AN-000495
MotionLink Version 4.2.x
User Manual
InvenSense, Inc. reserves the right to change InvenSense, a TDK Group Company Document Number : AN-000495
specifications and information herein without 1745 Technology Drive, San Jose, CA 95110 U.S.A Revision: 1.0
notice unless the product is in mass production +1(408) 988–7339 Release Date: 09/20/2024
and the application note has been designated by invensense.tdk.com
InvenSense in writing as subject to a specified
Product / Process Change Notification Method
regulation.
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CONTENTS
1 OVERVIEW ..................................................................................................................................................3
2 REQUIREMENTS ........................................................................................................................................3
3 MOTIONLINK SUPPORTED DEVICES ......................................................................................................3
4 SMARTMOTION PLATFORMS SUPPORTED ...........................................................................................4
4.1 DK-B+ BOARD ....................................................................................................................................4
4.2 DK-G BOARD ......................................................................................................................................5
4.3 DK-I BOARD ........................................................................................................................................6
4.4 DK-UNIVERSAL-I WITH EVB .............................................................................................................7
5 INSTALLATION ...........................................................................................................................................8
6 STARTING THE MOTIONLINK 4.2.X APPLICATION ..............................................................................11
7 CONNECTING SENSOR BOARDS ..........................................................................................................11
8 STARTING DATA CAPTURE ...................................................................................................................16
9 VIEWING THE DATA ................................................................................................................................17
10 STORING THE DATA ................................................................................................................................27
11 BUTTONS FOR DATA CAPTURE ............................................................................................................29
12 NOTES / KNOWN ISSUES / FUTURE UPDATES ....................................................................................32
13 REFERENCES ...........................................................................................................................................36
14 REVISION HISTORY .................................................................................................................................37
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1 Overview
This document serves the purpose of a guide for installing the MotionLink 4.2.x data logger executable and that of
a guide to show how to use the MotionLink tool in combination with TDK-InvenSense Evaluation Boards (DK, EVBs)
based on Microchip SAMG55 MCU based development platforms.
2 Requirements
(1) PC with Windows OS (tested on Windows 7 32-bit OS and Windows 7 64-bit OS, Windows 8 64-bit OS,
Windows 10 64-bit OS, Windows 11 64-bit OS).
(2) TDK-InvenSense Microchip SAMG55 MCU development board (e.g., DK-42605).
(3) Two micro-USB cables.
(4) Microchip Studio (Microchip Studio for AVR® and SAM Devices | Microchip Technology) installed in default
directory (C:\Program Files (x86)).
(5) Internet connection if the .net framework and Microchip/FTDI drivers/tools are not previously installed on the
target PC.
3 MotionLink Supported Devices
MotionLink 4.2.x supports the following InvenSense devices on the Microchip MCU platform:
• Consumer Motion Sensor
• Automotive Motion Sensor
• Industrial Motion Sensor
• Pressure Sensor
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4 SmartMotion Platforms Supported
The Microchip MCU board platform can have an onboard sensor or be connected to an external EVB (Evaluation
Board) as shown below. Different versions of Microchip MCU boards (DK boards) are shown in the figures below.
The board version can vary depending on the sensor selected.
4.1 DK-B+ Board
For more information, please refer to Version B+ Hardware User Guide AN-000323.
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4.2 DK-G Board
For more information, please refer to Version G Hardware User Guide AN-000300.
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4.3 DK-I Board
For more information, please refer to Version I Hardware User Guides: AN-000368 (DK-UNIVERSAL-I), AN-000479
(DK-45605, DK-45686).
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4.4 DK-UNIVERSAL-I with EVB
Connection between the DK-UNIVERSAL-I board and TDK EVB board
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5 Installation
(1) Run the installer, SmartMotion_x.x.x_Installer.exe. It will prompt for the installation directory. Once the
desired installation directory is selected, navigate to the next step by clicking “Next.”
(2) Click “Extract” to unpack the FTDI Windows driver package.
(3) Click “Next” to install the FTDI drivers.
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(4) Verify the destination folder and start the installation by clicking “Install.”
(5) Wait for the installation to complete and once done, click “Finish.”
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6 Starting the MotionLink 4.2.x Application
(1) Navigate to the installation directory and run the executable, SmartMotion.exe.
7 Connecting Sensor Boards
Connect the Microchip sensor boards to the USB ports. Install the following drivers and tools (if not
previously installed when installing MotionLink).
• MicroChip Studio (ATSAMG55 Platform Drivers): Microchip Studio for AVR® and SAM Devices |
Microchip Technology
• FTDI drivers: http://www.ftdichip.com/Drivers/VCP.htm
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(1) If this is the first time using MotionLink after a new install, or MotionLink prompts you- “Disconnect” and
select “FlashMCU.” If the flashing is unsuccessful, please check the previous installation steps for Microchip
Studio and necessary drivers. After the firmware is successfully flashed, power cycle the board.
(2) Add the configuration to match the board that is connected by clicking, “Select and Config.” In these
examples we are showing the IAM-20380xx, ICM-456xx, and ICM-42670-P, connected with appropriate
configurations selected.
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Select the sensor board configuration that matches the connected sensor board as shown below. Enable
appropriate “Settings” and click “Ok.”
Note: J7 is applicable to Version B boards only.
There are special modes for some products, including: Normal mode, FIFO mode, Wake on Motion, Pedometer mode,
and Tilt mode. Normal mode is normal register data reading, FIFO mode is data reading from the FIFO, Wake on
Motion generates accelerometer data when the sensor is in motion, Pedometer mode acts as a pedometer and
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updates the step count when walking, and Tilt mode signals an interrupt when the sensor is tilted more than 30
degrees.
(3) To remove a sensor board configuration from the data logger, click the button.
