Open Sync Board – An open-source tool for hardware synchronization of multimodal physiological sensor setups

Pitzal M, Mücke A, Bräunig J, Brückner S, Richer R, Schlechtweg N, Albrecht NC, Koelpin A, Eskofier B, Vossiek M (2024)

Publication Language: English

Publication Type: Journal article, Review article

Publication year: 2024

Journal

Journal of Open Hardware Ubiquity Press

Book Volume: 8

Journal Issue: 1

URI: https://ojs.lib.uwo.ca/index.php/openhardware/article/view/19238

Open Access Link: https://ojs.lib.uwo.ca/index.php/openhardware/article/view/19238

Abstract

The fusion of multimodal sensor data gains increasing importance in medical and psychological research. In particular, the analysis of multi-modal data contributes to a broader understanding of human well-being. When experimenting with different sensing modalities, precise synchronization of recorded data is a crucial problem that needs to be addressed. We have developed a hardware-based solution capable of synchronizing up to seven arbitrary measurement modalities. These modalities can be mounted to a PCB with various connectors to be either triggered synchronously or receive simultaneous synchronization signals. In the latter case, data can be aligned after the measurement. All PCB outputs are galvanically decoupled to avoid interference and ensure safe usage in human-centered research. In this project, we put particular emphasis on flexibility, high usability, and accuracy. Thus, different synchronization signal options are provided to suit short- as well as long-term measurements. Settings can be configured easily with an accompanying graphical user interface. Additionally, we ensured a high precision of the output signals is ensured with an estimated maximum delay of 125 μs between the output ports. This enables sub-sample synchronization accuracy for sensors with up to 8 kHz sampling rate.

Authors with CRIS profile

Mareike Pitzal Lehrstuhl für Hochfrequenztechnik (LHFT) Annika Mücke Machine Learning and Data Analytics Lab Johanna Bräunig Sonderforschungsbereich 1483/1 - Empathokinästhetische Sensorik - Sensortechniken und Datenanalyseverfahren zur empathokinästhetischen Modellbildung und Zustandsbestimmung (SFB EmpkinS) Stefan Brückner Sonderforschungsbereich 1483/1 - Empathokinästhetische Sensorik - Sensortechniken und Datenanalyseverfahren zur empathokinästhetischen Modellbildung und Zustandsbestimmung (SFB EmpkinS) Robert Richer Sonderforschungsbereich 1483/1 - Empathokinästhetische Sensorik - Sensortechniken und Datenanalyseverfahren zur empathokinästhetischen Modellbildung und Zustandsbestimmung (SFB EmpkinS) Niklas Schlechtweg Sonderforschungsbereich 1483/1 - Empathokinästhetische Sensorik - Sensortechniken und Datenanalyseverfahren zur empathokinästhetischen Modellbildung und Zustandsbestimmung (SFB EmpkinS) Nils Christian Albrecht Sonderforschungsbereich 1483/1 - Empathokinästhetische Sensorik - Sensortechniken und Datenanalyseverfahren zur empathokinästhetischen Modellbildung und Zustandsbestimmung (SFB EmpkinS) Björn Eskofier Machine Learning and Data Analytics Lab Martin Vossiek Lehrstuhl für Hochfrequenztechnik (LHFT)

Related research project(s)

Empatho-Kinaesthetic Sensor Technology (SFB 1483 EmpkinS) July 1, 2021 - June 30, 2025 Berührungslose Messung von Stress, seiner Determinanten und Konsequenzen (SFB 1483 EmpkinS D03) Empatho-Kinaesthetic Sensor Technology (SFB 1483 EmpkinS) July 1, 2021 - June 30, 2025 Holographische 6D-Funkortung und Bewegungsverfolgung (SFB 1483 EmpkinS A02) Empatho-Kinaesthetic Sensor Technology (SFB 1483 EmpkinS) July 1, 2021 - June 30, 2025 Kardiovaskuläres respiratorisches Mikrowelleninterferometer (SFB 1483 EmpkinS A04) Empatho-Kinaesthetic Sensor Technology (SFB 1483 EmpkinS) July 1, 2021 - June 30, 2025 Sensortechniken und Datenanalyseverfahren zur empathokinästhetischen Modellbildung und Zustandsbestimmung (SFB 1483 EmpkinS A01) Empatho-Kinaesthetic Sensor Technology (SFB 1483 EmpkinS) July 1, 2021 - June 30, 2025

Involved external institutions

Technische Universität Hamburg-Harburg (TUHH) DE Germany (DE)

How to cite

APA:

Pitzal, M., Mücke, A., Bräunig, J., Brückner, S., Richer, R., Schlechtweg, N.,... Vossiek, M. (2024). Open Sync Board – An open-source tool for hardware synchronization of multimodal physiological sensor setups. Journal of Open Hardware, 8(1).

MLA:

Pitzal, Mareike, et al. "Open Sync Board – An open-source tool for hardware synchronization of multimodal physiological sensor setups." Journal of Open Hardware 8.1 (2024).

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