Data Acquisition
Synchronization
One of the strength of Elsys Data Acquisition Solution is its Scalability. A simple
device may start with a 4-channel data acquisition card and may be expanded up to a
multi-location, high channel count setup with more than 1000 inputs.
Regardless of the size of the system, the Elsys synchronization technlogy provides sample precision time information and trigger distribution.
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DAQ Synchronization
Overview
The following table shows the different level of synchronization which are possible with all Elsys data acqusition products.
Level
Setup
Description
0
Single card configuration (TPCX or TPCE)
• 4 or 8 channels
A
Ch 1
A
Ch 2
Ch 1
Ch 3
Ch 2
A
ChCh
3 4
Ch
1
Ch 2
4
Ch
Ch 3
StarHub Synchronisation
1
Multi-Card setup in a single device with StarHub
Ch 4
StarHub Synchronisation
A
B
A
B
Ch 1
Ch 1
Ch 1
C
C
Ch 1
synchronisation board.
Ch 1
Sync
Link
Sync
Link
StarHub Synchronisation
Ch 2
Ch 2
Ch 2
Ch 2
Ch 2
A
• sync. precision < 1 ns
Ch 2
B
C
Ch 3
Ch 1
3
Ch
Ch 3
Ch 3
Ch 1
3
Ch
Ch 4
• Interface to SyncLink
Ch 1
3
Ch
Sync
Link
Ch 2
4
Ch
• up to 64 channels
Ch 1
Ch 4
Ch 4
Ch 2
4
Ch
Ch 2
4
Ch
Ch 3
Ch 3
Digital
IO
Digital
IO
A
Ch 3
Ch 1
Ch 2
Ch 4
Ch 3
Digital
IO
Ch StarHub
4
Ch 4
Synchronisation
StarHub Synchronisation
StarHub Synchronisation
StarHub Synchronisation
Ch 4
2
A A
B
C
Ch 1
Ch 1
B
A
B
A C
B
C
Ch 1
Ch 1
ChCh
1 1
Ch 1
Ch 1
C
Multi-Device setup with SyncLink SLB-8
RJ45 Cable,
up to 10m
RJ45 Cable,
up to 10m
Ch 1
Ch 1
A
Ch 2
AChCh21
Ch 1
StarHub Synchronisation
StarHub
Synchronisation
B
C
Ch 2
Clock Clock
/ Status
/ Trigger
/ Status
/ Trigger
Ch 1
Sync
Link
Ch 2
Ch 2
B Ch 2
Ch 1
C Ch 2
Ch 1
Sync
Link
Ch 1
3
Ch
Ch 2
Ch 2
Ch 1
3
Ch
Ch 3
Ch 3
Ch 2
4
Ch
Ch 4
Ch 2
Ch 2
C
Ch 2
Ch 2
Sync
Ch
3
Link
Ch 3
Ch 3
Digital
IO
Ch 4
Digital
IO
Ch 4
Ch 2
4
Ch
Ch 2
4
Ch
Ch 3
Ch 3
Ch 3
Ch 4
Ch 4
Ch 4
Ch 4
SyncLink SLB-8
SyncLink SLB-8
Ch 3
B 4
Ch
Ch 2
4
Ch
Digital
IO
Ch 4
Ch 4
Digital
IO
Ch 1
A
Clock / Status / Trigger
Ch 1
B
Ch 1
C
• cable length up to 10 m
Digital
IO
• RJ45 Cat. 6 Cable
Ch 1
ChSLB-8
1
SyncLink
Sync
Link
Sync
Link
StarHub Synchronisation
Ch 2
Ch 2
Ch 2
Ch 2
Ch 2
Ch 3
Ch 3
Ch 3
Ch 4
Ch 4
Ch 4
StarHub Synchronisation
• star topology
StarHub Synchronisation
A
Ch 3
Ch 3
B
Ch 3
Ch 4
Ch 4
Ch 4
Ch 1A
C
RJ45 Cable, up to 50m
Digital
IO
Ch 1 B
Clock / Status / Trigger
Ch 1 C
Sync
Link
StarHub Synchronisation
3
Ch 1
Ch 1
Ch 2
Ch 2
A
B
C
Ch 1
Ch 1
Ch 1
SyncLink SLB-8
RJ45 Cable, up to 50m
Ch 1
3Ch 2
Ch
Ch 1
Sync
Link
Ch 2
4
Ch 4
Ch
Ch 2 Ch 3
Ch 2 Ch 2 Ch 3
Ch 3
Ch 4
Ch 4
Ch 3
A
Ch 4
SFP+
SFP+
Ch 4
SFP+
SFP+
SFP+
SFP+
SFP+
SFP+
SFP+
Ch 1
Ch 1
Ch 1
Ch 2
Ch 2
Ch 2
SFP+
SFP+
SFP+
SFP+
FOC Cable, max length > 1 km
Master
