A.M.P.I. Master-8 User manual

Master-8
EIGHTCHANNEL
PROGRAMMABLEPULSEGENERATOR
OperationManual
A.M.P.I.
A.M.P.I.
123UzlelSt.,P.O.B.16477
Jerusalem91163,ISRAEL
Tel: [phone]
Fax:[phone]

ThankyouforbuyingMaster-8— themostflexiblepulsegenerator.Master-8is
an8 channelpulsegenerator,basedonadvancedmicroprocessortechnology.
ThereforeMaster-8hasmanyhandyoptions.Pleasereadthismanualcarefully
andbecomefamiliarwithallthepossibilities.YouwillfindMaster-8friendlyto
useandtheprogrammingsimpleandeasytolearn.Master-8isanattractiveunit
andyouwillenjoyworkingwithitseightparadigms.
Onthefollowingpagesyouwillfind:
Page3 — Introduction
4— Descriptionofthekeyboard,frontandrear panels
5— Operation
6— Applications
7— A demonstrationofProgrammingMaster-8
10— Modesofoperation
11— Settingtheparameters
13— Triggering
14— Eightstoredparadigms
14— Clearingthememory
15— Waystocheck
16— Theclock,stop-watchandtimer
17— Master-8-cp,communicationwitha computer
20— APPENDIXA:TheRS-232connections.
21— APPENDIXB:Settingthebaud- rate
22— APPENDIXC:Thecodesofthekeys
23— APPENDIXD:NotesforprogrammingMaster-8-cpby
acomputer.

Introduction
Preprogrammedsettings
Operation
Master-8isan8 channelpulsegenerator.WithMaster-8youcaneasilyswitch
yourset-upbetweencompletelydifferentexperiments(paradigms).Master-8
storeseightuser'spreprogrammedparadigms.Eachparadigmcanusealltheeight
channels.Youcanswitchyourset-uptotheselectedsettingbya singlecommand.
Thisoptionisveryusefulinthefollowingcases:
a)Whenyouwanttoswitchtheexperimenttoanother one. Thechangeoveris
veryfast(50msec).
b)Whenseveralusersareusingthesameset-up.Eachuserrecallshissettings
fromthememoryofMaster-8.
Allparametersofallthe8 paradigmsarestoredinthememoryevenafterthepower
isswitchedoffbya lithiumbatterywitha guaranteedlifeof7 years.Thereisno
needtoreinserttheparametersafterswitchingontheunit.
Eachchanneloperatesindependentlyinoneofthefollowingmodes:
1. FREE-RUN—Thechanneldeliverspulsescontinuously.
2. TRIGGER— Followinga trigger,thechanneldeliversa singlepulse.
3. TRAIN— Followinga trigger,thechanneldeliversa trainofpulses.
4. DC— DCoutput,timeindependent,turnsonandoffmanually.
5. GATE(channels1 and2 only)— Thechanneldeliverspulsescontinuously
whileitisexternallygated.
Eachchannelcanbeinternallyconnectedwithdifferentchannelsandreceive
triggerpulsesfromthem.Thereisnoneedtoconnectwiresbetweenchannels.
TheMaster-8-cpmodelcanbeprogrammedbya computerviaa standard
RS-232interface.Thecommunicationisbidirectional.
Channels1 & 2 canreceiveexternaltriggers.Thisoffersa possibilityof
synchronizingthose(andother)channelswithexternaldevices.
Inadditiontoitsstandard8 channelsMaster-8featuresa clockthatcountsthe
timethathaspassedfrompressingtheCLOC^K-RESETkey(e.g.theexperiment
time). Itfeaturesa timerthatcanchangethemodeofa channelata certainhour
(e.g.turnitonoroff).
Theamplitudeoftheoutputpulsescanbeadjustedfrom-lOVto+10V,and
maximumcurrentof20mA.

