Andor Technology iXon3 Series Instructions d'installation
iXon3
Hardware Guide
www.andor.com © Andor Technology plc 2012
Page 1
iXon 3
Table of Contents
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
SECTION 1 - INTRODUCTION TO IXON3 HARDWARE 7
1.1 TECHNICAL SUPPORT 7
Europe 7
USA 7
Asia-Pacic 7
China 7
1.2 COMPONENTS 8
1.2.1 Camera 8
1.2.2 Controller Cards 9
1.2.3 Controller Card Cables 9
1.2.4 Cooler Power Supply Block 10
1.2.5 Software 10
1.3 SAFETY PRECAUTIONS & MAINTENANCE 11
1.3.1 Care of the camera 11
1.3.2 Environmental conditions 11
1.3.3 Regular checks 12
1.3.4 Annual electrical safety checks 12
1.3.5 Replacement parts 12
1.3.6 Fuse replacement 12
1.3.7 Overheating 12
1.3.8 Working with electronics 13
1.3.9 Condensation 13
Page 2
iXon 3
Table of Contents
1.3.10 Dew Point graph 13
1.3.11 EM Gain ageing 14
1.3.12 Minimizing particulate contamination 14
SECTION 2 - INSTALLATION 15
2.1 INSTALLING THE HARDWARE 15
2.1.1 PC requirements 15
2.2 CONNECTORS 16
2.3 WATER PIPE CONNECTORS 17
2.4 CONNECTING THE SYSTEM 17
2.5 MOUNTING POSTS 17
2.6 INSTALLING PCI/PCIe DRIVER - WINDOWS O/S (2000/XP/VISTA) 18
2.6.1 Installing Linux driver 18
2.6.2 Software installation 18
SECTION 3 - FEATURES & FUNCTIONALITY 19
3.1 - EMCCD OPERATION 19
3.1.1 Structure of an EMCCD 19
3.1.2 EM Gain & Read Noise 21
3.1.3 EM Gain ON vs EM Gain OFF 21
3.1.4 Multiplicative Noise Factor & Photon Counting 22
3.1.5 EM Gain dependence and stability 23
SECTION 1 (continued) Page
Page 3
iXon 3
Table of Contents
3.1.6 RealGainTM : Real and Linear gain 24
3.1.7 EM Gain Ageing: What causes it and how is it countered? 25
3.1.8 Gain & signal restrictions 25
3.1.9 EMCALTM 26
3.2 COOLING 26
3.2.1 Cooling options 27
3.2.2 Fan settings 27
3.3 SENSOR READOUT OPTIMIZATION 27
3.3.1 Sensor PreAmp options 28
3.3.2 Variable Horizontal Readout Rate 29
3.3.3 Variable Vertical Shift Speed 29
3.3.4 Output amplier selection 30
3.3.5 Baseline Optimization 30
3.3.5.1 Baseline Level and Baseline Offset 30
3.3.5.2 Baseline Clamp 31
3.3.6 Binning and Sub Image options 31
3.4 ACQUISITION OPTIONS 33
3.4.1 Capture Sequence in Frame Transfer Mode 33
3.4.1.1 Points to consider when using FT Mode 34
3.4.2 Capture Sequence in Non-Frame Transfer Mode with an FT CCD 35
3.4.2.1 Points to note about using an FT CCD as a standard CCD 36
3.4.3 Capture Sequence for Fast Kinetics with an FT CCD 37
SECTION 3 (continued) Page
Page 4
iXon 3
Table of Contents
3.4.3.1 Points to consider when using Fast Kinetics mode 37
3.4.4 Keep Clean Cycles 38
3.5 TRIGGERING OPTIONS 41
3.5.1 Triggering options in Frame Transfer (FT) mode 42
3.5.1.1 Internal (FT) 42
