The GBS Elektronik GmbH is not liable for errors and does not guarantee the specific utility of the MCA166-USB software or firmware. In particular, the GBS Elektronik GmbH is not liable for indirect or subsequent damages due to errors of the MCA166-USB software or firmware.
3.8 WinSCAN...12 3.9 Identify...12 3.10 MCAPlot and MCAPrint...13 3.11 MMCAEVAL...13 3.12 MCAWAND... 1 3 3.13 Miscellaneous...14 4 MCA166-USB parameters for use with different detectors...14 5 Some of the most important photon energies...15 6 Technical Data...16 6.1 MCA166-USB Hardware Specifications...16 6.1.1 Amplifier...16 6.1.2...
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7 Troubleshooting...22 APPENDIX 1 - MCA166-USB spectral data format...25 APPENDIX 2 - MCA166-USB algorithm, formulas...32 APPENDIX 3 - Description of the communication DLLs...35 APPENDIX 4 - Description of the MCA166-USB firmware functions... 58 APPENDIX 5 - Changing the MCA166-USB Firmware... 72...
Furthermore, the MCA166-USB supports a vast number of different detectors and its 4k resolution is adequate to support high resolution gamma spectrometry with HPGe detectors.
MCA166-USB, to display and process the measurement results, and to store the data. The design concept of the MCA166-USB also supports a Multi-Channel Scaler mode. For operation the MCA166-USB itself has only a power switch and a green LED indicator.
When the battery voltage has dropped down to 6.8 Volts, while a data collection is in progress, the MCA166-USB gives out a warning to the user (the lamp will flash irregularly and the software will show an error message).
MCAs (supporting only 38.400 Baud). Because the firmware of the MCA166-USB is able to detect the baud rate, it is also possible to control this MCA with older application programs which support only 38.400 Baud.
( 0.5mA or 0.25 Watt). On the right side of the MCA166-USB case (front view) the high voltage indicator is located (Figure 1). If it shines red a positive HV module is inserted, if it shines blue a negative HV module is present.
3 Software 3.1 Overview There are several programs to operate the MCA166-USB. All of them serve a special purpose. There are programs for MS-DOS and Windows (32 Bit). The MS-DOS software was originally developed for the HP 200LX, whose footprint coincident with the footprint of the MCA166.
3.2 SPEC (MS-DOS), WinSPEC (Windows) These programs are the default programs for measuring spectra. It supports semi- automated measurements of gamma ray spectra with the MCA166-USB. The spectra are stored on mass storage media on a PC. There are two variants of WinSPEC. WinSPEC-I (for Inspectors) was designed for standard use.
3.9 Identify Identify is an intelligent, interactive software tool to evaluate spectra measured with the MCA166-USB or other MCAs. It does peak search and nuclide identification. HPGe, CdZnTe and NaI detector gamma spectra are supported. For correct peak search a starting point for the detector resolution and efficiency is assumed based on detector type and size.
MCAPlot and MCAPrint are programs to view and print spectra recorded with the MCA166-USB. Up to 32 spectra can be viewed at the same time and be printed on one page. Also some evaluation functions are available. MCAPlot is not included in the MCA price.
MCA166-USB in an existing system. 4 MCA166-USB parameters for use with different detectors This table shall just give an overview of possible settings useful with the MCA166-USB. It is far from being complete. For actual settings with your detector, see the detectors manual.
MCA166-USB 6 Technical Data 6.1 MCA166-USB Hardware Specifications 6.1.1 Amplifier 1. Type Gaussian programmable shaping amplifier with pile-up rejector and gated base ● line restorer 2. Gain From 1 ... 1000 ● Minimum gain step 0.5 channel for 2K scale ●...
6.1.2 ADC 1. Successive approximation ADC with sliding scale linearisation Channel splitting 128, 256, 512, 1K, 2K, or 4K ● Full input voltage range 3V, positive and negative (10V with external attenuator) ● 2. ADC Dead time (including time needed to write into memory) <...
MCA166-USB 6.1.3 Power supply Power supply adequate for commonly used NaI, HPGe, CdTe and proportional ● counters Current limited mode with indication of overload condition through software; short ● circuit protected and automated recovery after overload or shortening 6.1.4 Preamplifier Voltages ±...
