Multichannel Systems STG3008-FA User Manual
STG3008-FA Manual
Information in this document is subject to change without notice.
No part of this document may be reproduced or transmitted without the express written
permission of Multi Channel Systems MCS GmbH.
While every precaution has been taken in the preparation of this document, the publisher and
the author assume no responsibility for errors or omissions, or for damages resulting from the use
of information contained in this document or from the use of programs and source code that may
accompany it. In no event shall the publisher and the author be liable for any loss of profit or any
other commercial damage caused or alleged to have been caused directly or indirectly by this
document.
© 2012 Multi Channel Systems MCS GmbH. All rights reserved.
Printed: 10. 01. 2012
Multi Channel Systems MCS GmbH
Aspenhaustraße 21
72770 Reutlingen
Germany
Fon +49-71 21-90 92 5 - 0
Fax +49-71 21-90 92 5 -11
info@multichannelsystems.com
www.multichannelsystems.com
Microsoft and Windows are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. Products that are
referred to in this document may be either trademarks and/or registered trademarks of their
respective holders and should be noted as such. The publisher and the author make no claim
to these trademark.
Table of Contents
1 Introduction 1
1.1 About this Manual 1
2 Important Information and Instructions 3
2.1 Terms of Use for MC_Stimulus II 3
2.2 Limitation of Liability 3
2.3 Operator's Obligations 3
2.4 Guarantee and Liability 3
2.5 Important Safety Advice 4
3 First Use of the Stimulus Generator 5
3.1 Welcome to the STG3008-FA and MC_Stimulus II 5
3.2 Setting Up and Connecting the STG 7
3.3 Driver Installation 9
3.4 Installing the Software 9
4 Operating the STG 11
4.1 Operation Overview 11
4.2 Operating the Amplifier 13
4.3 Operating Multiple STGs 15
5 Programming Stimulus Protocols 17
5.1 MC_Stimulus II Worksheet 17
5.2 Pulse Types 18
5.3 Autorepeating Pulses and Protocols 20
5.4 Autocreating Entries and Editing Columns 23
5.5 Auto Sync for Autocreating Trigger Pulses 29
5.6 Adjusting the Stimulus Intensity Level 30
6 ASCII Import/Export 33
6.1 Loading Files 33
6.2 Exporting Files 34
6.3 Supported File Formats 34
7 Stimulus Display 43
7.1 Selecting Channels 43
7.2 Display Settings 43
7.3 Display Tools 44
8 Downloading Stimuli 47
8.1 Downloading Stimulus Files 47
iii
STG3008-FA Manual
9
General Software Features 49
9.1 Customizing the Main Window 49
9.2 Menu Bar 49
9.3 Toolbar 50
9.4 Shortcut Keys 50
9.5 File Menu 51
9.6 Settings Menu 52
10 Synchronizing Events 53
10.1 Digital Output Signals (Sync Out) 53
10.2 Triggering Stimulation (Trigger In) 53
10.3 Trigger Settings 55
10.4 Batch Mode 57
11 Analog Output Signals 59
11.1 Output Modes 59
11.2 Voltage Mode 60
11.3 Current Mode 62
11.4 Rise Time 63
11.5 Comparison of Output Signals in Current Mode 71
11.6 Capacitive Behavior of Stimulation Electrodes 77
12 Troubleshooting 79
12.1 About Troubleshooting 79
12.2 Technical Support 79
12.3 Error Messages 80
12.4 Signal terminated when using Trigger In 82
12.5 Signal is not Repeated / Pulse Train Fails 82
12.6 Strong Peak Artifacts 83
13 Appendix 84
13.1 Technical Specifications STG3008-FA 84
13.2 Pin Layout 86
13.3 Contact Information 87
14 Index 89
iv
1 Introduction
1.1 About this Manual
This manual comprises all important information about the installation and operation of the
stimulus generator STG3000 series and MC_Stimulus II software. It is assumed that you have
already a basic understanding of technical and software terms. No special skills are required
to read this manual.
This documentation refers only to the STG hardware and MC_Stimulus II software. For more
information on the STG's DLL functions and programming of custom programs, please read the
separate documentation in the documentation folder in the MC_Stimulus II program directory.
