Meilhaus RedLab 1008 User manual

RedLab 1008™
USB-based
Analog and Digital I/O Module
User's Guide
Document Revision 1.4 E, January, 2008
© Copyright 2008, Meilhaus Electronic

3
Imprint
User’s Guide RedLab® Series
Document Revision 1.4 E
Revision Date: January 2008
Meilhaus Electronic GmbH
Fischerstraße 2
D-82178 Puchheim near Munich, Germany
http://www.meilhaus.de
© Copyright 2008 Meilhaus Electronic GmbH
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may 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 Meilhaus Electronic GmbH.
Important note:
All the information included in this user’s gide were put together with utmost care and to best
knowledge. However, mistakes may not have been erased completely.
For this reason, the firm Meilhaus Electronic GmbH feels obliged to point out that they cannot be take
on neither any warranty (apart from the claims for warranty as agreed) nor legal responsibility or
liability for consequences caused by incorrect instructions.
We would appreciate it if you inform us about any possible mistakes.
The trademark Personal Measurement Device, TracerDAQ, Universal Library, InstaCal, Harsh
Environment Warranty, Measurement Computing Corporation, and the Measurement Computing logo
are either trademarks or registered trademarks of Measurement Computing Corporation.
Windows, Microsoft, and Visual Studio are either trademarks or registered trademarks of Microsoft
Corporation.
LabVIEW is a trademark of National Instruments.
CompactFlash is a registered trademark of SanDisk Corporation.
XBee is a trademark of MaxStream, Inc.
All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
.

4
Table of Contents
Preface
About this User's Guide .......................................................................................................................6
What you will learn from this user's guide .........................................................................................................6
Conventions in this user's guide .........................................................................................................................6
Where to find more information .........................................................................................................................6
Chapter 1
Introducing the RedLab 1008...............................................................................................................7
RedLab 1008 block diagram...............................................................................................................................8
Software features ................................................................................................................................................8
Connecting a RedLab 1008 to your computer is easy ........................................................................................9
Chapter 2
Installing the RedLab 1008.................................................................................................................10
What comes with your RedLab 1008 shipment? ..............................................................................................10
Hardware .........................................................................................................................................................................10
Additional documentation................................................................................................................................................10
Unpacking the RedLab 1008 ............................................................................................................................11
Installing the software ......................................................................................................................................11
Installing the hardware .....................................................................................................................................11
Chapter 3
Functional Details ...............................................................................................................................13
Theory of operation - analog input acquisition modes .....................................................................................13
Software paced mode.......................................................................................................................................................13
Continuous scan mode .....................................................................................................................................................13
Burst scan mode...............................................................................................................................................................13
External components ........................................................................................................................................14
USB connector.................................................................................................................................................................14
Status LED.......................................................................................................................................................................14
Digital I/O connector and pin out.....................................................................................................................................15
Screw terminal wiring......................................................................................................................................................16
Main connectors and pin outs ..........................................................................................................................................18
Analog input terminals (CH0 In - CH7 In) ......................................................................................................................18
Digital I/O terminals (DIO0 - DIO3) ...............................................................................................................................21
Power terminals ...............................................................................................................................................................22
Ground terminals .............................................................................................................................................................22
Calibration terminal .........................................................................................................................................................22
Testing terminal ...............................................................................................................................................................22
Counter terminal ..............................................................................................................................................................23
Accuracy...........................................................................................................................................................23
Channel gain queue ..........................................................................................................................................25
Digital connector cabling..................................................................................................................................26
Chapter 4
Specifications......................................................................................................................................28
Analog Input.....................................................................................................................................................28
Analog output ...................................................................................................................................................29
Digital input / output (screw terminal DIO3:0) ................................................................................................30
Digital input / output (DB37) ...........................................................................................................................30
External trigger.................................................................................................................................................30
Counters............................................................................................................................................................31
Non-volatile memory........................................................................................................................................31

