Clarity Hardware OPT-USB CONVERTER

Importance of the Topic

The Opt-USB converter provides a secure and isolated optical interface between chromatographic detectors or other laboratory instruments and modern PCs. By translating optical signals into USB or virtual COM ports, it ensures electrical isolation, minimizes noise interference and grounding issues, and simplifies connectivity in automation and data acquisition workflows.

Objectives and Overview

This document outlines the purpose, installation procedure, operational characteristics and specifications of the Opt-USB Optical-to-USB Adapter developed by DataApex. It serves as a user guide for integrating the converter into Clarity chromatography software or other PC-based control applications, detailing driver installation, LED status interpretation and system requirements.

Methodology and Instrumentation

The Opt-USB adapter operates by receiving optical communication from an instrument and converting it to USB data for the PC. Key steps include:

• Pre-installation of the Opt-USB driver (via Clarity installer, standalone DVD or downloadable package).
• Connecting the adapter to a free USB-A port on a Windows PC (versions XP through Windows 11, 32- or 64-bit).
• Allowing Windows to detect new hardware and complete driver installation, acknowledging Windows Logo testing prompts when necessary.

Instrumentation Used

• Opt-USB adapter (DataApex Opt01)
• 50 cm optical cable (SK15)
• USB A-A cable (SK10)
• Windows-based PC with Clarity chromatography station or serial-port emulation software

Main Results and Discussion

The Opt-USB converter:

• Requires no external power supply when connected to USB.
• Emulates both USB and virtual RS-232 COM ports.
• Indicates communication status via a green LED with patterns for idle, data send, receive and bidirectional transfer.
• Supports USB 1.1 specification and is fully compatible with common Windows operating systems.

Performance is reliable when the adapter is directly connected to the PC rather than through hubs. Uninstalling or unplugging under certain legacy OS configurations (e.g. Windows 2000 with SP) may require system restart to prevent crashes.

Benefits and Practical Applications

The Opt-USB converter streamlines laboratory instrument integration by:

• Providing electrical isolation to protect sensitive detectors and prevent ground loops.
• Enabling easy installation without additional power supplies or complex configurations.
• Supporting straightforward software emulation of serial ports for legacy instrument control.

This solution is particularly valuable in QA/QC environments, research laboratories and automated chromatographic workflows where reliable data transfer and instrument protection are critical.

Future Trends and Opportunities

Emerging directions include:

• Integration with USB-C and faster data protocols to support higher-throughput instruments.
• Wireless optical link enhancements for remote or distributed laboratory setups.
• Advanced driver packages offering plug-and-play support in virtualized and cloud-based environments.

These developments may further simplify connectivity, enhance data integrity and expand compatibility across modern software platforms.

Conclusion

The Opt-USB converter represents a robust, user-friendly interface for converting optical instrument signals to USB or virtual COM ports. Its plug-and-play design, LED status feedback and broad Windows compatibility make it an effective solution for diverse analytical chemistry and chromatography applications. By reducing electrical noise and ensuring straightforward installation, it addresses common challenges in laboratory data acquisition.