ScanImage 2019 : Synchronizing ResScan and LinScan

Overview

ResScan and LinScan are operated independently for imaging. However, for some applications, the systems need to be synchronized. One example is Photostim Monitoring when performing simultaneous imaging and photostimulation. To deliver accurate timestamps in the Photostim logfile, ResScan and LinScan must share a common start trigger and Reference Clock.

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If the LinScan Auxiliary DAQ board is installed in the same PXI chassis as the NI FlexRIO FPGA module for ResScan, all trigger routing is performed via the PXI backplane and no further wiring is required.

To synchronize ResScan and LinScan, the ResScan Frame Clock and Reference Clock need to be wired to the LinScan Auxiliary board. The appropriate pinout for ResScan and LinScan can be found in the tables below.

ResScan Outputs

Signal	Pin
Frame Clock	ResScan Digital IO DAQ* PFI6
10MHz Reference Clock	ResScan Digital IO DAQ* PFI14

The Resonant Scanner Scanning system is configured in the General ScanImage Settings section of the ScanImage Machine Configuration Editor.

A separate settings section is created for each Scanning System defined. The name of the scanning system is included as part of the Scanner Settings Section.

Select the Scanner Settings section for the resonant system to be synchronized.

In the Scanning Settings section, select the Resonant Scanner Digital IO DAQ. Any device in the PXI chassis can be selected. The device list is derived from devices configured in NI MAX.

LinScan Inputs

Signal	Pin
ResScan Frame Clock	LinScan Auxiliary DAQ board PFI8*
10MHz Reference Clock	LinScan Auxiliary DAQ board PFI14*

The Linear Scanner Scanning system is configured in the General ScanImage Settings section of the ScanImage Machine Configuration Editor.

A separate settings section is created for each Scanning System defined. The name of the scanning system is included as part of the Scanner Settings Section.

Select the Scanner Settings section for the linear system to be synchronized.

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In the case where the Resonant Scanning system and the Linear Scanning system are not physically located in the same PXI Chassis and the two systems need to be synchronized, additional settings must be configured. One area in scan image where this can occur is when the Resonant scanning system is used to scan images and the Linear scanning system is used for Photostimulation.The two systems need to be in sync.

A common time base and common start trigger must be configured. To accomplish this, specify the settings in the Machine Data File as follows:

Machine Data File

%% LinScan
resScanframeClockIn = 'PFI8'; 
referenceClockIn = 'PFI14';

This is a specialized situation. Most hardware configurations are setup with both the Resonant scanning system and Linear Scanning system physically placed in the same PXI Chassis, where the synchronization is handled by the back plane, thus, the above configuration is not needed.

ScanImage 2019 : Synchronizing ResScan and LinScan

Overview

ResScan Outputs

LinScan Inputs

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