Instruction/ maintenance manual of the product ES381 Elan
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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 : h tt p:/ /www.p cca rd. co. uk USBcount50 USER’S GUIDE ES381 Important Notice: Please refer to Safety Data 4.
CONTENTS 1 OVERVIEW................................................................................................ 5 2 ABOUT THE US BCOUNT50 ..................................................................... 6 2.1 General .........................
4.4.4 Software ................................................................................................... 30 Elan Digital Systems Ltd. 3 USBcount50 USER’S GUIDE Iss1.
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.
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.
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.
2.2 USBcount50 Architecture The figure below shows a simplified diagram of the USBcount50. CONTR OLLER & COUNT ER STAC K CONN BNC PSU DA TA 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.
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 .
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 .
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.
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.
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.
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 th.
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.
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.
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 .
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
3.3 Troubleshooting • 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.
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.
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.
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 mod.
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 .
An important point after buying a device Elan ES381 (or even before the purchase) is to read its user manual. We should do this for several simple reasons:
If you have not bought Elan ES381 yet, this is a good time to familiarize yourself with the basic data on the product. First of all view first pages of the manual, you can find above. You should find there the most important technical data Elan ES381 - thus you can check whether the hardware meets your expectations. When delving into next pages of the user manual, Elan ES381 you will learn all the available features of the product, as well as information on its operation. The information that you get Elan ES381 will certainly help you make a decision on the purchase.
If you already are a holder of Elan ES381, but have not read the manual yet, you should do it for the reasons described above. You will learn then if you properly used the available features, and whether you have not made any mistakes, which can shorten the lifetime Elan ES381.
However, one of the most important roles played by the user manual is to help in solving problems with Elan ES381. Almost always you will find there Troubleshooting, which are the most frequently occurring failures and malfunctions of the device Elan ES381 along with tips on how to solve them. Even if you fail to solve the problem, the manual will show you a further procedure – contact to the customer service center or the nearest service center
