If you need to synchronize multiple UF2 or UF2e boards, either to have more channels or to create mixed-mode test systems, then the Star Hub option can be useful. The Star Hub datasheet can be downloaded from here.
In fact there are two versions. Star Hub for synchronizing multiple boards within one PC and System Star Hub that's used to synchronize mutliple Star Hub systems in multiple PC's.
Star Hub is available in two variants for UF2 and UF2e boards:
The Star Hub option synchronizes the clock and trigger signals. It is possible to connect UF2 and UF2e boards of the same model, or to create systems combining a mixture of A/D, D/A and the Digital I/O boards.
Note: UF2 boards can not be synchronized with older UF boards using the Star Hub option as they are electrically incompatible.
Different boards - even having a different number of channels, may operate
at different sampling rates and still remain synchronized due to the onboard clock
hardware divider. We believe that this feature is unique to UltraFast.
The internal synchronization bus (grey cable in picture) distributes the clock and
trigger signals to all of the boards. With Star Hub all boards are perfectly synchronized, there is no clock phase delay between any of the boards.
One of the boards is defined to be the Clock Master board and generates the sample rate clock for itself and the other boards to ensure that there no time-skew between any of the channels and boards. The same or alternatively a different board is also designated as the Trigger Master. This board is used to define the triggering condition that may be used to start the measurement / generation process.
As normal, either an External Trigger (external TTL signal) or a Software Trigger (level, windows, slope etc) may be defined and once detected the trigger signal will be transferred to all of the other boards to initiate the measurement / generation task.
Please note:
- as default, all boards are delivered with the Star Hub slave connector. However, the Star Hub module is a factory installed cost-option.
- it is not possible to use the Star Hub option to synchronize both older-UF
and UF2/UF2e boards.
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SH5
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SH16
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| Max. boards per system |
5
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16
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