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LabSmith LC220 User Manual

Logic controller and trig220 control software
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LC220 Logic Controller
User Guide
Documentation for the LC220™ Controller
and Trig220™ Control Software v. 1.0

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Summary of Contents for LabSmith LC220

  • Page 1 LC220 Logic Controller User Guide Documentation for the LC220™ Controller and Trig220™ Control Software v. 1.0...

  • Page 2: Table Of Contents

    Table of Contents INTRODUCTION Parts list Specifications Basic functions How you will use the LC220 Installing Trig220 Software Setting up the LC220 Field upgradeable software Getting help OVERVIEW OF LC220 CONTROLS Inputs and outputs Panel controls TRIG220 SOFTWARE INTERFACE Main screen...
  • Page 3 Important delay timing considerations Validated trigger input mode (noise suppression) Timer mode Dynamically-delayed pulse mode Toggled output mode RUNNING EXPERIMENTS Storing and recalling experiment files Panel controls and indicators GLOSSARY...

  • Page 4: Introduction

    Experimenters regularly build their own controls from scratch or piece together systems from the limited offerings on the market. The LC220 simplifies your control setup, so you can go about the business of gathering data.

  • Page 5: Basic Functions

    115 VAC. When disconnected the inputs are read as TTL “highs.” The LC220 can be connected to/ disconnected from the PC at any time without damage to either unit. This ability allows you to program to LC220 at your computer, then to take the unit to the experiment area for stand-alone use.

  • Page 6: Installing Trig220 Software

    Plug the transformer into an appropriate socket and connect the power to the LC220. Connect the 9-pin cable to the back of the LC220 and to a free serial port on the PC. Press the Power button on the front of the LC220.

  • Page 7: Field Upgradeable Software

    (925) 292-5161, or e-mail us at info@labsmith.com. If you need to contact support, please let us know your LC220 serial number (located on the bottom of the unit) and the version of software you are using. To determine the software version number, select “About Trig220”...

  • Page 8: Overview Of Lc220 Controls

    LC220 from the computer, or you can run it in stand-alone mode. Indicators and controls on the LC220 will help you run your experiments. You’ll learn all about these functions in the Experimenting section later. For now, we’ll give you a short tour of the inputs, outputs and controls so you can work with the unit while you learn to use the Trig220 software.

  • Page 9: Inputs And Outputs

    The input and output voltages conform to the TTL standards. Panel controls There are three buttons on the LC220. Trigger A and trigger B respectively force channels A and B to be triggered. The effect this has on the channels depends on the timing mode of the channels.

  • Page 10: Trig220 Software Interface

    TRIG220 SOFTWARE INTERFACE Trig220 has been designed exclusively for setup and control of the LC220. You’ll use Trig220 to set the timing properties and logic for each of the channels and to set up overall properties for the experiment. Main screen When you run Trig220, you’ll be greeted by the Main screen:...
  • Page 11 Online and Offline mode. In Online mode this button is depressed, the Com port is open, and settings are transferred to the LC220. In Offline mode, this button is not depressed, the Com port is available for other programs and settings are not transferred to the LC220.

  • Page 12: Time Base Settings

    “Set time base options…” from the Action menu. Clock source The LC220 can derive its time base from an internal 25 MHz oscillator or from a TTL pulse train provided to In1. If the time base is derived from the external input, you must specify the frequency of this time base so that Trig220 can set the LC220 timing correctly.

  • Page 13: Time Base

    5 ns or greater than 1000 ns for proper operation. General options The “General options” dialog lets you enable and disable the channel outputs and lock or unlock the panel buttons. To open this dialog, click “Set LC220 options…” under the Actions menu. Disable/enable outputs Disabling outputs prevents the LC220 from sending trigger pulses to its output connectors regardless of the inputs or the actions of the channels.

  • Page 14: Channel Properties

    CHANNEL PROPERTIES Channel properties screen Both channels have a Settings screen in the main application window in which you’ll select the timing mode, set the timing properties, and establish the logic that will determine when the channel will trigger. Channel properties are organized by tabs. The tabs that are relevant for a particular timing mode appear automatically when that timing mode is selected.

