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MAN-00001

Lotus MAN-00001 User manual

  • Hello! I'm here to help you with your Lotus Block Up/Down Converter user manual. I have read the document and know it covers models BUDC2G14G, BUDC3G20G, and BUC3G6G. It gives information on software setup, GUI control, SCPI commands, and firmware updates. I am ready to answer any question you might have about your device.
  • What is the range of LO frequencies for BUDC2G14G?
    What is the preset LO frequency for BUC3G6G?
    How can I update firmware on the device?
LotusCommunicationSystems,INC.
Block Up/Down Converter (BUDC)
User Manual
Document #: MAN-00001
Revision C
July 12, 2021
English
Lotus Communication Systems, Inc.
588 Boston Post Road, Suite 200
Weston, MA 02493
U.S.A. |www.lotussys.com
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© 2021 Lotus Communication Systems, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Copy by Permission Only. Copyright Strictly Enforced.
Contents
1INTRODUCTION ...................................................................................... 3
1.1Model Section Guide ............................................................................................. 4
2SOFTWARE SETUP .................................................................................. 5
2.1Application Software ............................................................................................. 5
3USING LOTUS BUDC GUI ...................................................................... 5
3.1Starting the BUDC GUI ......................................................................................... 5
3.1.1Startup Screen .................................................................................................... 5
3.1.2USB Serial Com Port ......................................................................................... 5
3.2Control BUDC with GUI Program ........................................................................ 7
3.3Main GUI Screen Functions: ................................................................................. 8
4SCPI COMMAND WINDOW ................................................................... 8
5SCPI COMMAND ...................................................................................... 9
5.1SCPI Command using Putty Software ................................................................. 10
6FIRMWARE UPDATE ............................................................................ 12
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1 INTRODUCTION
LotusSoftwareDefinedBlockUp/DownConverter(BUDC)UserManual provides general
introduction,installationinstructionsandoperationforLotusUSBprogrammableBlockUp/Down
Converters.
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1.1 ModelSectionGuide
Model
Name
LO
Freq.
(GHz)
RF
Freq.
(GHz)
IF
Freq.
(GHz)
RF
Return
Loss
(dB)
LO
Input
Return
Loss
(dB)
IF
Return
Loss
(dB)
Input1dB
Compression
(dB)
Voltage
(V)
Current
(mA)
PRESET
Freq.
(GHZ)
Control
Protocols
BUDC2G14G1~12.8 2~14 0.5~6 >9 >10 >10 14 5~6 or
USB-C
235 6 USB
BUDC3G20G1~20 3~20 0.5~9 >9 >10 >10 16 5~6 or
USB-C
355 10 USB
BUC3G6G6.5 3~6 0.5~3.5 >9 >10 >10 16 5~6 or
USB-C
422 6.5 USB
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2 SOFTWARESETUP
For Windows 10 and Linux, the USB Driverswill be installed automatically.  For other Windows
operationsystems,weneedtoinstalltheUSBdriver.
2.1 ApplicationSoftware
LotusprogrammableBlockUp/DownConverterdoesnotneedtoinstallanysoftware.Lotus
providesanexecutable(WindowsCertifiedProgram)fileBUDC.exetodownloadonourwebsite.
Usercanaddshotcuttothisexecutableprogramonthedesktopinordertoquicklyaccessthis
controlprogram.
3 USINGLOTUSBUDCGUI
AllLOTUSBUDCmodelssharethesameGUIinterfacetoalloweasycontrol.Tostarttheprogram,
doubleclickBUDCiconandgetstarted!
3.1 StartingtheBUDCGUI
3.1.1 Startup Screen
When the BUDC GUI is started, it will show the connect options to allow user to choose
USB Serial Com Port or Ethernet Control.
Figure 1. BUDC Startup Screen
3.1.2 USB Serial Com Port
LOTUS BUDC are driver-less USB HID compatible device that uses virtual serial com
port as an interface to user control. After user click OK button to select USB Serial Com
Port, the USB Serial Port Configuration Screen will pop up to show the available LOTUS
USB device to choose. Figure 2 show an example USB Serial Port Configuration Screen
that has two Lotus USB BUDC Devices.
When the available USB BUDC device is shown, it will list the BUDC Part Number, Serial
Number and what Com port is connected.
For example, the selected BUDC in Figure 2 shows BUDC with PN: BUDC2G14G with
SN: 211201 and is connected to COM36.
After user selects the BUDC and click OK, the BUDC Control GUI will show in Figure 3.
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Figure 2. BUDC USB Serial Port Configuration Screen
Figure 3. BUDC Control GUI
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3.2 ControlBUDCwithGUIProgram
The main screen of the BUDC control GUI will appear after user selects the desired BUDC
on COM port. In this section, we will illustrate how to use GUI to control BUDC. Figure 4
shows a GUI for control of BUDC2G14G.
Figure 4. BUDC Main GUI Screen
1
2
3
4
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3.3 MainGUIScreenFunctions:
#NameDescriptions
1LO Frequency Set LO Frequency
2LO Frequency Step Size Set LO Frequency Step Size
3SCPI Command Window Allows user input SCPI command to directly control the BUDC
4File Dropdown Menu This allows user to select Dropdown Menu to Change the Device or
clear the SCPI command window
4 SCPICOMMANDWINDOW
LOTUS Programmable BUDC GUI also provides a SCPI Command Window for direct
communication with BUDC using LOTUS simplified SCPI commands or full name
commands.
