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Chapter 5
Operation
Introduction
Once the PI-SCX camera has been installed, camera operation is basically
straightforward. In most applications you simply establish optimum performance using
the Focus mode (WinView/32 or WinSpec/32), set the target detector temperature, wait
until the temperature has stabilized at the set temperature (see the "Setting the
Temperature" section in this chapter), and then do actual data acquisition in the Acquire
mode. Additional considerations regarding experiment setup and equipment
configuration are addressed in the software manual.
During data acquisition,
the CCD array is exposed
to a source and charge
accumulates in the pixels.
After the defined
exposure time, the
accumulated signal
is readout of the
array, digitized, and
then transferred to
the host computer.
Upon data transfer,
the data is data is
displayed and/or stored via the application
software. This sequence is illustrated by the block
diagram shown in Figure 16.
Whether or not the data is displayed and/or stored
depends on the data collection operation (Focus or
Acquire) that has been selected in the application
software. In WinView and WinSpec, these
operations use the Experiment Setup parameters to
establish the exposure time (the period when signal of interest is allowed to accumulate
on the CCD). As might be inferred from the names, Focus is more likely to be used in
setting up the system (see the "First Light" discussions) and Acquire is then used for the
collection and storage of data. Briefly:
In Focus mode, the number of frames and accumulations settings are ignored. A
single frame is acquired and displayed, another frame is acquired and overwrites the
currently displayed data, and so on until Stop is selected. Only the last frame
acquired before Stop is selected can be stored. When Stop is selected, the File Save
function can be used to save the currently displayed data. This mode is particularly
convenient for familiarization and setting up. For ease in focusing, the screen refresh
rate should be as rapid as possible, achieved by operating with axes and cross-
sections off, and with Zoom 1:1 selected.
Figure 16. Block Diagram
of Light Path in System