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Copyright 2003-2009

Princeton Instruments, a division of Roper Scientific, Inc.
3660 Quakerbridge Rd
Trenton, NJ 08619
TEL: 800-874-9789 / 609-587-9797
FAX: 609-587-1970

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced by any means without the written
permission of Princeton Instruments, a division of Roper Scientific, Inc. ("Princeton Instruments").
Printed in the United States of America.
LabVIEW is a registered trademark of National Instruments, Inc.
Logitech is a registered trademark of Logitech International S.A
Nikon is a registered trademark of Nikon, Inc.
PVCAM is a registered trademark of Photometrics, Ltd.
Radio Shack is a registered trademark of TRS Quality, Inc.
Scientific Imaging ToolKit and SITK are trademarks of R Cubed Software Consultants, LLC.
SpectraPro is a trademark of Acton Research Corporation.
TAXI is a registered trademark of AMD Corporation.
VersArray is a registered trademark of Roper Scientific, Inc.
Windows and Windows NT are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States
and/or other countries.
The information in this publication is believed to be accurate as of the publication release date. However,Princeton Instruments 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.

Table of Contents
Chapter 1 Introduction .........................................................................................9
VersArray® Family of Cameras ......................................................................................... 9Complete Camera Control .................................................................................................. 9
System Components ......................................................................................................... 10
Application Software ........................................................................................................ 10
About this Manual ............................................................................................................ 11
Grounding and Safety ....................................................................................................... 12
Precautions ........................................................................................................................ 13
UV Effect on Scintillator .................................................................................................. 13
Cleaning ............................................................................................................................ 14
Repairs .............................................................................................................................. 14

Chapter 2 System Component Descriptions .................................................. 15
VersArray Camera ............................................................................................................ 15
ST-133 Controller ............................................................................................................. 17
Cables ............................................................................................................................... 19
Interface Card ................................................................................................................... 20
Application Software ........................................................................................................ 20
User Manuals .................................................................................................................... 20

Chapter 3 Installation Overview ....................................................................... 21
Chapter 4 System Setup ................................................................................... 25
Introduction....................................................................................................................... 25
Unpacking the System ...................................................................................................... 26
Checking the Equipment and Parts Inventory................................................................... 26
System Requirements ....................................................................................................... 27
Verifying Voltage Settings ............................................................................................... 29
Installing the Application Software .................................................................................. 30
Setting up the Communication Interface .......................................................................... 30
Connecting the Interface (Controller-Computer) Cable ................................................... 34
Connecting the Detector-Controller Cable ....................................................................... 35
Entering the Default Camera System Parameters into WinX (WinView/32,
WinSpec/32, or WinXTest/32) ..................................................................................... 35
Attaching Lenses to C- and F-Mount Adapters ................................................................ 37
Mounting to a Spectrometer ............................................................................................. 38
Mounting a TE-Cooled VersArray Camera to a Microscope ........................................... 42
Attaching/Connecting Shutters ......................................................................................... 46
Making the Coolant Circulator-Detector Connections ..................................................... 48
Filling the Dewar (LN-cooled Detectors) ......................................................................... 50

Chapter 5 Operation .......................................................................................... 55
Introduction....................................................................................................................... 55
USB 2.0 System On/Off Sequences.................................................................................. 56
First Light (Imaging) ........................................................................................................ 56
First Light (Spectroscopy) ................................................................................................ 60
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Exposure and Signal ......................................................................................................... 63
Readout ............................................................................................................................. 68
Digitization ....................................................................................................................... 72

Chapter 6 Advanced Topics ............................................................................. 73
Introduction....................................................................................................................... 73
Timing Modes ................................................................................................................... 74
Fast Mode and Safe Mode ................................................................................................ 78
TTL Control ...................................................................................................................... 80
Kinetics Mode ................................................................................................................... 84

