STAR 800 MIB

HARDWARE CONFIGURATION
Presentation of STAR 800 MIB box ______________________________________________ 2
Role and Advantages of STAR 800 MIB _______________________________________________ 2
STAR 800 MIB interface description__________________________________________________ 2
The front panel : box working state ____________________________________________________________ 3
Back panel: interface toward workstation _______________________________________________________ 4
Side panel: interface toward chromatographs_____________________________________________________ 5
Minimum configuration requirements ________________________________________________ 6
General___________________________________________________________________________________ 6
Working by Ethernet ________________________________________________________________________ 7
Working by RS-232_________________________________________________________________________ 7
Installation of STAR 800 MIB___________________________________________________ 8
Installation of the STAR 800 MIB box ________________________________________________ 8
For an Ethernet installation ___________________________________________________________________ 8
For a RS-232 serial port installation ____________________________________________________________ 9
Installation of the PC software _______________________________________________________ 9
Maintenance ________________________________________________________________ 10
Updating the STAR 800 MIB EPROM _______________________________________________ 10
Anomaly diagnostic _______________________________________________________________ 12
Technical specifications _______________________________________________________ 13
Electromagnetic compatibility ______________________________________________________ 13
Communication __________________________________________________________________ 13
Supplied cable: ______________________________________________________________ 14
Acquisition ______________________________________________________________________ 15
Size ____________________________________________________________________________ 17
PRESENTATION OF STAR 800 MIB BOX

Role and Advantages of STAR 800 MIB

STAR 800 MIB is the VARIAN electronic interface box that provides the means for
communication between chromatography instruments and a PC-based data acquisition and data
processing workstation.

STAR 800 MIB enables workstations to have distant access from any PC on the network in order
to fully control chromatographic instruments, acquire or process data . This enables a better
laboratory space management, and allow users to perform their tasks from the PC of their choice.

Another advantage provided by the STAR 800 MIB is to free the workstations from requiring
internally installed expansion cards within each PC to add instrument driver capability and/or
data acquisition functionality (analog/digital conversion cards, multi-serial RS-232 cards, etc.).

Direct digital data acquisition using STAR 800 MIB is employed whenever possible, but when
analog signal acquisition is necessary, the STAR 800 MIB box significantly decreases the
background noise that yields an improved signal to noise ratio.

The communication protocols of STAR 800 MIB permit the following functions:

 A workstation accesses to chromatographs connected on different boxes

 Several workstations can have access to chromatographs connected to the same box.

STAR 800 MIB interface description

STAR 800 MIB contains three panels of interest:

 The front one which allows to check the STAR 800 MIB processing.
 The back one which concerns the power supply and the communication with workstation.
 The side one which concerns the communication with chromatographs .
The front panel : box working state

(3) (6)

54 mm (2) (5)

(1) (4)
HERCULE 2000 - Chromatography Interface

267 mm

The 6 lights of the panel provide the working state of the box.

(1) Indicates Power “On”. In RS-232 mode: this light flickers to indicate transmissions with
the workstation via RS-232 serial connection.
(2) At least one workstation has an open communication session with the box.
(3) General error.
(4) Ethernet: Transmission sending in process (Off in RS-232 serial mode).
(5) Ethernet: Indicates ethernet cable is correctly connected (Off in RS-232 serial mode).
(6) Ethernet: Indicates collision (Off in RS-232 serial mode).
Back panel: interface toward workstation

Toggle
switch
(1) (2) (3)
RS232 ETHERNET
(4)

Power Supply Host Computer

The connectors on the back panel of the STAR 800 MIB box are illustrated above, and they
enable power supply and communication with the workstations.

(1) Power supply connector (appropriate power adapter with cord is supplied with the box).
(2) RS-232 serial connector (cable supplied with the box).
(3) Ethernet Connector (cable supplied with the box).
(4) Toggle switch that selects RS-232 or Ethernet communications for the STAR 800 MIB
box (this toggle switch must be in the right position before switching on the box).

 If the Ethernet communication mode is chosen, the toggle switch must be directed to the
right, and an Ethernet cable must be connected. An ‘unlimited’ number of boxes can be
connected to the network. These boxes can be accessed from all workstations, so that any
workstation can acquire and /or control chromatographs..

Ethernet network

Work stations Chromatography instruments

Connection of STAR 800 MIB boxes on the Ethernet network

  If the RS-232 communication mode is chosen, the toggle switch must be directed to the
left, and a serial cable must be connected. The number of STAR 800 MIB boxes
connected to a workstation depends on number of available COM Ports on this
workstation. The workstation to which is (are) connected the STAR 800 MIB box(es) is
called the Acquisition station . The chromatograph linked to these STAR 800 MIB
boxes can be used from all the other workstations (if Galaxie is installed in
Client/Server mode), but the corresponding Acquisition station must be switched on
to allow the acquisition.

