Getting Started > National Instruments Analogue/Digital Interface Unit
A National Instruments E or M Series multifunction interface unit is required to act as master clock, providing timing and control pulses to coordinate image capture, light source wavelength changes analogue signal capture and waveform generation. Multiple interface boards, synchronised using the National Instruments RTSI bus, can be used to increase the number of timing and stimulus waveform generation channels.
Select the National Instruments software library to be used to communicate with the interface board. If an M or X Series interface card is being used (.e.g. USB-6343, PCI 6221, PCI 6229, USB 6229 BNC), or a combination of M and E Series boards, select the NIDAQ-MX option. A list of installed interface cards available to WinFluor with number of available analogue inputs and outputs channels is displayed. Select the NIDAQ (Traditional) option when using E series boards when the older 'traditional' NIDAQ software library is installed instead of the NIDAQ-mx library.
Recommended Device (USB-6343-BNC)
Currently, the USB-6343(BNC connectivity) multifunction data acquisition unit is recommended.
It provides 32 analogue input channels (8 supported by WinFluor), 4 analogue voltage outputs and 8 TTL digital outputs.
Least Expensive Device (USB-6002)
The least expensive interface unit supported by WinFluor is the USB-6002
It provides 4 analogue inputs, 2 analogue voltage outputs and 8 TTL digital outputs (with limited functionality). Analogue sampling/timing intervals are limited to >= 0.2ms. TTL digital outputs are updated no faster than at 50 ms intervals and are not accurately synchronised with camera exposures, preventing their use for the control of multi-wavelength or time lapse imaging.
IMPORTANT NOTE:
Inputs PFI.0 and PFI.1 must be connected to digital output P1.0 as shown below for the analogue and input and output timing to work with the USB-6002 device.
