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Key Digital ES381 - page 1
ELAN DIGITAL SYSTEMS LTD. LITTLE PARK FARM ROAD, SEGENSWORTH WEST, FAREHAM, HANTS. PO15 5SJ. TEL: (44) (0)1489 579799 FAX: (44) (0)1489 577516 e-mail: support@pccard.co.uk webs ite : htt p:/ /www.p cca rd. co. uk USBcount50 USER’S GUIDE ES381 Important Notice: Please refer to Safety Data 4.4.1, before using this instrument All Trademarks are duly ...
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CONTENTS 1 OVERVIEW................................................................................................ 5 2 ABOUT THE US BCOUNT50 ..................................................................... 6 2.1 General ............................................................................................................ 6 2.2 USBcount5 ...
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4.4.4 Software ................................................................................................... 30 Elan Digital Systems Ltd. 3 USBcount50 USER’S GUIDE Iss1 ...
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Disclaimer This document has been carefully prepa red and checked. No responsibility can be assumed for inaccuracies. El an reserves the right to make changes without prior notice to any products herein to improve functionality, reliability or other design aspects. Elan does not assume any liability for loses arisin g out of the use of any product ...
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Key Digital ES381 - page 5
1 OVERVIEW The USBcount50 is an isolated dig ital pulse counter that has the following features: • Single channel pulse counter with BNC input and USB PC interface • Each USBcount50 can be stacked to increase channel count (each requires its own USB connection) 1 • 300V Cat II isolation between BNC ground and USB ground 2 This means that ther ...
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2 ABOUT THE USBcount50 2.1 General The USBcount50 has been designed to allow a broad range of input frequencies and pulses to be measur ed. The input stage supply is programmable to allow the counter to work in circuits generating various Voh levels. Each USBcount50 can be used as an independent single channel counter but to enhance flexibility sev ...
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Key Digital ES381 - page 7
2.2 USBcount50 Architecture The figure below shows a simplified diagram of the USBcount50. CONTR OLLER & COUNT ER STAC K CONN BNC PSU DA T A USB CONTROLLER USB ISOLA T ION BAR RIER 8-B IT DA C ` Vsuppl y INPU T PROT ECT ION Figure 2.2-1 USBcount50 Architecture Diagram Elan Digital Systems Ltd. 7 USBcount50 USER’S GUIDE Iss1 ...
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2.3 Using More Than One USBcount50 2.3.1 S tacked Mode A unique feature of the USBcount50 architecture is that up to 4 devices 3 can be stacked to make a multi-channel instrument. In order to use a stacked configuration, you must purchase the stacking connector kit . This kit comprises 3 long lead connectors and 1 short lead connector as shown: 2.3 ...
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Key Digital ES381 - page 9
Repeat this for all except the last counter to be stacked. For the last counter in the stack, do the same as above but use the short length connector. This time, the pins are shorter so they stop well inside the counter’s case. This counter MUST be the bottom counter in the stack . The reason for this is that if you use the long connector, the pi ...
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Start with the bottom counter. Hold it in one hand, and put the next counter on top of the 1 st , the same way around. Align the stacking connectors and when the stacking connectors are partly mated engage the front “P” shaped clip (BNC end) on the 2 nd counter into the “P” shaped slot on the 1 st counter. Now, bring the back edge “P” c ...
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Key Digital ES381 - page 11
2.3.1.3 USB Connections For Stacked Configurations All stacked counters need a USB connection . A standard hub may be useful for multi-channel stacks to get enough USB ports. Each counter needs about 200mA. Plugging more than 2 counters into a hub will mean that the hub may need to be powered externally. Please refer to the hub’s documentation fo ...
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The “about” tab lists all the counters that have been found. The list shows the serial number and revision data for each counter. Elan Digital Systems Ltd. 12 USBcount50 USER’S GUIDE Iss1 ...
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2.3.1.5 Stacking Do’s And Don’ts • Do power off all counters (remove USB lead) before connecting and disconnecting counters from the stack • Don’t remove any counters from the stack while the software is running • Don’t remove any counters from the stack while any of them are powered • Don’t stack several counters and leave one or ...
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Key Digital ES381 - page 14
2.3.2 Non-S tacked (MIS) Mode It is also possible to use multiple USBcount50s as independent instruments. In this mode, the counters are NOT connected together via the stacking interface 4 . This configuration is also termed Multi-Instrument mode or MIS mode. In MIS mode, each counter can use its own timebase setting, and each counter input will re ...
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Key Digital ES381 - page 15
where “p” is the COM port number and “c” is the assigned channel number. For example, if you want to run 2 counters in MIS mode, use Window’s Device Manager to get the two COM port numbers for the two counters (see 3.2). Lets assume they are COM4 and COM5. Next, locate the USBcount50.exe program (normally under “Program FilesUSBcount50 ...