6.1.7 Computer Interface RS-232C serial port ● USB 1.1; virtual COM port is used ● 38.400Baud and 307.200Baud; both baud rates available on both interfaces ● proprietary software protocol ● 6.1.8 Mechanical specification Size: 155mm x 95mm x 45mm (footprint of palmtop HP200LX) ●...
Table 4: Wiring Diagram of the Charger Input Connector (female Lemo 00-302) Contact Signal + charge voltage - charge voltage Table 5: Wiring Diagram of the PC Interface Connector (female Lemo 0S-306) Contact Signal 5V USB D- USB D+ USB RxD RS232 (Input) TxD RS232 (Output) Table 6: Preamplifier Power Supply Connector (D9 female)
MCA166-USB 7 Troubleshooting General Remark: Before changing anything concerning the hardware, plugging or pulling cables etc. shut down the high voltage and switch off the MCA. Soldering or manipulating with the SMD boards is strongly not recommended for users. We have specialists for that. If you have a problem which cannot be solved by the table below, contact us.
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5. The threshold of the spectrum seems to be much higher than expected. The input polarity may be wrong. Does the threshold depend on radioactive ● source and count rate? Try some other input polarity. P/Z may not be set correctly. Please check if P/Z is correctly adjusted. ●...
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MCA166-USB 12. Bad resolution in a HPGe spectrum or from a test generator, specially at high amplification factors Check electrical noise and EMC compatibility of surroundings. Some laptops ● and also some switch mode power supply battery chargers may disturb.
APPENDIX 1 - MCA166-USB spectral data format The MiniMCA spectral data format is in compliance with the IAEA SPE Spectral Data Format (see SPEDAC PRO User’s Manual Rel. 1.0, IAEA, Feb 1994). All information is stored in a block structured ASCII BSA file so that its content can be viewed with any text editor and the file content can be printed directly.
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MCA166-USB Setup Information FILE CONTENT $ADC: 4096 3967 $PRESETS: Integral 10000 266 332 $PZC_VALUE: 1232 $FAST_DISCR: $SLOW_DISCR: $THR: $GAIN_VALUE: 1.0261 $DTC: $INPUT: Amplifier $PUR: $STAB: $STAB_PARAM 25000 $POWER: +12= on -12= on +24=off -24=off $HV: +500V Unused 1 and 2 µs are the shaping time of a standard MMCA. By use a modified MMCA: 1 = low shaping time, 2 = high shaping time...
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MCA166-USB Setup information’s – continued FILE CONTENT $REC_COUNTER: 2823 $REC_ERROR_COUNTER: $SPEC_INTEGRAL: 4098917 $ROI_INFO: 1 266 332 299.74 24.19 1233477 1142868 According to the specifications other blocks can be added depending on the type of the application. Almost each application add inspection information to the spectrum file.
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WinSPEC (inspection information if CsRation is attached) FILE CONTENT $WINSPEC_INFO: ANALYSIS:CSRATIO 1999/001 1969/12/31 Inspector1/Inspector2 DIV1/DIV2 FACC ItemID 1997/01/01 0.000 Mwd/tU 0.000 0.00E00 0.000 % ICOD 0156 8289/025 9475/020 Collimator Filter WinSPEC (inspection information if MGA is attached) FILE CONTENT $WINSPEC_INFO: ANALYSIS:MGA 1999/001 1999/01/01...
MCA166-USB APPENDIX 2 - MCA166-USB algorithm, formulas This appendix lists the algorithms used by the MiniMCA for the following functions: Area, Area uncertainty ● Centroid ● FWHM ● Smooth ● Strip ● Energy Calibration ● The Area and the Area Uncertainty Function: The area algorithm calculates the number of counts above the background in a ROI.
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Centroid: The peak centroid is the sum of the channel contents channel contents in the range of the channels above the half maximum: where, i = channel number Spectrum = net contents of channel i FWHM: The Full Width at Half Maximum (FWHM) is the background corrected peak’s width at one-half of its maximum amplitude.
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MCA166-USB Strip: Strip subtracts a specified fraction of the spectrum. The Strip factor can be “positive“ or “negative“ : Spectrum = Spectrum - F*Spectrum where Spectrum - Count content of channel i in the resulting spectrum Spectrum - Count content of channel i in the original spectrum...
