THE PARTICLE COMPUTER DOCU
                    (APSConfig - Sensor networking with Particles)                   

 

APSConfig screenshot

 

APSConfig is a PC program running under MS Windows for configuring Particle+SSimp and Particle+SPart sensor nodes. Its intention is to enable novice user an very easy way to use the sensor capabilities on the sensor boards. After you have configured the Particle with APSConfig you can use the ParticleAnalyzer to observe the sensor readings. Your delivered Particle Core board 2/10 connected with a SSimp 1/92 is ready-to-use with APSConfig. The following programs (.hex files) have to be installed on the microcontroller in order to use APSConfig.

Sensor Node Particle Core board program
 SPart program Notes
Particle 2/10 + SSimp 1/92
 PRS_6720_2004_03_02.zip -
 pre-installed on the delivered Particle Core boards, activate "deprecated format" checkbox in APSConfig
Particle 2/10 + SPart 2/02 APS_RPCServer_2004_04_15.zip APS_SPart_2004_04_15.zip deactivate "deprecated format" checkbox in APSConfig

In order to work properly, APSConfig needs access to one or more XBridges in your network by using UDP broadcasts. If there is a router between your XBrigde(s) and the PC running APSConfig, the program will likely not work.

Usage

APSConfig needs you to enter an 8-byte identifier (1) unique for each Particle. You can use the target scanner (2) in order to find all available Particles in your network. Try to scan several times to find all Particles. Once you've selected one Particle identification from the scanner list, it will appear in the identifier field. Now you can proceed to select sensors and their rate (3). Now you are ready to transmit the configuration to the selected Particle by pressing the "Configure" button (4). Check the "deprecated format" checkbox (4) if you're using the Particle+SSimp sensor node. The History (5) will inform you about the target scanner processing and the success of your configuration. The settings for the timeouts and the network ports are default, and usually don't need any change.

Note: The rate is given for best cases. There are other factors affecting these timings. If a Particle loses the arbitration, one may add another 13ms. If other samplings are done concurrently, like the time consuming audio sampling, one may add another delay of 26ms.

Note2: If you configure the acceleration sensor if the sensor is not present the microcontroller main program will hang. Nevertheless, the Particle is still able to accept and execute new configurations. But you may restart it (unplugging the power) in order to resume to normal operation. This my happen to you by selecting the Acceleration-Z sensor on your SSimp 1/92.