  • Page 15: Quiescent States

    You can also force-trigger a channel from the LC220 panel (See Running Experiments: Force Trigger). Quiescent states When you disable a channel, its input will not change the output. The “quiescent state”...

  • Page 16: Logic Assignments

    NOTE: Some timing modes do not respond to trigger logic. For example, a channel set to operate as a clock will continue to run regardless of its input. Logic assignments The logic processor assigns the logical combination of external inputs (In1 and In2) and other channel output that will trigger each channel.

  • Page 17: Experimenting With Channel Logic

    Click the “Program all settings” button The OutA LED should be glowing, indicating that the output is TRUE, or HIGH (since LC220 inputs are normally HIGH). When you close Switch 1 the LED will turn off, indicating that the output is FALSE, or LOW.

  • Page 18: Timing Modes

    Timing modes In the previous section you learned that logic defines how channels are triggered. In this section you’ll use the LC220 timing modes to determine how the channels will respond. Each channel can be configured to operate in one of eight modes:...

  • Page 19: Apply" Versus "Program All Channels

    “Apply” versus “Program All Channels” Each properties screen includes an “Apply” button which, when clicked, will send the current timing properties to the channel on the LC220. The other channel function, for example retriggering counters and triggering, is not affected.

  • Page 20: Fixed Output Mode

    “Program All Channels” updates the time base settings and all the channel settings of the LC220. Both channels are reset. Fixed output mode In this mode, the channel output remains in the selected state (Low or High), regardless of the input.

  • Page 21: Passive Mode (Output = Input)

    Passive mode (Output = Input) In passive mode, the output signal equals the input signal or its logical inverse. The panel LED for the channel will glow green when the output is Low or red when the output is high. To try passive mode: On Channel A’s Settings screen, select the “Output=Input”...

  • Page 22: Clocked Pulse Stream Mode

    As mentioned earlier, the LC220 can operate with different time bases (see Time Base Settings). With a 5-ns time base (internal clock X 8, the clock pulse and duration can range from 0.48 µs to 52.4 ms.

  • Page 23: Statically Delayed Pulse Mode

    To set the pulse duration, select the timing units (seconds, microseconds, milliseconds or nanoseconds), then enter a duration in the “Clock high duration” box. To set the time between pulses, select the units, then enter the duration in the “Clock low duration” box. A clock’s quiescent state is normally low (See Channel Properties: Quiescent States).
  • Page 24 Delay On the Delay tab you’ll specify: Delay after trigger The delay between a valid trigger and an output signal Duration of pulse The duration of the output signal Until Reset The output will remain high after a valid trigger, until the channel is reset Inverted Output Check the box to set the output high until a valid trigger.
  • Page 25 To reset both channels, press the “Reset” button on the LC220 or choose Actions>Reset in Trig220. To reset only one channel, click the “Reset” button next to the channel settings.
  • Page 26 Trigger on input high Allows the channel to be repeatedly triggered while an input is high. This setting could be used for generating a low-precision gated clock, for example. However, the latency time between retriggers is indeterminate (typically around 10 µs) so a clock made this way is not suitable for applications requiring high precision.
  • Page 27 The channel LED remains red, indicating it is not ready to trigger. Push the button again. You’ll see that you cannot retrigger the channel. Click the “Reset” button on the LC220—the LED glows green and you can once again trigger the channel.

  • Page 28: Important Delay Timing Considerations

    Important delay timing considerations Once the LC220 has begun a delay sequence, it ignores incoming trigger pulses. There is also a delay of approximately 10 μs (at a 5 ns time base) after the completion of a delay sequence while the channel resets for the next trigger. This effect can be used to skip triggers, but if misunderstood it can cause unexpected results.

  • Page 29: Validated Trigger Input Mode (Noise Suppression)

    Validated trigger input mode (noise suppression) The noise suppression function eliminates false triggers due to noise on the input signal by requiring the signal to remain high (or low) for a specified duration. If the signal drops out during that period, the output will remain low and the channel will look for the next input signal.
  • Page 30 To reset both channels, press the “Reset” button on the LC220 or choose Actions>Reset in Trig220. To reset only one channel, click the “Reset” button next to the channel settings.

