See Us On The Road at these upcoming tradeshows...
Tech Talk
Hardware and Software News - RA16CH modifications and software update releases.
Anomalies and Tech Note Updates
Tips and Tricks - upgrading drivers and troubleshooting connection problems.
FAQs - answers to your questions about OpenEx plots and grounding the Medusa.
News Flash
Neuroscience meeting just days away!
OpenEx 1.5 Now Available!
If you've been wondering what all the buzz is about then you probably haven't seen our newest software sensation. OpenEx celebrates its first anniversary with a new release that includes OpenProject, a powerful new environment integration tool.
Last year, TDT introduced OpenEx, a powerful new experimentation platform for System 3. Designed for flexible multi-channel acquisition, OpenEx allows users to configure and run complex experiments, control experimental parameters on the fly, and visualize data, all using a single software environment.
With the release of version 1.5 this summer, we've made this powerhouse even better. OpenEx 1.5 includes OpenProject, a powerful project management tool that simplifies the user interface and organizes all files for a single experiment under a single directory structure. Your entire OpenEx configuration can now be opened and closed with a single file.
OpenProject also allows TDT to develop and deploy a wide array of 'Standard Projects' and example projects. These projects offer 'out of the box' operation for common experiments and act as a starting point for developing more complex and/or custom configurations.
The version 1.5 release also includes these other new features:
- More powerful data tank management
- Automatic threshold detection and spike sorting
- Easy to understand error messages
- Support for programmable attenuator devices
- Faster plotting
- Simplified control of multiple channel parameters
- New client/server version of RPvds
If you haven't seen OpenEx lately, be sure to stop by for a demonstration at any of our upcoming meeting exhibits or contact us at tdt@tdt.com to request an updated multimedia demo CD.
Customer Support News
This issue's customer support news announces some comings and goings at TDT.
Comings ...
Madhu Karnani recently joined our customer support team. She received her undergraduate degree in Biomedical Engineering from Bombay University and earned her Masters in Biomedical Engineering at the University of Wisconsin - Madison where she was a Research Assistant in Tom Yin's neurophysiology lab.
Lindy Gordon, a University of Florida graduate, joined the sales team where her customer service background and can do attitude are sure to contribute to the TDT tradition of excellent customer service.
Goings ...
Bryan Harden, Technical Support Specialist, and Katie Heise, Sales Support Specialist, recently left TDT to relocate with their families. Living and working in a college town does have its advantages and disadvantages. We find great people here, but some only for a short while. Both Bryan and Katie were with us for over a year and they will be greatly missed.
Looking ...
Due to continued growth we are currently accepting applications for the following position:
Technical Sales Specialist
TDT is a great place to work so give us a call or send someone you know a link to our Website today.
Tech Talk
Hardware and Software News
Software Highlights
Over the last few months we have released several software upgrades. If you haven't downloaded these upgrades, be sure to visit the Download page of the TDT Website today. Here are just a few of the new features you'll find in our latest releases:
SigCalRP/SigPlayRP and PsychRP are now gigabit friendly!!!!
OpenEx 1.5 includes important bug fixes and many new features including a project management application and automated spike sorting.
The new SortSpike2 component available in RPvds 5.0 allows users to set a bimodal threshold. This allows OpenEx users to sort spikes that differ in both shape and direction of the peak.
RPvds 5.0 introduces a new multi-page workspace, more flexible page handling tools, enhanced error checking and error visualization, and an automatic indexing feature that makes working with multiple channel acquisition constructs easier than ever.
Hardware News
The chronic high impedance headstage RA16CH (serial numbers > 3000) inputs are now configured for single ended recording by default (Ref and GND tied together). A jumper is provided to give the user the option of making the inputs differential.
Anomalies and Tech Note Updates
Be sure to check the Tech Notes on the TDT Website for updated anomaly information.
Tips and Tricks
Upgrading to Version 50 Drivers
The version 50 drivers require Windows 2000 or WinXP operating systems. If you are running Windows98, you'll need to stick with version 47 drivers. If you have already updated to version 50 and need to reload version 47 you can request them from TDT support. Don't forget to update your microcode too!