Description
THEPO\X'ERSWITCHislocatedonthelowerleftsideofthefrontpanel.Beside
itisa redlightindicating'POWER0N\
Frontpanelkeys
Thefrontpanelkeysaredividedinto5 groups.Eachgrouphasa differentshade,
pleasefollow:
1)Thedigits:0 — y.
2)Theoperationmodekeys:FREE(FreeRun),TRAIN,TRIG,DC,GATE,
OFF.
3)Theparameterkeys:DURA(Duration),DELAY,INTER(IntervalTime),
M(No.o[pulsespertrain),'f , 'i'
-1)Theclockkeys:CLOCK-DISPLAY,STOP-WATCH,CLOCK-RESET,
TIMER.
5)Thecommandkeys:CLEAR-DISPLAY,C0XNECT/DISC0N\EC:T,
C:HEC:K,ENTER,RESET.
Someofthekeyshavea dualfunction.
Pressinga keyisfollowedbya responseonthedisplay.Thecodeofthekey
iswrittenonthekey.(Forexample:thecodeofFREEis'FR').
ChannelBoard
Ontherighthandsideofthekeysectionistheexternal(EX'T)inputsection
dividedintotwoparts—EXT 1 forchannel 1 andEXT2 forchannel2.Eachhasa
BNCsocketandanON/OFFswitchforenablinganddisablingtheinput.
'Totheirrightistheeightchannelcontrolsection.Onthepanelfromthetopdown
arc: thechannelnumber,a LEDindicatingthatthechannelisactive,a switchto
selectthepolarityoftheoutputpulses,a knobtoadjusttheoutputamplitude,anda
BNCsockettoconnecttheoutputtoexternaldevices.
Outputs'2-f3\'4 + 5'and'6-(-7-i-8'arethesummationsoftheoutputs 2+ 3, 4-1-5and
6+ 7 + 8 respectively.Thesesocketscanbeusedformultilevelpulses(e.g.---
pulses).'Thetwoswitchesaddthesummations 2+ 3 and/or6+7+8tothe'4 + 5'
output,thusthe'4+5'outputcandeliverupto7 levelspulses+ CiND.
Rearpanel
Ontherearpanelthereisa switchtoconnect/disconnectthegroundto/from
chassis.Sometimesthisswitchisusedtoreducethenoiselevelofthesystem.
IntheMaster-8-cpmodel(computerprogrammable)thereisa RS-232interface
forcommunicationwitha computer.

r
Operation
General
TheoperationofMaster-8issimpleandcanbelearnedina shorttime.Previous
parametersremaininthememoryevenafterthepowerhasbeenswitchedoff,
unlesstheparametersarechanged.
EveryinstructioniscarriedoutonlyafterpressingtheENTERkey.Aslongasthe
ENTERkeyhasnotbeenpressed,theinstructioncanbechangedordeletedby
givingnewinstructions(e.g.theCLEAR-DISPLAYinstruction).
Ifa non-operableinstructionisinserted,anerrormessageappearsonthedisplay.
Theunitdoesnotacceptthisinstructionandisreadytoreceivea newone.
Theparameters
Eachchannelhasitsparameters(DELAY,DURA,INTER,M)whichdefinethe
outputpulse(Seepicturebelow).
TheDURA(duration)parameterdefinesthetimeelapsefromtheonsetofthe
outputpulsetoitsend.
TheDELAYparameterdefinesthetimeelapsefromthebeginningoftheinput
triggertothebeginningoftheoutputpulse.
TheINTER(interval)parameterdefinesthetimeelapsebetweenthebeginningof
apulseandthebeginningofthefollowingpulse,(cycletime= I/rate).
TheM parameteristhenumberofpulsespertrainintheTRAINmode.
Jl
I«- interval
X
Jl
duration
zn R
delay
Beforeoperatinga channelina certainmode,therelevantparameterstothatmode
havetobeprogrammed:
IntheFREE-RUNandGATEmodes— DURATIONandINTERVAL.
IntheTRIGmode— DURATIONandDELAY.
IntheTRAINmode— DURATION,INTERVALandM.

Applications
ThefollowingillustrationgivesyouanideaofhowMaster-8works.Don'tfollow
theprogrammingyet,youwilldoitinthenextchapter.
duration
M=4
#5-
"L
Output4+5;Bilevelpulses(outU4+ outflSj
CHANNEL MODE
-4
^5
I-RHl-.-RUN
TRIG
TRAIN
DC
PARAMETERSINUSETRIGGEREDBY
duration,interval
duration,delay
duration,intcival,M
none
none
none
Note.sforthefigure:
®Triggeredexternallyormanually(byonekcy.stioke).
©'I'urnedonandoffmanually(byonekeystroke).
b)A specialfeatureofMaster-8isthe3 multileveloutputs:OUTPUTS '2+3',
'4+5', and'6+7+8'whichdeliverthesummationsoftheoutputs2+3,4+5and
6+7+8respectively.Theseoutputscanbeusedformultilevelpulses(e.g.+/-
pulses).Therearetwoswitchestoaddthesummations2+3and/or6+7+8tothe
'4+5' output,thusthe'4+5'outputcandeliverupto7 levelpulses+ GND.

