LOTUS MAN-00001 Block Up-Down Converter User Manual

June 5, 2024
LOTUS

LOTUS MAN-00001 Block Up-Down Converter

LOTUS-MAN-00001-Block-Up-Down-Converter

INTRODUCTION

Lotus  Software-Defined Block Up/Down Converter (BUDC) User  Manual provides general introduction, installation instructions and operation for Lotus USB programmable Block Up/Down Converters.

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)

| Input 1dB Compression (dB)| Voltage (V)| Current (mA)| PRESET

Freq. (GHZ)

| Control Protocols
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---
BUDC2G14G| 1~12.8| 2~14| 0.5~6| >9| >10| >10| 14| 5~6 or USB-C| 235| 6| USB
BUDC3G20G| 1~20| 3~20| 0.5~9| >9| >10| >10| 16| 5~6 or USB-C| 355| 10| USB
BUC3G6G| 6.5| 3~6| 0.5~3.5| >9| >10| >10| 16| 5~6 or USB-C| 422| 6.5| USB
| | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
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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.

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.

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!

Starting the BUDC GUI

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.LOTUS-MAN-00001-Block-Up-
Down-Converter-1

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.LOTUS-MAN-00001-Block-Up-Down-Converter-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.LOTUS-
MAN-00001-Block-Up-Down-Converter-3

Main GUI Screen Functions:
# Name Descriptions
1 LO Frequency Set LO Frequency
2 LO Frequency Step Size Set LO Frequency Step Size
3 SCPI Command Window Allows user input SCPI command to directly

control the BUDC
4| File Dropdown Menu| This allows user to select Dropdown Menu to Change the Device or clear the SCPI command window

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. LOTUS-MAN-00001-Block-Up-Down-Converter-3

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.

SCPI COMMAND

The following SCPI command can be typed through many tools. The example tools are:

  • Keysight Connection Expert
  • Putty
  • Tera Terminal
# Name Descriptions Example Response
1 *IDN? Identity LOTUS,BUDC2G14G,211201,v21.02.17
2 FREQ? Query LO Frequency 5.5e+09 (5.5GHz). Equivalent command “FQ”
3 FREQ 5.5GHz Set LO Frequency to 5.5GHz Equivalent command “FQ?”
4 SAVE Save settings to Flash. Power up will retrieve saved settings.

NA
5| PRESET| Set the LO Frequency to Preset Frequency| BUC3G6G: LO Frequency 6.5GHz BUDC2G14G: LO Frequency 6GHz

BUDC3G20G: LO Frequency 10GHz

6| LOCK?| Query PLL Lock Status. 1: Lock 0: Unlock| 1 (Lock)
7| PWR 31| Set LO Power Level to 31| NA
8| PWR?| Query LO Power Level| 31
9| TEMP?| 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.

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.LOTUS-MAN-00001-Block-Up-Down-
Converter-5

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. LOTUS-MAN-00001-Block-Up-Down-Converter-6LOTUS-
MAN-00001-Block-Up-Down-Converter-7LOTUS-
MAN-00001-Block-Up-Down-Converter-8

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.LOTUS-
MAN-00001-Block-Up-Down-Converter-9LOTUS-
MAN-00001-Block-Up-Down-Converter-10

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!

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

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

References

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