If you are using the STG for the first time, please read the important safety advice before
installing the hardware and software (see Important Safety Advice, where you will find
important information about the installation and first steps).
The printed manual and help are basically the same, so it is up to you which one you will use.
The help offers you the advantage of scrolling through the text in a non-linear fashion, picking
up all information you need, especially if you use the index and the search function. If you are
going to read larger text passages, however, you may prefer the printed manual.
The device and the software are part of an ongoing developmental process. Please understand
that the provided documentation is not always up to date. Check also the MCS web site
(www.multichannelsystems.com) from time to time for downloading up-to-date manuals
and new software versions.
1
2 Important Information and Instructions
2.1 Terms of Use for MC_Stimulus II
You are free to use MC_Stimulus II for its intended purpose. You agree that you will not
decompile, reverse engineer, or otherwise attempt to discover the source code of the software.
2.2 Limitation of Liability
Multi Channel Systems MCS GmbH makes no guarantee as to the accuracy of any and all tests
and data generated by the use the MC_Stimulus II software. It is up to the user to use good
laboratory practice to establish the validity of his findings.
To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, in no event shall Multi Channel Systems
MCS GmbH or its suppliers be liable for any special, incidental, indirect, or consequential damages
whatsoever (including, without limitation, injuries, damages for data loss, loss of business profits,
business interruption, loss of business information, or any other pecuniary loss) arising out of the
use of or inability to use MC_Stimulus II or the provision of or failure to provide Support Services,
even if Multi Channel Systems MCS GmbH has been advised of the possibility of such damages.
2.3 Operator's Obligations
The operator is obliged to allow only persons to work on the device, who
are familiar with the safety at work and accident prevention regulations and have been
instructed how to use the device;
are professionally qualified or have specialist knowledge and training and have received
instruction in the use of the device;
have read and understood the chapter on safety and the warning instructions in this manual
and confirmed this with their signature.
It must be monitored at regular intervals that the operating personnel are working safely.
Personnel still undergoing training may only work on the device under the supervision
of an experienced person.
2.4 Guarantee and Liability
The General conditions of sale and delivery of Multi Channel Systems MCS GmbH always apply.
The operator will receive these no later than on conclusion of the contract.
Multi Channel Systems MCS GmbH makes no guarantee as to the accuracy of any and all tests
and data generated by the use of the device or the software. It is up to the user to use good
laboratory practice to establish the validity of his findings.
Guarantee and liability claims in the event of injury or material damage are excluded when
they are the result of one of the following.
Improper use of the device.
Improper installation, commissioning, operation or maintenance of the device.
Operating the device when the safety and protective devices are defective and/or inoperable.
Non-observance of the instructions in the manual with regard to transport, storage, installation,
commissioning, operation or maintenance of the device.
Unauthorized structural alterations to the device.
3
STG3008-FA Manual
Unauthorized modifications to the system settings.
Inadequate monitoring of device components subject to wear.
Improperly executed and unauthorized repairs.
Unauthorized opening of the device or its components.
Catastrophic events due to the effect of foreign bodies or acts of God.
2.5 Important Safety Advice
Warning: Make sure to read the following advice prior to install or to use the device
and the software. If you do not fulfill all requirements stated below, this may lead to
malfunctions or breakage of connected hardware, or even fatal injuries.
Warning: Obey always the rules of local regulations and laws. Only qualified personnel
should be allowed to perform laboratory work. Work according to good laboratory
practice to obtain best results and to minimize risks.
The product has been built to the state of the art and in accordance with recognized safety
engineering rules. The device may only
be used for its intended purpose;
be used when in a perfect condition.
Improper use could lead to serious, even fatal injuries to the user or third parties and damage
to the device itself or other material damage.
Warning: The device and the software are not intended for medical uses and must
not be used on humans.
Malfunctions which could impair safety should be rectified immediately.
High Voltage
Electrical cords must be properly laid and installed. The length and quality of the cords must
be in accordance with local provisions.
Only qualified technicians may work on the electrical system. It is essential that the accident
prevention regulations and those of the employers' liability associations are observed.
