RedLab 1608FS
USB-based
Analog and Digital I/O Module
User's Guide
Document Revision 1.4 E, January, 2008
© Copyright 2008, Meilhaus Electronic™
Imprint
User’s Guide RedLab® Series
Document Revision 1.4 E
Revision Date: January 2008
Meilhaus Electronic GmbH
Fischerstraße 2
D-82178 Puchheim near Munich, Germany
http://www.meilhaus.de
© Copyright 2008 Meilhaus Electronic GmbH
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 Meilhaus Electronic GmbH.
Important note:
All the information included in this user’s gide were put together with utmost care and to best
knowledge. However, mistakes may not have been erased completely.
For this reason, the firm Meilhaus Electronic GmbH feels obliged to point out that they cannot be take
on neither any warranty (apart from the claims for warranty as agreed) nor legal responsibility or
liability for consequences caused by incorrect instructions.
We would appreciate it if you inform us about any possible mistakes.
The trademark Personal Measurement Device, TracerDAQ, Universal Library, InstaCal, Harsh
Environment Warranty, Measurement Computing Corporation, and the Measurement Computing logo
are either trademarks or registered trademarks of Measurement Computing Corporation.
Windows, Microsoft, and Visual Studio are either trademarks or registered trademarks of Microsoft
Corporation.
LabVIEW is a trademark of National Instruments.
CompactFlash is a registered trademark of SanDisk Corporation.
XBee is a trademark of MaxStream, Inc.
All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
3
Table of Contents
Preface
About this User's Guide .......................................................................................................................6
What you will learn from this user's guide .........................................................................................................6
Conventions in this user's guide .........................................................................................................................6
Where to find more information.........................................................................................................................6
Chapter 1
Introducing the RedLab 1608FS ..........................................................................................................7
RedLab 1608FS block diagram ..........................................................................................................................8
Software features................................................................................................................................................8
Connecting a RedLab 1608FS to your computer is easy....................................................................................9
Chapter 2
Installing the RedLab 1608FS ............................................................................................................10
What comes with your RedLab 1608FS shipment?..........................................................................................10
Hardware .........................................................................................................................................................................10
Additional documentation................................................................................................................................................10
Unpacking the RedLab 1608FS........................................................................................................................11
Installing the software ......................................................................................................................................11
Installing the hardware .....................................................................................................................................11
Chapter 3
Functional Details ...............................................................................................................................13
Theory of operation - analog input acquisition modes .....................................................................................13
Software paced mode.......................................................................................................................................................13
Continuous scan mode .....................................................................................................................................................13
Burst scan mode...............................................................................................................................................................13
External components ........................................................................................................................................14
USB connector.................................................................................................................................................................14
LED .................................................................................................................................................................................14
Screw terminal wiring......................................................................................................................................................15
Main connector and pin out .............................................................................................................................................16
Analog input terminals (CH0 IN - CH7 IN).....................................................................................................................16
Digital I/O terminals (DIO0 to DIO7)..............................................................................................................................17
Power terminals ...............................................................................................................................................................18
Ground terminals .............................................................................................................................................................18
Calibration terminal .........................................................................................................................................................19
Counter terminal ..............................................................................................................................................................19
SYNC terminal ................................................................................................................................................................19
Trigger terminal...............................................................................................................................................................19
Accuracy...........................................................................................................................................................19
Gain queue........................................................................................................................................................22
Synchronizing multiple units............................................................................................................................23
Chapter 4
Specifications......................................................................................................................................24
Analog input section.........................................................................................................................................24
Digital input/output...........................................................................................................................................25
External trigger.................................................................................................................................................26
External clock input/output...............................................................................................................................26
Counter section.................................................................................................................................................27
Memory ............................................................................................................................................................27
Microcontroller.................................................................................................................................................27
4
RedLab 1608FS User's Guide
Power................................................................................................................................................................27
General .............................................................................................................................................................28
Environmental ..................................................................................................................................................28
Mechanical .......................................................................................................................................................28
Main connector and pin out..............................................................................................................................28
5
Preface
About this User's Guide
What you will learn from this user's guide
This user's guide explains how to install, configure, and use the RedLab 1608FS so that you get the most out of
its USB data acquisition features.
This user's guide also refers you to related documents available on our web site, and to technical support
resources.
Conventions in this user's guide
For more information on …
Text presented in a box signifies additional information and helpful hints related to the subject matter you are
reading.
