Measurement USB-1408FS User Manual

USB-1208FS-Plus

Document Revision 4
November 2014
© Copyright 2014

User's Guide

Analog and Digital I/O

HM USB-1208FS-Plus.docx

Your new Measurement Computing product comes with a fantastic extra —

Management committed to your satisfaction!

Thank you for choosing a Measurement Computing product—and congratulations! You own the finest, and you can now enjoy
the protection of the most comprehensive warranties and unmatched phone tech support. It’s the embodiment of our mission:

 To provide data acquisition hardware and software that will save time and save money.

Simple installations minimize the time between setting up your system and actually making measurements. We offer quick and
simple access to outstanding live FREE technical support to help integrate MCC products into a DAQ system.

Limited Lifetime Warranty: Most MCC products are covered by a limited lifetime warranty against defects in materials or
workmanship for the life of the product, to the original purchaser, unless otherwise noted. Any products found to be defective in
material or workmanship will be repaired, replaced with same or similar device, or refunded at MCC’s discretion. For specific
information, please refer to the terms and conditions of sale.

Harsh Environment Program: Any Measurement Computing product that is damaged due to misuse, or any reason, may be
eligible for replacement with the same or similar device for 50% of the current list price. I/O boards face some harsh
environments, some harsher than the boards are designed to withstand. Contact MCC to determine your product’s eligibility for
this program.

30 Day Money-Back Guarantee: Any Measurement Computing Corporation product may be returned within 30 days of
purchase for a full refund of the price paid for the product being returned. If you are not satisfied, or chose the wrong product by
mistake, you do not have to keep it.

These warranties are in lieu of all other warranties, expressed or implied, including any implied warranty of merchantability or

fitness for a particular application. The remedies provided herein are the buyer’s sole and exclusive remedies. Neither

Measurement Computing Corporation, nor its employees shall be liable for any direct or indirect, special, incidental or
consequential damage arising from the use of its products, even if Measurement Computing Corporation has been notified in
advance of the possibility of such damages.

Trademark and Copyright Information

Measurement Computing Corporation, InstaCal, Universal Library, and the Measurement Computing logo are either trademarks
or registered trademarks of Measurement Computing Corporation. Refer to the Copyrights & Trademarks section on

mccdaq.com/legal for more information about Measurement Computing trademarks. Other product and company names

mentioned herein are trademarks or trade names of their respective companies.
© 2014 Measurement Computing Corporation. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a

retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form by any means, electronic, mechanical, by photocopying, recording, or otherwise
without the prior written permission of Measurement Computing Corporation.

Notice

Measurement Computing Corporation does not authorize any Measurement Computing Corporation product for use
in life support systems and/or devices without prior written consent from Measurement Computing Corporation.
Life support devices/systems are devices or systems that, a) are intended for surgical implantation into the body, or
b) support or sustain life and whose failure to perform can be reasonably expected to result in injury. Measurement
Computing Corporation products are not designed with the components required, and are not subject to the testing
required to ensure a level of reliability suitable for the treatment and diagnosis of people.

Table of Contents

Preface

About this User's Guide ....................................................................................................................... 5

What you will learn from this user's guide ......................................................................................................... 5

Conventions in this user's guide ......................................................................................................................... 5

Where to find more information ......................................................................................................................... 5

Chapter 1

Introducing the USB-1208FS-Plus ....................................................................................................... 6

Functional block diagram ................................................................................................................................... 6

Chapter 2

Installing the USB-1208FS-Plus ........................................................................................................... 7

What comes with your shipment? ....................................................................................................................... 7

Hardware .......................................................................................................................................................................... 7

Software ............................................................................................................................................................................ 7

Documentation ................................ ................................................................ ................................................................ .. 7

Unpacking........................................................................................................................................................... 7

Installing the software ........................................................................................................................................ 7

Installing the hardware ....................................................................................................................................... 7

Calibrating the hardware..................................................................................................................................... 8

Chapter 3

Functional Details ................................................................................................................................. 9

Analog input acquisition modes ......................................................................................................................... 9

Software paced .................................................................................................................................................................. 9

Hardware paced ................................................................................................................................................................ 9

External components ........................................................................................................................................ 10

USB connector .................................................................................................................................................................10

LED .................................................................................................................................................................................10

Screw terminals................................................................................................................................................................10

Signal connections ............................................................................................................................................ 12

Analog input ....................................................................................................................................................................12

Analog output ..................................................................................................................................................................14

Digital I/O ........................................................................................................................................................................15

Counter input ...................................................................................................................................................................16

External trigger input .......................................................................................................................................................16

SYNC I/O ........................................................................................................................................................................16

Power output ....................................................................................................................................................................16

Ground ................................................................................................................................................................ .............16

Accuracy ........................................................................................................................................................... 16

Synchronized operations ................................................................................................................................ ... 19

Power ................................................................................................................................................................ 19

Mechanical drawings ................................................................................................................................ ........ 20

Chapter 4

Specifications ...................................................................................................................................... 21

Analog input ..................................................................................................................................................... 21

Accuracy ..........................................................................................................................................................................22

Noise performance ...........................................................................................................................................................22

Analog output ................................................................................................................................................... 23

Digital input/output........................................................................................................................................... 23

External trigger ................................................................................................................................ ................. 24

External clock input/output............................................................................................................................... 24

3

USB-1208FS-Plus User's Guide

Counter ............................................................................................................................................................. 25

Memory ............................................................................................................................................................ 25

Microcontroller ................................................................................................................................................. 25

Power ................................................................................................................................................................ 25

General ............................................................................................................................................................. 26

Environmental .................................................................................................................................................. 26

Mechanical ....................................................................................................................................................... 26

Signal connector ............................................................................................................................................... 26

Differential mode pinout ..................................................................................................................................................27

Single-ended mode pinout ...............................................................................................................................................27

Declaration of Conformity .................................................................................................................. 28

4

About this User's Guide

What you will learn from this user's guide

This user's guide describes the Measurement Computing USB-1208FS-Plus data acquisition device and lists
device specifications.