Each time before starting up, make sure that the mains supply agrees with the specifications
of the product.
Check the power cord for damage each time the site is changed. Damaged power cords should
be replaced immediately and may never be reused.
Check the leads for damage. Damaged leads should be replaced immediately and may never
be reused.
Do not try to insert anything sharp or metallic into the vents or the case.
Liquids may cause short circuits or other damage. Keep the device and the power cords always
dry. Do not handle it with wet hands.
Requirements for the installation
Make sure that the device is not exposed to direct sunlight. Do not place anything on top of the
device, and do not place it on top of another heat producing device. Otherwise, the device may
overheat.
4
3 First Use of the Stimulus Generator
3.1 Welcome to the STG3008-FA and MC_Stimulus II
Product Line Overview
Stimulus generator of the 3000 series are general purpose stimulators designed for a wide variety
of applications, both in vitro and in vivo. The STG3008-FA is a special version for use with
cardiovascular catheter microelectrodes for animals.
The STG is additionally equipped with a filter amplifier FA and has the advantage that the device
can be used for both, for stimulation and for recording. You switch software controlled between
the two operation modes recording and stimulation.
The filter amplifier of the STG3008-FA provides four different gain factors 100, 200, 500, or 1000
and has a band pass filter with a bandwidth of 1 Hz to 2,2 kHz.
The stimulus generator STG3008-FA is available for simultaneous stimulation on up to eight
completely independent stimulation channels. Each channel is freely programmable, combination
of channels to achieve complex stimulation patterns is not necessary.
Flexible and easy-to-use MC_Stimulus II software enables complex stimulus waveforms (both
current and voltage) in Download mode and Streaming mode. Waveforms designed in the
program or imported from an external ASCII file are converted into pulses, which are sent to
the stimulation electrodes.
Note: Please note that not all software features of MC_Stimulus II are supported by the hardware.
A trigger input and a Sync output for TTL signals allows to synchronize the stimulus generator
with other instruments. Triggering of other devices via programmable TTL pulses (Sync Out)
is possible, as well as triggering of the STG by external devices via the Trigger In input. For
example, you can synchronize stimulation and recording with a TTL signal sent from the
Sync Out output of the STG to the data acquisition system, for example, the MC_Card or
an USB based data acquisition system.
The real-time stimulus generator STG3008-FA has two operating modes: Download mode
and Streaming mode.
In Download mode, you can control the STG either by the MC_Stimulus II or by a custom
program. Stimulus protocols are created in MC_Stimulus II or the custom program; complete
protocols are downloaded onto the STG, and can after the download be executed without
a computer connection.
5
STG3008-FA Manual
In the Streaming mode, you can control the STG either by the Stimulus Streamer or by a custom
program. If you use the Stimulus Streamer, you can load stimulus protocols in Mono-MP3 or binary
file format of unlimited size that were generated by a custom application and are then sent
continuously from the computer to the STG in small data packets. If you use a custom program
for controlling the STG, this program can generate and send the stimulation protocols in parallel
from the computer to the STG.
Custom applications for the Download or the Streaming mode can be programmed in Matlab,
Labview, C/C++, and Visual Basic. This documentation refers only to the STG hardware and
MC_Stimulus II software. For more information on the STG's DLL functions and programming
of custom software, please read the separate documentation of the Documentation folder in
the MC_Stimulus II program directory.
MC_Stimulus II
Stimuli are created user-friendly by entering the desired pulses (rectangular, ramp, or sine
waveforms) into a worksheet. Waveforms can be combined freely to create virtually any stimulus
pattern.
For even more convenience, repetitive stimulus patterns do not have to be entered separately,
but can be grouped and looped. You can also import waveforms in ASCII file format and use
them for stimulation. You can print and save stimuli and comments for later use and
documentation of your experiments.
Created stimuli are displayed in a WYSIWYG stimulus display. All channels are set up
separately.
6
First Use of the Stimulus Generator
3.2 Setting Up and Connecting the STG
Note: You can use an USB hub for connecting the STG to the computer, for example, if you have
no free USB port or if you need to extend the USB cable. Do not use a hub in Streaming mode!
