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Summary of Contents for Roper Photometric
- Page 2 The information in this publication is believed to be accurate as of the publication release date. However, Roper Scientific, Inc. does not assume any responsibility for any consequences including any damages resulting from the use thereof. The information contained herein is subject to change without notice. Revision of this publication may be issued to incorporate such change.
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Page 3: Sealed Chamber Integrity Warranty
During this period, Roper Scientific will repair a defective product or part, without charge to you. You must deliver the entire product to the Roper Scientific factory or, at our option, a factory authorized service center. You are responsible for all transportation and insurance charges to return the product to the service center, and Roper Scientific will be responsible for all transportation charges and insurance to return the product to you. -
Page 4: Your Responsibility
In no event shall Roper Scientific liability exceed the cost of the repair or replacement of the defective product or part. -
Page 5: Table Of Contents
Table of Contents Chapter 1. Introduction Description...1 Software...2 Roper Scientific Customer Service...2 Chapter 2. ICL Introduction ...3 Rules of Syntax ...3 Whitespace...3 Parameters / Arguments ...3 Single Parameter Functions ...4 Multiple Parameter Functions...4 Verbs ...4 Verbs as Subroutines ...5 Begin and End ...5 Looping Verbs ...5... - Page 6 Chapter 3. Advanced CCD Theory Introduction ...29 Theory of Operation ...29 Potential Wells...29 Charge Transfer...30 Classical CCD Implementations ...31 CCD Readout...32 Subarrays ...33 Binning ...33 Time Delay Integration ...34 CCD Architectures ...35 Full Frame ...35 Frame Transfer ...35 Interline Transfer ...36 CCD Camera Implementations ...37 Resolution ...37 Sensitivity...37...
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Page 7: Chapter 1. Introduction
Imager Control Language (ICL)— Rules of syntax, ASCI II command set, and example scripts Advanced CCD Theory — Background theory for advanced ICL users Most Roper Scientific called PVCAM custom, ANSI C library of camera control and data acquisition functions. Full- function imaging packages access PVCAM. -
Page 8: Software
Installation instructions for these files are covered in your camera system’s Software Guide. Roper Scientific If you have any questions regarding your camera system, contact Roper Scientific Customer Service. When you call Roper Scientific, please have your Roper Scientific Customer Service job number or equipment serial numbers available. -
Page 9: Chapter 2. Icl
Chapter 2. Introduction ICL scripts can be written in any text editor. Save the script as a text file, then download through an ICL-compatible imaging package. This chapter includes: Rules of Syntax The basic rules of syntax are: Whitespace Whitespace includes a single occurrence or any combination of the following: space, carriage return, line feed, form feed, tab, and unnested comment (characters). -
Page 10: Single Parameter Functions
Some functions require a single parameter. Fractional/decimal and negative Single Parameter Functions values are not allowed. Numeric expressions generate an error. Whitespace can be included anywhere inside the parentheses. The following parameters are legal: The following parameters are illegal: Multiple Parameter A few functions require multiple parameters. -
Page 11: Verbs As Subroutines
You can think of verbs as camera functions or subroutines. A single-verb Verbs as Subroutines instruction such as flash() or clear_until_trig() can be expanded into a sequence of camera-specific instructions. Most verbs are directions for the camera to perform the function immediately using the current settings. Begin and End There are two commands required for every script, if either command is missing, the program sets an error code. -
Page 12: Display Verbs
The pixel_display verb is not sent to the camera and does not affect data Display Verbs collection. However, once the data has been collected, the application examines the script, the pixel_display verbs, and any loop commands. From this information, the application determines how to display the images. (Note that the pixel_display function may appear inside loops, outside loops, or both.) If you use pixel_readout anywhere in the script, you must also use pixel_display... -
Page 13: Function Definitions
Function Definitions clear_parallel( clear_count ); clear_serial( clear_count ); clear_until_trig(); expose( exp_time ); expose_until_trig(); expose_while_trig( clear_first ); flash( flash_time ); loop_begin( loop_count ); loop_end(); pixel_display( x,y ); pixel_readout( s_offset, s_size, s_bin, p_size, p_bin ); script_begin(); script_end( contin_clear ); shift( number_of_lines ); shift_image_to_storage( );... - Page 14 clear_until_trig( ); This function causes the CCD to enter clearing mode and continues clearing indefinitely until a trigger arrives. Both the parallel and serial registers are continuously clearing (moving charge toward and into the serial register then out). When the trigger signal arrives, the CCD finishes the current parallel shift (the maximum delay is the time to shift 1 parallel row) and then stops clearing.
