The Open Ephys headstage uses an Intan amplifier chip to filter, amplify, and multiplex 32 channels of neural data. An analog-to-digital converter inside the chip digitizes each signal with 16-bit resolution. Instead of one wire per channel, as is required for analog headstages, our headstage can send 32 channels over a cable with only 12 wires. And the signal is purely digital, so there are no tether artifacts.
Currently all of our Omnetics-based headstages follow the same reference/ground pin standard as Plexon, Blackrock, and TBSI headstages, though the ordering of the data channels is different:
However, if you're using a 32-channel headstage you purchased from Intan, the channel mapping will be different:
TODO: add diagram of intan chips, link to SPI and tether standards
Currently documented headstage designs: