Headstage-64

Headstage-64 is a serialized, multifunction headstage for small animals. This headstage is designed to function with EIB-64 for tetrode microdrives. Alternatively it can be used with other passive probes (e.g. silicon arrays, EEG/ECOG arrays, etc) using 64-Channel Omnetics Adpater or similar.

ONIX Headstage-64 v1.3

Warning

There are multiple headstage hardware revisions. The revision number is printed on the PCB. You can use the compatibility matrix to find host hardware for your headstage.

Features

  • 64 analog ephys channels and 3 auxiliary channels sampled at 30 kHz per channel

  • A BNO055 9-axis IMU for real-time, 3D orientation tracking

  • Four TS4231 light to digital converters for real-time, 3D position tracking with HTC Vive base stations

  • An electrical stimulator (current controlled, +/-15V compliance, automatic electrode

  • discharge)

  • Two optical stimulators (800 mA per channel)

  • An Intel MAX10 FPGA for real-time data arbitration

ONIX Headstage-64 v1.1.

Data Link Serializaiton

For details on data serialiation and headstage gateware, have a look at the Coaxial Data Serialization & Power page, which describes how coax headstages operatate in general terms. Headstage-64 has the following coaxial link properties:

Parameter

Value

Min

Max

Unit/ Type

FPGA

Intel 10M08DFV81

Serializer

TI DS90UB933

Coaxial

Supply Voltage

5.0

5.0

6.3*

Volts

Hub Clock Frequency

42

MHz

Warning

*Do not exceed 6.3 VDC at the coaxial input to the headstage. Make sure you make this measurement at the headstage (see: :ref: Measuring headstage voltage) to account for a potential voltage drop in the tether. Exceeding this voltage can permanently damage the headstage.

Note

Have a look at the Making Coaxial Tethers page for more detials on mirco-coax headstage tethers

Electrophysiology

headstage-64 v1.3 uses a 64-channel, BGA-packaged Intan RHD2164 bioamplifier chip. This chip provides:

  • 64 high-bandwidth electrode channels which are exposed via a mezzanine connector on the bottom of the headstage and can be used to record from most types of passive probes (e.g. tetrodes, silicon probe arrays, tungsten microwires, steel EEG wires, etc)

  • 3 auxiliary channels

    • AUX 1 and 2 are pinned out on the bottom of the headstage to an unpopulated mezzanine connector and solder-able test points

    • Channel 3 is tied to the electrical stimulator’s current measurement circuit via a selectable solder jumper on the bottom of the board. This jumper can be desoldered and instead a series resistor added to allow low-frequency LFP recordings as per pg. 26 of the RHD2000 datasheet.

Each of these channels is sampled at 30 kHz.

3D Position Tracking

Warning

TODO: Move this into its own page

headstage-64 v1.3 has four SteamVR receivers for 3D position tracking.

Warning

These receivers are compatible with both V1 and V2 (“index” branded) basestations. Although the firmware we supply for the headstage can be used to obtain 3D position from kinds of basestation, we consider V1 basestations deprecated and cannot guarantee future functionality.

Assuming you are using V2 basestations, to set up tracking,

  1. Mount each of the basestations so that they have a clear line of sight to as much of the behavioral space as possible. For a relatively flat arena, the simplest configuration is to mount two basestations directly above the behavioral space inline and separated by 0.5 to 1 meters. For more complex environments more than 2 basestations are required to get full coverage, any configuration is possible so long 2 basestations have a line of site to the headstage and are no more than 4 meters away. For this, there are lots of options for ready-made, adjustable basestation mounts availble on Amazon and elsewhere.

  2. Serial into each of the basestations using the USB connection on the back and set up a terminal connection using screen /dev/ttyACM0 115200 or similar

  3. Once connected you can hit Tab to see commands

  4. Set the mode of of each base staiton to a different value using mode n where n is the desired mode (1-16). The only requirement is that each basestation have a unique mode.

Note

If a basestation loses power, it will reset to mode 1. Its best to just leave the basestations plugged in and untouched to minimize the need to for re-calibration and mode programming

  1. TODO: obtain the position and orientation of each basestations

3D Orientation Tracking

headstage-64 v1.3 has a BNO055 9-axis inertial measurement unit that provides the absolute orientation of the headstage. This device produces orientation (and other) measurements are 100 Hz.

Neural Stimulation

headstage-64 provides onboard electrical and optical stimulatus generators. Stimulus trains can be parameterized in a similar way to the master-8 or pulse pal.

Note

To achieve the shortest latency, electrical or optical stimulation can be triggered using the GPIO1 serializer output. Because both stimulators share this trigger line, it is important to only enable one of the devices (using its ENABLE register) prior to toggling this pin.

Optical Stimulation

Optical stimulation is provided by a dual-channel, high-current LED driver. This driver can be used for LEDs or laser diodes. It provides 800-mA per channel.

Q

Can I parallel the Cathode connections to increase max current?

A

Yes. The maximum peak current in 1.6 Amps. However, if you deliver this current for a significant amount of time, the headstage will shutdown due to an over-temperture condition. The optical stimulator is only appropriate for low duty-cycle pulse-type stimulation.

Electical Stimulation

The electrical stimulation cicuit is an improved Howland current pump followed by an precision current measurement circuit. The current pump is supplied by +/-15V rails and can supply up to +/- 2.5 mA. The output current is defined as:

ISTIM = (VDAC  - 2.5)/1000.
e.g.
VDAC = 2.5   -> ISTIM = 0
VDAC = 5.0   -> ISTIM = 2.5 mA
VDAC = 0.0   -> ISTIM = -2.5mA

Imeas = 400 * ISTIM + 1.25V
e.g.
ISTIM = 0      -> IMEAS = 1.25V
ISTIM = 2.5mA  -> IMEAS = 2.25V
ISTIM = -2.5mA -> IMEAS = 0.25V

Schematic

../../../_images/headstage-64_schematic.png

Gerber Files

../../../_images/headstage-64_gerbers.png

Bill of Materials

  • The interactive BOM is here

  • The complete BOM (including vendor part numbers) is located on this google sheet

FPGA & Bottom Connector Pinouts

previous

Making Coaxial Tethers

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Test Board for Headstage-64