Measurement Computing USB-1608FS User manual

USB-1608FS
Analog Input and Digital I/O
Document Revision 7A
January 2014
© Copyright 2014
User's Guide

HM USB-1608FS
Trademark and Copyright Information
Measurement Computing Corporation, InstaCal, Universal Library, and the Measurement Computing logo are
either trademarks or registered trademarks of MeasurementComputing Corporation. Refer to the Copyrights &
Trademarks section on mccdaq.com/legal for more information about Measurement Computing trademarks.
Other product and company namesmentioned herein are trademarks or trade names of their respective
companies.
©2014 MeasurementComputingCorporation. All rights reserved. No part of this publicationmay 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 Measurement Computing
Corporation.
Notice
Measurement Computing Corporation does not authorize any Measurement Computing Corporation product for
use in life support systems and/or devices without prior written consent from Measurement Computing
Corporation. Life support devices/systems are devices or systems that, a) are intended for surgical implantation
into the body, or b) support or sustain life and whose failure to perform can be reasonably expected to result in
injury. Measurement Computing Corporation products are not designed with the components required, and are
not subject to the testing required to ensure a level of reliability suitable for the treatment and diagnosis of
people.

3
Table of Contents
Preface
About this User's Guide .......................................................................................................................5
What you will learn from this user's guide .........................................................................................................5
Conventions in this user's guide .........................................................................................................................5
Where to find more information.........................................................................................................................5
Chapter 1
Introducing the USB-1608FS................................................................................................................6
Functional block diagram...................................................................................................................................6
Chapter 2
Installing the USB-1608FS....................................................................................................................7
What comes with your USB-1608FS shipment? ................................................................................................7
Hardware .......................................................................................................................................................................... 7
Software............................................................................................................................................................................ 7
Documentation.................................................................................................................................................................. 7
Unpacking...........................................................................................................................................................7
Installing the software ........................................................................................................................................7
Installing the hardware .......................................................................................................................................7
Calibrating the hardware.....................................................................................................................................8
Chapter 3
Functional Details .................................................................................................................................9
Analog input acquisition modes .........................................................................................................................9
Software paced.................................................................................................................................................................. 9
Hardware paced ................................................................................................................................................................ 9
BURSTIO......................................................................................................................................................................... 9
External components ........................................................................................................................................10
USB connector.................................................................................................................................................................10
LED .................................................................................................................................................................................10
Screw terminals................................................................................................................................................................10
Signal connections............................................................................................................................................11
Analog input....................................................................................................................................................................11
Channel-Gain queue ........................................................................................................................................................12
Digital I/O........................................................................................................................................................................12
Pull-up/down configuration .............................................................................................................................................12
Counter input...................................................................................................................................................................13
Trigger input....................................................................................................................................................................13
SYNC I/O ........................................................................................................................................................................13
Calibration output............................................................................................................................................................13
Ground.............................................................................................................................................................................14
Power output....................................................................................................................................................................14
Accuracy...........................................................................................................................................................14
Synchronized operations...................................................................................................................................17
Mechanical drawings........................................................................................................................................18
Chapter 4
Specifications......................................................................................................................................19
Analog input.....................................................................................................................................................19
Digital I/O.........................................................................................................................................................20
External trigger.................................................................................................................................................21
External clock input/output...............................................................................................................................21
Counter.............................................................................................................................................................22
Memory ............................................................................................................................................................22

USB-1608FS User's Guide
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Microcontroller.................................................................................................................................................22
Power................................................................................................................................................................23
General .............................................................................................................................................................23
Environmental ..................................................................................................................................................23
Mechanical .......................................................................................................................................................23
Screw terminal connector and pinout ...............................................................................................................23
Declaration of Conformity..................................................................................................................25

5
Preface
About this User's Guide
What you will learn from this user's guide
This user's guide describes the Measurement Computing USB-1608FS data acquisition device and lists device
specifications.
Conventions in this user's guide
For more information
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.
bold text Bold text is used for the names of objects on a screen, such as buttons, text boxes, and check boxes.
italic text Italic text is used for the names of manuals and help topic titles, and to emphasize a word or phrase.
Where to find more information
For additional information relevant to the operation of your hardware, refer to the Documents subdirectory
where you installed the MCC DAQ software (C:\Program Files\Measurement Computing\DAQ by default), or
search for your device on our website at www.mccdaq.com.

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Chapter 1
Introducing the USB-1608FS
The USB-1608FS is an analog input and digital I/O data acquisition device providing the following features:
Eight 16-bit single-ended (SE) analog input channels
Each input channel has a dedicated A/D converter for simultaneous sampling.
Software-selectable analog input ranges of ±10 V, ±5 V, ±2 V, and ±1 V
Eight individually configurable digital I/O channels
One 32-bit event counter
One external digital trigger input
Bidirectional external clock for synchronous operations with a second device.
Screw terminals for field wiring connections
The device is powered by the +5V USB supply from the computer, and requires no external power.
The USB-1608FS is a full-speed device that is compatible with both USB 1.1 and USB 2.0 ports. The speed of
the device may be limited when using a USB 1.1 port due to the difference in transfer rates on the USB 1.1
versions of the protocol (low-speed and full-speed).
Functional block diagram
USB-1608FS functions are illustrated in the block diagram shown here.
Figure 1. Functional block diagram