Clock / Status / Trigger
Ch 4
Slave
SyncLink 2.0
SFP+
B
Ch 1
Ch 1
Ch 1
Ch 2
ChCh12
Ch 2
Clock / Status / Trigger
RJ45 Cable, up to 50m
Sync
Link
StarHub Synchronisation
Ch 3
A
Ch 2
Ch 4
ACh 4
Ch 2Digital
B
Ch 4
Ch 1
3
Ch
IO
Ch 2
Ch 2
Ch 2
4
Ch
Ch 2
4 Ch 3
Ch
Digital
IO
Ch 3
Ch 3
Ch 4
Ch 3
Ch 4
A
Ch 4
Ch 3
Digital
IO
Ch 4
Ch 4
StarHub Synchronisation
• FOC cable connection between multiple
StarHub Synchronisation
B
C
A
Ch 1
Ch 1
Ch 1
Ch 2
Ch 2
Ch 2
B
SyncLink devices
Sync
Link
Ch 1
Ch 1
C
StarHub Synchronisation
Ch 1
Sync
Link
StarHub Synchronisation
Ch 2
C
SFP+
RJ45 Cable, up to 50m
SFP+
Master
SFP+
SFP+
Clock /Slave
Status / Trigger
RJ45 Cable, up to 50m
Ch 1
Sync
Link
Ch 1
3
Ch
Ch 3
Ch 3
Ch 3
Ch 4
Ch 4
Ch 4
• daisy chain topology
Digital
IO
Ch 2
Ch 2
Ch 2
A
B
C
SyncLink 2.0
Clock / Status / Trigger
Ch 1
3
Ch
Ch 1
3
Ch
Ch 2
4
Ch
Ch 2
Ch 2
4
Ch
Ch 2
4
Ch
StarHub Synchronisation
Ch 2
Ch 4
Ch 4
B
Ch 4
Ch 1
SFP+
SFP+
SFP+
Ch 2
Ch 4
StarHub Synchronisation
SFP+
Slave
C
Ch
Ch 4
Ch 3
Ch 3
Ch 3
Ch 4
Ch 4
A
B
Ch 1
Ch 1
Ch 2
Digital
IO
Digital
4 IO
SFP+
SFP+
Master
SFP+
StarHub Synchronisation
SFP+
SFP+
Master
A
Ch 2
Sync
Link
Ch 2
4
Ch
Ch 2
4
Ch
Ch 2
4
Ch
Ch 3
Ch 3
Ch 3
SyncLink
2.0
C
Ch 1
Sync
Link
Digital
IO
Ch 2
Ch 3
Clock / Status / Trigger
Sync
Link
Ch 2
Ch 4
Ch 1
IO
RJ45 Cable, up to 50m
Ch 3
Ch 3
1
Ch
C
Ch 1
Sync
Link
IO
Ch 3
Ch 3
Ch 1
B
Ch 1
Ch Digital
2
Ch 2Digital
Master
A
Ch 3
Ch 3
A
Ch 1
3
Ch
Sync
Link
Ch 2
Digital
IO
Ch 4
• cable length between DAQ and SyncLink: 50 m
SyncLink 2.0
C
Ch 1
Ch 1
3
Ch
Sync
Link
Ch 1
3 Ch 2
Ch
Sync
Link
B
Ch 1
Ch 1
3
Ch
SyncLink 2.0
Clock / Status / Trigger
Ch 1
Ch 3
Ch 1
• sync. precision: 12.5 ns
Ch 3
Digital
IO
Ch 4
FOC Cable, max length > 1 km
Clock / Status / Trigger
RJ45 Cable, up to 50m
StarHub Synchronisation
Ch 3
Ch 2
4
Ch
FOC Cable, max length > 1 km
Clock / Status / Trigger
C
Ch 1
Ch 4
Slave
C
B
C
Ch 1
Ch 3
FOC Cable, max length > 1 km
Clock / Status / Trigger
StarHub Synchronisation
A
Ch 3
SFP+
StarHub Synchronisation
A
Ch 1
• up to 1024 channels
SyncLink 2.0
SFP+
Master
Slave
Digital
IO
Ch 4
C
Ch 1
3
Ch
Slave
Digital
IO
Digital
IO
Ch 4
Ch 2
B
synchronisation device
C
Sync
Link
Digital
IO
Ch 4
B
Sync
Link
Ch 2
A
Sync
Link
Master
Ch 4
B
Ch 3
Ch 3
Ch 4
A
Ch 1
Ch 2
StarHub Synchronisation
Clock / Status / Trigger
RJ45 Cable, up to 50m
Sync
Link / Status / Trigger
Clock
Ch 3
Ch 3
Ch 1
StarHub Synchronisation
Master
Ch 3
StarHub Synchronisation
C
Multi-Device setup with SyncLink 2.0
RJ45 Cable, up to 50m
Ch
Ch
3 2C
B 1
Ch
B
Digital
IO
Sync
Link
StarHub Synchronisation
ChCh
4 3
Ch
2
Ch 2
A
Clock / Status / Trigger
Ch 1
Ch 2
ChCh
3 2
A
Ch
1
• sync. precision: 12.5 ns
StarHub Synchronisation
Digital
IO
Ch 4
C
RJ45 Cable, up to 10m
Ch 1
Ch 2
synchronization device.