3.5.1.2 External (FT) 43
3.5.1.3 External Exposure (FT) 45
3.5.2 Triggering options in Non-Frame Transfer (NFT) mode 46
3.5.2.1 Internal (NFT) 46
3.5.2.2 External & Fast External (NFT) 47
3.5.2.3 External Exposure (NFT) 49
3.5.2.4 Software trigger (NFT) 50
3.5.3 Trigger options in Fast Kinetics (FK) mode 51
3.5.3.1 Internal (FK) 51
3.5.3.2 External (FK) 52
3.5.3.3 External Start (FK) 53
3.6 SHUTTERING 53
3.7 COUNT CONVERT 54
3.8 OptAcquire 55
3.8.1 OptAcquire modes 56
3.9 PUSHING FRAME RATES WITH CROPPED SENSOR MODE 57
3.9.1 Cropped Sensor Mode Frame Rates 58
3.10 ADVANCED PHOTON COUNTING IN EMCCDs 59
3.10.1 Photon Counting by Post-Processing 61
SECTION 3 (continued) Page
Page 5
iXon 3
Table of Contents
SECTION 4 - HARDWARE 62
4.1 EMCCD TECHNOLOGY 62
4.1.1 What is an Electron Multiplying CCD? 62
4.1.2 Does EMCCD technology eliminate Read Out Noise? 62
4.1.3 How sensitive are EMCCDs? 62
4.1.4 What applications are EMCCDs suitable for? 63
4.1.5 What is Andor Technology’s experience with EMCCDs? 63
4.2 EMCCD SENSOR 63
4.3 - VACUUM HOUSING 64
4.3.1 Thermoelectric cooler 65
4.4 OUTGASSING 65
4.5 CONTROLLER CARD PINOUTS 66
4.6 SMB SIGNAL DIAGRAMS 67
APPENDIX 68
A1.1. GLOSSARY 68
A1.1.1 Readout sequence of an EMCCD 68
A1.1.2 Accumulation 69
A1.1.3 Acquisition 69
A1.1.4 A/D Conversion 69
A1.1.5 Background 69
A1.1.6 Binning 69
A1.1.7 Counts 69
A1.1.8 Dark Signal 69
A1.1.9 Detection Limit 70
Page 6
iXon 3
Table of Contents
A1.1.10 Exposure Time 70
A1.1.11 Frame Transfer 70
A1.1.12 Noise 71
A1.1.12.1 Pixel Noise 71
A1.1.12.1.1 Readout Noise 71
A1.1.12.2 Fixed Pattern Noise 71
A1.1.13 Quantum Efciency/Spectral Response 71
A1.1.14 Readout 72
A1.1.15 Saturation 72
A1.1.16 Scans (Keep Clean & Acquired) 72
A1.1.17 Shift Register 72
A1.1.17 Shot Noise 73
A1.1.18 Signal To Noise Ratio 73
A1.2 MECHANICAL DIMENSIONS 74
A1.3 DECLARATION OF CONFORMITY 75
A1.4 TERMS & CONDITIONS 76
A1.5 STANDARD WARRANTY AND WARRANTY SERVICES 76
A1.6 THE WASTE ELECTRONIC AND ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT
REGULATIONS 2006 (WEEE) 79
APPENDIX (continued) Page
Page 7
iXon 3
Introduction
SECTION 1 - INTRODUCTION TO iXon3 HARDWARE
Thank you for choosing the Andor iXon3. You are now in possession of a revolutionary new Electron Multiplying Charge
Coupled Device (EMCCD), designed for the most challenging low-light imaging applications. This manual contains useful
information and advice to ensure you get the optimum performance from your new system. If you have any questions
regarding your iXon3 system, please feel free to contact Andor directly, or via your local representative or supplier. You
can nd contact details below.