RedLab 1008 User's Guide
5
Power................................................................................................................................................................31
General .............................................................................................................................................................32
Environmental ..................................................................................................................................................32
Mechanical .......................................................................................................................................................32
Main connector and pin out ..............................................................................................................................32
4-channel differential mode .............................................................................................................................................32
8-channel single-ended mode...........................................................................................................................................32
DB37 connector and pin out.............................................................................................................................33

6
Preface
About this User's Guide
What you will learn from this user's guide
This user's guide explains how to install, configure, and use the RedLab 1008. This guide also refers you to
related documents available on our web site, and to technical support resources.
Conventions in this user's guide
For more information on …
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.
<#:#> Angle brackets that enclose numbers separated by a colon signify a range of numbers, such as those assigned
to registers, bit settings, etc.
bold text Bold text is used for the names of objects on the screen, such as buttons, text boxes, and check boxes. For
example:
1. Insert the disk or CD and click the OK button.
italic text Italic text is used for the names of manuals and help topic titles, and to emphasize a word or phrase. For
example:
The InstaCal installation procedure is explained in the Quick Start Guide.
Never touch the exposed pins or circuit connections on the board.
Where to find more information
The following electronic documents provide helpful information relevant to the operation of the RedLab 1008.
The Quick Start Guide is available on our RedLab CD in the root directory.
The Guide to Signal Connections is available on our RedLab CD under „ICalUL\Documents“.
The Universal Library User's Guide is available on our RedLab CD under „ICalUL\Documents“.
The Universal Library Function Reference is available on our RedLab CD under „ICalUL\Documents“.
The Universal Library for LabVIEW™User’s Guide is available on our RedLab CD under
„ICalUL\Documents“.

7
Chapter 1
Introducing the RedLab 1008
This user's guide contains all of the information you need to connect the RedLab 1008 to your computer and to
the signals you want to measure.
The RedLab 1008 is a USB 1.1 low-speed analog and digital I/O device that is supported under popular
Microsoft®Windows®operating systems. The RedLab 1008 is fully compatible with both USB 1.1 and USB
2.0 ports.
The RedLab 1008 features eight 12-bit analog input signal connections and 28 digital I/O connections. It is
powered by the +5 volt USB supply. No external power is required.
Two screw terminals rows provide connections for eight analog inputs, two 10-bit analog outputs, four
bidirectional digital I/O lines, and one 32-bit external event counter. You can configure the analog input
connections with software as either four single-ended or eight differential channels. All analog connections
terminate at the screw terminals.
24 bidirectional digital I/O lines are also available on a 37-pin connector.
An on-board industry standard 82C55 programmable peripheral interface chip provides 24 digital I/O lines that
terminate at a 37-pin connector.
The RedLab 1008 USB device is shown in Figure 1.
Figure 1. RedLab 1008

RedLab 1008 User's Guide Introducing the RedLab 1008
8
RedLab 1008 block diagram
RedLab 1008 functions are illustrated in the block diagram shown here.
Figure 2. RedLab 1008 Functional Block Diagram
Software features
For information on the features of InstaCal and the other software included with your RedLab 1008, refer to the
Quick Start Guide that shipped with your device. The Quick Start Guide is also available in PDF on our RedLab
CD in the root directory.
USB
Microcontroller
82C55
DIO
DB37 I/O Connector
USB1.1
Compliant
Interface
4 Auxillary
DIO Bits
12-Bit
Analog Input
8 SE / 4 Diff.
10-Bit
Analog Output
2 channel
32-Bit Event
Counter
Screw Terminal
I/O Connector

