Where I begin to work with the Adafruit Feather RP2040 (Feather) and MicroPython (uP) and use the Labrador to test the board.

Using Blink Test to Confirm Board Works#

Using an Interactive Pin Test to Confirm Header Works#

Sources#

• Adafruit Feather RP2040
• Raspberry Pi RP2040 Getting Started
• RP2040 Datasheet
• Arm: Raspberry Pi RP2040: Our Microcontroller for the Masses
• Get Started with MicroPython on Raspberry Pi Pico
• Raspberry Pi Pico Python SDK
• MicroPython RP2 Docs

Background#

After being disappointed with the uP development for the ESP32, I thought it would be fun to try the latest and greatest, hottest, just out of design, the Raspberry Pi RP2040 Microcontroller. I was able to secure two Adafruit Feather versions and will use those to test.

Where I explore filters in electronics and use the Espotek Labrador to demonstrate how to understand filters and create amplitude response curves. This discussion will be absurdly simplistic in comparison to the topic. My goal is to show sufficient theoretical examples of filters, so we can then test them using the Labrador.

Video: How to Use the Espotek Labrador to Analyze a High Pass Filter Amplitude Response Curve#

Our goal with the Labrador is to test the following filter analysis. Doing so will help make electronics more intuitive and familiar and help you understand as to how to use the Labrador. It will also help you understand how to plot data and in this case, using a log scale.

How to resolve a possible software bug on the Labrador.

Update August 1, 2021#

I’ve noticed that the “Paused” check box appears to “delete the buffer and force a reload”. For example, I might see some clipping on a sine wave and if I check/uncheck Paused, the wave will appear accurately. This would help explain why “checking and unchecking Paused” can fix a multitude of sins. Therefore my new advice is, if your results aren’t what you expect, do the following:

How to install the software then perform a hardware calibration.

The video assumes you have installed the Labrador application and wish to better understand how to do a calibration. It also shows how to solve a multimeter software bug.

Overall Process:#

1. For all of the OS versions; Windows, Linux, macOS, go to the github releases page for the Espotek Labrador and download the appropriate image.
2. Each OS has its own set of installation instructions, and are very similar to other installations for the same type of software.
3. Once installed, calibrate and perform the simple test in this presentation to confirm its operating properly

Comments on Installations#

• Windows
  • Typical install with multiple click-throughs
  • Make sure you note where you installed it
  • Double-click the application to start the application
• Linux
  • Use Appimage version to keep installation simple
  • Two right-click operations to start the application
• macOS
  • Drag download to Applications folder
  • Right-click to Open
  • Click on Open to start the application

Hints for next steps#

1. Calibrate the Oscilloscope#

To make it easier to connect both wires to USB shield: