Skip to content

iM10 Multi-Function Interface

The iM10 has multiple specialized I/O functions, including advanced audio processing critical for auditory behavioral experiments.

  • Drive a speaker (e.g. MF1) directly up to 4W via an RCA connection.
  • Record cage sounds via an embedded microphone amplifier.
  • Connect with many common cage elements (e.g. touch sensors) via BNC ADC inputs and DAC outputs.
  • Streamline setup with a range of embedded signal processing options.
Analog In Analog Out Digital In Digital Out Touch Inputs Accessory Port
iM10 4 4 - - 2 -

See the Hardware Manual for information on iM10 technical specifications.

iM10 Options

iM10 Interface

The Mic Amp setting lets you optionally enable the ⅛" jack to use for Inputs 1 and 2. It also adds 56.6 dB, 66.6 dB, or 76.6 dB gain to the input, and set Attack/Release ratios of 1:500, 1:2000, or 1:4000.

The Biasing setting lets you optionally adjust the input impedance and bias voltage on Inputs 3 and 4.

Important

Do not connect anything to the BNC Inputs 1 and 2 when the microphone amp is enabled.

All iM10 inputs go through an input processor. This first converts the analog signal into a TTL logic signal using the methods described below, and then goes through a logic processor. See iM10 Input Processor for more details and a diagram of the complete process for the iM10 analog inputs.

Analog Inputs

Logic

iM10 Logic Input Options

Input signal above ~1.5 V triggers the logic input.

Example

iM10 Raw Input Signal and Logic Threshold Crossing

Signals above ~1.5 V trigger the Micn epoc store. As with all iCon input epoc events, a value of 3 is saved on the Rising edge and a value of 4 is saved on the Falling edge.

The rest of the processing is handled by the Logic Input Processor.

Simple

Use the Simple option if you want to add gain to the analog input signal and manually set a threshold.

iM10 Simple Input Options

Option Description
Gain Apply up to 76.6 dB gain
Thresh Set logic threshold as a percentage of the 5 V input range, after gain is applied. This can be negative
Hyst Reduction Hysteresis Reduction. Set a percentage away from the Thresh the signal has to cross to turn the input off

Note

These settings are adjustable in the run-time interface

If threshold is positive, the lower threshold is (Thresh % - Hyst %).

Example

iM10 Raw Input Signal and Simple Threshold Crossing

Thresh is 20% and Hyst is 15%. The input logic is true when the signal crosses above 20% of the input range (20% of 5 V = 1 V) and false when the signal goes below 5% of the input range (0.25 V).

If threshold is negative, the lower threshold is (Thresh + Hyst).

Example

iM10 Raw Input Signal and Simple Threshold Crossing

Thresh is -20% and Hyst is 15%. The input logic is true when the signal crosses below -20% of the input range (-20% of 5 V = -1 V) and false when the signal goes above -5% of the input range (-0.25 V).

The rest of the processing is handled by the Logic Input Processor.

Complex

The iM10 processor runs at 400 kHz, independent of the RZ sampling rate. Use the Complex options to significantly increase fidelity in the frequency range you are interested in by reducing the input bandwidth. Also apply non-linear operations such as absolute value, square, flip the signal sign, or add smoothing.

iM10 Complex Input Options

Option Description
Frequency Range Limit the frequency range of the input
Highpass Freq Set highpass filter frequency (if Frequency Range is enabled)
Lowpass Freq Set lowpass filter frequency (if Frequency Range is enabled)
Operation Take the Absolute Value, Square the signal, or Flip the sign on the input
Smoothing Set the time constant for exponential smoothing of the input signal

Note

All settings except for Frequency Range and Operation are adjustable in the run-time interface.

See Simple processing options for a description of the rest of the settings and thresholding examples.

The rest of the processing is handled by the Logic Input Processor.

Clip Detect

iM10 Clip Detect Input Options

Triggers when signal is within ~3% of the 5 V input range (greater than ~±4.8 V).

The rest of the processing is handled by the Logic Input Processor.

Touch Inputs

All touch sensor inputs are handled by the Logic Input Processor.

Analog Outputs

All iM10 outputs first go through a logical output processor that controls when the output is presented. See Logic Output Processor for more details.

iM10 Output Options

Waveform Shape Description
User Send an output signal from another gizmo's output link to the iM10
DC Voltage Output a DC voltage when triggered
Tone Generate up to 100 kHz tone ^
White Noise Generate a band-limited white noise
Pink Noise Generate pink noise (1/f)
Square Generate up to 100 kHz square wave (50% duty cycle, ±5 V) ^
Clock Generate up to 100 kHz clock signal (50% duty cycle, +5 V) +
PWM Generate a pulse-width modulated waveform using 400 kHz clock
(2.5 us minimum pulse width)
Option Waveform Shape Description
Gating All Add an optional cos2 gate to the waveform
Phase Tone, White Noise, Pink Noise, Square, and Clock only When Frozen is checked, the phase of the waveform resets to 0 when triggered
Freq Resolution Tone, Square, and Clock only Adjusting the frequency resolution changes the maximum frequency that the iM10 can generate ^
Time Resolution PWM only Adjusting the time resolution changes the maximum period that the iM10 can generate for the PWM waveform
Attenuation Tone, White Noise, Pink Noise, Square, Clock, and PWM only iM10-generated waveforms use a 5 V amplitude. Apply up to 50 dB attenuation to the signal, adjustable at run-time.

^ For audio applications, set Freq Resolution to 10 Hz or 100 Hz only.

+ For precision control applications, use PWM instead

Outputs 1 and 2 are paired. Signals generated by Output 1 can be mixed with Output 2 and vice versa. Also, the choices of waveform shape for Output 2 depends on the selected waveform shape for Output 1. Likewise, Outputs 3 and 4 are also paired.

Output 1 & 3 Choices for Output 2 & 4
User User, DC Voltage, White Noise, Pink Noise
DC Voltage User, DC Voltage, White Noise, Pink Noise
Tone DC Voltage, Tone, White Noise, Pink Noise, Square, Clock
White Noise DC Voltage, Tone, White Noise, Pink Noise, Square, Clock
Pink Noise DC Voltage, Tone, White Noise, Pink Noise, Square, Clock
Square DC Voltage, Tone, White Noise, Pink Noise, Square, Clock
Clock DC Voltage, Tone, White Noise, Pink Noise, Square, Clock
PWM DC Voltage, White Noise, Pink Noise, PWM