RS232 connections

Work stations Chromatography instruments

Connection of STAR 800 MIB boxes by RS-232 serial connections

Side panel: interface toward chromatographs

ch 4 ch 3
1..Relays..4

1..Starts..4

Extension Ports Analog Inputs

ch 2 ch 1

Digital Analog

The connectors used to link instruments are on this panel.

 2 slots for analog to digital conversion boards (2 A/D channels per board), able to receive up
to 4 analog signals.
 2 slots for extension card insertion (a multi-serial card for 4 RS-232 ports, a GPIB card for a
GPIB Bus).

 a connector that contains the 4 relay outputs (dry contact).

a connector that contains the 4 external synchronization inputs of the analog channels

According the chromatograph to connect, one connector type or another is used.

Non controlled chromatograph

 2 to 4 analog acquisition channels individually equipped with an external synchronization
input (Start Input for remote start function).
 4 relay outputs to control valves, start the instruments, etc.

Driven chromatographs (fitting with specific drivers)

 1 to 2 extension board slots within STAR 800 MIB add specific capability for
communications with instruments (4 RS-232 ports, GPIB bus).
 4 relay outputs to control valves, start the instruments, etc.

The ports numbering is as displayed below:

Extension Ports

8 5 Card 2

4 1 Card 1

Minimum configuration requirements

General
 Pentium 133MHz PC,
 64 MB Random Access Memory
 System:
 Microsoft® Windows™ NT 4.0, Service Pack 4 or superior version
  Microsoft® Windows™ 2000,
 Microsoft® Windows™ 95 O.S.R. 2 (with DCOM 95 and Winsock 2 installed. Both are
available at Microsoft web site: install first the DCOM 95 :
www.microsoft.com/com/resources/downloads.asp, choose “DCOM95 for windows 95”,
then install Winsock 2: www.microsoft.com/windows95/downloads , choose “Windows
sockets2 update” ).
 Microsoft® Windows™ 98
 10 MB free disk space.

Working by Ethernet
 Ethernet 10 BASE-T network adapter (10 Mbits)
 Microsoft® TCP/IP network layers set up.
 An IP address for each STAR 800 MIB box (ask your network administrator if IP address is
assigned).

Working by RS-232
 1 free RS-232 serial port, supporting 115200 Bauds speed.
INSTALLATION OF STAR 800 MIB

Installation of the STAR 800 MIB box

For an Ethernet installation

 Connect the box into a wall Ethernet plug or into a Hub port using the supplied Ethernet
cable.

The cable supplied does not allow you to connect the STAR 800 MIB box
directly to the PC network adapter without using a hub. To do this, another
type of cable is required, contact the technical support to discuss such
applications.

 Move the toggle switch on the back panel to the Ethernet connector position.
 Plug the power adapter with cord into the STAR 800 MIB box, then connect the box to
an appropriate 110v or 220v electrical outlet.

Wall network plug

or HUB

HERCULE 2000 – back panel

Power adapter with cord (supplied) Ethernet cable (supplied)

For a RS-232 serial port installation

 Connect the RS-232 cable into the STAR 800 MIB box, then to a PC COM (serial) port
(COM x).
 Move the selection switch to the RS-232 connector position.
 Plug the power adapter with cord into the STAR 800 MIB box, then connect the box to an
appropriate 110v or 220v electrical outlet.

COM port of the PC

HERCULE 2000 – back panel

Alimentation RS232 cable

Installation of the PC software

Drivers installation is made automatically during the software (Galaxie) installation.

The workstation must be reboot after the drivers installation.
MAINTENANCE

Updating the STAR 800 MIB EPROM

Updating the STAR 800 MIB firmware consists on loading a new software version into the box.

 Thanks to the provided RS-232 cable, link the STAR 800 MIB box to a COM Port of a
computer.
 Execute the program “UpgradeStar800.exe” which is stored in: Galaxie \
STAR_800_MIB.
 The first screen ask to enter the COM Port number of the station connected to the box.

 Enter the COM port number then click on OK to validate.

 The following screen allows to load the firmware in the box:

Unplug and plug again the power supply : the firmware loading is symbolized by the defilade of
0 and 1:
When the loading is finished, the following message is displayed:

Click on OK, the first screen is displayed again, load the firmware on another STAR 800 MIB or
cancel.

Don’t forget to reboot the box!

The firmware is updated and ready for use.

Anomaly diagnostic

A STAR 800 MIB box is preceded by a red cross in the supervisor:

Box using an Ethernet connection (TCP/IP):

 verify that the box is switched ON.
 verify that the toggle switch located on the back panel of the box is on the "Ethernet"
position (if not, place the switch in the Ethernet position, then plug the box back in).
 verify that the IP address captured in “Interface configuration” is correctly entered, and
that it corresponds to the IP address of the box.
 verify that a valid Ethernet cable connection exists between the box and the hub (or wall
plug).
 If the box is still not detected, reprogram the network parameters of the box by executing
the Interface configuration (Hconfiguration.exe) program (Refer to Chapter
“Configuration of STAR 800 MIB”).