Conventions in this user's guide

For more information

Text presented in a box signifies additional information and helpful hints related to the subject matter.
Caution! Shaded caution statements present information to help you avoid injuring yourself and others,

damaging your hardware, or losing your data.

bold text Bold text is used for the names of objects on a screen, such as buttons, text boxes, and check boxes.

italic text Italic text is used for the names of manuals and help topic titles, and to emphasize a word or phrase.

Preface

Where to find more information

Additional information about USB-1208FS-Plus hardware is available on our website at www.mccdaq.com.
You can also contact Measurement Computing Corporation with specific questions.

 Knowledgebase: kb.mccdaq.com
 Tech support form: www.mccdaq.com/support/support_form.aspx
 Email: [e-mail]
 Phone: [phone] and follow the instructions for reaching Tech Support

For international customers, contact your local distributor. Refer to the International Distributors section on our
website at www.mccdaq.com/International.

5

Chapter 1

Introducing the USB-1208FS-Plus

The USB-1208FS-Plus is an analog input and digital I/O data acquisition device that provides the following
features:

 Eight analog input channels that are software configurable for either eight 11-bit single-ended inputs or

four 12-bit differential inputs

 Two 12-bit analog output channels
 16 digital I/O channels that are independently-selectable as input or output in two 8-bit ports
 32-bit event counter input for counting TTL pulses
 External digital trigger input
 Bidirectional terminal for external clocking or multi-unit synchronization
 Screw terminals for field wiring connections

The device is powered by the +5 V USB supply from the computer. No external power is required.

Functional block diagram

Device functions are illustrated in the block diagram shown here.

Figure 1. USB-1208FS-Plus functional block diagram

6

Installing the USB-1208FS-Plus

What comes with your shipment?

Verify that the following hardware components are included in the shipment.

Hardware

 USB-1208FS-Plus
 USB cable

Software

MCC DAQ CD

Documentation

 MCC DAQ Quick Start

The MCC DAQ Quick Start booklet provides an overview of the MCC DAQ software you received with
the device, and includes information about installing the software. Please read this booklet completely
before installing any software or hardware.

 DAQami Quick Start

The DAQami Quick Start insert provides information about the DAQami advanced data logging
application, including a quick start procedure and quick reference guide.

Chapter 2

Unpacking

As with any electronic device, you should take care while handling to avoid damage from static
electricity. Before removing the device from its packaging, ground yourself using a wrist strap or by simply
touching the computer chassis or other grounded object to eliminate any stored static charge.

Contact us immediately if any components are missing or damaged.

Installing the software

Refer to the MCC DAQ Quick Start for instructions on installing the software on the MCC DAQ CD. Refer to
the device product page on the Measurement Computing website for information about the included and
optional software supported by the USB-1208FS-Plus.

Install the software before you install your device

The driver needed to run the USB-1208FS-Plus is installed with the software. Therefore, you need to install the
software package you plan to use before you install the hardware.

For operation on a Windows operating system, we recommend that you run Windows Update to update your
operating system with the latest USB drivers.

Installing the hardware

To connect the device to your system, turn on your computer and connect the USB cable to an available USB
port on the computer or to an externally powered USB hub connected to the computer. Connect the other end of
the USB cable to the USB connector on the device. No external power is required.

When connected for the first time, a Found New Hardware dialog opens when the operating system detects the
device. When the dialog box closes, the installation is complete. The LED turns on after the device is
successfully installed.

7

USB-1208FS-Plus User's Guide Installing the USB-1208FS-Plus

Caution! Do not disconnect any device from the USB bus while the computer is communicating with the

device, or you may lose data and/or your ability to communicate with the device.

If the LED turns off

If the LED is on but then turns off, the computer has lost communication with the device. To restore
communication, disconnect the USB cable from the computer and then reconnect it. This should restore
communication, and the LED should turn on.

Calibrating the hardware

The Measurement Computing Manufacturing Test department performs the initial factory calibration. Return
the device to Measurement Computing Corporation when calibration is required. The recommended calibration
interval is one year.

The USB-1208FS-Plus does not support field calibration.

8

# channels

scanned

Sample rate

(kS/s)

1

50 2 25 3 16.70

4

12.50 5 10 6 8.30 7 7.14 8 6.25

Chapter 3

Functional Details

Analog input acquisition modes

The USB-1208FS-Plus can acquire analog input data in either software paced or hardware paced mode.

Software paced

The USB-1208FS-Plus acquires data one analog sample at a time using software paced mode. You initiate the
A/D conversion by calling a software command. The analog value is converted to digital and returned to the
computer. You can repeat this procedure until you have the total number of samples that you want.

The maximum sample rate in software-paced mode is system-dependent.

Hardware paced

The USB-1208FS-Plus can acquire data from up to eight channels using hardware-paced mode. The analog data
is acquired and converted to digital values until you stop the scan. Data is transferred in blocks of 32 samples
from the device to the memory buffer on your computer.

The A/D converter is paced by either an internal or external clock source.
The maximum sample rate is an aggregate rate. The total sample rate for all channels cannot exceed 50 kS/s.

The following table lists the sample rate when scanning from one to eight channels.

Maximum per channel sample rate

You can start a hardware-paced scan with a software command. Optionally, hardware-paced scans can be
delayed by an external hardware trigger event.

9