Knowledge Base

The USB-IO Box

General Information

The Noldus USB-IO box (type number PTIO-002x) is the device that the EthoVision XT video tracking software must use in order to work together with external devices such as the Noldus Pellet dispenser, the Noldus Lickometer or the light and sound devices of the PhenoTyper Top Unit.

With one USB-IO box you can operate:

• Up to 12 Pellet dispensers or other TTL-driven devices.
• Up to 12 Lickometers.
• Four PhenoTyper Top Units (by default), expandable to a maximum of 52. For this special connection, port SDI is reserved.

For information on which third-party devices can be connected to the USB-IO box, see the third-party devices section.

Note: The total number of devices that you can connect is limited by the number of ports on the USB-IO box. For example, because the Lickometer uses the same type of port (named SDI) as the PhenoTyper Top Unit, and 13 SDI ports are available on the USB-IO box, if you connect 52 Top Units, all the suitable ports of the USB-IO box are occupied. Therefore no Lickometer can be connected. When planning your experiment, make sure that you have enough ports on the USB-IO box for the devices you want to use.

A Typical Setup

1. Connect the hardware devices to the computer, via the USB-IO box.

   Important: Always connect the USB-IO box to a USB port of your PC, not to a USB hub or a docking station for laptop computers.

   • If you use a laptop and encounter issues, connect the USB-IO box to a USB port on the other side of the PC.
   • If you use a desktop, connect the USB-IO box to a USB port on the back of the PC.
2. Define the hardware configuration in EthoVision XT.

3. With the Trial and Hardware Control function of EthoVision XT, you can define:

   • Actions on the hardware device (for example, Drop a pellet).
   • Conditions that must be met in order for Trial Control to progress.
   • Sub-rules for a sequence of actions and conditions to be repeated.
4. Acquire data using the Trial Control settings specified above.

Defining hardware configuration means that you specify which communication ports of the USB-IO box are connected to which hardware devices, and, in the case you work with multiple arenas, which individual device is assigned to which arena.

Connectors and Displays - Front Panel

TTL Control 1...12

These are input/outputs for devices that are controlled with TTL (Transistor Transistor Logic). Use a TTL port for the following devices:

• Noldus Pellet dispenser (Noldus type number PTPD-001x).
• Noldus Beam controller (Noldus type number PTBC-001x).
• Shock, Tone, Light and Noise in the Ugo Basile Fear Conditioning System.
• White light in the Noldus Backlight unit.
• Noldus Pellet receptacle (Noldus type number PTPR-001x).
• The Med Associates Activity Wheel Brake (ENV-042).
• Any custom hardware device that works with TTL signals.
• The TTL Port Tester (PTTB-001x; for testing purposes).
• The USB-IO box monitor (virtual device; for testing purposes).
• The TTL devices of PhenoTyper 2.

Note: With EthoVision XT 17.5 and newer versions you can let EthoVision XT control the Ugo Basile Fear Conditioning System without the Noldus USB-IO box. See the connection schemes in the EthoVision XT 18 - Application Manual.

Notes:

• Each of the 12 TTL control connectors can provide limited supply power (18 Volt DC, max. current 100 mA) available on pin 1 (ground) and 2 (+).
• You can control up to two physical devices with one TTL port. A typical example of controlling two devices with one TTL port is the Shock and Tone devices in the Fear Conditioning System. For this you need a split cable from the TTL port that ends in the two devices. Please contact Noldus if you need such a cable.
• Ports are organized in groups of four. To optimize communication speed, connect TTL devices to ports in the same group. For example, connect four pellet dispensers to ports 1 to 4, not to ports 1, 5, 7 and 12. Use ports 1–4 first, then 5–8, etc.

LEDs

• Power – When the light is on, it indicates that the USB-IO box receives power from the mains adapter.
• USB – When burning, it indicates that the USB-IO box is connected to a computer's USB port.
• TTL – When burning, it indicates that communication to a TTL device is in progress.
• SDI – When burning, it indicates that communication to a SDI device is in progress.

Connectors - Rear Panel

SDI Control 1...13

SDI stands for Special Device Interface. SDI control ports are inputs/outputs for devices that are controlled with a serial data stream. You can connect one physical device to a SDI port. Use these ports for the following devices:

• The Noldus Lickometer (Noldus type number PTLM-001x).
• The Top Unit Interface of PhenoTyper 1 (Noldus type number PTTI-001x).
• The Noldus PhenoWheel.
• The Med Associates Activity Wheel Counter (ENV-042).

Notes:

• Each Top Unit Interface is connected to one port of the USB-IO box, and can control up to four PhenoTyper 1 Top Units. For more information, see the PhenoTyper - EthoVision XT 18 - Reference Manual.
• SDI control port 13 is set by default to connect the Top Unit Interface. If you want to connect two or more Top Unit Interfaces, you must alter the jumpers for the ports other than 13 that you use to connect the Top Unit Interfaces.
• Each of the 13 SDI control connectors can provide limited supply power (12 Volt DC, max. current 100 mA) available on pin 1 (ground) and 2 (+).
• All SDI devices mentioned above receive their full power supply from the 12 Volts provided by the USB-IO box.

USB

Connects the USB-IO box to the PC using a USB cable with one connector of type A and one connector of type B.

Important: Always connect the USB-IO box to a USB port of your PC, not to a USB hub or a docking station for laptop computers. If you use a laptop and encounter issues, connect the USB-IO box to a USB port on the other side of the PC. If you use a desktop, connect the USB-IO box to a USB port on the back of the PC.

24V In

Connects the USB-IO box to the power supply via the 24V adapter.

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