Getting Started
The first time the MSP-EXP430G2 LaunchPad Evaluation Kit is used, a demo application automatically
starts as soon as the board is powered from the USB host. To start the demo, connect the MSP-
EXP430G2 LaunchPad with the included mini USB cable to a free USB port. The demo application starts
with an LED toggle to show the device is active. More information about the demo application can be
found in
Section 3.2
.
3.2
Demo Application, Internal Temperature Measurement
The LaunchPad includes a pre-programmed MSP430G2553 device already installed in the target socket.
When LaunchPad is connected via USB, the demo starts with an LED toggle sequence. The onboard
emulation generates the supply voltage and all the signals necessary to start.
Press button P1.3 to switch the application to a temperature measurement mode. A reference temperature
is taken at the beginning of this mode, and the LEDs of the LaunchPad signal a rise or fall in temperature
by varying the brightness of the on-board red or green LED, respectively. The reference temperature can
also be recalibrated with another button press on P1.3. The collected temperature data is also
communicated via back-channel UART through the USB emulation circuitry back to the PC. The internal
temperature sensor data from the MSP430G2553 device is sent to the PC to be displayed on the GUI.
The pre-loaded demo application and the GUI are found in the Software Examples zip folder. The GUI is
opened with LaunchPad_Temp_GUI.exe. This GUI is made with Processing (
http://processing.org
) with
the source available for customization. The serial communication port on the PC must be configured with
2400 bps, one stop bit, and no flow control to display the values correctly.
The demo application uses the on-chip peripherals of the MSP430G2553 device such as the 10-bit ADC,
which samples the internal temperature sensor, and 16-bit timers, which drive the PWM to vary brightness
of the LEDs and enable software UART for communication with the PC. The MSP430G2553 offers a USCI
interface that is capable of communicating through UART at up to 2 MBaud, but to be aligned with all the
other MSP430G2xx devices, the demo uses the Timer UART implementation, which can be used on all
the other devices. This way the demo can be used with any other MSP430G2xx device with an integrated
ADC, without any change in the program.
The provided applications can be a great starting point for various custom applications and give a good
overview of the various applications of the MSP430G2xx Value Line devices.
7
SLAU318F – July 2010 – Revised January 2015
MSP-EXP430G2 LaunchPad Evaluation Kit
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