Thefollowingareexamplesofoutputsthatyoucangetthroughthe'4+5'
output;
R
ADemonstrationofProgrammingMaster-8
Thischapter isa demonstrationofhowtoprogramtheMaster-8.Pleasefollowthe
instructionsandnoticehowsimpleandstraight-forwardtheinstructionsare.
Pleasenotethateachinstructionisfollowedbythepagenumberwhereyoucan
findmoredetailsonsimilarinstructions.Beforecontinuing,makesurethatyouare
familiarwiththelocationofthedifferentkeys(seepage4).
Thefirst stepistocleartheentirememoryofMaster-8—
Press: 'OFF,ALL,ALL,ALL,ENTER'(seepage14).
Thisinstructionclearsallparadigmsof Master-8. Nowwearereadytoprogramit.
1)Setchannel # 1 totheFREE-RUNmode,bypressing:'FREE, 1, ENTER'(see
page10).Channel #1 nowdeliverspulsescontinuously.Sincewehavenotyetsetthe
timeparameters,thechannelisrunningwithitsdefaulttimes:0.1secdurationand
0.2secinterval(fromthebeginningofa pulsetothebeginningofthenextone).
2)Nowlet'ssetthedurationtimeofchannel#1to9.5msec.Theformatof9.5
msec, willbe9.5x 10'sec.(orseveralotherformats,seepageII).
Press: 'DLIRA, 1' — Thepreviousdurationisdisplayed.Nowyougetthe
'FFFFFF',sincethedurationtimeofchannel#1hasneverbeenset.
Nowpress:'9.5,ENTER, 3, ENTER'.('3'formsec.Forsecondsuse'0',For^sec
use'6').Thedurationofchannel # 1 isnowexactly9.5msec.(Pleasecheckwitha
scope).
Nowlet'ssettheintervaltimeofchannel#1to2 sec.Whatdoyouhavetopress?
Press: 'INTERVAL,1,2,ENTER,0, ENTER'.(The'0'isbecauseyoucountin
seconds.)NowchanneWlisrunningintheFREE-RUNmode.Itsdurationtimeis
9.5msec, anditsintervaltimeis2 sec.

3)Let'ssetchannel#2tothetriggeredmode.
Press: 'TRIG,2,ENTER'(seepage10).and...nothinghappens.Channel#2is
nowontheTRIGGEREDmode,butiswaitingtoaccepta trigger.Youcan
triggeritin3 ways:
A)MANUALTRIGGERING— Press:'2'.('2'isthechannelnumber.)Note
thateachpresson'2'deliversthetriggeredpulse.Press'2'severaltimes.
B)EXTERNALTRIGGERING— Wheneverthereisaninputpulseinthe
'EXT2'inputittriggerschannel#2(seepage13).
C)INTERNALTRIGGERING— Youcaninternallyconnecteachchannelto
anynumberoftheotherchannels(seepage13).
(4)Let'sconnectchannel#1internallytochannel#2—
Press: 'CONNECT,!,2,ENTER'anditisconnected,(seepage13).
Eachoutputofchannel#1triggerschannel#2.Youdon'thavetoconnectwires
betweenchannels.Youalsodon'thavetoworryabouttheamplitudeorpolarityof
thetrigger source. Eventheinstructionitselfisverystraightforward(thesameway
youwouldsayit:'CONNECTfrom #1 to#2,ENTER').Pleasenotethatyoucan
addmanualpulsesbypressing'2'.
(5)Nowsetthedurationofchannel#2tobe15msec.—
Press: 'DURA,2,15,ENTER,3,ENTER'(seepageII).
(6)Setthedelayofchannel H 2 tobe100msec.—
Press: 'DELAY,2,100,ENTER,3,ENTER'(Pleasecheckthenewdelay).
(7)Let'ssetchannel#3tothetrainmode.Whatistheinstruction?
Right!Doyouseehowsimpleitis?
Press: 'TRAIN,3,ENTER'.
Channel#3isnowintheTRAINmodeandiswaitingfora trigger.
(8)Triggeritmanuallyseveraltimesbypressing'3'(seepage13).
(9)PULSESPERTRAIN
Set thenumberofpulsespertraininchannel#3tobe5.
Press: 'M,3,5,ENTER,0, ENTER'(seepage11).
NowtriggerChannel#3manuallyagainbypressing'3'.
(10)Nowconnectchannel#1totrigger#3.Whatistheinstruction?
Press: 'CONNECT,1,3,ENTER'(seepage13).
Channel #1 isnowtriggeringbothchannels#2 & #3. Pleasenotethe'-»'signonthe
panelabove the'1.3'digits.Thisarrowindicatesthedirectionoftheconnection.
AndnowforthemostpowerfulfeautreofMaster-8.Let'ssaythatyou
programmedallthe8 channelstorunina speciticpattern,whichisyourpresent
experiment.Nowyouwanttoswitchtoa newpattern(paradigm)thatalsousesall
the8 channels.WithMaster-8youcandothisveryeasily.Butfirst youhaveto
programtheotherparadigm.