• up to 1024 channels
Ch 1
3
Ch
Sync
Link
Ch 3
ChDigital
4
IO
Ch
2
Ch 4
StarHub Synchronisation
A
B
Ch 1
3
Ch
RJ45 Cable, up to 10m
Clock / Status / Trigger
Ch 1
3
Ch
Ch 3
Ch 4
Ch 2
A
Ch 1
3
Ch
Sync
Link
Ch 3
Ch 2
4
Ch
Ch 4
Ch 4
Ch 3
Ch 2
Ch 3
Ch 3
StarHub Synchronisation
Sync
Link
Sync
Link
B
SFP+
SFP+
SFP+
SFP+
SFP+
Master
Ch 4
Slave
Ch 3
Ch 3
Ch 4
Ch 4
Ch 3
SyncLink 2.0
SFP+
Ch 3
Ch 3
Ch 4
Ch 4
Digital
IO
Ch 2
Digital
Slave
Slave
Ch 2
SFP+
Ch 4
Ch 4
Ch 4IO
Ch 4
SyncLink 2.0
Digital
IO
StarHub Synchronisation
SyncLink 2.0
A
C
B
C
Ch 1
Ch 1
RJ45 Cable, up to 50m
Ch 1
Ch 1
Clock / Status / Trigger
Ch 1
StarHub Synchronisation
StarHub Synchronisation
Ch 2
Ch 2
A
Ch 1
3
Ch
Ch 2
4
Ch
Ch 1
3
Ch
Ch 2
4
Ch
Ch 2
Ch 3
Ch 3
Ch 3
Ch 4
C
B
Ch 1
Ch 4
Ch 4
StarHub Synchronisation
Ch 2
B
A
Ch 1
Sync
Link
C
Ch 1
3
Ch
Ch 1
Ch 2
4
Ch
Ch 2
Digital
IO
Ch 4
Ch 4
C
Ch 1
3
Ch
SFP+
SFP+
Master
Ch 2
4
Ch
SFP+
Slave
Ch 2
4
Ch
Ch 2
4
Ch
SyncLink 2.0
Ch 3
Ch 3
Ch 3
Ch 4
Ch 4
Ch 4
Ch 3
Digital
IO
Ch 4
SFP+
Digital
IO
B
C
Ch 1
Ch 1
Ch 2
Ch 2
Ch 2
Ch 3
Ch 3
Ch 3
Ch 4
Ch 4
Sync
SFP+
SFP+
SFP+
Master
SFP+
Slave
SFP+
SFP+
SFP+
SFP+
Slave
SyncLink 2.0
StarHub Synchronisation
Ch 1
3
Ch
Sync
Link
Ch 2
Sync
Link
Link1
Ch
Master
2
Ch 2
B
Ch 1
3
Ch
Clock / Status / Trigger
Ch 3
Ch 3
Ch 2
A
A
RJ45 Cable, up to 50m
RJ45
Cable, up to 50m
Clock / Status
/ Trigger
Sync
ChLink
1
Ch 2
Sync
Link
Digital
IO
Digital
IO
Ch 4
Digital
IO
SyncLink 2.0
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DAQ Synchronization
Inter-Device Synchronization
All data acquisition cards from the TPCX and TPCE family can be synchronized by using a StarHub synchronization board. The StarHub acts
as master clock reference and trigger distributor. Even when the device
is build up from several boards, it behaves like one multichannel system.
The synchronization precision is lower than 1 ns. This allows to make
precise time measurements over different board inputs even at the fastest
sampling rate of 240 MS/s.
