Texas Instruments BOOSTXL-TUSS4440

Overview

BOOSTXL-TUSS4440 from Texas Instruments is an active, fully assembled BoosterPack™ evaluation module designed to evaluate the TUSS4440 ultrasonic sensor signal conditioner and driver IC in mono-static time-of-flight measurement systems. It integrates the TUSS4440 IC, on-board 3.3-V LDO (TPS7B6933), 40-pin BoosterPack header, ultrasonic transducer terminal block (J2), CFLT/CINN configuration jumpers, and test points for analog/digital signals. It supports 5 V to 36 V external driver voltage (VPWR) and 3.3 V or 5.0 V VDD supply.

For engineers reviewing the BOOSTXL-TUSS4440 datasheet, BOOSTXL-TUSS4440 pinout, BOOSTXL-TUSS4440 application, or BOOSTXL-TUSS4440 equivalent, this EVM provides immediate GUI-driven evaluation of echo envelope capture, time-of-flight calculation, burst timing control, transducer impedance matching, and fault diagnostics - all via SPI/GPIO communication with an MSP430F5529 LaunchPad™ master controller.

Technical Context

The BOOSTXL-TUSS4440 functions as a hardware platform for the TUSS4440 slave device, requiring an external MCU master (e.g., MSP-EXP430F5529LP) for SPI register configuration and GPIO coordination. It implements configurable high-voltage transducer drive (up to 36 V), programmable burst timing, analog front-end signal conditioning, and zero-crossing/echo-interrupt output generation via O3/O4 pins.

Power architecture supports three modes: Standard (USB + external VPWR), USB Only (5 V, ≤100 mA), and External Only (independent 5–36 V MAIN and 3.3/5.0 V VDD). Isolation jumper (J6 Pin 3–4) enables ground commoning between LaunchPad and BoosterPack to suppress MCU-induced noise in high-pass filter measurements.

Key Specifications

Availability

BOOSTXL-TUSS4440 is available at Aetrix Electronics and suitable for ultrasonic flow metering, tank level sensing, proximity detection, and industrial time-of-flight measurement applications requiring stable component supply, rapid prototyping validation, and production-ready reference design fidelity.

Supply support for BOOSTXL-TUSS4440 includes scheduled delivery planning, volume procurement assistance, BOM continuity management, traceable sourcing, and lifecycle availability coordination for OEM customers, industrial embedded developers, connected-device designers, and electronics production programs.

Manufacturer

Texas Instruments is a global semiconductor company specializing in analog, embedded processing, and digital signal technologies for industrial, automotive, and communications markets.

The BOOSTXL-TUSS4440 belongs to TI's ultrasonic sensing evaluation platform family, engineered to accelerate development of robust, low-noise, high-precision time-of-flight systems using the TUSS44x0 analog front-end ICs.

FAQ

Is BOOSTXL-TUSS4440 a standalone product or does it require additional hardware?

BOOSTXL-TUSS4440 is not standalone - it requires an external master MCU, such as the MSP-EXP430F5529LP LaunchPad™, to operate. The BOOSTXL-TUSS4440 acts solely as a slave evaluation platform for the TUSS4440 IC, relying on the master for SPI register writes, GPIO control, and GUI data relay. Without a compatible LaunchPad or alternative SPI-capable controller, the BOOSTXL-TUSS4440 cannot be configured or evaluated.

What software is required to use BOOSTXL-TUSS4440?

The TUSS Generation III EVM GUI (TUSS44x0 EVM GUI) is mandatory for operation of BOOSTXL-TUSS4440. This Windows-based application provides real-time echo envelope visualization, time-of-flight measurement display, register-level configuration, fault diagnostics, and memory mapping. Firmware (tuss44x0-firmware.bat) must first be flashed onto the MSP-EXP430F5529LP, and the GUI must be installed with supporting Visual Basic PowerPacks DLLs in the same directory as the executable.

Can BOOSTXL-TUSS4440 be powered solely by USB?

Yes, BOOSTXL-TUSS4440 supports USB-only power mode where both the MSP-EXP430F5529LP and TUSS4440 are powered from the 5-V USB supply. However, driver current is limited to ≤100 mA in this mode, restricting transducer drive strength. For full-performance evaluation - especially with high-capacitance or high-voltage transducers - TI recommends the External Only power mode using independent 5–36 V MAIN and 3.3/5.0 V VDD supplies.

Does BOOSTXL-TUSS4440 include an ultrasonic transducer?

Yes, BOOSTXL-TUSS4440 includes a pre-mounted ultrasonic transducer optimized for mono-static time-of-flight measurements. The transducer connects directly to the terminal block (J2), and its electrical characteristics (e.g., resonant frequency, capacitance) determine required CFLT and CINN jumper configurations per the user's guide. Transducer replacement is supported via the same J2 interface for custom sensor evaluation.

How is noise between the MSP430F5529 and TUSS4440 managed on BOOSTXL-TUSS4440?

BOOSTXL-TUSS4440 includes a dedicated ground isolation jumper (J6 Pin 3–4) to common the LaunchPad and BoosterPack grounds at the external power supply - a key mitigation for MSP430F5529 switching noise that interferes with high-sensitivity analog measurements. When enabled, this shunt reduces ground loop artifacts during high-pass filter operation and improves echo signal integrity, particularly in low-amplitude or long-distance time-of-flight scenarios.