TSP1 Dev Kit User Guide

Introduction

Congratulations on receiving your Time Series Processor 1 (TSP1) development kit! We have worked hard to make sure that your experience is the best that it can be.

The TSP1 development kit comes preloaded with an English automatic speech recognition (ASR) state space model (SSM) that highlights the TSP1’s principal advantages:

• Fully on-device processing

• Real-time data stream management

• High transcription accuracy

• Extremely low power

• Low latency

Power can be measured directly to verify power consumption in real usage scenarios.

TSP1 Development Kit PCBA

Support and Resources

For software downloads and other resources for your TSP1 dev kit, please visit our developer portal.

If you encounter an issue during your use of the TSP1 development kit, please reach out to us through our support form.

Hardware Overview

The TSP1 development kit provides a complete platform for evaluating and developing with the TSP1 accelerator chip. This section details the board components, interfaces, and specifications.

Board Layout and Components

The development board features the following key components:

TSP1 Chip: The AI accelerator chip.

STM32 Microcontroller: Handles board management and interfaces with the host system.

USB-C/5V Connector: Provides power and data from host system.

Onboard Microphones: Two integrated microphones for audio input testing.

Headphone Jack: 3.5 mm jack for audio output testing.

LED Indicators: Status LEDs provide visual feedback on board state.

LED	Reference	Color	Indication
TSP1_ON	D24	Green	VDD supply is active
TSP1_CORE	D38	Green	Core VDD is active
3V3	D25	Green	3.3 V regulator is active
HOST_SPI	D26	Orange	SPI bus activity (flashes during communication)

All four LEDs should be illuminated during normal operation, with HOST_SPI flashing when the board communicates with the TSP1 chip.

Connectors and Interfaces

J2 - USB-C Power Input

The USB-C port (J2) is the primary interface for power and communication with the host computer. This is the only connection required for normal operation.

J8 - TSP1 Programmable I/O Pins

The J8 header provides access to the TSP1’s programmable I/O pins. To connect PCBA components to the TSP1, install a jumper to short the pins as listed in the table below. To connect other I/O devices to the TSP1, install a jumper wire directly to the left (even-numbered) header pins.

TSP1 Signal	J8 Header Pins	Function	Jumpered by default	Description
TSP1_PIO_0	1-2	TSP1_MIC_CLK	Y	PDM clock for microphones
TSP1_PIO_1	3-4	TSP1_MIC_D0	Y	PDM data input, stereo L & R
TSP1_PIO_2	5-6	TSP1_MIC_D1	N	PDM data input
TSP1_PIO_3	7-8	TSP1_MIC_D2	N	PDM data input
TSP1_PIO_4	9-10	TSP1_MIC_D3	N	PDM data input
TSP1_PIO_5	11-12	DAC_DIN	Y	I2S audio data out
TSP1_PIO_6	13-14	DAC_FSYNC	Y	I2S word select out
TSP1_PIO_7	15-16	DAC_BCLK	Y	I2S bit clock out
TSP1_PIO_8	17-18	TSP1_UART_TX	N	UART transmit (alternative: I2C data)
TSP1_PIO_9	19-20	TSP1_UART_RX	N	UART receive (alternative: I2C clock)

The default configuration connects the TSP1 to the onboard PDM microphones for audio input and the onboard DAC and amplifier through I2S for audio output.

J9 - TSP1 Host Interface

The J9 header provides access to the TSP1 chip’s host interface. To connect to the onboard STM32 controller, all pin groups below must be shorted with jumpers. To connect to an off-board controller, remove all jumpers and install jumper wires between an SPI bus initiator and the right (odd-numbered) header pins.

Signal Name	J9 Header Pins	Jumpered by default	Description
TSP1_CLK	1-2	Y	Host SPI clock
TSP1_CS	3-4	Y	Host SPI chip select
TSP1_MISO	5-6	Y	Host SPI data in (from TSP1)
TSP1_MOSI	7-8	Y	Host SPI data out (to TSP1)
TSP1_WAKE	9-10	Y	Wake signal to TSP1
TSP1_INTB	11-12	Y	Interrupt from TSP1 (active low)

J10 - Main Power Measurement

The J10 jumper allows you to measure the TSP1 chip’s power consumption. See Measuring Power Consumption for the measurement protocol.