RedLab 1008 User's Guide Introducing the RedLab 1008
9
Connecting a RedLab 1008 to your computer is easy
Installing a data acquisition device has never been easier.
The RedLab 1008 relies upon the Microsoft Human Interface Device (HID) class drivers. The HID class
drivers ship with every copy of Windows that is designed to work with USB ports. We use the Microsoft
HID because it is a standard, and its performance delivers full control and maximizes data transfer rates for
your RedLab 1008. No third-party device driver is required.
The RedLab 1008 is plug-and-play. There are no jumpers to position, DIP switches to set, or interrupts to
configure.
You can connect the RedLab 1008 before or after you install the software, and without powering down
your computer first. When you connect an HID to your system, your computer automatically detects it and
configures the necessary software. You can connect and power multiple HID peripherals to your system
using a USB hub.
You can connect your system to various devices using a standard four-wire cable. The USB connector
replaces the serial and parallel port connectors with one standardized plug and port combination.
You do not need a separate power supply module. The USB automatically delivers the electrical power
required by each peripheral connected to your system.
Data can flow two ways between a computer and peripheral over USB connections.

10
Chapter 2
Installing the RedLab 1008
What comes with your RedLab 1008 shipment?
As you unpack your RedLab 1008 device, verify that the following components are included:
Hardware
RedLab 1008 device
USB cable
Additional documentation
In addition to this hardware user's guide, you should also receive the Quick Start Guide (available on our
RedLab CD (root directory)). This booklet supplies a brief description of the software you received with your
RedLab 1008 and information regarding installation of that software. Please read this booklet completely before
installing any software or hardware.

RedLab 1008 User's Guide Installing the RedLab 1008
11
Unpacking the RedLab 1008
As with any electronic device, you should take care while handling to avoid damage from static
electricity. Before removing the RedLab 1008 from its packaging, ground yourself using a wrist strap or by
simply touching the computer chassis or other grounded object to eliminate any stored static charge.
If your RedLab 1008 is damaged, notify Measurement Computing Corporation immediately by phone, fax, or e-
mail. For international customers, contact your local distributor where you purchased the RedLab 1008.
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
E-Mail: [email protected]
Installing the software
Refer to the Quick Start Guide for instructions on installing the software Guide (available on our RedLab CD
(root directory)).
Installing the hardware
Be sure you are using the latest system software
Before you connect the RedLab 1008, make sure that you are using the latest versions of the USB drivers.
Before installing the RedLab 1008, download and install the latest Microsoft Windows updates. In particular,
when using Windows XP, make sure you have XP Hotfix KB822603 installed. This update is intended to
address a serious error in Usbport.sys when you operate a USB device. You can run Windows Update or
download the update from www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=733dd867-56a0-4956-b7fe-
e85b688b7f86&displaylang=en. For more information, refer to the Microsoft Knowledge Base article
"Availability of the Windows XP SP1 USB 1.1and 2.0update." This article is available at
support.microsoft.com/?kbid=822603.
To connect the RedLab 1008 to your system, turn your computer on, and 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 cable provides power
and communication to the RedLab 1008.
When you connect the RedLab 1008 for the first time, a Found New Hardware popup balloon (Windows XP)
or dialog (other Windows version) displays as the RedLab 1008 is detected by your computer.
Another Found New Hardware balloon or dialog opens after the first closes that identifies the RedLab 1008 as
a USB Human Interface Device. This balloon or dialog indicates that your RedLab 1008 is installed and ready
to use.
When the balloon or dialog closes, the LED on the RedLab 1008 should flash and then remain lit. This indicates
that communication is established between the RedLab 1008 and your computer.

RedLab 1008 User's Guide Installing the RedLab 1008
12
Caution! Do not disconnect any device from the USB bus while the computer is communicating with the
RedLab 1008, or you may lose data and/or your ability to communicate with the RedLab 1008.
If the LED turns off
If the status LED is illuminated but then turns off, the computer has lost communication with the RedLab 1008.
To restore communication, disconnect the USB cable from the computer, and then reconnect it. This should
restore communication, and the LED should turn back on.