- Page 15 loop_begin (loop_count); This function allows looping within a script. A loop_count specifies the number of times to perform the loop. All instructions between the loop_begin and matching loop_en d commands are executed exactly loop_count times. Loops may be nested up to 16 deep. Note that indentation of a script’s source code may improve readability, but it does not alter the loop nesting in any way.
- Page 16 You can use this function to stack several regions, one after the other, in the parallel direction. However, you cannot stack more than one region at a time in the serial direction. s_offset may be zero. All other parameters must be between 1 and 65,535, inclusive. s_size and p_size must be at least as large as their corresponding s_bin and p_bin .
- Page 17 shift_mode_is( ); Shift Image and Storage. This is a parallel shifting mode that shifts the entire parallel register. This mode can be used on all CCDs and uses the normal clocking method that is equivalent to MPP off. The exception is for CCDs that require MPP clocking, and, in this case, MPP on is used.
- Page 18 commands affect the shutter. For more information concerning the pinouts and electrical specifications of the trigger port, and how they relate to the shutter commands, refer to your camera’s User Manual. shutter_open( ); This function opens the camera shutter. Once the shutter_open_delay time has passed, this function continues on to the next script instruction.
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Page 19: Example Scripts
Example Scripts The eight example scripts in this section illustrate the rules and principles of ICL. These scripts use every ICL function with the exception of shift_mode_sm() and the _alt modes. Electronic copies of the example scripts are in the ICL Example file on your HCK diskette. Open the Shutter Single Image Time Delayed Integration Panorama... -
Page 20: Tdi (Time Delay Integration) Panorama
TDI (Time Delay Integration) Panorama This script is written for use with a Kodak 1400 CCD (serial size 1317,parallel size 1035). The camera is attached to a telescope pointing straight up. The camera's external trigger port is connected to a synchronized time source that provides a pulse every few seconds. -
Page 21: Ratio Imaging: 2-Frame Ratio
Ratio Imaging: 2-Frame Ratio This script collects two frames in quick succession, for use in a ratio imaging experiment. The camera is a ® /37 (a Marconi CCD37-10 CCD, with a 512x512 image area, and a masked 512x544 storage area). Since the exposures must be tightly coordinated with the experimental setup, the camera and experiment communicate with each other as follows: The script is set up, and the camera is started (note, the camera shutter opens, but it continuously... -
Page 22: Ratio Imaging: Multi-Frame Ratio
Ratio Imaging: Multi-Frame Ratio This script performs ratio imaging with the CCD37-10 CCD. Only three small subregions are needed, but to get a good statistical base for the images, you must take a sequence of 100 identical exposures. The subimage setup is: +--------------------------------------------+ CCD37-10... -
Page 23: 3-Color Sequence
3-Color Sequence In this setup the target is illuminated by three filtered lights. Each light can be switched on and off almost instantaneously (in less than a millisecond). There is a small amount of camera-triggered hardware logic that coordinates the hardware with the exposure. All lights are turned off when the Shutter Closed Output pin is on. -
Page 24: Intermittent Exposure
Intermittent Exposure This script takes a stellar image of a faint galaxy. The observatory is located under the flight path of a local airport and incoming planes occasionally pass through the field of view. The observatory has at least 30 seconds warning before a plane passes over, so the camera needs a signal to close the shutter, stop exposing (temporarily), then begin exposing again. -
