===== Electronics Explorer - Intro to the Protocol Analyzer =====

~~TechArticle~~

  * Experimenting with the Protocol Analyzer.

---- 

===== Introduction =====

This project is designed to familiarize the user with the Protocol Analyzer instruments within the Digilent WaveForms software. A simple wire will be used to connect two digital signals to view and monitor the supported protocols.

===== Materials =====

  * Electronics Explorer Board w/ Power Supply and USB cable
  * From the Starter Parts Kit:
    * Jumper wires
  * WaveForms Software ([[https://digilent.com/shop/software/digilent-waveforms/| download]]) - //WaveForms 3.5.4 is used in this tutorial//

===== Procedures =====
==== Observe Closed Loop Communication ====

  - Connect the EE Board to your PC with the USB cable.
  - Connect the board's external power supply and flip the **Ready** switch to the **ON** position. 
  - Build the circuit by connecting the digital pin 16 to digital pin 23 on //Digital 3// on the EE Board.
    * The figure below shows the completed circuit. {{ :learn:instrumentation:tutorials:electronics-explorer-oscilloscope-and-network-analyzer:protocol_analyzer_circuitLOL.png?500nolink |}}
  - Launch the WaveForms Software. The **Device Manager** will pop up. Click on the **EExplorer** on the list and click **Select**. The WaveForms main window will now appear. {{ :learn:instrumentation:tutorials:electronics-explorer-getting-started-windows:9.png?700nolink |}}
  - Click on the protocol icon {{:learn:instrumentation:tutorials:electronics-explorer-protocol-analyzer:protocol_icon.png?nolink|}} to open the Protocol Analyzer.
  - The Protocol Analyzer supports reading and writing on three different communication protocols: UART, SPI, and I²C. Users may choose to adjust polarity, clock speed, and which digital I/O pins are used by the protocol. \\ {{:learn:instrumentation:tutorials:electronics-explorer-protocol-analyzer:uart_initial.png?nolink350|}} {{:learn:instrumentation:tutorials:electronics-explorer-protocol-analyzer:spi_initial.png?nolink350|}} {{:learn:instrumentation:tutorials:electronics-explorer-protocol-analyzer:i2c_initial.png?nolink350|}}
  - On the UART tab, adjust the TX and RX DIO pins to match the two pins that are connected via the jumper wire. Type the word //Hello// in the **TX** box, and check the **TX Echo** box located in the //RX// section. Start the protocol analyzer by clicking on the **Receive** button and then click the **Send** button in the //TX// section. A pair of //Hello//'s will appear in the RX box with the green //Hello// as the data that you sent (the TX Echo) and the blue //Hello// as the data that was received. {{ :learn:instrumentation:tutorials:electronics-explorer-protocol-analyzer:uart_demo.png?700nolink |}}
  - On the SPI tab, adjust the DQ0 and DQ1 in the //Settings// box to match the two pins that are connected via the jumper wire. By default, the //Mode// will be set to **Read Write** and is prewritten to transmit "1 2 h34 b01010110". Press the green arrow button on the Protocol tab at the top of the WaveForms GUI and then hit the **Execute** button next to the //Mode//. The written data will appear in green and the received data will appear in blue. {{ :learn:instrumentation:tutorials:electornics-explorer-protocol-analyzer:spi_demo.png?nolink700 |}} \\ Other modes including Dual Read and Quad Write can also be chosen in addition to sending an initial SPI command to control a peripheral device.
  - On the I2C tab, in the Settings section, set the SDA pin to one of the Digital IO pins that are wired to a pullup resistor :?:.