13
Chapter 3
Functional Details
Theory of operation - analog input acquisition modes
The RedLab 1008 can acquire analog input data in three different modes – software paced, continuous scan, and
burst scan.
Software paced mode
In software paced mode, the RedLab 1008 gathers data in a single acquisition or as a group of single
acquisitions. An analog-to-digital conversion is initiated with a software command, and the single data point
result is returned to the host. This operation may be repeated until the required number of samples is obtained
for the channel (or channels) in use. Software pacing is limited by the 20 mS round-trip requirement of a USB
interrupt-type endpoint operation. This yields a maximum throughput in software paced mode of 50 S/s.
Continuous scan mode
In continuous scan mode, the RedLab 1008 gathers data in a single-channel or multi-channel sequence. This
sequence converts, transfers, and stores data to a user buffer until the scan is stopped. In this mode, digitized
data is continuously written to an on-board FIFO buffer. This FIFO is serviced in blocks as the data is
transferred from the RedLab 1008 to the user buffer in the host PC.
The maximum continuous scan rate of 1.2 kS/s is an aggregate rate. The total acquisition rate for all channels
cannot exceed 1.2 kS/s. You can acquire data from one channel at 1.2 kS/s, two channels at 600 S/s and four
channels at 300 S/s. You can start a continuous scan with either a software command or with an external
hardware trigger event.
Burst scan mode
In burst scan mode, the RedLab 1008 gathers data using the full capacity of its 4 K sample FIFO buffer. You
can initiate a single acquisition sequence of one, two, or four channels by either a software command or an
external hardware trigger. The captured data is then read from the FIFO and transferred to a user buffer in the
host PC.
Since the data is acquired at a rate faster than it can be transferred to the host, burst scans are limited to the
depth of the on-board memory. As with continuous mode, the maximum sampling rate is an aggregate rate.
Consequently, the maximum burst mode rates are 8 kS/s, 4 kS/s and 2 kS/s for one, two and four channels,
respectively.

RedLab 1008 User's Guide Functional Details
14
External components
The RedLab 1008 has the following external components, as shown in Figure 3.
USB connector
Status LED
Digital I/O connector
Screw terminal banks (2)
Figure 3. RedLab 1008 external components
USB connector
The USB connector is located on the bottom edge of the RedLab 1008. This connector provides +5 V power
and communication. The voltage supplied through the USB connector is system-dependent, and may be less
than 5 V. No external power supply is required.
Caution! The USB +5V Out pins on the DB37 connector are outputs. Do not connect an external 5 V supply
or you may damage the RedLab 1008 and possibly the computer.
Status LED
The STATUS LED on the front of the RedLab 1008 indicates the communication status. It uses up to
5 milliamperes (mA) of current and cannot be disabled. The table below explains the function of the RedLab
1008 LED.
STATUS LED
Pin 1
Pin 15
Screw terminal
p
ins 1 to 15
Pin 16
Pi
n30
Screw terminal
p
ins 16 to 30
USB connector
Di
g
ital I/O connector

RedLab 1008 User's Guide Functional Details
15
LED Illumination
When the LED is… It indicates…
Steady The RedLab 1008 is connected to a computer or external USB hub.
Blinks continuously Data is being transferred.
Blinks three times Initial communication is established between the RedLab 1008 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.
Digital I/O connector and pin out
Digital I/O connections are made to the DB37 connector on the top edge of the RedLab 1008. This connector
provides connections for 24 digital lines (Port A0 to Port C7), six ground connections (GND), and two power
output terminals (USB +5V Out). Refer to Figure 4 and the table below for the DB37 connector pin out.
Digital I/O connections (Port A0 through Port C7)
The 24 digital I/O pins (Port A0-A7, Port B0-B7 and Port C0-C7) are TTL-level compatible. Each pin has a
47 kilohm (kΩ) pull-up resistor and is configured as an input by default. If needed, the RedLab 1008 can be
factory configured to provide pull-down resistors.
Caution! Port A0 through Port C7 have no overvoltage/short circuit protection. Do not exceed the voltage
limits or you may damage the pin or the RedLab 1008. To protect these pins, you should use a series
resistor.
19
37
1
20
Figure 4. DB37 Digital I/O connector
DB37 connector pin out
Pin Signal Name Pin Signal Name
1 n/c 20 USB +5V Out
2 n/c 21 GND
3 Port B7 22 Port C7
4 Port B6 23 Port C6
5 Port B5 24 Port C5
6 Port B4 25 Port C4
7 Port B3 26 Port C3
8 Port B2 27 Port C2
9 Port B1 28 Port C1
10 Port B0 29 Port C0
11 GND 30 Port A7
12 n/c 31 Port A6
13 GND 32 Port A5
14 n/c 33 Port A4
15 GND 34 Port A3
16 n/c 35 Port A2
17 GND 36 Port A1
18 USB +5V Out 37 Port A0