Caution! Shaded caution statements present information to help you avoid injuring yourself and others,
damaging your hardware, or losing your data.
<#:#> Angle brackets that enclose numbers separated by a colon signify a range of numbers, such as those assigned
to registers, bit settings, etc.
bold text Bold text is used for the names of objects on the screen, such as buttons, text boxes, and check boxes. For
example:
1. Insert the disk or CD and click the OK button.
italic text Italic text is used for the names of manuals and help topic titles, and to emphasize a word or phrase. For
example:
The InstaCal installation procedure is explained in the Quick Start Guide.
Never touch the exposed pins or circuit connections on the board.
Where to find more information
The following electronic documents provide helpful information relevant to the operation of the RedLab
1608FS.
The Quick Start Guide is available on our RedLab CD in the root directory.
The Guide to Signal Connections is available on our RedLab CD under „ICalUL\Documents“.
The Universal Library User's Guide is available on our RedLab CD under „ICalUL\Documents“.
The Universal Library Function Reference is available on our RedLab CD under „ICalUL\Documents“.
The Universal Library for LabVIEW™ User’s Guide is available on our RedLab CD under
„ICalUL\Documents“.
6
Chapter 1
Introducing the RedLab 1608FS
This user's guide contains all of the information you need to connect the RedLab 1608FS to your computer and
to the signals you want to measure. The RedLab 1608FS is part of the Meilhaus Electronic brand of USB-based
data acquisition products.
The RedLab 1608FS is a USB 2.0 full-speed device supported under popular Microsoft
systems. It is designed for USB 1.1 ports, and was tested for full compatibility with both USB 1.1 and USB 2.0
ports.
The RedLab 1608FS offers true simultaneous sampling of up to eight channels of 16-bit single-ended analog
input. This is accomplished through the use of one A/D converter per channel. The range of each channel is
independently configurable via software. Eight digital IO lines are independently selectable as input or output.
A 32-bit counter is capable of counting TTL pulses. The RedLab 1608FS is powered by the +5 volt USB supply
from your computer. No external power is required.
A SYNC (synchronization) control line allows you to synchronize two RedLab 1608FS modules together to
acquire data synchronously from 16 analog inputs.
The RedLab 1608FS is shown in Figure 1. I/O connections are made to the screw terminals located along each
side of the RedLab 1608FS.
®
Windows® operating
Figure 1. RedLab 1608FS
7
RedLab 1608FS User's Guide Introducing the RedLab 1608FS
A
A
A
A
A
A
A
A
RedLab 1608FS block diagram
RedLab 1608FS functions are illustrated in the block diagram shown here.
USB
G= 1, 2, 5, 10
Full-speed
USB 2.0
Compliant
Interface
16
DIO
SYNC
Screw terminal I/O connector
CAL
TRIG_IN
CAL
8
USB
Microcontroller
32k x 16
SRAM
1616
SPI
/D 0
/D 1
/D 2
/D 3
/D 4
/D 5
Screw terminal I/O connector
/D 6
/D 7
32-bit
Event Counter
1 channel
Figure 2. RedLab 1608FS Functional Block Diagram
Software features
For information on the features of InstaCal and the other software included with your RedLab 1608FS, refer to
the Quick Start Guide that shipped with your device. The Quick Start Guide is also available in PDF on our
RedLab CD (root directory).
8
RedLab 1608FS User's Guide Introducing the RedLab 1608FS
Connecting a RedLab 1608FS to your computer is easy
Installing a data acquisition device has never been easier.
The RedLab 1608FS relies upon the Microsoft Human Interface Device (HID) class drivers. The HID class
drivers ship with every copy of Windows that is designed to work with USB ports. We use the Microsoft
HID because it is a standard, and its performance delivers full control and maximizes data transfer rates for
your RedLab 1608FS. No third-party device driver is required.
The RedLab 1608FS is plug-and-play. There are no jumpers to position, DIP switches to set, or interrupts
to configure.
You can connect the RedLab 1608FS before or after you install the software, and without powering down
your computer first. When you connect an HID to your system, your computer automatically detects it and
configures the necessary software. You can connect and power multiple HID peripherals to your system
using a USB hub.
You can connect your system to various devices using a standard four-wire cable. The USB connector
replaces the serial and parallel port connectors with one standardized plug and port combination.
You do not need a separate power supply module. The USB automatically delivers the electrical power
required by each peripheral connected to your system.
Data can flow two ways between a computer and peripheral over USB connections.
9
Loading...