RZ and RX Processors

RZ Processor Options

Timing Signals

Before looking at the specific experiment HAL options, it is important to know that whenever an RZ Device is included in your Rig, the following timing signals will be available from the device. They will typically show up as drop down menu options when you are configuring a signal source for a gizmo.

Processor Signals	Type	Description
#Enable	Logic	Enables data storage through the duration of each block
#Reset	Logic	Resets counters and buffers at the start of each block.
#iTime	Integer	Samples elapsed since beginning of each block
#SwFire	Logic	A pulse that triggers once per second

Time Control Waveform Diagram

RZ Options

Some options may not be available for some RZ devices.

Main Tab

Main RZ Options Tab

Setting	Description
Master Device Rate	Select to allow Synapse to determine the master sample rate based on the gizmos assigned to this RZ, or clear it to enable the drop-down menu and set the sampling rate manually.
Load Optimization	Select to allow Synapse to balance the processing load between data processing and data transfer automatically. Clear to enable the slider and then drag the slider to set manually. For experiments that require heavy data transfer rates, move the slider to the left. For experiments with heavier processing loads, move the slider to the right. If you are all the way to the right, make sure the Compiler Optimizer is enabled in Menu → Preferences → Advanced.
Tick Store	Select to enable the Tick data store, which fires once per second. You can also choose whether to display this on the Data Plot during run time. The tank server that saves the data stops responding if there is a gap in the data that is greater than the Tank Engine Cache Delay (typically >6 seconds). The Tick store ensures there is always something saving into the tank. For higher demand applications you might not need/want the Tick store taking up processor usage. If there is continuous or regular data then there is no need for the Tick store.
Run-time Notes	Turn this feature on to record notes during run time that are associated with the current block. An additional run time tab lets you add custom notes. These will be included in the database and will be available as a text file inside the block folder. If 'Notes File + Epocs' is selected, a timestamp of when the note occurred along with a value code will be included in the data tank in the 'Note' epoc store. Note: This only works In Record mode and is not available in Preview mode.
Button Text	If you want to quickly mark events as they are happening during the recording, add a comma separated list of the notes you want. This text will appear on individual buttons that will add the note when clicked.

Digital I/O Tab

Digital I/O Options Tab

The RZ has 24 total bits of digital I/O, configured in two bytes (Port-A and Port-B) and eight bits (Port-C). Enable the desired I/O and set the direction with the Output check box. When the Output check box is selected for a given row, a data source must be selected in the ID column. If the Output check box is cleared, that row turns into a data source that can be connected to other gizmos. The name of the data source is set in the ID column.

A counter may also be stored for bits in port C. The counter may be useful for synchronizing to an external camera system.

Select the Pair A/B to single port check box to combine A and B into a single 16-bit integer source or input link.

Select the Group Port C to single port check box to combine the eight bits into a single byte.

Set Epoc Store to 'On Change' to automatically add an Epoc Store for the corresponding byte or 'Full', 'Onset', or 'Offset' for corresponding bit. When this method is used, you don't have to add an Epoch Event Storage gizmo to the processing tree.

ADC Tab

ADC Options Tab (shown for RZ2)

Analog input channels appear on the ADC tab. Each channel can be used individually as a single channel floating point data source for other gizmos, or can be grouped into one of two montages, which are multi-channel floating point data sources. You can also apply a scale factor to each channel to convert to the correct units.

DAC Tab

DAC Options Tab (shown for RZ2)

Analog output channels appear on the DAC tab. For RZ6, the built in attenuators also appear on the DAC tab.

Each channel can be used individually as a single channel floating point data sink, or can be grouped into one of two montages, which are multi-channel floating point data sinks. You can also apply a scale factor to each channel to convert to the correct units before it is sent out of the RZ. A data source for the enabled output channels/montages must be selected.

LUX Tab (RZ10x only)

LUX Options Tab

The RZ10x processors have LUX light drivers, photosensors (PS2), and light power meters (PM1) built into the front panel. They are configurable with slots for up to 3 drivers and 2 sensors/power meters per bank. Each RZ10x has two banks.

With the RZ10x powered on, click 'Detect Hardware' to automatically read the LUX component configuration into Synapse. This will inform gizmos that communicate with the LUX components, like the Fiber Photometry gizmo, about the components that are available.

Built-in LUX LEDs are named by their nanometer wavelength. To use an external LED, use an M8 connector in the light driver slot instead. To use an external LED driver or generic DAC output, a BNC connector is placed in the light driver slot. The BNC port can be accessible as a standard DAC signal output, available in the DAC tab, by checking the 'DAC Out' checkbox below the driver.

If a BNC port is in a sensor slot, it can be accessible as a standard signal input in the ADC tab by checking the 'ADC In' checkbox below the sensor.

Legacy Control

The Legacy Control option makes the entire LUX bank available on the ADC and DAC tabs as regular gizmos inputs/outputs. Use this if you are driving the LEDs with your own custom stimulus signal and not controlling it with one of the gizmos that are specifically designed to target the LUX banks, e.g. Fiber Photometry.

The LUX LED drivers have three output ranges that are exposed in this mode: 200 mA, 500 mA, and 1000 mA. Choose the option that best suits your target output to get the best resolution.

The output range is relative to a 10 V driving signal, so make sure your control signals are scaled properly to get your desired output. For example, a Pulse Train Generator gizmo outputting a 5 V signal to a LUX driver that is set to 500 mA range will output a 250 mA signal to the LED.

RX Processors

See RZ Processor Options above. There are additional options in the Digital I/O tab to determine which port the front panel lights on the RX display.

Legacy Mode

Legacy mode can be used to directly load experiment circuit files (*.rcx) to System 3 processors. This feature allows customers who are transitioning from OpenEx or user-developed TDT applications to port existing experiments directly into Synapse.

The RP2.1, RA16, and RX7 can only be used in legacy mode. Other processors can be switched into legacy mode in the Rig Editor.

Legacy Mode Device Options

The illustration above shows the legacy device options for the RA16 Medusa Base Station. The Options are the same for legacy mode, regardless of the device.

Note

Parameter tags in the legacy *.rcx file can be accessed using SynapseAPI.

You can also use gizmoControl macros within Legacy HALs to add widgets to the user interface.

Any storage macros in the legacy circuit will also plot on the Flow Plot.

Options

File Name Enter the path and file name of the circuit to load.

Select Circuit File button Launches an Open window. Select the desired file.

Edit Circuit in RPvdsEx button Launches RPvdsEx. Edit or create a circuit file.