Page 25: High-Speed Spectroscopy
High-Speed Spectroscopy This script uses a frame-transfer device (the CCD37-10 CCD) to perform high-speed spectroscopy. It collects a spectral image in the image array, and bins that image down to a single line, as it shifts it into the storage area. THIS REQUIRES A FACTORY MODIFICATION TO THE CAMERA (SEE BELOW). -
Page 26: Error Codes
Error Codes This section lists the error codes that may appear when using ICL. 10100 C101_ICL_UNKNOWN_ERROR 10101 C101_ICL_LIB_NOT_INIT 10102 C101_ICL_LIB_INITED 10103 C101_ICL_NO_BEGIN 10104 C101_ICL_END_TOO_SOON 10105 C101_ICL_INST_INVAL 10106 C101_ICL_OPEN_PAREN 10107 C101_ICL_ILLEGAL_CHAR 10108 C101_ICL_BAD_COMMA 10109 C101_ICL_BAD_NUMBER 10110 C101_ICL_BAD_CL_PAREN 10111 C101_ICL_NO_SEMICOLON 10112 C101_ICL_TOO_MANY_ARG 10113 C101_ICL_TOO_FEW_ARG 10114... -
Page 27: Man Pages
Man Pages This section contains the Man Page descriptions for the six ICL scripting functions included in the PVCAM library. These functions are intended for use by application programmers only. PVCAM Class 101: ICL NAME pl_exp_display_script – lists the display rectangles. boolean SYNOPSIS pl_exp_display_script(int16 hcam, icl_disp_ptr... -
Page 28: Pl_Exp_Init_Script(101)
PVCAM Class 101: ICL pl_exp_init_script – initialize the scripting library. NAME boolean SYNOPSIS pl_exp_init_script(void) This function prepares and initializes the scripting option library. It must be DESCRIPTION called once, before any other scripting functions are called. TRUE for success, FALSE for a failure. Failure sets pl_error_code. RETURN VALUE pl_pvcam_init(2), pl_pvcam_uninit(2), SEE ALSO... -
Page 29: Pl_Exp_Listerr_Script(101)
PVCAM Class 101: ICL NAME pl_exp_listerr_script – if an error occurred during script processing, list boolean SYNOPSIS pl_exp_listerr_script( int16 hcam, char_ptr err_char, By default, this function returns zeros for all values, indicating that no logical or DESCRIPTION syntactical error was spotted in the script. This function resets each time pl_exp_setup_script is called. -
Page 30: Pl_Exp_Setup_Script(101)
PVCAM Class 101: ICL pl_exp_setup_script – process a script; download instructions to the NAME boolean SYNOPSIS pl_exp_setup_script (int16 hcam, char_const_ptr script, DESCRIPTION hcam must specify a CCD camera that has been successfully opened by PVCAM. This function uses the input string script to create a control program for hcam . The script controls all aspects of one or more exposures, including clearing the CCD, opening and closing the shutter, shifting the parallel register (or registers, in the case of frame transfer CCDs) and reading out the pixels. -
Page 31: Pl_Exp_Start_Script(101)
PVCAM Class 101: ICL NAME pl_exp_start_script – begin exposing, return immediately. boolean SYNOPSIS pl_exp_start_script(int16 hcam, void_ptr pixel_stream) DESCRIPTION hcam must specify a CCD camera that has been successfully opened by PVCAM. This function is the companion function to pl_exp_setup_script. pl_exp_setup_script must be called first to define the exposure and program this information into the camera. -
Page 32: Pl_Exp_Uninit_Script(101)
PVCAM Class 101: ICL pl_exp_uninit_script – unitialize the scripting library. NAME boolean SYNOPSIS pl_exp_uninit_script( void ) This function undoes the preparations done by pl_exp_init_script. After DESCRIPTION executing this function, scripting functions may no longer be called. TRUE for success, FALSE for a failure. Failure sets pl_error_code. RETURN VALUE pl_pvcam_init(2), pl_pvcam_uninit(2), SEE ALSO... -
Page 33: Decoding
Decoding Decoding (defined as decoding the pixel stream to display one or more images) must be simple enough to easily use, yet, powerful enough to display most experiments. To satisfy both needs, the scripts can contain any number of pixel display statements. - Page 34 This page intentionally left blank. 28 Advanced Camera Operation Manual...