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Chapter 2
Installing the USB-1608FS
What comes with your USB-1608FS shipment?
The following items are shipped with the USB-1608FS.
Hardware
USB-1608FS
USB cable
Software
MCC DAQ CD
Documentation
In addition to this hardware user's guide, you should also receive the Quick Start Guide. This booklet provides
an overview of the MCC DAQ software you received with the device, and includes information about installing
the software. Please read this booklet completely before installing any software or hardware.
Unpacking
As with any electronic device, take care while handling to avoid damage from static electricity. Before
removing the USB-1608FS from its packaging, ground yourself using a wrist strap or touch either the computer
chassis or other grounded object to eliminate any stored static charge.
If the device is damaged, notify Measurement Computing Corporation immediately by phone, fax, or email.
Knowledgebase: kb.mccdaq.com
Phone: [phone] and follow the instructions for reaching Tech Support
Fax: [phone] to the attention of Tech Support
Email: [e-mail]
For international customers, contact your local distributor. Refer to the International Distributors section on our
web site at www.mccdaq.com/International.
Installing the software
Refer to the Quick Start Guide for instructions on installing the software on the MCC DAQ CD. This booklet is
available in PDF at www.mccdaq.com/PDFmanuals/DAQ-Software-Quick-Start.pdf.
Installing the hardware
Be sure you are using the latest system software
Before installing the device, run Windows Update to update your operating system with the latest HID and USB
drivers.
To connect the USB-1608FS to your system, connect the USB cable to a USB port on your computer or to an
external USB hub that is connected to your computer.
The USB-1608FS installs as a composite device with separate devices attached. When you connect the device
for the first time, a Found New Hardware dialog opens as each device interface is detected. This is normal.
After the device is installed its LED will blink and then remain on. This indicates that communication is
established between the USB-1608FS and your computer.

USB-1608FS User's Guide
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If the LED turns off
If communication is lost between the device and the computer, the device LED turns off. Disconnect the USB
cable from the computer and then reconnect it. This should restore communication, and the LED should turn on.
Calibrating the hardware
You can calibrate the USB-1608FS with InstaCal. Perform calibration whenever the ambient temperature
changes by more than ±10 °C from the last calibration.
The Measurement Computing Manufacturing Test department performs the initial factory calibration. Contact
Measurement Computing if you want to have the factory calibration coefficients restored.

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Chapter 3
Functional Details
Analog input acquisition modes
The USB-1608FS can acquire analog input data in three modes – software paced, hardware paced, and
BURSTIO.
Software paced
The USB-1608FS acquires data one analog sample at a time using software-paced mode. You initiate the A/D
conversion by calling a software command. The analog value is converted to digital and returned to the
computer. You can repeat this procedure until you have the total number of samples that you want.
The USB-1608FS can attain throughput rates up to 500 S/s using a software loop. This rate is system-
dependent.
Hardware paced
The USB-1608FS can acquire data from up to eight channels simultaneously in hardware-paced mode. The
analog data is acquired, converted to digital values, and written to an onboard FIFO buffer on the USB-1608FS
until you stop the scan. Data is transferred from the USB-1608FS FIFO buffer to the memory buffer on your
computer.
The A/D converter is paced by either an internal or external clock source.
The maximum sample rate is an aggregate rate. The total sample rate for all channels is 100 kS/s divided by the
number of channels, with a maximum rate of 50 kS/s for any channel. Using this equation, the USB-1608FS can
acquire data from one channel at 50 kS/s, two channels at 50 kS/s each, four channels at 25 kS/s each, and so
on, up to eight channels at 12.5 kS/s each. You start a hardware-paced scan with a software command.
Optionally, hardware-paced scans can be delayed by an external hardware trigger event.
BURSTIO
When using BURSTIO, the USB-1608FS can acquire data at higher rates using the full capacity of the
32 kilosample FIFO. The acquired data is then read from the FIFO and transferred to a user buffer in the
computer after the acquisition is complete. You can initiate a single acquisition sequence of one, two, four, or
eight channels with a software command. Optionally, BURSTIO scans can be delayed by an external hardware
trigger event.
When BURSTIO is enabled, the number of samples acquired in a scan is limited to the depth of the onboard
memory. The maximum sample rate in BURSTIO mode is an aggregate rate is 200 kS/s. The maximum sample
rate for all channels is 200 kS/s divided by the number of channels, with a maximum rate of 50 kS/s for any
channel.
The maximum sample rate that you can acquire data using BURSTIO is 50 kS/s each for one, two, or four
channels, and 25 kS/s each for eight channels.

USB-1608FS User's Guide
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External components
The external components – screw terminal banks, LED, and USB connector –are shown in Figure 2.
1 Screw terminal pins 21 to 40 3 Screw terminal pins 1 to 20
2 LED 4 USB connector
Figure 2. USB-1608FS components
USB connector
The USB connector provides +5 V power and communication. No external power supply is required.
LED
The LED indicates the communication status; it cannot be disabled. LED states are listed in the table below.
LED behavior
LED state Indication
On – steady green The device is connected to a computer or external USB hub.
Blinks once A USB command is received.
Blinks continuously Data is being transferred.
Blinks three times Initial communication is established between the USB-1608FS and the computer.
Blinks at a slow rate The analog input is configured for external trigger. The LED stops blinking and illuminates
steady green when the trigger is received.
Screw terminals
The screw terminals provide the following connections:
Eight analog inputs (CH0 IN to CH7 IN)
Eight digital I/O lines(DIO0 to DIO7)
One external event counter input (CTR)
One SYNC I/O terminal for external clocking and multi-unit synchronization (SYNC)
One external trigger input (TRIG_IN)
One calibration output (CAL)
One power output (PC +5 V)
analog ground (AGND) and digital ground (GND) connections