Please note that if you want to use the STG in Streaming mode, you cannot connect a second
device that sends or receives continuous data streams, for example a web cam or USB speakers, to
the same USB port, because the STG needs a broad bandwidth for the data transmission. This does
not matter if you want to use the Download mode (via MC_Stimulus II or custom program) only.
Provide a power supply and a computer with USB port in the immediate vicinity of the
installation site. Make sure the STG is switched off before you connect it to the power supply.
1. Place the STG on a stable surface, where the air can circulate freely and the STG is not exposed
to direct sunlight.
2. Connect the external power supply to the STG.
3. Connect the external power supply to the power outlet.
4. Connect the USB connector to the USB port of the computer. The computer connection
is necessary for programming the STG, but not for operating it (except in Batch mode).
5. Connect the catheter to the Stimulus IN / Raw data OUT connector of the STG3008-FA.
6. (Optional) Connect the required Trigger In input with BNC cables to instruments that produce
TTL signals for triggering the STG.
7. (Optional) Connect the Sync Out output with BNC cables to following instruments that you want
to be triggered by TTL signals from the STG, for example to one of the 16 digital inputs of the
MC_Card, or of an USB based data acquisition.
8. Switch the STG on by pressing the toggle switch on the rear panel.
7
STG3008-FA Manual
Illustration of the STG3008-FA front and rear panel with connectors
STG3008-FA Front Panel
STG3008-FA Rear Panel
STG3008-FA Front Panel
STG3008-FA Rear Panel
8
3.3 Driver Installation
The stimulus generator is a plug and play device. The driver is automatically installed together
with the MC_Stimulus II program.
The Windows operating system detects a new hardware when the stimulus generator is connected
to the computer, if the program has not been installed beforehand. Simply cancel the driver
installation and proceed with the installation of the MC_Stimulus II program.
Important: Please make sure that you have full control over your computer as an administrator.
Otherwise, it is possible that the installed hardware does not work properly.
If there are any problems, and you need to install or update the driver manually, please see
the MC_Stimulus II Help for more information.
3.4 Installing the Software
System requirements
Software: One of the following Microsoft Windows ® operating systems is required:
Windows 7, Vista or Windows XP (English and German versions supported).
Hardware: USB port (2.0 High Speed)
First Use of the Stimulus Generator
Installing the software
Please check the system requirements before you install the software. MCS cannot guarantee
that the software works properly if these requirements are not fulfilled.
Important: Please make sure that you have full control over your computer as an administrator.
Otherwise, is possible that the installed software does not work properly.
1. Double-click Setup.exe on the installation volume. The installation assistant will show up
and guide you through the installation procedure.
2. Follow the instructions of the installation assistant.
Select radio button "STG3008-FA". When you have finished the installation of the MC_Stimulus II
software and the STG driver, you can now operate the STG3008-FA.
9
4 Operating the STG
4.1 Operation Overview
Warning: Make sure that you do not come in contact with the cables or the connectors of
the STG after you have started the STG. The high voltage and power can lead to injuries.
Warning: Do not start the STG if you are unsure about the channel configuration or the nature
of the downloaded file.
1. Set up your experiment.
2. Switch the STG3008-FA on.
3. Set up your stimuli with the MC_Stimulus II program.
4. Send the stimulus sequence from a MC_Stimulus II file to the STG.
5. Start the STG either manually by pressing the Start / Stop button on the front panel,
with the software controls, or with an external trigger.
Creating stimuli
Stimuli are created user-friendly by entering the desired pulses (rectangular, ramp, or sine
waveforms) into a MC_Stimulus worksheet. Waveforms can be combined freely to create virtually
any stimulus pattern. Created stimuli are displayed in a WYSIWYG window.
Starting stimulation
Note: You need a computer connection only when you are using the software controls for starting
and stopping the stimulus generator. When you are using the STG interface or an external control
(trigger, you can disconnect the stimulus generator from the computer and operate it
independently. But you cannot remove the STG from the power connection. The memory
is cleared when the STG has lost power.
After the download of the stimulus file on the STG, you can start the stimulation. There are
several ways to start the STG.
