ClockBox V5 / ClockControl V3
Document-Version 1.0
08.05.2013
Index
1 Preface 2
2 Box Content 2
3 Hardware Overview 2
3.1 Rear View 2
3.2 Front View 3
4 Installation Guide and Quick Start 3
5 Software ClockControl 4
5.1 Setup Communication with PC 4
5.2 Frequency Settings 5
5.3 Continuous Mode 6
5.4 Burst Mode 7
6 Technical Specifications 8
7 Versions 8
8 Minimum System Requirements 9
9 Contact 9
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1 Preface
The ClockBox is a device for the synchronous triggering of up to five different
measurement/data acquisition systems. Instead of sending just synchronous start
and stop trigger, the ClockBox allows the user a frame-by-frame synchronal
triggering by one master clock. The frequency, duty cycle and rising or falling edge
for each single device or system can be adjusted by software. Thereby it is possible
to synchronize even systems with different data acquisition frequencies (e.g. 10,000
Hz and 500 Hz) because after a common multiplier (20 for the given example) of
clock pulses for the highest frequency there is always one synchronal frame of the
low frequency device. This prevents the usually known jitter if all different systems
are running free with their own frequency after a common start pulse.
2 Box Content
1 x ClockBox
1 x Driver and Software CD
1 x Wall plug power supply
1 x USB-cable (type A-B)
1 x Lemo-cable (FGG.0B.302:CLAD42 to FGB.0B.302.CLAD42)
3 Hardware Overview
3.1 Rear View
USB socket Typ-B
X7 Trigger/Enable IN (relay contact, galvanic isolation)
X8 Enable/Trigger OUT (relay contact, galvanic isolation)
Power – LED (green light if on)
Microcontroller – status – LED (green light if o.k.)
RS232-LED (flashes during communication)
ON-OFF-switch
Socket for power supply (9 V DC)
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3.2 Front View
X1 Synchronization output 1)
X2 Synchronization output 1)
X3 Synchronization output 1)
X4 Synchronization output 1)
X5 Synchronization output - permanent sync. out! 1)
X6 Enable OUT (Logic 1 as long as trigger on X1..X4 runs, otherwise Logic 0) 1)
1) BNC = TTL (0..5 V DC) / Lemo = RS485 differential output
4 Installation Guide and Quick Start
1. Plug in the DC power supply into the matching socket at the ClockBox
2. Plug in the wall power supply to the AC power line
3. Connect the ClockBox to the data acquisition computer by means of the USB cable
4. Switch on the device
5. Install FTDI-driver from the CD (directory “Driver” follow the installation guide
AN_119_FTDI_Drivers_Installation_Guide_for_Windows7.pdf)
6. Check the virtual COM-port in the device manager of the PC (Fig. 1 right)
7. Copy the ClockControl software “ClockControlV3.exe” from CD (software directory)
to any directory of your PC
8. Start the software by double clicking the “ClockControlV3.exe”
9. Choose the right COM-port (cp. no. 6) and click “connect”
Fig. 1: Basic connection and setup of the ClockBox
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5 Software ClockControl
The ClockControl software allows the setup and start of the ClockBox device via the virtual
COM-port from a Widows® PC. This enables the adjustment of count rates (frequencies) and
duty cycles, or pulse length, switching edges via PC-software. The settings can be stored to
the device memory and read out from the device after restart. Additionally, there are three
different triggering methods available:
1. Hardware trigger: The device is armed by switching on the hardware trigger mode.
The ClockBox waits until the external trigger switches on the relay of the trigger IN
port X7. ClockBox runs continuously until the trigger IN is switched OFF.
2. Continues Mode: The device runs with the previously set patterns for the user defined
measurement duration. ATTENTION the measurement duration is based on
Windows® system clock and is NOT hardware synchronal with the ClockBox,
therefore a fixed value of frames cannot be determined with this mode!
3. Burst Mode: The Burst Mode allows a repetitive synchronal output of short bursts of
pulses with a fixed burst interval over a user defined measurement duration. This is
very useful for long term measurements e.g. for stability tests or transient
experiments. For example: one can take measurements automatically every 15
minutes for just 30 seconds over a period of a couple of hours with very high
frequencies without collecting terabytes of data, moreover many fast data acquisition
devices like high speed cameras or wire mesh sensors have limited internal memory!
5.1 Setup Communication with PC
Fig. 2 shows the software after startup. The user can choose the right COM-port from the
drop down list. Then click the connect button. If the software recognizes the ClockBox the
button changes its appearances and hint to “disconnect” and you can continue with 5.2.
Fig. 2: ClockControl software after startup.
First step: setup PC communication by choosing the right COM-port.
If the chosen COM-port is wrong, the box is not connected or is switched OFF a message
box appears.
Fig. 3: Message box in case of non-successful connection.
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Solutions:
− Check all connections (USB cable, power supply) as well as the power switch.
− Check if the power LED is glowing.
− Try another COM-port.
− Check if any other Windows® program blocks the COM-port (e.g. Microsoft
ActiveSync).
5.2 Frequency Settings
In the register card “Frequency Settings” the user can define the synchronization pattern for
five different output channels X1..X5 (cp. Fig. 4). Please note that X5 is a permanent ON
output channel which is necessary for example for the synchronization of high speed camera
systems. High speed cameras mostly need a permanent synchronization signal (external
clock) to synchronize their internal clock – even if they are in standby or online mode!
Therefore channel X5 output is always ON with the last set frequency pattern while all other
4 channels are in OFF until software or hardware trigger starts the sequence.
Fig. 4: The register card „Frequency Settings. Five different patterns can be adjusted
and are displayed to prove the matching to each other.
