Knowledge Base

Configure the Temperature Alarms in EthoVision XT

Aim

To log the high and low temperature alarm in EthoVision XT. You can use the temperature alarm:

• In the Trial Control Settings, for example to stop the trial if the temperature alarm lasts for more than a certain time.
• In the Analysis Profiles, to visualize when an alarm occurred together with the data.
• As a hardware log that you can export.

Note: A temperature alarm should not happen if the TCU is in status "Ready". An alarm is therefore an unusual event in normal conditions. If the TCU is still in "Heating" or "Cooling" status, it is normal that a couple of temperature alarms occur.

Cable Connections

Connect the network cable to the TTL port in the DanioVision Temperature Control Unit and one of the TTL ports in the Observation Chamber.

Important: If you have the DanioVision Observation Chamber DVOC-0030 or older, connect the TTL port of the Temperature Control Unit to TTL ports 3 or 4 on the Observation Chamber. Do not use TTL port 2.

To Define the Temperature Alarm in EthoVision XT

1. In EthoVision XT, create a DanioVision experiment. For details, see the Reference Manual - DanioVision Observation Chamber DVOC-0041 or the EthoVision XT Help.
2. In the Experiment Settings, under Trial Control Hardware, click the Settings button. Select the version number of your DanioVision Observation Chamber (usually DVOC-004x or DVOC-004x/T if you have the DanioVision Tapping Device) and click OK.
3. In the Device Configuration window, under Plug-in devices, choose the TTL port that you used to connect the Temperature Control Unit. Under Device type select DanioVision TCU (DVTCU-001x). Under Device ID type in a name or accept the default name DanioVision TCU (DVTCU-001x) 1. Click OK.
4. Choose Setup > Arena Settings > Open and choose the Arena Settings you use in the experiment. In the Arena Settings window, click the Arena - Hardware Mapping button.
5. In the Arena - Hardware Mapping window, click the Add device button. Under Device type select DanioVision TCU (DVTCU-001x). Under Device name enter a name, for example TCU Temp alarm. In the column A1 select the Device ID that you defined above.
6. Click OK. EthoVision XT is now ready to log the alarm signals from the TCU.

Possible Alarm Signals

The following TTL signals are sent to EthoVision XT and can be used in the Trial Control Settings and Analysis Profiles:

• When the current water temperature is within the normal temperature range (deviates by less than 0.5 °C from the set temperature), no alarm is given. Both Low temp error state and High temp error state are false.
• When the current water temperature is more than 0.5 °C lower than the set temperature (Tcurrent < Tset - 0.5 °C), a low-temperature alarm is given and Low temp error state becomes true.
• When the actual water temperature is more than 0.5 °C higher than the set temperature (Tcurrent > Tset + 0.5 °C), a high-temperature alarm is given and High temp error state becomes true.
• When you turn off the Temperature Control Unit or unplug the network cable from the TTL port, both Low temp error state and High temp error state become true.

Note: During a temperature alarm, the TCU tries to bring the temperature back to the normal range, so you do not need to take any particular action.

Use the Temperature Alarms in EthoVision XT

In Trial Control Settings

Use a temperature alarm in the Trial Control Settings, for example, to stop tracking or start an external program when a temperature alarm occurs.

Note: During a temperature alarm, the TCU tries to bring the temperature back to the normal range, so you do not need to take any particular action with Trial Control.

Prerequisite: You have defined the temperature alarm in EthoVision XT.

1. Choose Setup > Trial Control Settings > Open (an existing profile) or New to create a new profile.
2. In the Trial Control Settings, under Conditions, click the button next to DanioVision TCU (DVTCU-001x).
3. The Hardware Condition window appears. In the Condition name field, enter a name for the condition (for example, TCU Low Temp alarm).
4. From the DanioVision TCU list, select the device name that you defined in the Arena - Hardware Mapping window (for example, TCU Temp alarm).
5. Choose the following, depending on when an action should be taken:
   • To take an action when an alarm occurs, next to Signal to check choose either Low temp error state? or High temp error state? depending on the alarm you want to use. Then next to Signal value select true.
   • To take an action when the number of temperature alarms reaches a certain value, next to Signal to check choose either Low temp errors or High temp errors and select the threshold of alarm errors.
6. Insert the condition box in the Trial Control rule.

For more information, see the EthoVision XT Help and the Reference Manual - Trial and Hardware Control in EthoVision XT.

In the Analysis Profile

In an Analysis Profile, you can define a temperature alarm variable, for example to visualize alarm events in the Integrated Visualization. This way you can review your trials and see if something has changed in the behavior of the larvae during those alarms.

1. In an Analysis Profile, under Hardware, click the button next to Hardware state.
2. Next to Device type choose DanioVision TCU (DVTCU-001x).
3. Next to Device choose the name given in the Arena - Hardware Mapping window (for example, TCU Temp alarm).
4. Next to Signal:
   • To visualize or calculate the duration of the time that the system was in temperature error state during the trial, select Low temp error state for a low-temperature alarm, or High temp error state for a high-temperature alarm. Next to Value select true. Select false if you want to visualize or calculate the time that there was no temperature alarm.
   • To visualize or calculate the duration of the time when the system had more or less than a certain number of temperature error alarms, choose Low temp errors or High temp errors. Choose whether the number of errors was higher, lower, or equal to a threshold value. Keep the option Cumulative selected.
5. In the Trial Statistics tab, select the statistic you want and click OK.

Source: DanioVision TCU Reference Manual, Noldus Information Technology