MC_Stimulus
II interface:
You can start the stimulation directly after the download (with the command
Download and Start
stop stimulation with the command Stop
Start command is considered as activating the trigger input and the Sync Out
output. Likewise, all channels are stopped when you click Stop.
You can start the stimulation after download
or also later with the command Start . You can
. Starting the STG by using the
on the trigger. Please use
STG
interface:
the combined LED / Start / Stop buttons
stimulation manual whenever you want by clicking the corresponding LED /
Start / Stop button. The LED indicates the status: Grey means trigger off, red
means trigger on. In STG3008-FA only trigger 1 is available.
You can start the stimulation by pressing the Start / Stop button on the front
panel of the STG. Press the button again to stop the stimulation. Starting the
STG by pressing the Start / Stop button is considered as activating the trigger
input, that is, all channels are started and stopped, and the Sync Out output is
active when the STG is started. Pressing the Start / Stop button stops the
stimulation if at least
one channel is still active in the moment of the trigger
. You can start and stop the
11
STG3008-FA Manual
event (indicated by the lighting SWEEP LED). Pressing the button starts
stimulation only if no channel is active (dark SWEEP LED)
External
control:
You can start the stimulation on a trigger from an external device, for example,
a switch. You can use the trigger input to trigger the analog output channels
that you have assigned to it. The trigger works in a similar way as when you
press the Start / Stop button. You can choose the action that will be taken when
one of the channels that are assigned to the trigger input is still active. Either
the stimulus protocols on the triggered channels are stopped or restarted; or
the trigger event is ignored. You can assign the Sync Out to the trigger input.
The default settings define that Sync Out is active when Trigger In is triggered.
Please see chapter "Trigger Settings" for more details.
STG status control
Three status control LEDs (light-emitting diode) are present on the front panel of the STG
to give you a quick overview on its status.
POWER
PROG
SWEEP
STG has been switched on.
Stimulus file was downloaded to STG. STG is now ready for operation.
Stimulation is running, that is, at least one output channel is active.
MC_Stimulus II status control
The top part of the MC_Stimulus II status control refers to the active instance of the MC_Stimulus
II program instance and the STG that is controlled by this instance. All information in this part
is saved on the STG. The information is updated in the MC_Stimulus II main window when the
connection to the STG is changed or interrupted.
Status light Color Meaning
Connected
Green STG is connected and switched on. The serial number serves as an ID for
the controlled STG and is displayed on the left. On the STG menu, click
Select Device to select another STG connected to a different USB port
from the drop-down list to switch STGs.
Programmed
Green Stimulus file in voltage mode has been downloaded to STG. STG is now
ready for operation. File name and path of the *.stm file that was
downloaded onto the STG are displayed on the right.
Orange Stimulus file in current mode has been downloaded to STG. STG is now
ready for operation. File name and path of the *.stm file that was
downloaded onto the STG are displayed on the right.
Sweep
Red
Indicates the active trigger (up to eight). Each stimulation channel can
be assigned to any trigger. If all eight channels are assigned to trigger
one for example, only one sweep indicator will light up, even though
all stimulation channels can be active. See also chapter "Triggering
Stimulation".
12
STG and Stimulus Protocol Information:
4.2 Operating the Amplifier
Switching between Stimulation and Recording Mode
The STG3008-FA is a stimulus generator of STG3000 series combined with a filter amplifier
with four selectable gain factors: 100, 200, 500, or 1000.
Please click "Edit" menu and select "Filter Amplifier Control".
Operating the STG
The “Filter Amplifier Control” settings are saved in the current MC_Stimulus II protocol.
After download, the STG3008-FA is set accordingly.
Thus, it is easy to switch between different measuring or stimulation settings by loading several
MC_Stimulus II worksheets. Then you can download the protocol with the desired settings.
If the STG3008-FA is switched off and on again, the settings for all eight channels are reset
to “Measure”, and the last downloaded filter amplifier gain is retained. This reset enables
measurements with the STG3008-FA without using the MC_Stimulus II software, of course
without stimulation, respectively.
13
STG3008-FA Manual
The "Filter Amplifier Control" dialog.