A
Ch 1
Ch 2
Ch 3
Trigger on all Channels: All trigger events from any channel in the system gets synchronized through the StarHub and allows that all channels
in the device can be the trigger source and this without additional delays
or uncertainties.
Ch 4
StarHub Synchronization Board
StarHub Synchronisation
A
B
C
Ch 1
A
Ch 1
Ch 1
Ch
Ch 2
1
Ch 2
Ch 2
Ch 3
2
Ch 3
Ch 3
Ch
Ch 4
3
Ch 4
Ch 4
Sync
Link
Digital
IO
Ch 4
StarHub Synchronisation
StarHub Synchronisation
Multi-Device Synchronization
A
B
C
Ch 1
Ch 1
A
B
C
Ch 1
Ch 1
Ch 1
RJ45 Cable, up to 10m
StarHub Synchronisation
Clock / Status / Trigger
Ch 1
The SyncLink SLB-8 allows to expand the measurement setup up to 8
(optional up to 16) devices. The maximum cable length is limited to 10
meters between the DAQ device and the SyncLink which is sufficient in
most indoor and lab applications.
Sync
Link
Sync
Link
A
B
C
Ch 2
Ch 2
Ch 2
Ch 1
Ch 1
Ch 1
Ch 3
Ch 3
Ch 3
Ch 2
Ch 2
Ch 2
Ch 4
Ch 4
Ch 4
Ch 2
Ch 2
Ch 2
Ch 3
Ch 3
Ch 3
Ch 4
Ch 4
Ch 4
Sync
Link
Digital
IO
Digital
IO
The synchronization precision is 12.5 ns and is much better than normally
SyncLink SLB-8
achieved with other synchronization methods like GPS or PTP.
Ch 3
Ch 3
Ch 3
Ch 4
Ch 4
Ch 4
Digital
IO
StarHub Synchronisation
A
StarHub Synchronisation
StarHub Synchronisation
B
C
A
RJ45 Cable, up to 50m
Ch 1
A
Ch 1
B
Ch 1
C
Ch 21
Ch
Ch21
Ch
Ch21
Ch
Ch 32
Ch
Ch32
Ch
Ch32
Ch
Ch 43
Ch
Ch43
Ch
Ch43
Ch
Clock / Status / Trigger
Sync
Link
Ch 4
Ch 4
B
C
Clock / Status / Trigger
Ch 1
Ch 1
Ch 1
Ch 1
Ch 2
Sync
Link
Sync
Link
Digital
IO
SFP+
SFP+
Master
Ch 4
A
RJ45 Cable, up to 10m
SFP+
SFP+
Slave
Digital
IO
Ch 2
Ch 2
Ch 2
Ch 3
Ch 3
Ch 3
Ch 3
Ch 4
SyncLink 2.0
Ch 4
Ch 4
Ch 4
Digital
IO
SyncLink SLB-8
FOC Cable, max length > 1 km
Clock / Status / Trigger
StarHub Synchronisation
StarHub Synchronisation
A
B
C
Ch 1
C
Ch 1
Ch 1
RJ45 Cable, up to 50m
A
B
Ch 1
Ch 1
Clock / Status / Trigger
Sync
Link
RJ45 Cable, up to 50m
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Clock / Status / Trigger
Ch 1
Ch 2
Ch 2
Sync
Link
Ch 2
A
3
Ch 1
Ch 2
Ch 3
DAQ Synchronization
Ch 4
StarHub Synchronisation
A
B
C
Distributed Multi-Device Synchronization
Ch 1
Ch 1
Ch 1
Ch 2
Ch 2
Ch 2
Sync
Link
The SyncLink 2.0 is the highest level of synchronization and allows to daisy-chain several SyncLink units together. The connection between them is established over fiber optical cables (FOC) allowing much larger distances between the DAQs than
possible with the SyncLink SLB-8. The connection between the DAQ and the SyncLink 2.0 is still based on RJ45 CAT. 6 cables
but its maximum length is expanded to 50 m while it is only 10 m for the SLB-8.
Ch 3
Ch 3
Ch 3
Ch 4
Ch 4
Ch 4
Digital
IO
StarHub Synchronisation
StarHub Synchronisation
A
B
C
Ch 1
Ch 1
Ch 1
Ch 2
Ch 2
Ch 2
Ch 3
Ch 3
Ch 3
Ch 4
Ch 4
Ch 4
A main advantage beside the high synchronization precision of 12.5 ns is the possibility to transmit also trigger message to all
connected devices in sub-microsecond delays. This makes this solution most suitable for measurement where a trigger condition is not available on all location.
