Threshold Tab¶

The Threshold Unit tab allows the user to define discrimination conditions and logical operations on a selection of input signals and output the result as TTL signals in real time. This functionality and tab is available on all MF instruments.

Features¶

4 threshold units for state detection
analog input signals: demodulator data (X, Y, R, Θ), PID data (error, output, shift; requires MF-PID Quad PID/PLL Controller option option)
digital input signals: 32 DIO channels, input and output overflows, etc.
threshold detection: above, below, inside, outside, rising edge, falling edge
absolute value and low-pass filtering can be applied prior to threshold detection
configurable activation and deactivation times
combination of up to 3 logical signals on one output with NOT, AND, OR, and XOR operation
minimum length, hold, and invert functionality

Description¶

The Threshold tab enables real-time logical analysis of measurement data in order to detect special conditions or failures, and trigger a reaction via a TTL output. Typical applications are AFM tip protection or microfluidics cell sorting. Whenever the tab is closed or an additional one of the same type is needed, clicking the following icon will open a new instance of the tab.

Table 1: App icon and short description
Control/Tool	Option/Range	Description
Threshold		Configure the threshold unit and the logical combinations to generate digital output signals.

The Threshold tab (see Figure 1) is divided in a Thresholds section on the left, and a Logic units section on the right. The rows in the Thresholds section represent the input signals of the unit and the discretization action that converts them into logical signals. The rows in the Logic units section represent the output signals of the unit and the logical operations performed to generate these signals.

The available input signals include analog signals such as demodulator R, but also digital inputs or error flags of the instrument such as Signal Input overload. An analog input signal can be low-pass filtered which helps to avoid false alarms when short glitches occur. After filtering the signal is discretized by comparing it to a user-defined threshold or range. Configurable minimum activation times after crossing a threshold allow further tuning of the time-domain behavior. The filtered threshold signal can be displayed in the Scope Tab which helps in defining meaningful threshold conditions. When digital signals are selected as inputs, the activation and deactivation times can be set the same way as for the analog signals. The figures below illustrate and detail the signal processing in the Threshold Unit using flow diagrams and signal graphs.

In order to output these signals on the Trigger outputs, the DIO Tab Mode setting needs to be set to Threshold units, and the Trigger output Drive needs to be enabled. By default, the four logical signals are routed as is to the four Trigger outputs. To set up more complex state detection, up to three input signals can be combined on one output using logical operations. The configuration of the logical operations in the Logic units section is collapsed by default. Base logical operators (AND, OR, XOR) as well as logical inversion (NOT) are available and grouping of the operations is indicated by brackets in the user interface.

Figure 2: Flow diagram representing the Thresholds section of the Threshold tab.

Figure 3: Signal graph showing an example of the signal processing that occurs in the Guard Timer. The Guard Timer block corresponds to the Enable/Disable settings in the Thresholds section of the Threshold tab and is represented in

Figure 4: Flow diagram for the Logic Units section of the Threshold tab.

Figure 5: Signal graph showing an example of the signal processing by the Hold and Width functionality of the Threshold Unit. The represented signals 1 to 5 are indicated in

Functional Elements¶

Table 2: Threshold tab
Control/Tool	Option/Range	Description
Signal		Select the signal source to be used in the threshold unit.
	X	Select the demodulator X component as input.
	Y	Select the demodulator Y component as input.
	R	Select the demodulator magnitude component as input.
	Θ	Select the demodulator phase component as input.
	PID Out	Use the PID controller's output signal as input. PID option needs to be installed.
	PID Shift	Use the PID controller's shift signal. PID option needs to be installed.
	PID Error	Use the PID controller's error as input. PID option needs to be installed.
	DIO	Select one of the DIO channels as input.
	Trigger In	Select a trigger input as input.
	Trigger Out	Select a trigger output as input.
	Input Overload (V)	Use voltage input overload as input.
	Input Overload (I)	Use current input overload as input.
	Output Overload	Use signal output overload as input.
	Aux Input Overload	Use aux input overload as input.
	Aux Output Overload	Use aux output overload as input.
	PID Output Overload	Use PID output overload as input.
	TU Output Value	Use TU output value as input.
Channel	index	Select the channel according to the selected signal source.
Abs	ON / OFF	Takes the absolute value of an analog input signal.
TC/BW Value	numeric value	Defines the characteristic time constant of a low-pass filter applied to an analog input signal.
Value	numeric value	Shows the value after the low-pass filter.
Source Value Lower Saturation Status		Indicates whether the source saturates at the lower bound.
	Off	The source value does not saturate at the lower bound.
	On	The source value saturates at the lower bound.
Source Value Upper Saturation Status		Indicates whether the source saturates at the upper bound.
	Off	The source value does not saturate at the upper bound.
	On	The source value saturates at the upper bound.
Mode		Selects the analysis mode defining the output signal.
	Above	Enable if the Signal is above Upper Threshold.
	Below	Enable if the Signal is below Lower Threshold.
	Outside	Enable if the Signal is outside the range [Lower Threshold, Upper Threshold].
	Rising Edge	Enable if the Signal crosses Upper Threshold from below Lower Threshold. The difference between Upper an Lower Threshold defines the threshold hysteresis.
	Falling Edge	Enable if the Signal crosses Lower Threshold from above Upper Threshold. The difference between Upper an Lower Threshold defines the threshold hysteresis.
Lower	numeric value	Lower threshold used to generate the output. In Rising Edge mode, this parameter defines the hysteretic behavior as the output state is reset only when the signal crosses Lower Threshold from above.
Upper	numeric value	Upper threshold used to generate the output. In Falling Edge mode, this parameter defines the hysteretic behavior as the output state is reset only when the signal crosses Upper Threshold from below.
State	low / high / toggling	Indicates the current output of the threshold unit before the Minimum Time analysis.
Enable	numeric value	Minimum duration of threshold violation needed before the output is activated. This can be used as a glitch filter.
Disable	numeric value	Minimum duration of threshold compliance needed before the output is deactivated.
State	low / high / toggling	Indicates the current output of the threshold after the Minimum Time analysis.
Not	ON / OFF	Inverts the input signal.
In	index	Selects threshold channel to be used as input.
Op		Logical operation applied to the signals to the left and right of the control.
	none	No logical operation selected. No additional signals will be used to generate the output.
	AND	Use a logical AND operation.
	OR	Use a logical OR operation.
	XOR	Use a logical XOR operation.
State	low / high / toggling	Indicates the current output of the threshold after the logical combination.
Width	numeric value	Select a minimum pulse width for the generated output signal. The width of pulses shorter than this time will be extended.
Hold	ON / OFF	Hold the output state indefinitely once it has changed to the activated state.
Inv	ON / OFF	Changes the output signal to low-active.
State	low / high / toggling	Final output state.