Selecting the "Filter Amplifier Gain"
You can choose among four gain settings from factor 100 to 1000.
In the "Filter Amplifier Gain" window, please click one of the radio buttons to select the gain
factor.
Selecting the "Measure / Stimulate" mode
In the "Measure / Stimulate" window you can toggle between stimulation and recording mode
for each of the eight channels separately.
Please click the respective radio buttons for the channels in use.
Important: A ground electrode connected to the ground of the STG3008-FA amplifier is required
for proper use. The ground of the stimulation is connected to the ground of the amplifier inside
the device. The amplifier ground is the reference point for both stimulation and recording.
Without an appropriate grounding, the behavior of the system becomes unpredictable. The
ground electrode should have a large surface area, for example, a liquid gel adhesive electrode.
It is best positioned in an electrically inactive region (not near muscle, nor heart), but as near to
the recording site as possible, for example, at the belly.
14
Operating the STG
4.3 Operating Multiple STGs
If you have more than one STG connected to the same computer, please click "Select Device"
under "STG" in main menu. In the "Select Device" dialog you can choose via serial number which
STG you like to control from the currently active MC_Stimulus II program.
The serial number is printed on the STG's case. The serial number of the currently active STG
is displayed on the status bar of the currently active instance of the MC_Stimulus II program.
Click Select Device under "STG" in main menu. Select the serial number of the desired STG from
the STG list.
You can open multiple instances of the MC_Stimulus II program and control multiple STGs at the
same time. Please make sure that you control each STG only by one MC_Stimulus II instance.
You can also open only one MC_Stimulus II instance and control multiple STGs one after the
other by the same instance. Simply change the settings in the Select Device dialog and select
the next STG when you have finished to program the first. The STGs can be operated without
a computer connection.
15
5 Programming Stimulus Protocols
5.1 MC_Stimulus II Worksheet
You can freely combine any pulse types. Use a separate row for each pulse type.
Hint: Several tools are provided for editing whole columns at once or autocreating entries.
1. Select the desired output type first. Click either Voltage or Current under Output Mode
on the file window of MC_Stimulus.
2. Click a tab to select an output channel. The according channel worksheet is brought to front.
3. Now you can enter the pulses into the worksheet. Select a Pulse type (either rectangular,
ramp, or sine).
4. Enter the desired voltage steps and a time length for each step.
The according pulse is displayed in the WYSIWYG display at once.
17
STG3008-FA Manual
5.2 Pulse Types
Three basic pulse types are available in MC_Stimulus II. You can create virtually any pulse by
combining different types.
Rectangular
Ramp
Sine wave
Note: The time resolution is 20 μs. When you enter time steps that are not a multiple of 20 μs,
the length of the step is internally adjusted (rounded arithmetically, that is, 249 μs would be
rounded down to 240 μs, 250 would be rounded up to 260 μs) to a valid value. The minimum
voltage resolution is 1 mV, the current resolution is 200 nA. Please regard also the minimum
and maximum output voltage / current of your STG version. If you enter voltage or current
values outside the STG's limit, the invalid value will be changed automatically when you download
the protocol. Cells with changed values will be highlighted in yellow.
Note: If you work near the resolution limits of the STG, the output pulses may differ from the
programmed pulses. In this case, you should check the output with an oscilloscope. Please see
also the "Analog Output Signals" chapter.
Please note that the memory of the STG3008-FA is limited (64 MB). You will get an error message
if the memory is full.
For the digital Sync Out channel, only TTL pulses with bit patterns of 0 (LOW) and 1 (HIGH) can
be programmed. A logical state of 1 (HIGH) results in a 3.3 V output signal, and a logical state
of 0 (LOW) results in a 0 V output. Please note that the digital output is sent about 20 μs faster
than the analog output. Please see also the "Triggering Stimulation" chapter.
Rectangular pulse type
18
Programming Stimulus Protocols
Enter each voltage / current level and the duration of the pulse. The voltage / current jumps
directly to the specified level. In one row, you can enter up to three voltage / current levels. Use
the next row for programming more levels.
