Glossary

API (Application Programming Interface)

Interface to programmatically interact with the software, such as via a Python script.

Biphasic Pulse

A frequently used stimulation pulse, comprising two monophasic pulses, typically starting with a positive voltage followed by a negative voltage pulse. In general, the transition from the positive to the negative phase initiates the activity.

Channel

Around the periphery of the electrode array, there are 1020 readout channels located which can be connected to arbitrary subsets of electrodes.

DAC

Digital-to-Analog-Converter. Used to convert a digital electrical signal to an analog electrical signal.

Floating amplifier

An amplifier that is not physically connected to an electrode. Floating amplifiers tend to exhibit higher noise levels because they capture environmental noise due to their lack of grounding.

Frame

An array data structure containing the amplitudes. This is what is used to communicate between your MaxOne/MaxTwo device and the mxwserver.

GPIO (General Purpose Input/Output)

A pin on the MaxOne recording unit that can be used for input or output, depending on how it is programmed.

LSB

The ‘least significant bit’, i.e. the smallest unit of measure which can be resolved.

Monophasic pulse

Stimulation pulse changing the voltage from baseline to excitation voltage and back to baseline voltage.

Samples

Each device samples data from the device with a specific frequency, which is called “sampling frequency.” Each of these samples is sent to the server from the device as a frame.

Stimulation unit

A total of 32 such stimulation units are located around the array and can be connected to arbitrary subsets of the electrodes. A stimulation unit applies the desired voltage to the micro electrodes.