Box using a RS-232 serial connection:

 verify that the box is switched ON.
 verify that the toggle switch on the back panel of the box is on the "RS232" position (if
not, place the switch in the RS232 position, then plug the box back in).
 verify that the number shown for the "RS-232" COM port captured in “Interface
Configuration” corresponds to the correct COM port number where the box is actually
plugged into.
 verify that a valid RS-232 cable connection exists between the box and the client
workstation.
 Verify the FIFOS

If instead of these checks the STAR 800 MIB state remains unchanged reboot it (unplug and
plug again the power supply), and update the supervisor by activating the button (warning,
be sure that no acquisition using this STAR 800 MIB box is performed).

If the above steps do not solve the communication problem, please contact the technical support.
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

Electromagnetic compatibility

The STAR 800 MIB product adheres to the following specifications:

 NF EN 50081-1:
 NF EN 55022 class B,
 NF EN 50082-1:
 NF EN 61000-4-2,
 NF EN 61000-4-3,
 ENV 50204,
 NF EN 61000-4-4,
 NF EN 61000-4-5,
 NF EN 61000-4-6,
 NF EN 61000-4-11.

File number for CE marking: R9904078C

Communication

Ethernet: 10Base-T, 10 Mbps.

Cable supplied:

1 TD+ 1 TD+
2 TD- 2 TD-
3 RD+ 3 RD+
4 4
5 5
6 RD- 6 RD-
7 7
1 8 1 8
8 8

Shielded RJ45 shielded RJ45

connector. connector.
RS-232: 115200 bauds, 8 bits, flow control with RTS/CTS signals.
Supplied cable:
1 1 DCD 1 DCD 1
6 2 RxD 2 RxD 6
3 TxD 3 TxD
4 DTR 4 DTR
5 GND 5 GND
6 DSR 6 DSR
7 RTS 7 RTS
9 8 CTS 8 CTS 9
5 9 RI 9 RI 5

SUB-D connector SUB-D connector

9 points, Female. 9 points, Female.
Acquisition

2 (or 4) analog acquisition channels:

 independently usable
 resolution: 24 bits
 average noise: 1µV for gain +/-1V at 10 points/second
 gains: +/-1V, +/-2,5V, +/-10V
 acquisition frequency : 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 25, 50, 100 points/second,
 acquisitions start by contact or TTL level, programmable:
 closing of the contact (or change from 5 volts to 0 volts),
 closed contact (or 0 volts),
 opening of the contact (or change from 0 volts to 5 volts),
 open contact (level TTL, max 5 volts).
 limit signal value for analog input : -15V / +15 V
 limit signal value for start input : +10 V

ch 4 ch 3
+
Start of the channel 1
-
1 .. Starts .. 4

Start of the channel 2

Analog Inputs
Start of the channel 3
Start of the channel 4
ch 2 ch 1

Position of the channels on the STAR 800 MIB box

 Back view

RED (+)
BLACK (-)

SHIELD

Mini-DIN connector Analog acquisition cable

male, 4 contacts.

Cable supplied:

RED (+)
BLACK (-)

Cable for the acquisitions start

4 (or 8) RS232 channels :

 110 to 19200 bauds speed,
 5 to 8 bits,
 1 or 2 bits of stop,
 parity: without, even, odd, marked, space,
 RTS/CTS control signals.

COM 4 (8) 3 (7) 2 (6) 1(5)

Channels position on a RS4 extension card (4 RS-232 channels )

Pin out of a connector:

12345678 1–
2 – RTS
3–
4 – TX
5 – RX
6 – GND
7 – CTS
8–

4 relay outputs:
 independent
 24 Volts for 1 Ampere.
 relay 1

1..Relays..4
relay 2
relay 3
relay 4

Relay position

Size

 Length: 270 mm
 Depth: 218 mm
 Height: 55 mm
 Weight: 1.9 kg
INDEX

A N
Acquisition, 2, 5, 15 Network, 7
Acquisition station, 5
Analog, 2, 5, 6, 15
P
B Power supply, 4, 8, 9

Board, 2, 5, 6
R
C Reboot, 12
Relay, 6, 16, 17
Cable, 13, 16 RS232, 7, 14
Chromatograph, 2 RS-232, 2, 3, 4, 6
Chromatograph, 2 RS-232, 7
Connection, 4, 5 RS-232, 9
RS-232, 9
RS-232, 16
D RS-232, 16
Driver, 2
S
E Serial connection, 4
Ethernet, 4, 7, 8, 13 Size, 17
Extension, 16
T
F Toggle switch, 4, 9
Firmware, 10
U
G Update, 10
GPIB, 5, 6 UpgradeStar800.exe, 10

I W
Instruments, 6 Workstation, 2, 4

L
Light, 3