Ramp pulse type
Define the starting point, end point, and the length of the ramp. The ramp is then build
according to these parameters in small single steps of 20 μs.
Sine wave pulse type
Define the amplitude and the period of the sine wave. The sine wave is then computed
according to these parameters with a minimum resolution of 1 mV and 20 μs. If you enter
a negative amplitude, the sine wave starts with its negative alternation.
19
STG3008-FA Manual
5.3 Autorepeating Pulses and Protocols
For entering complex stimuli easier and faster, you can repeat rows and groups instead of
entering the pulses several times into the worksheet. You can repeat each single row. In the
preceding example, the rectangular pulse in row 1 is repeated twice. You can also group several
rows and repeat them altogether. In the example, pulses from rows 1 to 4 are grouped and
repeated three times.
Repeating rows
Type the number of repeats into the Row Repeat cell of the appropriate row.
The pulses of the complete row are repeated the specified number of times.
Grouping and repeating groups
1. Select several cells by clicking and dragging cells in the Group Repeat column.
Selected cells are highlighted in black.
2. Point to the selected cells and right-click to open the context menu.
3. Click Group / Ungroup. The corresponding rows are grouped now. This is indicated by a merging
of the Group Repeat cells.
20
Programming Stimulus Protocols
4. Type the number of repeats into the merged Group Repeat cell.
Repeating complete pulse protocols (autorepeat function), Continuous Mode
You can repeat the complete stimulus on all output channels that are triggered by the same
trigger. This means, each time when a trigger event occurs, the complete stimuli on all
corresponding output channels are repeated for the specified number of times. If the stimuli have
different lengths, the starting points are synchronized. For example, if channel 1 has a stimulus
with a length of 500 ms, and channel 2 of 1000 ms, and both are triggered by the same trigger
event, channel 1 waits 500 ms for the repeat until the output stream of channel 2 has been
finished.
Note: The Sync Out signal for the corresponding trigger is repeated as well each time the stimulus
is repeated.
Hint: You can repeat the complete stimulus protocol that is assigned to a trigger continuously
by using the Continuous Mode setting. Continuous mode can be activated in the main window
or under Trigger Settings. The STG has then to be stopped manually by the user. You can use this
feature regardless whether you use an external trigger input or not. When you press the Start
button, this is considered as if all four trigger inputs were active. When you use Continuous Mode,
the repeats entered in the Trigger Settings dialog box are disabled.
1. On the STG menu, click Trigger Settings.
2. Enter the number of repeats for each trigger separately. 0 repeats the output signals
continuously.
21
STG3008-FA Manual
In the following example, the stimuli on output channels 1, 2, 4, 5 and channel 7 and 8,
that are all triggered by Trigger 1, are repeated five times after the trigger event, each time
accompanied by the Sync Out 1 output.
Repeating complete pulse protocols, Gating Trigger
Repeated stimulation of complete protocols can also be controlled by a gating trigger. Channels
associated with the Trigger input will be active as long as the condition of the Trigger is 1 (HIGH)
and switched off as soon as the condition becomes 0 (LOW). Gating trigger function can be
enabled in the Trigger Settings menu.
22
Programming Stimulus Protocols
5.4 Autocreating Entries and Editing Columns
Changing time units for a complete column
1. Click any Unit column header to select a column. The selected column is highlighted in black.
2. Right-click and click Change Time Unit.
3. Select the desired time unit.
All units in the column are set to the selected time unit.
Inverting pulses in a column
1. Click any Value column header to select a column. The selected column is highlighted in black.
23
STG3008-FA Manual
2. Right-click and click Invert Selection.
The polarity of the signals is switched from positive to negative and vice versa.
Incrementing columns
This feature is very convenient for setting up long and complex stimuli without entering
each value manually. You can enter and edit multiple voltage values or time lengths.
You can keep all zero values unchanged with the option Keep Zero.
Apart from an absolute shift or increment factor, you can modify values by the percentage
as well.
Shifting time or voltage / current values
You enter a value, which is added arithmetically to all values in the selected column. For example,
if you enter "-50", -50 is added to all values.
1. Click any Value or Time column header to select a column. The selected column is highlighted
in black.
24
Loading...