A
B
C
Ch 1
Ch 1
Ch 1
RJ45 Cable, up to 10m
Clock / Status / Trigger
Sync
Link
Sync
Link
Ch 2
Ch 2
Ch 2
Ch 3
Ch 3
Ch 3
Ch 4
Ch 4
Ch 4
Digital
IO
Digital
IO
SyncLink SLB-8
StarHub Synchronisation
StarHub Synchronisation
A
B
C
Ch 1
Ch 1
Ch 1
Ch 2
Ch 2
Ch 2
Ch 3
Ch 3
Ch 3
A
B
C
Ch 1
Ch 1
Ch 1
Ch 2
Ch 2
Ch 2
Ch 3
Ch 3
Ch 3
Ch 4
Ch 4
Ch 4
RJ45 Cable, up to 50m
Clock / Status / Trigger
Sync
Link
Sync
Link
Ch 4
Ch 4
Ch 4
Digital
IO
SFP+
SFP+
Master
SFP+
SFP+
Slave
Digital
IO
SyncLink 2.0
FOC Cable, max length > 1 km
Clock / Status / Trigger
StarHub Synchronisation
StarHub Synchronisation
A
B
C
Ch 1
Ch 1
Ch 1
Ch 2
Ch 2
Ch 2
Ch 3
Ch 3
Ch 3
A
B
C
Ch 1
Ch 1
Ch 1
Ch 2
Ch 2
Ch 2
Ch 3
Ch 3
Ch 3
Ch 4
Ch 4
Ch 4
RJ45 Cable, up to 50m
Clock / Status / Trigger
Sync
Link
Sync
Link
Ch 4
Ch 4
Digital
IO
Ch 4
SFP+
SFP+
Master
SFP+
SFP+
Slave
Digital
IO
SyncLink 2.0
StarHub Synchronisation
StarHub Synchronisation
A
B
C
Ch 1
Ch 1
Ch 1
A
B
C
Ch 1
Ch 1
Ch 1
Ch 2
Ch 2
Ch 2
Ch 3
Ch 3
Ch 3
Ch 4
Ch 4
Ch 4
RJ45 Cable, up to 50m
Clock / Status / Trigger
Sync
Link
Sync
Link
Ch 2
Ch 2
Ch 2
Ch 3
Ch 3
Ch 3
Ch 4
Ch 4
Ch 4
Digital
IO
SFP+
SFP+
Master
4
SFP+
SFP+
Slave
Digital
IO
SyncLink 2.0
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DAQ Synchronization
External Synchronization
Elsys provides several possibilities to synchronize to or from other 3rd part measurement systems. Basically any synchronization
technology which is capable of delivering a synchronized Pulse per Second (pps) signal can be used as master clock. The PPS
signal must either connected to the StarHub PPS input or to the SyncLink 2.0 PPS input.
StarHub Synchronisation
A
B
C
Ch 1
Ch 1
Ch 1
Ch 2
Ch 2
Ch 2
Ch 3
Ch 3
Ch 3
Ch 4
Ch 4
Ch 4
Sync
Link
GPS Receiver
PPS
Digital
IO
PPS
IRIG Receiver
PTP (IEEE1588)
Slave
PPS
PTP (IEEE1588)
Master
PTP
StarHub Synchronisation
StarHub Synchronisation
A
B
C
A
B
C
Ch 1
Ch 1
Ch 1
RJ45 Cable, up to 50m
Ch 1
Ch 1
Clock / Status / Trigger
Ch 1
Sync
Link
Sync
Link
Ch 2
Ch 2
Ch 2
Ch 3
Ch 3
Ch 3
Ch 4
Ch 4
Ch 4
Digital
IO
SFP+
SFP+
SFP+
Master
SFP+
Slave
Ch 2
Ch 2
Ch 2
Ch 3
Ch 3
Ch 3
Ch 4
Ch 4
Ch 4
Digital
IO
SyncLink 2.0
PPS
Synchronization Precision Overview
Protocol
Synchronization Device
Precision
Elsys specific
StarHub
< 1 ns
Elsys specific
SyncLink SLB-8
12.5 ns
Elsys specific
SyncLink 2.0
12.5 ns
GPS
StarHub / SyncLink 2.0
± 1 us
IEEE 1588 (PTP)
(Software)
(Hardware)
StarHub / SyncLink 2.0
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100 us − 100 ms
± 1 us
5
DAQ Synchronization
Elsys AG
Elsys AG
Mellingerstrasse 12
CH-5443 Niederrohrdorf
Switzerland
Telefon: +41 56 496 01 55
Email: info@elsys.ch
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6
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