Knowledge Base

Setting Up the LED Controller Shortcut

Make a shortcut to the new EXE file and rename it to e.g. Pulser C.

You should at this point have a folder structure and three shortcuts on your desktop.

The LED Controller

Controlling the LED Manually

1. Turn on the main power.
2. Set the switch near TTL to Int.
3. Set the switch near Ain to Int.
4. To turn the LED on, flip the switch on.

Controlling the LED from EthoVision XT (Through TTL)

1. Turn on the main power.
2. Set the switch near TTL to Ext.
3. Set the switch near Ain to Int.
4. To turn the LED on, flip the switch on.
5. Connect the TTL cable with BNC connector from the pulser (or the USB-IO box, depending on the setup) to the connector TTL on the back panel of the LED controller.
6. In EthoVision XT you can now give the High command.

Other Controls

• Power Adjustment Dial
• Analog Input (Ain) Connector
• LED Control Cable Connector
• LED Current Cable Connector
• DC Power Jack

Configuration 1 - Without the Pulser

Connection Diagram

In the following example, EthoVision XT controls three LED controllers through the TTL ports in the DanioVision Observation Chamber. Note that each port contains two lines, with connectors white (Line 1) or red (Line 2). Each line controls one LED controller.

Defining the Pulse Sequence

To define a pulse sequence, use actions and conditions in EthoVision XT's Trial Control Settings. For example, a 1-second pulse of light in the first LED can be defined as: Action Light On on port 1 > Time Condition (1 second) > Action Light Off on port 1.

For information about creating pulse sequences in EthoVision XT, see the chapter Optogenetics Experiments in the Application Manual - EthoVision XT, which you can find on the EthoVision XT computer under Noldus > EthoVision XT Other Documentation.

USB Ports

You need one USB port on the EthoVision XT computer to control DanioVision.

TTL Ports

• When using one LED, you can use TTL-port 2 of DanioVision. Use the white connector at the other end of the cable to connect the LED controller.
• When using two or three LEDs, you can control two LEDs with one TTL port. Use TTL-port 2 for LED 1 and 2, and TTL-port 3 for LED 3. The white connector means Line 1, and the red connector means Line 2.

Configuration 2 - With Pulsers

Connection Diagram

USB Ports

On the EthoVision XT computer, you need:

• One USB port to connect DanioVision.
• Additional USB ports, one for each Pulser. Connect the USB port of each Pulser to a USB port of your computer.

TTL Ports

• When using one Pulser, you can use TTL-port 2 of DanioVision. Use the white connector at the other end of the cable to connect the Pulser.
• When using two or three Pulsers, you can control two Pulsers with one TTL port. Use DanioVision TTL-port 2 for Pulser A and B, and TTL-port 3 for Pulser C. Connect the other end of the cable to the Trigger In port of each Pulser. The white connector means Line 1, and the red connector means Line 2.

Experiment Settings

Choose Setup > Experiment Settings and click Settings next to Use of Trial Control Hardware. Then follow the section below that applies to choose the port numbers in the Device Configuration window.

Tip: Open the sample experiment DVOC_Optogenetics_Demo_Recommended.evxt. This is a live tracking experiment where basic settings in Experiment Settings and Trial Control are already selected for when you work with three pulsers.

Configuration 1 - Without Pulser

Each LED controller is connected directly to one TTL port of DanioVision. If you have three LEDs, choose Port 2 for the first two LEDs, and Port 3 for the third one.

Configuration 2 - With Pulser

Each Pulser is connected to one TTL port of DanioVision. If you have three Pulsers, choose Port 2 for the first two Pulsers, and Port 3 for the third one. Under Device ID, give each port a name that can be easily recognized.

Arena - Hardware Mapping

Choose Setup > Arena Settings. Draw the arenas as described in this manual. When the arenas are ready, click the Arena - Hardware Mapping button and make sure that the devices are selected under Arena 1 (A1).

Trial Control (No Pulser)

Important: Before following this section, make sure that (1) the dichroic mirror is installed in the DanioVision chamber, (2) all components are connected and powered up, and (3) the LED controller is set to TTL control.

When the LED is controlled directly from EthoVision XT, activation occurs in Trial Control using the Action boxes. The duration of the light pulse is determined by a Time condition placed between the Action Output 1 High and Output 1 Low.

In the example below, LED 1 is activated with a TTL signal Output 1 High and after 0.5 seconds it is deactivated with a TTL signal Output 1 Low. The LED controller must be connected to DanioVision through TTL Port 1 - Line 1.

Use Output 2 High/Low commands to control the other LED controller connected to the same DanioVision TTL port.

Important: Make sure that the Int-Ext switch near TTL on the LED controller is set to Ext.

Trial Control (With Pulsers)

Important: Before following this section, make sure that (1) the dichroic mirror is installed in the DanioVision chamber, (2) all components are connected and powered up, and (3) the LED controller is set to TTL control.

Procedure

1. Open all instances of the Pulser software by clicking on the desktop shortcuts Pulser A, Pulser B, and Pulser C. Each instance controls one pulser.
2. For each instance of the software, next to Select COM Port, choose the correct COM port for the corresponding Pulser. These can be found on the pulser or on the connection diagram.
3. Next to Select Operation Mode, choose one of the following options.

Source: DanioVision DVOC-0041 Reference Manual, Noldus Information Technology