APPENDIX 3 - Description of the communication DLLs A3.1 MS-Windows DLL for communication with one MCA166-USB The Dynamic Link Library exists as a 16-bit variant (mca_comm.dll) and as a 32-bit variant (mca32com.dll). The DLL must reside in the system directory of Windows or in the same directory as the calling application. In order to include the DLL in your program, you have to use in Visual Basic the file MCA32COM.BAS (valid only for Win32 applications) or in C/C++ the files MCA_COMM.H and...
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MCA166-USB The first argument is a string with the name of the command. In the following table all available commands (use of capital and small letters is possible), the corresponding firmware specific names and the number of the required parameters are listed.
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The other arguments are the parameters of the firmware command. These arguments are optional since not all commands use the same number of parameters. Unnecessary arguments you can leave out. Information about the parameters you can find in appendix 4. You can ignore the parameters ”preamble”, ”command” und ”end flag” listed in this document. These parameters are assigned the right value automatically.
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MCA166-USB A3.2 Command set MCA Reset Command: Name MMCA_RESET Description All MCA Parameters will be reset to their initial state and the spectra are cleared. The measurement is aborted, but the states of the preamplifier power and the value of the high voltages...
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MCA Mode Commands: Name MMCA_SET_MODE_MCA Description The command sets the acquire mode to Multi-Channel Analyser Parameter Results Return Code see MMCA_RESET command Name MMCA_SET_MODE_MCS Description The command sets the acquire mode to Multi-Channel Scaler Parameter Results Return Code see MMCA_RESET command MCA Clear Commands: Name MMCA_CLEAR_MEMORY...
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MCA166-USB MCA Measurement Setup Commands: Name MMCA_SET_PRESET_NONE Description None preset Parameter Results Return Code see MMCA_RESET command Name MMCA_SET_PRESET_LIVE_TIME Description The command sets the time for measurement (dead time corrected). 1. Parameter Live time Results Return Code see MMCA_RESET command...
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Name MMCA_SET_ADC_RES_DISCR Description The command sets the ADC resolution and the software discriminator range. 1. Parameter Channels 2. Parameter 3. Parameter Results Return Code see MMCA_RESET command Name MMCA_SET_ROI Description The command sets the begin and end of the ROI for the preset integral and area. 1.
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MCA166-USB Name MMCA_SET_MCS_INPUT_ICR Description The command selects the count rate signal as MCS input. Parameter Results Return Code see MMCA_RESET command Name MMCA_SET_MCS_INPUT_TTL Description The command selects the external TTL signals as MCS input. Parameter Results Return Code see MMCA_RESET command...
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MCA Hardware Setup Commands: Name MMCA_SET_GAIN Description The command sets the amplifier coarse and fine gain. 1. Parameter Coarse gain 2. Parameter Fine gain Results Return Code see MMCA_RESET command Name MMCA_SET_MCA_INPUT_AMPLIFIER_POS Description The command sets the amplifier input polarity to positive. Parameter Results Return Code...
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MCA166-USB Name MMCA_SET_THRESHOLD Description The command sets the analog threshold 1. Parameter Threshold Results Return Code see MMCA_RESET command Name MMCA_SET_SHAPING_TIME_LOW Description The command sets the amplifier shaping time (1µs). Parameter Results Return Code see MMCA_RESET command Name MMCA_SET_SHAPING_TIME_HIGH Description The command sets the amplifier shaping time (2µs).
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Name MMCA_SET_FAST Description The command sets the fast discriminator threshold. 1. Parameter Threshold Results Return Code see MMCA_RESET command Name MMCA_SET_SLOW Description The command sets the slow discriminator threshold. 1. Parameter Threshold Results Return Code see MMCA_RESET command Name MMCA_SET_PZC_MANUAL Description The command sets the PZC value and returns the PZC offset.
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MCA166-USB MCA Stabilisation Commands: Name MMCA_SET_STABILISATION Description The command sets the peak stabilisation. 1. Parameter Stabilisation flag 2. Parameter Peak ROI begin 3. Parameter Peak ROI end Results Return Code see MMCA_RESET command Name MMCA_SET_STAB_PARAM Description The command sets the peak stabilisation parameters.