(11) Press:'ALL'
Thenameofthepresentparadigm(now'1')isdisplayed.Inordertoswitchto
paradigm#5,Press:'5,ENTER'(seepage14).
Sincethisisa newparadigmallthechannelsareoff,alltheinternalconnectionsare
disconnectedandallthetimeparametershavetheirdefaultvalues.
(12)Setallthe8 channelstotheFREE-RUNmodebypressing:'FREE,1,
ENTER','FREE,2,ENTER',etc.Eachofthe8 channelsisnowrunning
continuouslyatitsownrate,independentoftheotherchannels(Nice,isn'tit?).
(13)Nowyoucanswitchbacktothepreviousparadigmbyrecallingit.
Press: 'ALL,1,ENTER'andyougetthepreviousparadigm.
Press: 'ALL,5,ENTER'andyougettheotherone.Allthechannelsarenow
workinginsynchronizationsinceyouinitiatedthemtogether.
(14)WhataboutturningthepowerofPLet'stryit.Turnthepoweroff.
Master-8storesallthe8 paradigmsevenwhenthepoweristurnedoff.Thereisa
lithiumbatteryformemoryretention.Thislithiumbatteryshouldbereplacedonly
after7 years.
(15)Nowturnthepoweron.Master-8immediatelycontinuesworkinginthelast
paradigmjustasbeforeyouturnedthepoweroff.
(16)Switchtoparadigm #1. Press:'ALL,1,ENTER'.Notethatthisparadigmis
alsostoredinthememoryafterturningthepoweroff.
DearUser,
Thelastchapterwasa briefdemonstrationofhowtouseMaster-8.Nowyouhave
someideaofhowMaster-8works,butitisnotenough.Therearemany
instructionsthatyouarenotyetfamiliarwithe.g.DC,GATE,CHECK,TIMER.
Eventhefeaturesthataredemonstratedabove areonlypartiallydemonstrated.
Pleasereadtherestofthismanualcarefullysothatyouwillnotmissanyimportant
feature.Pages 10-16 dealwiththeoperationof Master-8. Pages17-23areaboutthe
communicationofMaster-8-cpwitha computer.
(17)BeforecontinuingclearallthememoryofMaster-8—
Press: 'OFF,ALL,ALL,ALL,ENTER',(seepage14).

ModesofOperation
Eachofthe8 channelscanoperateinoneofthefollowingmodes:
FREERUN:Thechanneldeliverspulsescontinuouslyaccordingtothe
programmeddurationandintervaltimes.Thechannelisindependentoftheother
channels.
TRAIN:Followinga trigger,thechanneldeliversa trainofpulsesaccordingtothe
programmeddurationandintervaltimes.'Thenumberofpulsespertrainis
.setby'M'.
TRIG:Followinga trigger,thechanneldeliversa singlepulseaccordingtothe
programmeddelayanddurationtimes.
DC: Thechanneldeliversa DCpulse(timeindependent).Thechannelturnson
andoffmanually.
GATED:(availableonlyonchannels 1 and2,theexternalgateisinputthrough
EXT 1 orEXT2).'Thechanneldeliverspulsescontinuouslywhileitisexternally
gated.Whentheexternalinputstops,thechannelstopsworking.A newinput
reactivatesthechannel.
Beforeoperatinga channelinoneofthemodes,therelevantparameterstothat
modehavetobeprogrammed.
Whenononeofthemodes'TRAINor'TRIGthechannelcanbetriggeredby:
1)Manually.
2)'Theinternalconnections.
3)EXT1 (forchannel1 only)EXT2 (forchannel2 only).
Settingthemodesofoperation
Inordertosetthemodeofoperationof a channel,first press thechosenmodekey
thenthechannelnumber.
Example1:Inordertosetchannel#2totheFREE-RUNmode—
Press: 'FREE,2,ENTER'.
Channel#2nowdeliverspulsescontinuously,accordingtothedurationand
intervalpreprogrammedtimes(orthedefaulttimes).
Example2:Inordertosetchannel#3totheTRAINmode—
Press: 'TRAIN;3,ENTER'.
Channel^3isnowontheTRAINmode.Thereareseveralwaystotriggerit.
Triggeritnowmanuallybypre.ssing '3' (thechannelnumber).
Example3:Inordertoturnoffchannel#2—
Press: 'OFF,2,ENTER'.
Example4:Inordertoturnoffallthechannels—
Press: 'OFF,ALL,EN'TER'.
101