Lab-Tools.com Scientific Instrumentation and Software for Industry and Academia

Here at Lab-Tools.com/Instrumentation a new range of USB interfaced instrumentation is being developed. Offering simple interfaces and compact modules for inclusion into your instrumentation. These are not just general-purpose development boards, but turn-key modules for building into instruments, with complete functions available as combined hardware / firmware / software modules. Mostly incorporating Field Programable Gate-Array (FPGA) modules for rapid peripheral handling, these modules can form the basis of high quality scientific instrumentation and software. Pre-written VHDL firmware and array-base software, interfacing to the FPGA over the USB, gives transparent access to multiple banks of sub-modules and instrument functions in the FPGA. Each sub-module has an independent block of up to 256 USB interface registers, to configure the sub-instrument and for bi-directional data transfer. This code forms the skeleton into which the sub-modules / instruments may be slotted, in a consistent manner. Prototypes of the Precision DVM (to the right) and the Digital Scope / Transient Processor (see below) have now been working 24/7 in the lab for 3 years, and the developed versions are reaching release.

Lab-Tools - Instrumentation - 24bit Precision DVM Download 1 page PDF document

Lab-Tools - Bespoke
In addition to off-the-shelf instruments, we can design new instrumentation, based on these modules or others, for you, so please do discuss with us new designs that you may interested in commissioning. Lab-Tools_Modules

Lab-Tools Instrumentation Modules:

1. USB Interfaced FPGA Master Module

   
   • This is the master module, that interfaces to the USB, and provides 80 high-speed interface pins to slave modules.
   • Uses credit-card-sized intermational CardStac form-factor module, holding an FTDI Morphic II FPGA :
   • On-board Altera Cyclone II FPGA, 50 MHz & 60MHz Clocks. Pre-written VHDL firmware for generating 120MHz, 10MHz, 1MHz, 1kHz and 1Hz sclocks.
   • Fast USB2 interface to PC : One USB link for both programming (less than 100ms) and also for high-speed data transfer (10ms for a 10kbyte block).
   • Does not also require an expensive USB Blaster, ideal for in-system use.
   • Also has a standard JTAG connector as an alternative programming method and for SignalTap probing (JTAG connector does require a USB Blaster).
   • Pre-written VHDL firmware skeleton providing USB interfacing between FT2232H USB2 interface and Bank / Address / Data busses to the sub-modules.
   • Slave modules to the same form-factor can be physically stacked with this master module, and their vhdl code slotted into the sub-module boxes.
   • Provides multiple header pins for IDC interconnection to external slave modules, with multiple earth and power pins.
   • Available with or without 4 gold-plated SMA screw connectors for coaxial cable connection, for fast logic data I/O or RF.

     Without SMA Connectors : Order : L-T_Module_USB_FPGA_Cyclone-II

     With 4x SMA Connectors : Order : L-T_Module_USB_FPGA_Cyclone-II+4xSMA Module Choice : (including VAT at 20%) L-T_Module_USB_FPGA_Cyclone-II £196.00 L-T_Module_USB_FPGA_Cyclone-II+4xSMA £227.00

2. Dual-channel Low-Level RF input / Clock Recovery Module / Frequency Counter

   • Uses credit-card-sized intermational CardStac module form-factor.
   • Plugs into USB Interfaced FPGA Master Module.
   • 2x gold plated SMA connectors for input.
   • 4ns ultra-sensitive dual comparators.
   • Option of filter firmware in FPGA.
   • Option of frequency measuring firmware and software.

     For hardware module only : Order : L-T_Module_CardStac_Clock-Recovery

     For hardware module + Low Pass Filter Firmware and Software : Order : L-T_Module_CardStac_Clock-Recovery+LowPassFilter For hardware module + Frequency Counter Firmware and Software : Order : L-T_Module_CardStac_Clock-Recovery+FreqMeasure Available with optional firmware and software : L-T_Module_CardStac_Clock-Recovery £79.00 L-T_Module_CardStac_Clock-Recovery+LowPassFilter £129.00 L-T_Module_CardStac_Clock-Recovery+FreqMeasure £159.00

FPGA_PC Interfacing a circuit in an FPGA to a PC A new firmware interface for USB interfaced instrumentation. Based on the Lab-Tools FPGA Modular Firmware Skeleton for multiple instruments. There are some YouTube videos of it in action. Full details of this Firmware and example use GUI. This VHDL firmware and GUI code distill 30 years of experience interfacing computers to the real-world. Data is transferred to and from the FPGA at the full USB2 rate of 480 MBit.s-1 (60 MByte.s-1).

Lab-Tools Transient Averager Modules Transient Capture / Average / Process A new Lab-Tools module nearing the end of development is a USB2 interfaced analogue transient averager module, with on-board FPGA for averaging and signal processing. Based on a coherent, stacking credit-card CardStac module form-factor, and on the Lab-Tools FPGA Modular Firmware Skeleton for multiple instruments. Features : 2 channel 13 bit Digital Scope. FPGA for on-board signal processing. USB2 for fast data transfer and fast programming. Single-ended or differential I/O, gold plated SMA connectors. 2 x I/O Digital Triggers, gold plated SMA connectors. Tiny credit-card sized module. Applications : 2 channel 13 bit 1 M sample.s-1 Transient Capture. 2 channel 13 bit 1 M sample.-1 Hardware Transient Averager (firmware and software included). 2 channel 13 bit 1 M sample.-1 Transient Data Processor (custom firmware and software by agreement if needed). NMR and MRI data capture. Ultrasonics data capture.

USB2 interfaced Transient Capture / Average / Process module. Download 1 page PDF document

 Precision Logging DVM, with Averaging, for Thermocouple Voltages.

FPGA Co-processors:
Lab-Tools FPGA Binning Co-processor for Apl

This video describes an example USB2 interfaced FPGA co-processor for use with the array processing language Apl.
This co-processor implements a single scientific algorithm : Binning. As such it is an example of what can be achieved using field-programmable gate array co-processors with Apl.
The FPGA module used is the Morphic II, available from FTDI. This module has the advantage that it does not require a USB Blaster to program it.
Software, firmware and modules are also available from Lab-Tools Ltd., who are also developing a series of credit-card sized interface and data I/O modules to interface with them.
The FPGA co-processor is accessed and controlled from AplX, a version of the array processing language Apl, from Micro-Apl.

If you have specific requirements that can be best encompassed at the design stage, please contact me regarding them : Beau@Lab-Tools.co.uk

Example instrumentation constructed using similar Lab-Tools modules

The R.F. processing is implemented in VLSI devices, the I.F. processing in a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) device, and the A.F. processing in the PC using an Array Programing language.
Note: The RF modules are Export Controlled devices.