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iMn Multi-Function Interface

The iM5, iM7, iM8, iM9, iM14, and iM15 have 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.
  • Generate AM and FM stimulation (excludes iM10)
Analog In Analog Out Digital In Digital Out Touch Inputs Accessory Port
iM5 1 1 1 1 - -
iM7 1 1 1 1 - Medusa Amp
iM8 2 2 1 1 1 Medusa Amp
iM9 2 2 2 2 1 -
iM14 1 1 1 1 - iH8 +28 V*
iM15 2 2 2 2 1 iH8 +28 V*

* The +28 V logic includes four output bits and four input bits.

See the Hardware Manual for information on iMn technical specifications.

iMn Options

iM8 Interface

iM15 Interface

The Mic/Spk Amp setting lets you optionally enable the ⅛" jack to use for Analog Inputs 1 and 2 (if available). 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.

Important

Do not connect anything to the BNC ADC input(s) when the microphone amp is enabled.

The Biasing setting lets you optionally adjust the input impedance and bias voltage on Analog Inputs 1 and 2 (if available).

The Medusa setting (iM7 and iM8 only) sets the number of channels to read from the Medusa preamplifier port (0-4).

The iM14 and iM15 modules have a DB15 port that connects to an iHm manifold. There are four +28 V outputs (HvOut1-HvOut4) that map to 1-4 on the manifold and four +28 V inputs (HvIn1-HvIn4) that map to 5-8 on the manifold.

All iMn inputs go through an input processor. Analog signals are first converted into TTL logic signals using the methods described below, and then pass through a logic processor. See iMn Input Processor for more details and a diagram of the complete process for the iMn analog inputs.

Analog Inputs

Logic

iM5 Logic Input Options

Input signal above ~1.5 V triggers the logic input.

Example

iM5 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.

iM15 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

iM15 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

iM15 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 iMn processor runs at 400 kHz, independent of the RZ / iConZ sampling rate. Use the Complex options to significantly increase fidelity in the frequency range you are interested in by reducing the input bandwidth. You can also apply non-linear operations such as absolute value, square, flip the signal sign, or add smoothing.

iM15 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

iM15 Clip Detect Input Options

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

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

Touch Inputs

Touch sensor inputs are available on the iM8, iM9, and iM15 only. All touch sensor inputs are handled by the Logic Input Processor.

Analog Outputs

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

iM9 Output Options

Waveform Shape Description
User Send an output signal from another gizmo's output link to the iMn DAC
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
(2.50 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 iMn can generate ^
Base Frequency PWM only Frequency of the PWM square waveform onsets
Duty Cycle PWM only Duration of the PWM on time, as a percentage of the base period
Attenuation Tone, White Noise, Pink Noise, Square, Clock, and PWM only iMn-generated waveforms use a 5 V amplitude. Apply up to 50 dB attenuation to the signal, adjustable at run-time.
Modulation Waveform Shape Description
Amplitude User, DC, Tone, White Noise, Pink Noise, Square, Clock Control the waveform amplitude dynamically from another gizmo. The signals are multiplied, so typically 0 to 1
Frequency Tone, Square, Clock Control the waveform frequency dynamically from another gizmo. The Freq Resolution still applies - the incoming frequency control signal is rounded to the nearest allowed frequency
Duty Cycle PWM Control the duty cycle percentage dynamically from another gizmo, 0 to 1 (1 = 100%)

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

+ For precision control applications, use PWM instead