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MCA Data Setup Commands: Name MMCA_SET_TDF Description The command sets the dead time correction parameter. 1. Parameter Results Return Code see MMCA_RESET command Name MMCA_SET_USER_DATA Description The command stores a 32 bit value in the MCA parameter memory. 1. Parameter Number 2.
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21 Each program should set and test at least the MCA application mode (Byte offset 16). Developer of new applications for the MCA166-USB should publish the shorthand expression of their application. 22 The bytes 0 ... 15 are used differently by the single applications...
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Byte Offset 64 1. ROI pair (ROI End) Byte Offset 66 1. ROI pair (ROI Begin) Byte Offset 68 Byte Offset 120 Byte Offset 124 16. ROI pair Byte Offset 128 U235/UF6: WinMCS:16 ROI pairs of the MCA spectrum ( similar the other ROIs ) 25 In applications with MCS spectrum the ROIs of the MCS spectrum are saved here.
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MCA166-USB Name MMCA_QUERY_POWER Description The command reads the MMCA power state. Parameter Result array Battery current [mA] Byte Offset 4 HV primary current [mA] Byte Offset 8 +12 primary current [mA] Byte Offset 12 -12 primary current [mA] Byte Offset 16...
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Name MMCA_QUERY_STATE Description The command reads the MMCA state. Parameter Results array MCA acquire mode Byte Offset 2 MCA preset Byte Offset 4 Preset value Byte Offset 8 Elapsed preset Byte Offset 12 Repeat value Byte Offset 14 Elapsed sweeps Byte Offset 16 MCS time per channel [ 0.01 sec] Byte Offset 18...
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MCA166-USB Name MMCA_QUERY_STATE Byte Offset 72 Stab. ROI begin Byte Offset 74 Stab. ROI end Byte Offset 76 ADC input Byte Offset 78 ADC input polarity Byte Offset 80 Byte Offset 82 PUR state Byte Offset 84 MCS input Byte Offset 86...
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Name MMCA_QUERY_SYSTEM_DATA Description The command reads the MMCA system data. Parameter Results array Byte Offset 2 Peak detect counter Byte Offset 8 Byte Offset 10 Fast detect counter Byte Offset 16 Byte Offset 18 Peak detect counter at time-1 Byte Offset 24 Byte Offset 26 Fast detect counter at time-1 Byte Offset 32...
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MCA166-USB Byte Offset 116 Stabilisation area preset Byte Offset 120 Stabilisation time preset Byte Offset 122 Low shaping time Byte Offset 123 High shaping time Byte Offset 124 Byte Offset 128 MMCA state Return Code see MMCA_RESET command Name MMCA_QUERY_IMAGE Description The command read the MMCA spectrum image (120x256).
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Name MMCA_QUERY_SPECTRA Description The command read the MMCA spectrum data. 1. Parameter No. of 1. Channel and read out control 2. Parameter Compress factor (1 ... 32) Result array Channel contents N Byte Offset 4 Channel contents N+1 Byte Offset 124 Channel contents N+31 Byte Offset 128 Buffer state...
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MCA166-USB Name MMCA_QUERY_UF6_INFO Description The command reads current dead time, real time the integral, begin and end of the UF6 ROIs Parameter Result array Real time Byte Offset 4 Dead time [msec] Byte Offset 8 Integral ROI 1 Byte Offset 12...
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MCA_COMX.LIB or MCA32CXM.LIB. All functions and structures are declared in these files. The use of the function is analogous to the functions of the DLLs for the comunication with one MCA166-USB (see chapter A3.1). However, following differences exist: The return value of the function COMM_INIT is an index of the communication port. You have to pass this index to each function as first parameter so that you can distinguish the communication ports.
MCA166-USB APPENDIX 4 - Description of the MCA166-USB firmware functions MCA Reset Command: Command name CMD_INIT All MCA Parameters will be reset to their initial state and the spectra are cleared. The measurement Description is aborted, but the states of the preamplifier power and the value of the high voltage are unchanged!
