Knowledge Base

Set the Port Connections for PhenoTyper 1

For PhenoTyper 2, see the PhenoTyper - EthoVision XT 18 - Reference Manual.

1. Locate the SDI Port 13. Under Device type select Top Unit Interface. This expands the SDI Port to four extra rows.
2. For each of the four rows, under Device type, select:
   • Top Unit (Standard) for standard PhenoTypers
   • Top Unit (NeuroBsik) for PhenoTypers of the Neuro-Bsik type
   • Top Unit Tester (PTTB-002x) only when you want to use the Top Unit Tester instead of the actual PhenoTyper Top Unit, for testing purposes
3. Under Device ID for the rows appended, enter the name of the physical Top Units.
4. When ready, click OK. Next, assign the Top Units to the arenas (see the next section).

To set the port connections for other groups of PhenoTyper 1, you must adjust the jumpers for the ports you are going to use. See the PhenoTyper - EthoVision XT 18 - Service Manual.

Set the Port Connections for COM Ports

Prerequisite: Install the Serial interface for EthoVision XT. To do so:

1. Close EthoVision XT.
2. In the EthoVision XT 18 full installation package, open the folder Drivers and Tools. Open the folder HardwareInterface SerialPort and double-click HardwareInterface_SerialPort_[version number].msi. You can download the EthoVision XT 18 full installation package from my.noldus.com.
3. Restart EthoVision XT.

Define the COM port in EthoVision XT:

1. Connect the device to the EthoVision XT computer.
2. Open the EthoVision XT experiment and choose Setup > Experiment Settings.
3. Under Trial Control Hardware, select Use of Trial Control Hardware, and click the Settings button. Select COM Ports in the Hardware Interface window and click OK.
4. In the Devices window, click Add and add one or more COM ports that you want to use.
   • After acquiring one or more trials, you cannot add COM ports. First delete the trials, then repeat the steps above.
   • To know which COM port should be added, disconnect the USB cable and check in the Windows Device Manager under Ports (COM & LPT) which item has disappeared.
5. To check the port settings, select a COM port currently connected to a device and click Settings. The following settings should work fine: Baud rate 9600, Data bits 8, Parity None, Stop bits 1, Flow control None. When ready, click OK.
6. Click OK in the Devices window. Next, assign the COM ports to the arenas (see the next section).

Assign Devices to Arenas

For experiments with one arena only, hardware devices are automatically assigned to the arena. You can skip this section and continue with testing the hardware devices or programming trial control with devices. For multi-arena experiments, follow the procedure below.

Assuming that you have defined your arenas in the Arena Settings, do the following:

1. In the Experiment Explorer, click the Arena Settings in which the arenas you want to use are defined.
2. In the Arena Settings window, click the Arena - Hardware Mapping button. The Arena - Hardware Mapping window appears.
3. Click Add device. A new row is appended to the table.
4. From the Device type list, select the type of device you want to assign. Select Custom hardware if the device type you are using is not listed.
5. Under Device name, a default name is displayed. We advise you to enter a new name that can be easily recognized, especially if you have more devices of the same type in each arena.
   • Example: Each arena is provided with two pellet dispensers of the same type. Enter Pellet Dispenser Left under Device name and select the pellet dispensers to be placed on the left side of each arena. Then click Add device again and enter Pellet Dispenser Right under Device name, then select the pellet dispensers to be placed on the right side of each arena.
6. Under the arena name, select the physical device that you want to assign to that arena. Assign the other devices to the remaining arenas.
7. Repeat the previous steps to add a new set of devices.
8. When finished, click OK.

Notes

• To remove a set of devices, select the corresponding row in the table and click the Remove device button.
• If your setup includes two or more devices of the same type in one arena, make sure that you select the physical devices that belong to the Device name specified under Device name.
• If you cannot select any physical device under the arena names, check that the Device type selected for that row is specified in the Port Device Mapping.
• The Arena - Hardware Mapping settings are valid for all Arena Settings in your experiment. They are added automatically to every new Arena Settings.

Assign Arenas to the PhenoTypers

1. Click Add device in the Arena - Hardware Mapping window.
2. Under Device type, select:
   • For PhenoTyper 1: Top Unit (Standard)
   • For PhenoTyper 2: Top Unit Light (NOCA-TU1x)
3. Under Device name, enter a generic name (for example, Top Unit) or accept the default name. You will see the Device name again in the Trial Control Settings.
4. Under Arena n, select the physical device (Top Unit) associated with that arena.
5. Repeat the previous step to assign the Top Units to the remaining arenas.

The physical devices placed in the different arenas are now linked to a generic Device name. You will use that name in the Trial Control Settings to create actions and conditions based on those devices.

Test the Hardware Devices

1. Make sure that the hardware devices are connected to the EthoVision computer via the USB-IO box or the Mini USB-IO box.
2. In the Experiment Explorer, click any Arena Settings.
3. In the Arena Settings window, click the Arena - Hardware Mapping button. The Arena - Hardware Mapping window appears.

Source: EthoVision XT 18 - THC - Trial and Hardware Control, Noldus Information Technology