Configuration	J10 Pins 1-2	Description
Normal Operation	Shorted (default)	TSP1 receives power (1.8 V, 3.3 V) from the board
Power Measurement	Open	Insert low-impedance ammeter between pins to measure current

Warning

Always remove the USB cable providing power before removing or installing jumpers on J10.

J11 - Audio Output

The J11 connector provides audio output for connecting headphones. The onboard audio DAC and amplifier drive this output.

Note

The output requires a load impedance of at most 10 kΩ. Low-impedance speakers (4–8 Ω) draw more current than the amplifier is designed to provide. High-impedance line-level inputs are not supported.

Caution

When plugging in an audio cable, hold the headphone jack to avoid stressing the solder connection to the PCBA.

U6 and U7 - Onboard Microphones

The board includes two MEMS PDM (Pulse Density Modulation) microphones for stereo audio input:

• U6: Right channel microphone

• U7: Left channel microphone

These microphones connect to TSP1_PIO_0 (clock) and TSP1_PIO_1 (data) via the J8 header. They are used for automatic speech recognition (ASR) applications and testing.

Configuration Jumpers

The board includes several configuration jumpers for advanced usage scenarios. The default settings support ASR and TTS applications.

J3 - STM32 Reflash Mode (VCC_BOOT0)

The J3 jumper controls the boot mode of the onboard STM32 microcontroller, allowing firmware updates.

Configuration	J3 Pins 1-2	STM32 Boot Mode
Normal Operation (default)	Open	Boot from internal flash (normal operation)
Reflash Mode	Shorted	Boot from USB (firmware update mode)

To reflash STM32 firmware:

1. Install a jumper block on J3 (short pins 1-2)

2. Connect the board to your computer via USB

3. Use STM32 programming tools to upload new firmware

4. Remove the jumper block from J3

5. Press the MCU Reset button (SW1) or power cycle the board

The STM32 will now run the new firmware.

Warning

Only reflash the STM32 firmware if instructed to do so. Incorrect firmware will render the board non-functional.

J16 - I/O Power Selection (1.8 V vs 3.3 V)

The J16 jumper selects the I/O voltage level for the TSP1 chip and peripheral components (microphones, DAC).

Configuration	J16 Pins 1-2	Description
1.8 V (default)	Open	TSP1 I/O powered at 1.8 V (standard operation)
3.3 V	Shorted	TSP1 I/O powered at 3.3 V (for 3.3 V peripherals)

Default: Open (1.8 V operation)

Note

Voltage level affects the power consumption of the TSP1. For lowest power consumption, use the default 1.8 V configuration.

When to change: Only modify this setting if you are connecting external 3.3 V peripherals that are incompatible with 1.8 V signaling. The onboard microphones and DAC support both voltage levels.

Warning

Changing the I/O voltage may affect compatibility with onboard components. Ensure all connected peripherals support the selected voltage level before making changes.

Buttons and Switches

SW1 - MCU Reset Button

The SW1 button resets the onboard STM32 microcontroller and the TSP1 chip.

Power and Thermal

Power Requirements

The TSP1 development board is powered via USB-C (J2) and requires:

• Input voltage: 5 V DC via USB-C

• Typical current: Varies by workload (see power measurement section)

• Maximum current: Depends on TSP1 activity and peripheral usage

No external power supply is required. A standard USB-C cable and port provide sufficient power for all board operations.

Thermal Considerations

The board operates within standard commercial temperature ranges:

• Operating temperature: 0 °C to 70 °C ambient

• Storage temperature: −20 °C to 85 °C

The TSP1 chip and STM32 microcontroller are designed for natural convection cooling. No active cooling (fans, heatsinks) is required for normal operation.

Measuring Power Consumption

You can measure the TSP1 chip’s power consumption using the J10 probe point.

Note

The J10 probe point measures TSP1 chip power consumption, which is the relevant figure for system integration. Measuring current draw at the USB connection will show higher values due to losses in the board’s linear voltage regulators.