RedLab 1008 User's Guide Functional Details
16
Pin Signal Name Pin Signal Name
19 GND
Refer to the "Digital connector cabling" section for descriptions of cables that are compatible with the DB37
digital I/O connector. (Phone:: [phone], Fax: [phone] or E-Mail: [email protected].
Caution! The USB +5V Out pins on the DB37 connector are outputs. Do not connect an external 5 V supply
or you may damage the RedLab 1008 and possibly the computer.
Screw terminal wiring
The RedLab 1008 has two rows of screw terminals. Each row has 15 connections. Pin numbers are identified in
Figure 5. The pins are labeled for eight-channel single-ended mode operations.
Figure 5. RedLab 1008 screw terminals
Screw terminal pins 1-15
The screw terminals on the left edge of the RedLab 1008 (pins 1 to 15) provide the following connections:
Eight analog input connections (CH0 IN to CH7 IN)
Four GND connections (GND)
One calibration terminal (CAL)
Two power connectors (PC +5 V)
Pin 15 Pin 30
Pin 1 Pin 16

RedLab 1008 User's Guide Functional Details
17
Screw terminal pins 16-30
The screw terminals on the right edge of the RedLab 1008 (pins 16 to 30) provide the following connections:
Four digital I/O connections (DIO0 to DIO3)
Two analog output connections (D/A OUT 0 to D/A OUT 1)
One external event counter connection (CTR)
One testing and calibration terminal (TST)
Five ground connections (GND)
Two power connectors (PC +5 V)

RedLab 1008 User's Guide Functional Details
18
Main connectors and pin outs
Connector type Screw terminal
Wire gauge range 16 AWG to 26 AWG
4-channel differential mode pin out
Note that the pins are labeled for 8-channel
single-ended mode on the RedLab 1008.
CH0 IN HI 1
CH0 IN LO 2
GND 3
CH1 IN HI 4
CH1 IN LO 5
GND 6
CH2 IN HI 7
CH2 IN LO 8
GND 9
CH3 IN HI 10
CH3 IN LO 11
GND 12
PC +5 V 13
PC +5 V 14
CAL 15
16 DIO0
17 DIO1
18 GND
19 DIO2
20 DIO3
21 GND
22 D/A OUT0
23 D/A OUT1
24 GND
25 CTR
26 GND
27 GND
28 PC +5 V
29 PC +5 V
30 TST
8-channel single-ended mode pin out
Note that the pins are labeled for 8-channel
single-ended mode on the RedLab 1008.
CH0 IN 1
CH1 IN 2
GND 3
CH2 IN 4
CH3 IN 5
GND 6
CH4 IN 7
CH5 IN 8
GND 9
CH6 IN 10
CH7 IN 11
GND 12
PC +5 V 13
PC +5 V 14
CAL 15
16 DIO0
17 DIO1
18 GND
19 DIO2
20 DIO3
21 GND
22 D/A OUT0
23 D/A OUT1
24 GND
25 CTR
26 GND
27 GND
28 PC +5 V
29 PC +5 V
30 TST
Analog input terminals (CH0 In - CH7 In)
Connect up to eight analog input connections to the screw terminal connections labeled CH0 In through CH7 In.
Refer to the pinout diagrams on page 18 for the location of these pins.
You can configure the analog input channels as eight single-ended channels or four differential channels. When
configured for differential mode, each analog input has 12-bit resolution. When configured for single-ended
mode, each analog input has 11-bit resolution, due to restrictions imposed by the A/D converter.