Troubleshooting Connection Problems
USB Interface - If your system has an RP2.1 device, watch it when the system is powered on. The red LEDs should cycle twice. The first time indicates that the device has 'connected'
to the UZ1 or UB4. The second time indicates that the device has connected to the PC. If the system does not have an RP2.1, then look at the green status/power light. It should flash twice when the system is powered on.
Gigabit Interface - The green status/power light on the zBUS caddies flashes steadily if the device is not communicating with the PCI card on the PC.
Minimizing Frequency Dependent Attenuation with Dynamic Delay Components
The dynamic delay components interpolate between sample points to yield delay values that are not multiples of the sampling period. The interpolation function results in a lowpass filter effect that becomes more pronounced with increasing degrees of interpolation. If all you want to do is modify the delay component dynamically, you can minimize this effect by selecting delay values that are multiples of the sampling frequency. For example, at a 25 kHz sample rate, the true sampling frequency is 24414.0625, or a sampling period of 0.02048 ms. If you wanted a 1 ms delay, you would select 1.0035 ms.
FAQs
Question: In OpenEx, how do I make histograms with reference to a certain event?
Answer: In order to build histograms or rasters, you need to have an epoch as a time reference. Epoch events are scalars associated with the tank’s time line. You can select a time reference epoch in the plot's properties dialog box.
Question: In OpenEx, how can I add a tank so that it gets stored in the DataTanks folder?
Answer: If the tank in the current project is in ‘synchronized mode’, any tanks created from within the project will be automatically stored in the project's DataTanks folder. To synchronize the tanks, select "Configure Project" on the "OpenProject" menu and check the boxes under the Tanks column . If the project is not synchronized, you can manually create and store the tank in the DataTanks folder by navigating to it in the "Select Tank File" dialog box.
Question: Can I dynamically change the x-axis scale of scroll and pile plots in OpenController?
Answer: Yes you can for scroll plots but not for pile plots. The time scale on the scroll plot can be changed by changing the number of "Scroll Sections" in the scroll plot properties dialog box. This can be done dynamically. The only way to change the x-axis scale of a pile plot is to change the block size of the OpenEx header associated with a Store. This changes the time span, or the amount of data viewed on the pile plot, and must be done between trials. You must also make sure that you modify the Store so that the block size specified in the OpenEx header is a multiple of the size specified in the buffer component.
Question: I'm getting a microcode version error in OpenWorkbench. Does this mean my project will not run properly?
Answer: Not necessarily. The version error in OpenWorkbench is a reminder that you should update the microcode on your devices when you update the TDT drivers and RPvds. You should still be able to run an existing project as long as you don't make any modifications that utilize components added in RPvds version 5.0. However, we recommend updating your microcode as soon as possible. For instructions on updating microcode, see your RPx or TDT help.
Question: I am using the Medusa BioAmp and an RA16LI headstage and have grounded my unused electrodes to earth ground on a third party power supply. Yet, all of the unused channels are clipped. Why can't I get a good recording?
Answer: The Medusa bioamp is electrically isolated, that is, it floats with no common/chassis/earth GND. This significantly decreases the noise from external devices like lights or electrical equipment. Connecting the electrodes to true or earth GND offsets the signal relative to the floating GND so that the signal clips. For the RA16LI, we recommend that unused pins be left floating (no input). If necessary you can tie them together and then tie them to the RA16LI GND pin. For high impedance headstages we recommend that you tie all unused electrode inputs to the headstage GND pin (do not let them float).
See Us On The Road at these upcoming tradeshows ...Society for Neuroscience ARO |
News Flash: Neuroscience meeting just days away!
We'll be ready and waiting - booth numbers 2418, 2420, 2422
It's fall again and that means it's time to take in the sights at the annual Neuroscience Meeting. Tim, Victor, and Willard will be standing by in the exhibit hall again this year, so be sure to stop by to say hello. They'll be available to answer your questions and to demonstrate the latest software and hardware enhancements in the System 3 line.
If you haven't seen OpenEx 1.5 this is your chance to get a demonstration and a preview of OpenExplorer, a data mining addition to the OpenEx Suite. We'll also be offering previews of products currently under development, including our microwire arrays and a new multiprocessor device.
Copyright 2006 Tucker-Davis Technologies, Inc. All Rights Reserved.