The USB-1208FS and USB-1408FS supports the following features.
Functions
UL: cbAIn(), cbAInScan(), cbALoadQueue(), cbFileAInScan(), cbATrig()
UL for .NET: AIn(), AInScan(), ALoadQueue(), FileAInScan(), ATrig()
Python for Windows: a_in(), a_in_scan(), a_load_queue(), a_trig()
Options
BACKGROUND, BLOCKIO, CONTINUOUS, EXTCLOCK, EXTTRIGGER, NOCALIBRATEDATA, SINGLEIO
The USB-1208FS also supports RETRIGMODE.
The USB-1208FS packet size is based on the Options setting:
BLOCKIO: 31
SINGLEIO: 1
Mode
Single-ended and differential
HighChan
0 to 7 in single-ended mode
0 to 3 in differential mode
Count
In CONTINUOUS mode, Count must be an integer multiple of the packet size.
USB-1208FS: 50 kHz maximum for BLOCKIO mode.
USB-1408FS: 48 kHz maximum for BLOCKIO mode.
The throughput depends on the system being used. Most systems can achieve 40 kHz aggregate.
When using cbAInScan()/AInScan(), the minimum sample rate is 1 Hz.
Range
Single-ended:
| BIP10VOLTS (±10 volts) |
Differential:
| BIP20VOLTS (±20 volts) | BIP2PT5VOLTS (±2.5 volts) |
| BIP10VOLTS (±10 volts) | BIP2VOLTS (±2 volts) |
| BIP5VOLTS (±5 volts) | BIP1PT25VOLTS (±1.25 volts) |
| BIP4VOLTS (±4 volts) | BIP1VOLTS (±1 volts) |
Pacing
Hardware pacing, internal clock supported.
External clock supported via the SYNC pin.
Functions
UL: cbSetTrigger()
UL for .NET: SetTrigger()
Python for Windows: set_trigger()
TrigType
TRIGPOSEDGE, TRIGNEGEDGE
Both devices support external digital (TTL) hardware triggering. Use the TRIG_IN input for the external trigger signal.
Functions
UL: cbAOut(), cbVOut(), cbAOutScan()
UL for .NET: AOut(), VOut(), AOutScan()
Python for Windows: a_out(), v_out(), a_out_scan()
Options
BACKGROUND, CONTINUOUS
The number of samples (Count) in a CONTINUOUS scan must be an integer multiple of the packet size (32).
HighChan
0 to 1
Count
Count must be an integer multiple of the number of channels in the scan.
In a CONTINUOUS scan, Count must be an integer multiple of the packet size (32).
Rate
Up to 10 kHz maximum for a single channel
Up to 5 kHz maximum for two channels
Range
Ignored - not programmable; fixed at UNI4VOLTS (0 to 4 V, nominal. Actual range is 0 to 4.096 V.)
DataValue
0 to 4,095
Configuration Functions
UL: cbDConfigPort()
UL for .NET:DConfigPort()
Python for Windows: d_config_port()
PortNum
FIRSTPORTA, FIRSTPORTB
Port I/O Functions
Python for Windows: d_in(), d_out()
PortNum
FIRSTPORTA, FIRSTPORTB
DataValue
0 to 255 for FIRSTPORTA or FIRSTPORTB
Bit I/O Functions
UL: cbDBitIn(), cbDBitOut()
UL for .NET: DBitIn(), DBitOut()
Python for Windows: d_bit_in(), d_bit_out()
PortType
FIRSTPORTA
BitNum
0 to 15 for on FIRSTPORTA
Functions
UL: cbCClear(), cbCIn()*, cbCIn32(), cbCLoad()**, cbCLoad32()**
UL for .NET: CClear(), CIn()*, CIn32(), CLoad()**, CLoad32()**
Python for Windows: c_clear(), c_in()*, c_in_32(), c_load()**, c_load_32()**
*Although cbCIn()/CIn()/c_in() are valid for use with this counter, cbCIn32()/CIn32()/c_in_32() may be more appropriate, since the values returned may be greater than the data types used by cbCIn() and CIn() can handle.
**cbCLoad()/cbCLoad32(), CLoad()/CLoad32(), and c_load()/c_load32() only accept Count=0. These functions are used to reset the counter.
CounterNum
1
Count
232–1 when reading the counter.
0 when loading the counter.
cbCLoad()/CLoad() and cbCLoad32()/CLoad32() are only used to reset the counter for this device to 0. No other values are valid.