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MCA Mode Command: Command name CMD_SET_MODE Depending on the value of the first parameter (mod): Description MODE_MCA MODE_MCS the command set MMCA to the required mode by activating the previous specified setup parameter. The command will be ignored and responded with a error messages, if a measurement is still running.
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MCA166-USB MCA Measurement Setup Commands: Command name CMD_SET_ADC_RES_DISCR Description The command set the ADC resolution(res: 128, 256 … 4096), the LLD(Low level discriminator) and the ULD(Upper level discriminator) to the values of its three parameter. The command will be ignored and responded with a error messages, if one ore more parameter are invalid or a measurement is still running.
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Command name CMD_SET_REPEAT Description The command sets the number(rep: 0 ... 65535) of sweeps for repetitive measurement. Command syntax Format integer Parameter preamble Byte String (HEX) Used setup value None Affected setup value Repeat MCA state STATE_READY Command name CMD_SET_MCS_CHANNEL Description The command set the number of channels(ch: 128 ...
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MCA166-USB MCA Hardware Setup Commands: Command name CMD_SET_GAIN Description The command sets the amplifier coarse(cg) and fine gain(fg). 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, 500 or 1000 5000 ... 15000 (for cg = 1000 fg: 5000 ... 10000) Command syntax...
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Command syntax Format integer Parameter preamble Byte String (HEX) Used setup value None Affected setup value MCA state STATE_READY 41 The values may be different for some MCA166-USB configurations. integer integer long command integer integer long command integer integer long...
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MCA166-USB Command name CMD_SET_PUR Description The command sets the pile up rejection. pur = 0 turns PUR off Command syntax pur 0 turns PUR on Format integer Parameter preamble Byte String (HEX) Used setup value None Affected setup value mca_pur...
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Command name CMD_SET_PZC The command performs the Pole Zero Cancellation. Description pv: 0 ... 2499 pm = 0 pm > 0 Command syntax Format integer Parameter preamble Byte String (HEX) Used setup value None Affected setup value pzc_value Results If pm > 0 the function returns with the number of counts and the - PZC offset. MCA state STATE_READY Command name...
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MCA166-USB MCA Stabilisation Commands: Command name CMD_SET_STABILISATION The command sets the peak stabilisation. Description rb+3<fl<re-3 Peak ROI begin (LLD<= begin < end) Peak ROI end (begin < end <= ULD, (end-begin) < 250) Command syntax Format integer Parameter preamble Byte String (HEX)
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Parameter preamble Byte String (HEX) Used setup value None Affected setup value detector_bias, stab_state MCA state STATE_READY 42 The high voltages will ramp up or down by the MCA166-USB. integer integer long command and controls the HV-inhibit-input. integer integer long...
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MCA166-USB MCA Data Setup Commands: Command name CMD_SET_TDF The command sets the TDF parameter. Description tdf: TDF(100 ... 3000, default 800) Command syntax Format integer Parameter preamble Byte String (HEX) Used setup value None Affected setup value MCA state STATE_READY...
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MCA Query Commands: Command name CMD_QUERY_POWER Description The command reads the power state. Command syntax Format integer Parameter preamble Byte String (HEX) Results see MMCA_QUERY_POWER function in DLL description. Command name CMD_QUERY_STATE Description The command reads the state. Command syntax Format integer Parameter...
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MCA166-USB Command name CMD_QUERY_USER_DATA The command reads a 32 bit value from the MCA parameter memory. Description e: 0 ... 63 parameter number Command syntax Format integer Parameter preamble Byte String (HEX) Used setup value None Result see MMCA_QUERY_USER_DATA function in DLL description.
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Command name CMD_QUERY_ENRICHMENT The command read the integral of two ROIs and the real and dead time. Description Peak Peak Peak Peak Command syntax Format integer Parameter Preamble Byte String (HEX) Used setup value Result see MMCA_QUERY_ENRICHMENT function in DLL description. Name MMCA_QUERY_UF6_INFO Description...
MCA166-USB APPENDIX 5 - Changing the MCA166-USB Firmware Attention: The order of changing the switches must be followed exactly, otherwise the P will be destroyed! The programming voltage (+12V) shall only be applied when the working voltage (+5 V) is switched on !! Each MMCA must be programmed with it’s corresponding...
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