1.1 - TECHNICAL SUPPORT
If you have any questions regarding the use of this equipment, please contact the representative* from whom your
system was purchased, or:
Europe
Andor Technology plc
7 Millennium Way
Springvale Business Park
Belfast
BT12 7AL
Northern Ireland
Tel. +44 (0) 28 9023 7126
Fax. +44 (0) 28 9031 0792
www.andor.com/contact_us/support_request
Asia-Pacic
Andor Technology (Japan)
4F NE Sarugakucho Building
2-7-6 Sarugaku-Cho
Chiyoda-Ku
Tokyo 101-0064
Japan
Tel. +81-3-3518 6488
Fax. +81-3-3518 6489
www.andor.com/contact_us/support_request
USA
Andor Technology
425 Sullivan Avenue
Suite # 3
South Windsor
CT 06074
USA
Tel. (860) 290-9211
Fax. (860) 290-9566
www.andor.com/contact_us/support_request
China
Andor Technology
Room 1213, Building B
Luo Ke Time Square
No. 103 Huizhongli
Chaoyang District
Beijing,100101 P.R.
China
Tel: +86 (0)10 51294977
Fax. +86 (0)10-6445-5401
www.andor.com/contact_us/support_request
The latest contact details for your local representative can be found on our website via the following link:
http://www.andor.com/contact_us/Default.aspx
Page 8
iXon 3
Introduction
1.2 - COMPONENTS
The Andor iXon3 system comprises the following main items:
• Detectorhead(hereinafterreferredtoasa Camera - see gure 1 below)
• 2offBNC-SMBcables
• UsermanualsonCD
• Softwaredisk(SDKand/orSolisifordered)
• AndorProgrammerguidetoAndorBasic(ifordered)
• SoftwareDevelopmentKitmanual(ifSDKordered)
• Cameraspecicperformancebookletorsheet
• ESDwriststrap.NOTE: This must be worn at all times when handling the PCI card
• PCI/PCIecard(CCI-22,CCI-23orCCI-24,cameramodeldependent)
• PCI/PCIecontrollercardtocameracable
• Powersupplyblockandcorrectpowercableforthecountrywherethecameraistobeused
The following items are also available as optional accessories:
• MountingPosts(see page 21)
1.2.1 - Camera
Figure 1: iXon3 camera
Introduction
Page 9
iXon 3
Introduction
1.2.2 - Controller Cards
The Controller cards (CCI-22, CCI-23 or CCI-24) buffer data from the camera, before transfer to the computer memory,
via the PCI bus. The CCI-22 & CCI-23 require a PCI 2.2 slot; the CCI-24 requires a PCIe x1 slot.
All boards are well shielded against electrical interference.
Your iXon3 will be supplied with the controller card that is optimal for your camera model. Controller cards have a 26-pin
interface for connection via a cable to the PC and an auxiliary connector. The pin-outs for the cards are shown on page 79.
1.2.3 - Controller Card Cables
The controller cards require the following connecting cables for correct operation:
• ThecontrollercardconnectorcableisusedtoconnectthecameratothePCIcontrollercard.
• Thepowercableisconnectedwithinthecomputerbetweenanyavailable“Molex”connectorandthePCIcontroller
card. NOTE: The internal power cable is wired to leave a free connector for supplying power to other devices,
should it be required.
Figure 2: CCD-22
Figure 5:
PCI controller card
to camera cable
Figure 6:
Internal “Molex”
connector cable
Figure 3: CCD-23 Figure 4: CCD-24
Ce manuel convient aux modèles suivants
10
Table des matières
Autres manuels Andor Technology Appareil photo numérique
Andor Technology
Andor Technology iDus 416 Manuel utilisateur
Andor Technology
Andor Technology iXon Ultra 897 Manuel utilisateur
Andor Technology
Andor Technology iStar Instructions d'installation
Andor Technology
Andor Technology iKon-XL Deep Cooled Manuel utilisateur
Andor Technology
Andor Technology iKon-XL SO Manuel utilisateur
Andor Technology
Andor Technology iKon Series Manuel utilisateur