The Basic signed integers guidelines in the Digital Input/Output Hardware topic apply when using cbCIn() or CIn() for values greater than 32,767 and when using cbCIn32() or CIn32() for values greater than 2,147,483,647.
RegNum
LOADREG1
Functions
UL: cbEnableEvent(),cbDisableEvent()
UL for .NET: EnableEvent(),DisableEvent()
Python for Windows: enable_event(), disable_event()
Event types
ON_SCAN_ERROR (analog input and analog output), ON_DATA_AVAILABLE, ON_END_OF_INPUT_SCAN, ON_END_OF_OUTPUT_SCAN
Functions
UL: cbFlashLED()
UL for .NET: FlashLED()
Python for Windows: enable_event(), disable_event()
Causes the LED on a USB device to blink. When you have several USB devices connected to the computer, use this function to identify a particular device by making its LED blink.
This hardware supports device detection with the API. Refer to the InstaCal, API Detection, or Both? section for information about whether to use InstaCal or the API to detect and configure hardware.
Factory serial number
Listed as Factory Serial No. (read only)
Identifier
Identifier text box
Input mode
Input Mode drop-down combo box for single-ended or differential.
External clock type
Ext. Clock Type drop-down combo box.
Hardware version
Listed as Firmware Version (read only)
Factory serial number
ConfigItem = BIDEVSERIALNUM
UL for .NET: GetDeviceSerialNum()
Python for Windows: get_config_string()
ConfigItem = DEVSERIALNUM
Identifier
UL: cbGetConfig()
ConfigItem = BIUSERDEVIDNUM
UL for .Net: GetUserDeviceIdNum()
Python for Windows: get_config()
config_item = USERDEVIDNUM
Input mode
UL: cbAInputMode()
UL for .NET: AInputMode()
Python for Windows: a_input_mode
External clock type
UL: cbGetConfig(), cbSetConfig()
InfoType = BOARDINFO
ConfigItem = BIEXTCLKTYPE
Configval = CONTINUOUS_CLK
Configval = GATED_CLK
UL for .NET: GetExtClockType(), SetExtClockType()
Python for Windows: cbGetConfig(), cbSetConfig()
info_type = BOARDINFO
config_item = EXTCLKTYPE
Hardware version
ConfigItem = BIDEVVERSION
DevNum = VER_FW_MAIN
UL for .NET: GetDeviceVersion()
Type = VersionType.FW_MAIN
Python for Windows: get_config_string()
config_item = DEVVERSION
dev_num = MAIN
Since the maximum data acquisition rate depends on the system connected to the device, it is possible to "lose" data points when scanning at higher rates. The Universal Library cannot always detect this data loss.
Most systems can sustain rates of 40 kS/s aggregate in BLOCKIO mode, and 1 kS/s aggregate in SINGLEIO mode.
When using cbALoadQueue()/ALoadQueue(), the channel gain queue is limited to 16 elements. The queue accepts any combination of valid channels and gains in each element.
By default, the SYNC pin is configured for pacer output and provides the internal pacer A/D clock signal. To configure the pin for pacer input, use the EXTCLOCK option.
If you use the EXTCLOCK option, make sure that you disconnect from the external clock source when you test or calibrate the device with InstaCal, as the SYNC pin drives the output.
Use the RETRIGMODE scan option to set up repetitive trigger events. Use the ConfigItem option BIADTRIGCOUNT with cbSetConfig() to set the A/D trigger count, and the BIDACTRIGCOUNT option to set the D/A trigger count. For Python users, use the config_items ADTRIGCOUNT and DATRIGCOUNT to set the A/D and D/A trigger counts.
When configured for single-ended mode, the resolution of the data is 11 bits (data values between 0 and 2,047). However, the Universal Library maps this data to 12-bit values, so the range of data is no different from the differential configuration. Consequently, the data returned contains only even numbers between 0 and 4,094 when the NOCALIBRATEDATA option is used.
When running input scans with the CONTINUOUS option, consider the packet size and the number of channels being scanned. In order to keep the data aligned properly in the array, set the total number of samples to be an integer multiple of the packet size and the number of channels in the scan.
The USB-1208FS and USB-1408FS supports these concurrent operations:
| UL function/method | Can be run with: |
| cbAOutScan() / AOutScan() (BACKGROUND mode) | |
| cbAInScan() / AInScan() (BACKGROUND mode) |
When you include both analog output channels in output scans, the two channels are updated simultaneously.