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Page 35: Chapter 3. Advanced Ccd Theory
Chapter 3. Advanced CCD Theory The charge-coupled device (CCD) is the imager of choice for use in quantitative Introduction image acquisition systems. This chapter familiarizes you with CCDs and the terminology used in describing them. It also discusses CCD performance characteristics. -
Page 36: Charge Transfer
A thin layer of silicon dioxide is grown on a section of silicon and a conductive gate structure is applied over the oxide. Applying a positive electrical potential to the gate creates a depletion region where the free electrons generated by incoming photons can be stored. -
Page 37: Classical Ccd Implementations
The one-dimensional charge transfer concept can be extended to two Classical CCD Implementations dimensions. Buried channels arranged in parallel establish columns; charge cannot migrate between columns. Along each column, charge is contained in individual potential wells by a multiphase gate structure, as discussed for the one-dimensional case. -
Page 38: Ccd Readout
CCD Readout The standard CCD readout sequence is shown in CCD Readout. After an integration, a programmed sequence of changing gate potentials causes all charge packets stored in the parallel register to be shifted one pixel towards the serial register; the first charge packet in each column is shifted into the serial register. -
Page 39: Subarrays
A subarray is speci- The CCD is exposed to light and a charge fied. pattern accumulates in the subarray. The charge is fast- The first pixel of the shifted toward the subarray is shifted into output node. the output node. Subarrays It is not necessary to read out all of the pixels on the parallel register. -
Page 40: Time Delay Integration
The CCD is exposed to light and a charge pattern accumulates in the parallel register. The summed charge is shifted again. The output node contains the charge from four pixels. Time Delay Integration Time delay integration (TDI) is an integration and readout mode that allows the acquisition of long swaths of a moving image. -
Page 41: Ccd Architectures
Image travel/parallel shift Three types of CCD imagers are used for quantitative electronic imaging. CCD Architectures illustrates basic CCD structures that are in current use. Architectures Full frame Full Frame The standard full-frame CCD imager has the simplest architecture. The parallel register is used for photon exposure, charge integration, and charge transport. -
Page 42: Interline Transfer
There are some special adaptations of frame-transfer devices, shown in Frame Transfer Variations. Frame Transfer Variations Standard frame transfer High-speed framing Spectral framing Image Storage Image Storage Image Storage High-Speed Framing The frame transfer concept can be extended to multiple frames by masking most of the parallel register and using only a small region as the image array. -
Page 43: Ccd Camera Implementations
The benefits of slow- scan readout are ultra-low noise, maximum CCD performance, and photometric precision in the image data. A precision analog processing circuit and analog-to-digital converter are employed to amplify and digitize the CCD output signal. -
Page 44: Spectral Response
Light normally enters the CCD through the gates of the parallel register. These Spectral Response gates are made of very thin polysilicon that is reasonably transparent at long wavelengths but becomes opaque at wavelengths shorter than 400 nm. Thus, at short wavelengths the gate structure attenuates incoming light. -
Page 45: Fiberoptics
In most applications, the CCD is illuminated by light from an imaging source Fiberoptics such as a telescope, spectrograph, or microscope. There is a class of applications, however, in which coherent fiberoptic bundles can be used in place of imaging optics. -
Page 46: Dark Current Noise
Dark current, or thermally generated charge, can be measured and subtracted Dark Current Noise from data, but its noise component cannot be isolated. Dark current noise is a particular concern in low-light applications. To reduce dark current, CCDs can be chilled to approximately –50°C with thermoelectric cooling. -
Page 47: Additional Reading
Additional The following articles provide more information on CCDs and their applications. Reading Aikens, Richard S. Charge-Coupled Devices for Quantitative Electronic Imaging. Tucson, Arizona: Photometrics, Ltd., 1991. Aikens, Richard S., Patrick M. Epperson, and M. Bonner Denton. “Techniques for Operating Charge Coupled Devices (CCD’s) in Very High Speed Framing Mode.”... - Page 48 This page intentionally left blank. 42 Advanced Camera Operation Manual...
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Page 49: Index
Index 3-color sequence, 17 Arguments/parameters, 3 ASCII name, 6 Begin and End, 5 Binning, 33 Branching, 3 Bulb-mode exposure, 8 C generation, 6 Calls, 3 Camera help, 2 repair, 2 Carriage returns, 3 Charge, 29 Charge transfer, 30 Charge transfer efficiency (CTE), 32 Charge-coupled device (CCD) advanced CCD theory, 29 architectures, 35... - Page 50 Help camera, 2 High-speed framing, 36 High-speed spectroscopy, 19 ICL scripting functions, 21 Image array, 10, 15, 16, 19, 35, 36 Interline transfer device, 36 Intermittent exposure, 18 Inverted operation. See MPP operation Jumps, 3 Line feeds, 3 loop_begin, 6, 7, 9 loop_count, 9 loop_end, 6, 7, 9 Man pages, 21...
- Page 51 TTL-compatible signal, 8 Underscores, 6 Unnested comments, 3 Verbs, 4 as Subroutines, 5 Display, 6 looping, 5 Shift, 5 syntax, 6 Warranties, i image intensifier detector, i Warranties (cont.) one year, i owner's manual and troubleshooting, ii sealed chamber, i shutter, i software, i vacuum integrity, i...
- Page 52 D-85521 Ottobrunn, Germany Mihama-ku, Chiba-shi tel: 49.89.660.779.3 Japan 261-8501 fax: 49.89.660.779.50 tel: 81.43.274.8022 email: mail@roperscientific.de fax: 81.43.274.8023 email: sales@roper.co.jp Roper Scientific – New Jersey 3660 Quakerbridge Road Trenton, New Jersey 08619 tel: 609.587.9797 fax: 609.587.1970 email: techsupport@roperscientific.com 57-039-001 Rev C1...