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Key Digital ES381 - page 16
2.4 Input Control 2.4.1 Input Supply The USBcount50 supports a progra mmable input supply via the slider control. Supplies from 1.50V to 5.00V are po ssible, and the slider control adjusts in 256 steps of 13.67mV per st ep. This range allows the user to match against common industry standard logic levels present in their circuit to be measured 6 . ...
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Key Digital ES381 - page 17
2.5 Counter Modes 2.5.1 General In RUN mode, the counter continually display readings (assuming these is an input signal of course). Clicking ONCE, takes a single read ing and then places the counter into STOP mode, so that further readings cease. During measurements, the indicator in the reading panel changes colour depending on the state of the i ...
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Green means the reading is done. Red means the reading over-flowed i. e. external period too long or external frequency too high. Try a shorter internal period or lower internal frequency. If the counter waits for more than 2 seconds whilst in Period mode and no external signal has been de tected, the indicator will blink rapidly white-grey-white-g ...
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2.5.2 Fr equency Mode The counter can be put into Frequency mode using the selection button shown below. Note too that clicking on a new period selection item will change to Frequency mode. In this mode of operation, the counter will use an internally generated gating period of 0.1s, 1s or 10s, to integrate (count) pulses that arrive at the input d ...
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2.5.3 Period Mode Period mode uses an internally ge nerated reference clock to time the period between two edges on the input waveform. It is selected as shown. The reference clock can be selected from 100MHz, 10MHz or 1MHz. The pair of edges that is timing is measured can be selected from: FALLING -> FALLING RISING -> FALLING FALLING -> R ...
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Period mode should be used if you have a single pulse or a slow input frequency. In the latter cas e, by timing the period from edge to edge allows a very accurate measurement of low frequencies by simply inverting the period measured . This is known as reciprocal mode. The software shows this reciprocal. Elan Digital Systems Ltd. 21 USBcount50 USE ...
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2.5.4 Period Mode 3 SOFTW ARE INST ALLA TION 3.1 Windows 98SE and Windows M e Before plugging in the hardware: Use the supplied install CD and run the setup program. This will copy all the required files and drivers to your PC. After running the setup program: Insert the USBcount50 into a free USB socket, or into a USB hub port. A USB extension cab ...
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Key Digital ES381 - page 23
Once the hardware has installed, there is no need to make any settings for the allocated COM port… the software takes care of all this at run time. Start the USBcount50 software and you will see the following display 9 : To find out what the various bu ttons and knobs do, simply hover over them for a brief explanation. 9 A 2 channel example i s s ...
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3.2 Windows 2K and XP 10 Before plugging in the hardware: Use the supplied install CD and run the setup program. This will copy all the required files and drivers to your PC. After running the setup program: Insert the USBcount50 into a free USB socket, or into a USB hub port. A USB extension cable can be used if needed. During installation, two ha ...
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Once the hardware has installed, there is no need to make any settings for the allocated COM port… the software takes care of all this at run time. Start the USBcount50 software and you will see the following display 13 : To find out what the various bu ttons and knobs do, simply hover over them for a brief explanation. 13 A 1 channel example is ...
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3.3 T roubleshooting • Check that the counter hardware installed properly. Use the device manager as shown above and check that there are no yellow exclamation marks on any of the USBcount50 devices. If there are, try deleting that device, then un-plug and re-plug the counter. • Make sure that you do not press cancel or stop during any part of ...
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Key Digital ES381 - page 27
4 HARDW ARE SPECIFICA TION All parameters typical @ 20 ° C unless otherwise stated 4.1 Power Requirements Supply Voltage: 5.0V ±10% from host USB bus Total Supply Current: 200mA avg 4.2 Mechanical Mass: 42g typ. Case Material Data: Polycarbonate (UL94V rated) Size (typical in mm): 99.6 15 x 30.6 x 17.5 16 4.3 Environmental Humidity: <80% non c ...
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4.4 Performance 4.4.1 Safety Data and Maximum Ratings Important Safety Precautions Always observe these when using the USBcount50 The USBcount50 contains no user serviceable parts inside. Do not open the plastic housing. There may be lethal voltages insi de the plastic housing. Do not use the instrument if the housing is damaged or is poorly fittin ...
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Key Digital ES381 - page 29
Isolation rating: 300V CAT II, 500V CAT I between BNC ground and USB ground Transient isolation 17 : BNC ground to USB ground +/-2.5KV 4.4.2 Performance Measurement modes: Frequency and Period RUN mode: Continuous readings STOP mode: Readings frozen ONCE mode: Single reading returning to STOP Input connector: BNC Input DC resistance: 1Meg to GND fo ...
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Key Digital ES381 - page 30
Elan Digital Systems Ltd. 30 USBcount50 USER’S GUIDE Iss1 4.4.4 Softwar e USBcount50 support: W in98SE/Me/2000/XP Recommended system: Pentium Class 600MHz or better, 16-Bit colour depth graphics or better with graphics acceleration, 800x600 min screen resolution, 256MBytes RAM USBcount50 registry hive: HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareVB and VBA Progra ...
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