  • Page 31: Timer Mode

    To try validated trigger mode: Under Time base settings, choose internal clock X 1/8 (320 ns time base). In Channel A’s properties, select “Validated Trigger Input” mode. On the Validate tab, enter a “Minimum duration” and “Duration of output pulse” of 1 second each. On the Triggering tab, select “Retrigger N times,”...

  • Page 32: Dynamically-Delayed Pulse Mode

    (e.g., >1000 measurements/second). NOTE: When you first run the LC220, channels that are configured as counters are initially disabled and must be enabled either by clicking the “Enable” button on the channel’s Properties screen, or by using the front panel (See Experimenting: Disable/Enable Channels below).
  • Page 33 defined factor. It subtracts an offset value, waits the duration of the dynamically calculated delay, then sends a pulse to the channel output. NOTE: The dynamic delay is particularly useful for ballistics or gas dynamics experiments, in which the velocity of a projectile or wave must be calculated and used to time the triggering of an experimental device.
  • Page 34 Delay Added Delay Set an offset value to subtract from the scaled delay length. This is useful when accounting for camera shutters or other lag times in experimental equipment. The offset value can be positive (shortens the delay time) or negative (lengthens the delay time) and the resolution is set by the time base (e.g., 10 ns).
  • Page 35 Limits the number of retriggers allowed between resets (between 0 and 2,147,483,647). To allow a channel to be triggered again after reaching the limit, press the “Reset” button on the LC220 or choose Actions>Reset Channels in Trigger. Trigger on rising input Sets the channel to be edge triggered.
  • Page 36 On Channel B’s Logic tab, select: inB = outA or not in1. This routes the button push signal and the delayed signal to channel B. Since you’ve made changes to multiple channels, click the “Program All Settings” button. Now the test is ready. Depress and release the trigger button quickly. Channel A will produce a trigger pulse 500 ms later.

  • Page 37: Toggled Output Mode

    Toggled output mode This mode toggles its output state upon every input pulse. It functions like a flip- flop and is useful for a variety of logical and control purposes. The minimum input-pulse state duration is 10 ns and the edge-to-toggle delay is < 20 ns. The only user settings for this mode are the initial state, which may be either low or high.

  • Page 38: Running Experiments

    Panel controls and indicators The front panel of the LC220 is designed to help you run experiments without computer control. This functionality allows you to program the unit at a workstation, then to move the unit to the experimental environment.
  • Page 39 When a channel is in Fixed output, Clocked pulse stream, Output=Input or Toggled output timing modes, the green light indicates that the output is currently LOW for that channel. A red light typically indicates that the channel is in the process of triggering.
  • Page 40 The following chart provides an overview of the front panel channel LEDs: Mode Green Fixed output Output is Low Output is High Output = Output is Low Output is High Input (Passive) Clocked Output is Low Output is High pulse stream Statically In delay Waiting for trigger;...
  • Page 41 Output LED The output (right-most) LED glows green when outputs are enabled and red when outputs are disabled. (See Running Experiments: Disable/ Enable channels below). Trigger A and Trigger B This function lets you simulate an input trigger on the respective channel, regardless of the channel’s logic settings or state.

  • Page 42: Glossary

    Baud Rate The speed of communication via the Com port. Channel One of eight internal signal paths in the LC220. Channel input The signal which feeds one of the eight channels. A channel input can be triggered by signals from any combination of signals from the input jacks and/or channel outputs.
  • Page 43 Trig220 control software, can be field-upgraded. Latest upgrades are available at www.labsmith.com. Input One of two input jacks on the LC220. Signals from these inputs can be logically combined to trigger either channel. Lock/unlock panel...
  • Page 44 Time base The minimum increment of time used by the LC220. This can range from 5 ns to 1000 ns and can be generated from an internal or external clock. Timer Counter/Timer mode determines the time delay between two separate input signals and reports it back to the PC.
  • Page 45 Microsoft, Windows are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. Abobe and Acrobat are registered trademarks of Adobe Systems, Inc. Trig220 software ©2004--2018 LabSmith. This manual ©2004-2018 LabSmith. No part of this document may be reproduced or distributed without the consent of LabSmith.

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