metaphase_ulc-2
Table of Contents
METAPHASE ULC-2 Universal LED Controller
METAPHASE ULC-2 Top view.
1.0 SET UP PROCEDURE
1.1 SET-UP MENU:
- 1) Connect channel 1 or 2 LED loads to positive and negative LED output.
!!!IMPORTANT ULC-2 has to be un-powered when connecting or disconnecting LED loads!!!
NOTE: To prevent voltage drop and inaccuracies in the pulse widths keep the wires between the ULC-2 and LED load as short as possible.
PIC. 1.1.1. MATAPHASE ULC-2 the plug side-view.
- 2) After the METHAPHASE ULC-2 is powered, the screen will display current software and controller version. Then you will be asked if you want to enter the SET-UP menu. Choose: “Yes”.
- 3) In the SET-UP, use the M button to scroll through the different settings menus. Use UP ARROW and DOWN ARROW button to set the values. In SET-UP MENU it is necessary to set up Continuous current (DC) limit, strobe (Pulse) Current Limit, Strobe Pulse width Limit, Strobe Minimum Period, and Voltage Limit
These limits must be set according to the limits of the LED load used to prevent DEMAGE.
In this menu it is possible to choose the Triger type. External trigger is selected by default. Set-UP menu can be re-entered at any time by pressing the M, UP ARROW and DOWN ARROW button at once.
NOTE: In the SET-UP menu you will be asked about IP address set-up. You can skip it since Ethernet is not currently used with this device at the Technion. - 4) When you finish with the SET-UP menu you will be asked to exit it. Choose “Yes”. You will enter the RUN-TIME menu.
1.2 RUN TIME Menu:
- 1) In the RUN-TIME menu it is possible to set up the Mode continuous (DC) or strobe mode, Current DC, Pulse Current, strobe Pulse width, Strobe Minimum Period and one-shot internal trigger. All values in this menu are controlled by limits set in SET-UP menu. To list between the channels use the C button. Each channels has separate RUN-TIME menu.
- 2) In the RUN-TIME menu, enter the DC Current settings and set the current limit. The maximal allowed current in DC current mode is 4 Ampers.
NOTE: The reason for this limitation is described in section METAPHASE ULC-2 technical limitation.
In DC mode don’t let the light on for too long MAX 5 minutes because it will over hear and burn. - 3) When using the pulse mode, enter the strobe mode setting in RUN TIME menu and set the Strobe Current [Amper], pulse width [us] micro seconds, Tperiod [us]. Tperiod is the time interval between the strobes.
NOTE 1: Any set up in the RUN-TIME menu must comply with limitation in SET-UP menu. Command not complying with these limits will be ignored or lowered to the SET-UP menu limits.
NOTE 2: When using the external trigger the rate of triggering must be adjusted to the pulse width and Tperiod.
EXAMPLE: You CAN’T have pulse width of 1 second, Tperiod of 0.5 second and trigger rate of 2 triggers per second. Since the light will be still on when the second impulse will be sent and the Tperiod won’t be held. THIS MAY CAUSE DEMAGE! In this case your maximal trigger rate can be 2/3 according to formula 1/{(pulse width)+(Tperiod)} In the example 1/(1+0.5)=2/3.
NOTE: THIS IS JUST AN EXAMPLE THE REAL EXPERIMENT TIMES CAN’T BE SO BIG.
| Setup | FPS (Hz) | Light Mode Strobe/ DC current | Pulse Current I (mAmps) | Light board Pulse width PW (microseconds) | Calculated Trigger Period T | Light board Trigger Period T (microseconds) | Trigger Period T (seconds) | Falling/Rising Edge | PW*I>=0.01 | T [sec] T>319*PW 2*I2 | Max. allowed frequency |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mash | 300 | Strobe | 10000 | 310 | 3333.333333 | 3300 | 0.0033 | Falling Edge | 0.0031 | 0.00306559 | 326.201482 |
| Mash | 700 | Strobe | 10000 | 190 | 1428.571429 | 1400 | 0.0014 | Falling Edge | 0.0019 | 0.00115159 | 868.364609 |
| Mash | 1000 | Strobe | 10000 | 150 | 1000 | 990 | 0.00099 | Falling Edge | 0.0015 | 0.00071775 | 1393.242773 |
| Mash | 1400 | Strobe | 14000 | 81 | 714.285714 | 700 | 0.0007 | Falling Edge | 0.001134 | 0.00041022 | 2437.716561 |
| Mash | 2000 | Strobe | 17000 | 70 | 500 | 490 | 0.00049 | Falling Edge | 0.00119 | 0.00045174 | 2213.682818 |
| 1168 | Strobe | 14000 | 88 | 856.164384 | 840 | 0.00084 | Falling Edge | 0.001232 | 0.00048419 | 2065.322619 | |
| Mash | 553 | Strobe | 11000 | 190 | 1808.318226 | 1800 | 0.0018 | Falling Edge | 0.00209 | 0.00139342 | 717.656702 |
Table 1.2.1 Recommended set up for RUN-TIME menu.
1.3 SAVING PRESET:
It is possible to save these features. When all the options in Run time menu are set, preset menu will appear. Here, it is possible to choose the number of slot where we want to save the preset. Pressing the C button choose the number of the slot and by pressing the DOWN ARROW button we save the preset.
PIC. 1.3.1. Preset menu screenshot
2.0 METAPHASE ULC-2 technical limitation:
- A) Pulse width limit in pulse (strobe) mode. It is defined by formula (PW*A)<0.01 where PW is pulse width and A pulse current in amperes. This limitation applies only for current > 4 amperes.
- B) Triger frequency limit in pulse (strobe) mode. This limit is defined by formula T<319*(PW)^(2)*(I)^(2) where PW is the pulse width, I is the pulse current in amperes and T is pulse period.
- C) The external trigger input (in PIC 2.0.1 Trig in) can be only between 3-24 volts DC and 3-7 mAmper. Any signal below 3 milli ampere will be ignored and signal above 7 milli ampere might damage the MATAPHASE ULC-2.
PIC. 2.0.1. Trigger Input Schematic.
metaphase_ulc-2.txt · Last modified: by martin