In the lower part of the register card the user can change the behavior of the five channels
separately. Either by typing the frequency and the duty cycle of the signals or by editing the
period lengths T1 and T2 for each signal (e.g. a frequency of 1000 Hz and a duty cycle with
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25% corresponds to T1 = 250 µs and T2 = 750 µs). The mode of input can be changed by
the two buttons (top, left) “Adjust pattern by Frequency” rsp. “Adjust pattern by period time”.
Low active and high active logics or rising and falling edges respectively can be switched by
the buttons on the left for each channel separately. By default the ClockBox is software
controlled but it can also be triggered by a galvanically insulated relay input port X7.
Therefore the user changes the trigger from “Software Trigger” to “Hardware Trigger” to arm
the box.
The ClockBox device possesses an internal memory to store the settings. Previously saved
pattern can be loaded to the software by clicking “Read Pattern from Box”. Press the “Send
Pattern to Box“ button to send the actual settings to the device. Please note: this settings will
be lost after power off or reset of the box! To save the sent pattern permanent, press the
“Save Setting to EEPROM“ button. A message window will show a security query to avoid
unwanted changes to the permanent ClockBox settings (Fig. 6).
Fig. 5: Security query for overwriting settings in the internal EEPROM.
After a restart or reset of the box the data can be reloaded. The “Reset Clock Box” button
allows the reset of the microcontroller in case of hang-up.
Fig. 6: Security query for reject all changes made in the actual session after last save to EEPROM.
5.3 Continuous Mode
In the register card “Continuous Mode” (Fig. 7) the user can define the “Measurement
Duration” (in seconds) while trigger pulses should be created. ATTENTION the
“Measurement Duration” is based on Windows® system clock and is NOT hardware
synchronal with the ClockBox, therefore a fixed value of frames cannot be determined with
this mode! The minimum measurement time is 3 seconds, smaller values will be changed
automatically to “3”. Clicking the “START” button starts the box. The progress bar shows the
elapsed time in %. If the measurement should be stopped earlier just press the “STOP”
button.
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Fig. 7: ClockControl-Software in “Continuous Mode”.
5.4 Burst Mode
The Burst Mode allows a repetitive synchronal output of short bursts of pulses with a fixed
burst interval over a user defined measurement duration. This is very useful for long term
measurements e.g. for stability tests or transient experiments. For example: one can take
measurements automatically every 15 minutes for just 30 seconds over a period of a couple
of hours with very high frequencies without collecting terabytes of data, moreover many fast
data acquisition devices like high speed cameras or wire mesh sensors have limited internal
memory!
At the register card “Burst Mode” the user has to define three parameters:
- ”Measurement Duration“: defines the overall measurement time
- “Burst Interval”: defines the time gap between start of the single bursts
- “Burst Length”: defines the exact period length of each burst. This value is
hardware synchronized by the ClockBox and starts always with the edges defined
in the pattern in register “Frequency Settings”.
ATTENTION the “Measurement Duration” and the “Burst Interval” are based on Windows®
system clock and are NOT hardware synchronal with the ClockBox!
Fig. 8: ClockControl-software in “Burst Mode”.
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6 Technical Specifications
Port Details
X1-X6 BNC clock resolution = 50 µs
Tmin = 100 µs
fmax = 10000 Hz (ti/tp = 50%)
X1-X6 BNC IOH = ± 10mA max
IOL = ± 45mA max
UOUT = 5V ± 0,1V
X1-X6 Lemo Differential Bus Transceivers (EIA-422, EIA-485)
IOUT= ± 60mA max
Lemo part number:
EPG.0B.302.HLN (socket), FGG.0B.302.CLAD42 (plug)
X7 Lemo DC 6,5 V < U in < 30 V, 30 mA
Lemo part number:
ERN.0S.302.CLL (socket), FFA.0S.302.CLAD42 (plug)
X8 Lemo max DC 200 V; max 0,5 A; max 10 W
Lemo part number:
ERN.0S.302.CLL (socket), FFA.0S.302.CLAD42 (plug)
USB High Speed 2.0, DC 5V, typ. 140 mA, min 500 mA
Power Supply Primary side: 90..264 V AC, 50..60 Hz
Secondary side: 9V DC, 1.33A (12W)
Power Ityp. = 140 mA @ 9V DC
Consumption: Imax = 580 mA @ 9V DC
7 Versions
Version 1 Prototype 6-channel via RS232
Version 2 08-2009
FTDI-USB-Serial-Converter added
Version 3 10-2009
Bus-driver for BNC-TTL outputs
Firmware update for Burst Mode Support
Version 4 02-2010
Relay input/output added, 24 V hardware trigger
Version 5 04-2013
Bug fixes
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8 Minimum System Requirements
Architecture: x86
Processing power: 2000 MHz Single-Core (AMD Athlon XP, Pentium 4 or faster)
Memory: 5 MB RAM
Storage: 5 MB
Display adapter: 1440 x 900 screen resolution
Peripherals: USB 2.0
Platform: Windows OS (XP/7) 32bit
APIs and drivers: FTDI virtual COM port (VCP) driver
9 Contact
HZDR Innovation GmbH
Bautzner Landstrasse 400
01328 Dresden
Telephone: +49-(0)351-440091-0
Telefax: +49-(0)351-4400091-199
Email: [email protected]
The HZDRI Innovation GmbH is registered under the company registration number HRB
30595 at the Amtsgericht [chamber of commerce] in Dresden, Germany.
The system is designed for the specifications shown in the manual. For the usage of
the system outside of this specification the HZDR Innovation GmbH assumes no
liability.
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© HZDR-I 2013