Equipment needed:

• Multimeter with current measurement capability (up to 500 mA range recommended)

• Jumper wires or current probe

• Optional: Oscilloscope for dynamic power measurements

Procedure:

1. Power down the board: Disconnect the USB-C cable

2. Remove the J10 jumper: Take out the jumper block from J10 (pins 1-2)

3. Connect ammeter: Connect your ammeter between J10 pins 1 and 2

   • Pin 1: Power supply from regulators

   • Pin 2: Power to TSP1 chip

   • Set ammeter to DC current mode (200–500 mA range)

4. Power up: Connect the USB-C cable to power on the board

5. Measure current: Read current consumption from your ammeter

   • Idle: TSP1 in low-power state

   • Active: TSP1 processing audio (ASR) or generating audio (TTS)

   • Peak: Maximum current during intensive operations

6. Calculate power: Measure voltage across the TSP1 power pins (typically 1.8 V core, 1.8 V/3.3 V I/O)

   • Power (mW) = Voltage (V) × Current (mA)

7. Power down and restore jumper: When finished, disconnect USB-C, remove ammeter, and reinstall the J10 jumper block

Warning

Always disconnect the USB cable before removing or installing the J10 jumper. Operating the board with J10 open (no jumper or ammeter) will prevent the TSP1 from receiving power.

Command Line Interface

This section describes the TSP Command Line Interface (CLI) application and how it is used to interact with the development board.

System Requirements

The TSP CLI application runs on a wide range of operating systems and has negligible system requirements.

	Windows[1]	macOS[2]	Linux[3]
x86[4] (32 bit)	✔		✔
x86_64 (64 bit)	✔	✔	✔
Arm[5] (Armv6 or later; 32 bit)			✔
Arm64 (Armv8 or later; 64 bit)		✔	✔

Installation and Setup

Windows

1. Right-click the downloaded .zip file in Windows Explorer and select “Extract All…”

2. Choose an extraction location (creates folder tsp-cli-<version>)

3. Open Command Prompt: Press Windows + R, type cmd.exe, press Enter

4. Navigate to the extracted folder using cd

5. Run tsp-cli info to verify installation

Note

The TSP CLI is compatible with PowerShell, but these instructions target the cmd.exe shell.

macOS

1. Double-click the downloaded .tar.xz file to extract it

2. Extraction creates folder tsp-cli-<version> in the same location

3. Open Terminal.app from Applications > Utilities

4. Navigate to the extracted folder using cd

5. Run ./tsp-cli info to verify installation

Note

On macOS the ./ prefix is required unless the CLI location is added to the PATH environment variable.

Linux

1. Extract the downloaded .tar.xz file using your file manager

2. Open a terminal emulator (typically found as “Terminal” in applications)

3. Navigate to the extracted folder using cd

4. Run ./tsp-cli info to verify installation

Note

On Linux the ./ prefix is required unless the CLI location is added to the PATH environment variable.

Using the TSP CLI

The TSP CLI provides comprehensive built-in documentation. Use tsp-cli --help to display available commands, and tsp-cli <command> --help for detailed information on specific commands.

Command Structure

Commands follow this general structure:

tsp-cli [global-options] <command> [command-options] [arguments]

• Global options (e.g., -v for verbose) precede the command

• Command options (e.g., --help) follow the command

• Single-dash options are single letters (-v), double-dash options are words (--verbose)

Example Usage

Display TSP connection information:

tsp-cli info

Get help for the asr command:

tsp-cli asr --help

Command Reference

Use tsp-cli <command> --help for complete documentation.

tsp-cli asr - Automatic Speech Recognition

Streams English text from the TSP1 automatic speech recognition (ASR) model to the command line. Use the --causal option for lower latency (120 ms) at the cost of reduced accuracy, or the default non-causal mode for higher quality with ~1 second streaming latency.

tsp-cli info - Connection Information

Connects to the TSP1 and displays network information as JSON, including TSP ID, firmware version, and operational status.

Safety and Handling

Electrostatic Discharge Protection

Discharge static electricity from your body before handling the TSP1 development board by wearing an ESD wrist wrap or touching a grounded metal surface. Store the board in an anti-static bag or ESD-safe container when not in use

Handling Procedures

• Do not handle the board while it is powered

• Support the board when connecting cables and installing jumpers

• Keep the board in protective packaging until ready for use

Operating Environment

The board contains MEMS microphones that are sensitive to certain conditions.

• Do not clean the board with an ultrasonic cleaner

• Avoid exposing the microphones to direct airflow or high-pressure air

Shipping

Retain the original packaging in case you need to return the board to ABR.

