Software
Our software offering streamlines the preparation of the wireless optogenetic probes described in the Wiki, making it effortless for anyone to do so. It consists of two components: 1) firmware for the wireless control module and 2) application specifically designed for smartphone-based wireless manipulation.
Firmware for wireless control module
To achieve the desired wireless control functionality, it is necessary to install the appropriate firmware on the Bluetooth Low Energy System-on-Chip (BLE SoC). Since the BLE SoC does not come with any pre-installed firmware, the only available method is to upload the firmware via a wired connection using a supplementary tool like J-Link. This method is used to upload the Bootloader (Link to Bootloader) onto the initial BLE SoC. The Bootloader is software specifically designed to facilitate wireless firmware updates to the BLE SoC, known as Over The Air (OTA) updates.
As described, it is important to note that the Bootloader is not intended for the operation of the wireless control module itself. Instead, its purpose is to enable convenient firmware updates without the need for physical connections.
Download Firmware
The required firmware, which enables enable communication between the wireless control module and the smartphone, as well as control of the microLEDs on the probes, can be found here.
Installation Guide
For detailed instructions on installation, please refer to Part 5 in Tutorials. Required software and apps to be installed can be found in Software List #1.
Smartphone control app
The main purpose of the smartphone app is to provide users with convenient and selective control over multiple wireless devices, with a maximum capacity of up to 7 devices. It is specifically designed to work with wireless control modules that have a maximum of 2 distinct microLED channels, enabling users to adjust the photostimulation frequency (5 levels) and intensity (3 levels) in real time. Currently, the app is exclusively accessible to Android users.
Download App
The app can be downloaded from this link.
Guide for Installation and Usage
For detailed instructions on installation and usage, please refer to Part 6 in Tutorials.