Figure 5. LOTUS SCPI Command Window GUI
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Figure 5 shows an example SCPI Command Window GUI. Figure 5 shows a “*IDN?”
command was sent to BUDC and BUDC response with the Manufacture Name (LOTUS),
Part Number (BUC3G6G), Serial Number (212501) and Firmware Version (v21.07.10).
User can clear command window by select File->Clear Terminal.
5 SCPICOMMAND
The following SCPI command can be typed through many tools. The example tools are:
Keysight Connection Expert
Putty
Tera Terminal
#NameDescriptionsExampleResponse
1*IDN? Identity LOTUS,BUDC2G14G,211201,v21.02.17
2FREQ? Query LO Frequency 5.5e+09 (5.5GHz). Equivalent
command “FQ”
3FREQ 5.5GHz Set LO Frequency to 5.5GHz Equivalent command “FQ?”
4SAVE Save settings to Flash. Power
up will retrieve saved settings.
NA
5PRESET Set the LO Frequency to Preset
Frequency
BUC3G6G: LO Frequency 6.5GHz
BUDC2G14G: LO Frequency 6GHz
BUDC3G20G: LO Frequency 10GHz
6LOCK? Query PLL Lock Status.
1: Lock 0: Unlock
1 (Lock)
7PWR 31 Set LO Power Level to 31 NA
8PWR? Query LO Power Level 31
9TEMP? Query PCB Board Temperature 33 (C°)
The “*IDN?” command will list product company (LOTUS), product name
(BUDC2G14G), Serial Number (211201) and firmware version (v21.02.17).
Please note that Command 7 (PWR 31) is only used for debugging and troubleshooting.
The Internal LO power level is automatically set for the up/down converter operation.
Please note that Command “TEMP?” is not available before Firmware v21.07.10. A
Temperature sensor is added to the PCB board after Firmware v21.07.10.
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5.1 SCPICommandusingPuTTYSoftware
In this section, we will describe how to use third party software PuTTY to send SCPI
command to BUDC.
When BUDC is connected to Windows PC, it is automatically recognized as Virtual COM
port. Figure 6 shows an example that the COM36 is recognized as the BUDC is connected
to the PC. When the BUDC is disconnected from PC, the COM36 will disappear.
Figure 6. Virtual COM Port for BUDC (COM36)
Figure 7 shows the default Serial Port Configuration window. BUDC Virtual COM port
will use default Putty setting for communication. If you prefer Local Echo (you can see
your typed SCPI command on the terminal) and Line Editing (you can edit the command),
please refer to Figure 8. Figure 9 shows an example PuTTY command window and results
from SCPI commands using COM36.
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Figure 7. Putty Serial Port Configuration Window
Figure 8. Putty Serial Port Local Echo and Line Editing Option
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Figure 9. Example PuTTY terminal window on COM36
6 FIRMWAREUPDATE
LOTUS Block up/Down Converters feature an improved bootloader that makes it easier
than ever to update firmware onto the BUDC. Instead of need drivers or a separate
program for flashing new firmware (Jlink or others), user can simply drag a file onto a
removable drive.
The first step to upload the Firmware is to triggering bootloader in the BUDC. It is easily
done by double tapping the reset button when the BUDC is powered by USB-C. In order
to do this, the user will have to open the BUDC to expose the Reset Button on PCB board.
Once the bootloader on BUDC is active you will see the BUDC Device will be re-installed
into Operation system as a removable drive. The installation is automatic. The new drive
will appear on your computer as LOTUSBOOT.
Figure 10. LOTUSBOOT Drive
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Figure 11. LOTUSBOOT Drive File List
Once the bootloader is successfully connected you can open the drive and browse the
virtual file system. It should have three files:
CURRENT.UF2 - The current contents of the microcontroller flash.
INDEX.HTM - Links to Microsoft MakeCode.
INFO_UF2.TXT - Includes bootloader version info.
To update new Firmware, simply drag the new UF2 file onto the drive. After the file is
finished copying, the bootloader will automatically restart. This usually causes a warning
about an unsafe eject of the drive. However, it is not a problem. The bootloader knows
when everything is copied successfully. You may get an alert from the OS that the file is
being copied without its properties. You can just click Yes.
You may also get a complaint that the drive was ejected without warning. Don't worry
about this. The drive only ejects once the bootloader has verified and completed the process
of writing the new code.
After dragging the new UF2 file and the firmware is updated!
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Revision Notes:
Version Date Comments
A 06/14/2021 First Full Version for Release.
B 07/06/2021 Add Temperature Sensor SCPI Command
C 07/12/2021 Add modifications for BUC3G6G
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References:
[1]. Keysight E8257D/67D & E8663D PSG Signal Generators
[2]. Standard Commands for Programmable Instruments (SCPI) 1993.0.
[3]. Lotus Digital Step Attenuator SCPI Command Manual
/