If you need to ship the board and no longer have the original packaging:

• Place the board in an anti-static bag

• Use foam or padding to prevent movement during transit

• Label the outer package with an ESD warning

Troubleshooting

Quick Reference

Error Code	Description	Section
ERR_IO_DRIVER	Cannot detect TSP USB Bridge device	Connection Issues
ERR_INIT	Cannot communicate with TSP1 chip	Connection Issues

CLI Issues

The command line window does not stay open

When starting tsp-cli, the application window opens briefly and immediately closes.

Cause: The tsp-cli executable is being launched by double-clicking it in a graphical file explorer (Explorer on Windows, Finder on macOS).

Solution: Launch tsp-cli from a command line window. See Installation and Setup for OS-specific instructions.

Connection Issues

ERR_IO_DRIVER: Could not auto-connect to the TSP

The following error appears when running any tsp-cli command:

[ERROR] Could not auto-connect to the TSP. Double-check that the development board is connected to your computer and recognized as a virtual serial port by the operating system.
[ERROR] Please see the 'TSP1 Development Kit User Guide' for detailed troubleshooting information. (Error code: `ERR_IO_DRIVER`)

Auto-detection of the TSP USB Bridge has failed.

Cause 1: Development board not connected, or USB port/cable is non-functional.

Solution 1.1: Verify the board is connected to your computer. Try a different USB cable and/or port.

Solution 1.2: Verify the TSP USB Bridge is recognized by your OS and manually specify the serial port.

Windows:

1. Open Device Manager (Windows + R, type devmgmt.msc, press Enter)

2. In the Ports (COM & LPT) section, locate “USB Serial Device (COMx)”

3. Double-click the device, navigate to Details tab

4. Select “Bus reported device description” from the Property dropdown

5. Verify the value shows “TSP USB Bridge”

Note the COM port name (e.g., COM3). When running tsp-cli, add -Userial://COMx after tsp-cli and before the subcommand:

tsp-cli -Userial://COM3 info

Linux:

1. In a terminal, run dmesg -w (or sudo dmesg -w if you see “Operation not permitted”)

2. Unplug the board, wait until the LEDs go out, then reconnect it

3. Look for output similar to:

   [ 2930.625878] usb 3-4: new high-speed USB device number 12 using xhci_hcd
   [ 2930.749618] usb 3-4: New USB device found, idVendor=0483, idProduct=5740, bcdDevice= 2.00
   [ 2930.749636] usb 3-4: New USB device strings: Mfr=1, Product=2, SerialNumber=3
   [ 2930.749640] usb 3-4: Product: TSP USB Bridge
   [ 2930.749641] usb 3-4: Manufacturer: Applied Brain Research
   [ 2930.749643] usb 3-4: SerialNumber: ABR_94AB1P1050004100
   [ 2930.777129] cdc_acm 3-4:1.0: ttyACM0: USB ACM device
   [ 2930.777148] usbcore: registered new interface driver cdc_acm
   [ 2930.777149] cdc_acm: USB Abstract Control Model driver for USB modems and ISDN adapters
   

4. Note the device name in the line starting with cdc_acm (e.g., ttyACM0)

5. Close the dmesg window

When running tsp-cli, add -Userial:///dev/ttyACMx after tsp-cli and before the subcommand (note the three slashes):

./tsp-cli -Userial:///dev/ttyACM0 info

Cause 2: Outdated operating system lacking CDC ACM virtual serial port driver (e.g., Windows versions before Windows 10).

Solution 2: Use a supported operating system. See System Requirements.

ERR_INIT: Could not establish a connection with the TSP

The following error appears after tsp-cli attempts to communicate with the TSP1:

[ERROR] EventLoop: Too many retries. Giving up.
[ERROR] Could not establish a connection with the TSP. Please ensure that the development board USB bridge firmware is up-to-date, and double-check your SPI wiring or development board jumper configurations. (Error code: `ERR_INIT`)

The TSP USB Bridge was detected, but communication with the TSP1 chip has failed.

Cause 1: Jumper connections on header J9 (between STM32 and TSP1) have been removed.

