Mentalab EXPLORE User manual
Quick Start Guide
Explore
2
Enjoy a 12h battery life, 1kHz sampling rate,
24 bit resolution, and 9-axis motion data.
Record to internal memory and work ofine
using our extensive open-source software.
Overview
Mentalab Explore is a versatile,
high-end solution for biomedical
recordings that provides research-
grade precision in a mobile format.
Thank you for purchasing a
Mentalab Explore device.
Stream data to Bluetooth for real-time
analysis at over 10 meters.
3
Flash memory
1: Yes, 0: No
Getting started
This guide contains basic information to
start streaming and recording data with
your Mentalab Explore device.
For more extensive information regarding safety and
usage, please refer to the user manual. Further
guidelines and instructional videos can be found at
mentalab.com.
Package contents
• Mentalab Explore device in shockproof case.
• USB 2.0A to micro-USB cable.
• Electrode sets and caps of your choice.
• Electrode gel and cleaning solution (optional).
Device conguration
Your Explore device’s conguration is encoded on the
device label on the back of the device.
An 8-channel device without ash memory and
Bluetooth name “Explore_1438” would appear as
follows:
Bluetooth ID
095e80/1438
4-digit ID
# Channels
4, 8
4
Technical specications
Collecting data
1. Charge the device via USB. A green LED indicates sufcient
battery. Disconnect from the power source prior to use.
2. Connect the cable set to the device and place the electrodes
on the body. Each channel records against a unipolar
reference electrode. The order of the electrodes is shown
below. Use the Velcro strap to secure the device to an EEG
cap.
3. Push the power button to start the device. It will now record
data to internal memory, if present.
No. channels 4, 8
Sampling rates 250 (default), 500, 1000 Hz
Dimensions 41 x 42 x 17 mm
Battery life Up to 8 hr online, 12 hr ofine
Differential input range ± 400 mV
Input impedance 1 GΩ
Resolution 24 bit resolution, 0.4 µVrms noise
USB output interface USB 2.0
Additional sensors Gyro-, accelero- and magnetometer: 20 Hz
Device temperature, battery: 1 Hz
Flash memory size 512 MB
Bluetooth range Approximately 10 m
Getting started
5
Reference
CH1
CH2
…
CH8
RESP
Getting started
4. Two blue blinks per second indicate that the device is visible
via Bluetooth. The device's Bluetooth name is Explore_XXXX.
The last four digits on the device's label are its Bluetooth ID.
5. Once a Bluetooth connection to the host machine has been
established (see Section: API), the Explore device will start
transferring data via Bluetooth. Use Explore's open-source
APIs to access impedance values, visualize the signal stream,
change device settings, and more.
6. Press the device button once to set a mark during the
recording. A pink LED signal indicates that a marker has been
set.
7. Turn off the device after use. To do so, hold the power button
for three seconds until the LED blinks red three times. Always
shut down the device before connecting it to USB.
6
Instructions
This table describes Explore's LED light codes:
LED color Blinking pattern Indicates
Red
Yellow
Green
At device startup,
about 3 sec
Startup in progress. The color indicates
the battery level
(green > 60%, yellow > 30%)
Blue Blinking 2x / sec Bluetooth visible and advertising
Blue Blinking 1x / sec Bluetooth visible and connected to host
machine. Online mode in progress
Green Blinking 1x / 3 sec Bluetooth is inactive. Ofine mode in
progress
Pink Blinking 1x / sec Not enough space in memory. Press the
button twice to free up space
Light pink One time ash Button has been pressed: a marker with
the timestamp corresponding to the
button event is stored and transmitted
Red Flash 3x Device shutting down
Connection
To pair your Explore device with a mobile or computer, use the
standard Bluetooth menu. Explore uses a Serial Prole Protocol
(SPP) to transfer raw data as soon as a Bluetooth connection is
established.
If the connection is lost, the device will revert to Bluetooth-visible
mode, which means it is ready to reconnect. Explore remains in
this state for four minutes. After this, it moves to ofine mode if
the device has internal memory, or else shuts down.
7
Instructions
Data
Explore samples ExG data at 250 Hz (default) with a 24-bit
resolution. The device also records and transmits accelerometer,
gyroscope, and magnetometer data. This means you can derive
the absolute orientation of your device at all times. The device
also communicates its temperature and battery voltage
continuously.
Data are stored in a binary le (.BIN sufx) in ash memory. To
retrieve data from the device, connect Explore to a computer via
USB. Files cannot be deleted via USB, instead they must be
overwritten. To format the memory (and delete all previous data),
use our open-source APIs. Please refer to the user manual or
website for more details.
Software
Capture and visualize data using Explore's APIs written in
Python, C++, Java, and MATLAB. Everything is open-source.
To contribute, please open a pull request at:
https://github.com/Mentalab-Hub.
explorepy, written in Python, is our most mature API. It
provides an extensive set of tools that allow you to build
customized biosignal applications. For detailed instructions on
how to install and use explorepy, please visit:
https://explorepy.readthedocs.io.
Explore Desktop is our newest software. It provides a graphical
user interface to explorepy, allowing you to measure
impedances, visualize data, push to LSL, and set event markers
using graphical buttons, rather than a command-line.
API diagram
9
Contact
Mentalab is a biomedical technology
company from Munich, Germany.
Mentalab Explore is a high-end, mobile
measurement device for biosignal
applications.
Mentalab Explore is used by researchers and
scientists around the world in applications ranging
from brain-computer interfaces to sleep and
neuropsychology research.
Our team is always happy to support you in
developing your own innovative solutions.
contact@mentalab.com
support@mentalab.com
https://mentalab.com
https://github.com/Mentalab-Hub
https://wiki.mentalab.com
Mentalab GmbH
Weinstr. 4, Munich,
D-80333, Germany
10 11
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