(4) After adding the board configuration, click on “Connect” to connect to the Sensor Board.
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8 Starting Data Capture
(1) Once the configuration is added, click on the Power button to initialize the board. After initialization, a set of
tabs opens in the main window as shown below.
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9 Viewing the Data
Once the data logging has started, click on the tabs above to view the data.
(1) The “… Table” tab shows the live Accelerometer (X, Y, Z) and Gyroscope (X, Y, Z) values. The user can choose
to log the captured data to a text file by using the “…” button on the right to navigate to a directory and
“Enable” to start logging data. Press the button in the same location “Disable” to stop logging.
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(2) The “… Gyroscope” tab shows the Gyroscope (X, Y, Z) data in graphical representation. When the “DPS”
option is selected, the Y-axis units show “DPS” (Degrees Per Second) converted from raw data (LSB).
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(3) The “… Accelerometer” tab shows the Accelerometer (X, Y, Z) data in graphical representation. When the “g”
option is selected, the Y-axis units show “g” (unit of acceleration) converted from raw data (LSB).
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(4) Right-clicking any of the tabs will list two options of creating a new Horizontal or Vertical Tab Group to view
two or more windows at once.
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(5) The “…SensorPosition” tab shows sensor positions in following 3 ways
a. Tilt Angles of x, y, and z axes.
b. Roll and Pitch using Accel Data only.
c. 6 face orientation of the sensor.
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(6) The “… Registers” tab shows the list of sensor data registers that contain the latest gyroscope measurement,
accelerometer measurement, temperature measurement and other data. Please refer to the register map
corresponding to the sensor in use.
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To read one or more registers, select the registers on the left side table and click “Update selected.”
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For writing to one of the registers, select the register on the left side table, enter the write value for that
register in the “[hex value]:” text area and click “Set.” Optionally, the user can check the option “Read back” if
they want to read that register back after a write.
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The user can choose to dump all the register values to a text file by selecting a filename/path by clicking “…”
then clicking “Dump.”
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The “Load Script” feature can be used to load multiple registers in order. The file uploaded must be a tab separated
.rls (register load script) file.
Now click on “Load Script” and browse to the file.
A window will pop up and to enable the user to browse to the stored .rls file.
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Select the .rls file and wait for the message “Register Script loaded successfully.”
10 Storing the Data
(1) Additionally, the user can choose to save the data by selecting a path/filename by clicking “…” and clicking
“Enable” to log the data to a file.
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(1) To stop saving the data to a file, press the “Disable” button.
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11 Buttons for Data Capture
(1) To stop the data logging, press the stop button in the main (“Connect”) tab.
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(2) To resume data capture, press the play button.
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(3) To change the units on graph from LSB <-> g for accel and LSB <-> dps for gyro click on the “units” button.
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12 Notes / Known Issues / Future Updates
• The user needs to use the proper firmware version for “Flash MCU” option and, currently, MotionLink
4.2.x4.2.x does throw warnings if the wrong firmware version is used.
• More device support will be added for future releases.
• If using Windows 7, you must have a COM port greater than 10.
• If the COM port numbers are less than 10, the devices are not recognized by the MotionLink Software. To
manually change the COM port number, follow these steps:
o Double click “USB Serial Port (COM<X>)”
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o Go to “Port Settings” tab and click “Advanced.”
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o In the “Advanced Settings for COM<X>” window, select “COM Port Number” drop-down options
and pick an available COM port number that is greater than 10.
o Click “OK” on all the screens after selection.
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o Repeat the above steps to change the “EDBG Virtual COM Port” number to a value greater than
10.
o Now, restart the “MotionLink” software and the COM ports should be visible in the “Serial port”
drop-down list.
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13 References
Please check the Microchip MCU documentation, and product specification documentation for the relevant board.
SmartMotion® | TDK InvenSense
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14 Revision History
Revision Date Revision Description
09/25/2024 1.0 Initial Release
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This information furnished by InvenSense or its affiliates (“TDK InvenSense”) is believed to be accurate and reliable. However, no responsibility is
assumed by TDK InvenSense for its use, or for any infringements of patents or other rights of third parties that may result from its use.
Specifications are subject to change without notice. TDK InvenSense reserves the right to make changes to this product, including its circuits and
software, in order to improve its design and/or performance, without prior notice. TDK InvenSense makes no warranties, neither expressed nor
implied, regarding the information and specifications contained in this document. TDK InvenSense assumes no responsibility for any claims or
damages arising from information contained in this document, or from the use of products and services detailed therein. This includes, but is not
limited to, claims or damages based on the infringement of patents, copyrights, mask work and/or other intellectual property rights.
Certain intellectual property owned by InvenSense and described in this document is patent protected. No license is granted by implication or
otherwise under any patent or patent rights of InvenSense. This publication supersedes and replaces all information previously supplied.
Trademarks that are registered trademarks are the property of their respective companies. TDK InvenSense sensors should not be used or sold in
the development, storage, production, or utilization of any conventional or mass-destructive weapons or for any other weapons or life-threatening
applications, as well as in any other life critical applications such as medical equipment, transportation, aerospace and nuclear instruments,
undersea equipment, power plant equipment, disaster prevention and crime prevention equipment.
©2024 InvenSense. All rights reserved. InvenSense, SmartMotion, SmartIndustrial, SmartSonic, SmartAutomotive, SmartRobotics, SmartSound,
SmartPressure, MotionProcessing, MotionProcessor, UltraPrint, MotionTracking, CHIRP Microsystems, SmartBug, SonicLink, Digital Motion
Processor, AAR, and the InvenSense logo are registered trademarks of InvenSense, Inc. The TDK logo is a trademark of TDK Corporation. Other
company and product names may be trademarks of the respective companies with which they are associated.
©2024 InvenSense. All rights reserved.
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