Solution 1: Power off the board by disconnecting USB. Verify all 6 jumper blocks on header J9 are installed (pins 1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-8, 9-10, 11-12). Reconnect and retry.

Cause 2: TSP1 is not powered.

Solution 2: Power off the board. Verify the jumper on J10 is installed (pins 1-2 shorted). Check that the LED indicators show:

• TSP1_ON (green) - illuminated

• TSP1_CORE (green) - illuminated

• 3V3 (green) - illuminated

If the LEDs are not lit, there may be a power supply issue. Try a different USB cable or USB port. Reconnect and retry.

Cause 3: TSP USB Bridge firmware is outdated.

Solution 3: Navigate to our developer portal in a web browser: appliedbrainresearch.com/developer. Follow instructions there to update to the latest firmware.

Performance Issues

Poor transcription quality in the ASR application

The automatic speech recognition (ASR) application misses words/sentences or produces unreadable output.

Cause 1: Speech volume too high or low, microphones obstructed or otherwise not able to record clear speech.

Solution 1: Speak 40–60 cm from the board at natural conversational volume. Face the microphones (U6 and U7) on the board. Speaking too close (<10 cm) causes distortion; speaking too far (>2 m) or facing away reduces clarity.

Cause 2: Excessive ambient noise or direct airflow on microphones.

Solution 2: Speak in a quiet environment. The onboard microphones are omnidirectional and unprotected, making them sensitive to background noise (other voices, fans, machinery) and direct airflow.

Cause 3: Running in low-latency “causal” mode.

Solution 3: Remove the --causal parameter to run in higher-latency “non-causal” mode for improved accuracy.

Cause 4: Speaking a language different from the pre-programmed ASR model.

Solution 4: TSP1 Dev Kit boards are pre-provisioned with an English ASR model. Speaking other languages will not produce recognizable output.

Glossary of Terms

ASR

Automatic Speech Recognition. The process of converting spoken language into text.

Causal mode

An ASR processing mode that uses only current and past audio data for speech inference, resulting in lower latency (120 ms) but reduced accuracy.

DAC

Digital-to-Analog Converter. A component that converts digital audio signals into analog signals. The TSP1 development board comes with an I2S DAC chip with integrated amplifier for driving headphones.

Development kit

The TSP1 development board (PCBA) with integrated USB interface, microphones, and supporting components.

ESD

Electrostatic Discharge. The sudden flow of electricity between two electrically charged objects, which can damage sensitive electronic components.

I2S

Inter-Integrated Circuit Sound. A serial bus interface standard for connecting digital audio devices, used for transmitting audio data from the TSP1 to the DAC.

Jumper

A small connector that bridges two pins on a circuit board header to configure hardware settings or connect board components.

Latency

The delay between input to a system and the corresponding output.

Multimeter

An electronic measuring instrument that can measure voltage, current, and resistance.

Non-causal mode

An ASR processing mode that incorporates approximately 1 second of future audio data as context for speech inference, resulting in higher accuracy at the cost of increased latency.

PCBA

Printed Circuit Board Assembly. A circuit board with electronic components mounted on it.

PDM

Pulse Density Modulation. A digital encoding method used by the MEMS microphones on the TSP1 dev kit to transmit audio data as a high-frequency pulse stream.

PIO

Programmable I/O. Configurable input/output pins on the TSP1 chip.

Power rail

A voltage supply line that distributes power to components on the circuit board.

SPI

Serial Peripheral Interface. A synchronous serial communication protocol used for communication between the STM32 microcontroller and the TSP1 chip.

STM32

The onboard STM32 microcontroller that manages the USB interface and communication between the host computer and the TSP1 chip.

SSM

State Space Model. A class of machine learning models for processing sequential data.

TSP USB Bridge

Firmware running on the STM32 that enables communication between the host computer and the TSP1 chip.

TSP1

Time Series Processor 1, an accelerator chip designed to efficiently process time-series data in real-time. The TSP1 is a co-processor intended to be paired with an application processor in most deployments.

---

[1]

Windows 10 update 1903 or later.

[2]

macOS 12 or later.

[3]

Linux kernel 2.6.39 or later with USB serial support. USB device auto-detection may not be supported with older kernels. See CLI Issues for manual serial port configuration.

[4]

Requires Pentium Pro or compatible processor.

[5]

Requires hardware floating point support.