RedLab 1008 User's Guide Functional Details
19
Single-ended configuration
When all of the analog input channels are configured for single-ended input mode, eight analog channels are
available. In single-ended mode, the input signal is referenced to signal ground (GND). The input signal is
delivered through two wires:
The wire carrying the signal to be measured connects to CH# IN.
The second wire connects to GND.
The input range for single-ended mode is ±10 V max, with a gain of 2. No other gains are supported in single-
ended mode.
Figure 6 illustrates a typical single-ended measurement connection.
GND
CH0
CH1 (differential configuration)
1.5
+
-
Figure 6. Single-ended measurement connection
Single-ended measurements using differential channels
To perform a single-ended measurement using differential channels, connect the voltage to an analog input with
an even-number, and ground the associated odd-numbered analog input. This configuration is shown in Figure
6.
Differential configuration
When all of the analog input channels are configured for differential input mode, four analog channels are
available. In differential mode, the input signal is measured with respect to the low input.
The input signal is delivered through three wires:
The wire carrying the signal to be measured connects to CH<0, 2, 4, 6> IN. In differential mode, the even
numbered channels are considered HI inputs. Hence, CH0 IN, CH2 IN, CH4 IN and CH6 IN are considered
HI input channels.
The wire carrying the reference signal connects to CH<1, 3, 5, 7> IN. In differential mode the odd
numbered channels are considered the LO input. Hence, CH1 IN, CH3 IN, CH5 IN and CH7 IN are
considered LO input channels.
The third wire connects to GND.
When should you use a differential mode configuration?
Differential input mode is the preferred configuration for applications in noisy environments, or when the signal
source is referenced to a potential other than PC ground.
A low-noise precision programmable gain amplifier (PGA) is available on differential channels to provide gains
of up to 20 and a dynamic range of up to 16-bits.
In differential mode, the following two requirements must be met for linear operation:
Any analog input must remain in the −10 V to +20 V range with respect to ground at all times.

RedLab 1008 User's Guide Functional Details
20
The maximum differential voltage on any given analog input pair must remain within the selected voltage
range.
The input [common-mode voltage + signal] of the differential channel must be in the −10 V to +20 V range in
order to yield a useful result.
For example, you input a 4 volt peak-to-peak (Vpp) sine wave to CHHI, and apply the same sine wave 180° out
of phase to CHLO. The common mode voltage is 0 V. The differential input voltage swings from 4 V-(-4 V) =
8 V to -4 V-4 V = -8 V. Both inputs satisfy the -10 V to +20 V input range requirement, and the differential
voltage is suited for the ±10 V input range (see Figure 7).
+4V
-4V
+4V
-4V
0V
CHLO
CHHI
+/-8V
8V Differential
Measured Signal
Figure 7. Differential voltage example: common mode voltage of 0 V
If you increase the common mode voltage to 11 V, the differential remains at ±8 V. Although the [common-
mode voltage + signal] on each input now has a range of +7 V to +15 V, both inputs still satisfy the -10 V to
+20 V input requirement (see Figure 8).
+11V
+7V
+11V
+/-8V
+15V
8V Differential
CHLO
CHHI Measured Signal
Figure 8. Differential voltage example: common mode voltage of 11 V
If you decrease the common-mode voltage to -7 V, the differential stays at ±8 V. However, the solution now
violates the input range condition of -10 V to +20 V. The voltage on each analog input now swings from -3 V to
-11 V. Voltages between -10 V and -3 V are resolved, but those below -10 V are clipped (see Figure 9).
-3V
-11V
-7V
+/-7V
8V Differential
-11V
-7V
-3V
3V
CHLO
CHHI Measured Signal
Figure 9. Differential voltage example: common mode voltage of -7 V