Chapter 7 Troubleshooting .............................................................................. 89
Introduction....................................................................................................................... 89
Baseline Signal Suddenly Changes ................................................................................... 90
Camera Stops Working ..................................................................................................... 90
Camera1 (or similar name) in Camera Name field ........................................................... 90
Changing the ST-133 Line Voltage and Fuses ................................................................. 91
Controller Is Not Responding ........................................................................................... 92
Cooling Troubleshooting .................................................................................................. 93
Data Loss or Serial Violation ............................................................................................ 94
Data Overrun Due to Hardware Conflict message............................................................ 94
Data Overrun Has Occurred message ............................................................................... 95
Demo is only Choice on Hardware Wizard:Interface dialog (Versions 2.5.19.0
and earlier).................................................................................................................. 95
Demo, High Speed PCI, and PCI(Timer) are Choices on Hardware
Wizard:Interface dialog (Versions 2.5.19.0 and earlier) ............................................ 96
Detector Temperature, Acquire, and Focus are Grayed Out (Versions 2.5.19.0
and earlier).................................................................................................................. 98
Error Creating Controller message ................................................................................... 99
Error Occurs at Computer Powerup ................................................................................ 100
Excessive Readout Noise ................................................................................................ 102
No CCD Named in the Hardware Wizard:CCD dialog (Versions 2.5.19.0 andearlier) ...................................................................................................................... 103
No Images ....................................................................................................................... 103
Overexposed or Smeared Images.................................................................................... 103
Program Error message ................................................................................................... 104
Removing/Installing a Module ....................................................................................... 104
Securing the Detector-Controller Cable Slide Latch ...................................................... 106
Serial violations have occurred. Check interface cable. ................................................. 107
Shutter Failure................................................................................................................. 107
Vignetting: LN-cooled Cameras ..................................................................................... 107

Appendix A Specifications ............................................................................. 109
Window........................................................................................................................... 109
CCD Arrays .................................................................................................................... 109
Mounts ............................................................................................................................ 109
Focal Distance................................................................................................................. 109
Shutter ............................................................................................................................. 109
Camera Head................................................................................................................... 110
Controller ........................................................................................................................ 111
Options ............................................................................................................................ 112
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Appendix B Outline Drawings ........................................................................ 113
VersArray TE Camera: Air- and Liquid-Assist .............................................................. 113
VersArray TE Camera: Liquid-Cooled ........................................................................... 116
VersArray LN-Cooled Camera ....................................................................................... 119
ST-133B Controller ........................................................................................................ 125
ST-133A Controller ........................................................................................................ 125

Appendix C Adapter Focusing Procedures .................................................. 127
F-Mount Adapter Focusing Procedure............................................................................ 127
Lens Focusing Procedure ................................................................................................ 128

Appendix D Spectrometer Adapters.............................................................. 129
Acton (LN with shutter, NTE with or without shutter)................................................... 130
Acton (NTE with C-Mount) ........................................................................................... 131
Chromex 250 IS (LN with shutter, NTE with or without shutter) .................................. 132
ISA HR 320 (LN with shutter, NTE with or without shutter) ........................................ 133
ISA HR 640 (LN with shutter, NTE with or without shutter) ........................................ 134
JY TRIAX family (NTE without shutter) ....................................................................... 135
SPEX 270M (LN with shutter, NTE with or without shutter) ........................................ 136
SPEX 500M (LN with shutter, NTE with or without shutter) ........................................ 137
SPEX TripleMate (LN with shutter, NTE with or without shutter) ................................ 138

Appendix E USB 2.0 Limitations .................................................................... 139
Declarations of Conformity ............................................................................ 141
Warranty & Service ......................................................................................... 147
Limited Warranty ............................................................................................................ 147
Contact Information ........................................................................................................ 150

Index ................................................................................................................. 151

FiguresFigure 1. Standard Components....................................................................................... 10
Figure 2. Power Switch Location (ST-133A and ST-133B) ............................................ 17
Figure 3. ST-133 Rear Panel Callouts ............................................................................. 18
Figure 4. Imaging System Diagram: TE-cooled Camera ................................................. 22
Figure 5. Imaging System Diagram: LN-cooled Camera ................................................ 22
Figure 6. Spectroscopy System Diagram: TE-cooled Camera ........................................ 23
Figure 7. Spectroscopy System Diagram: LN-cooled Camera ........................................ 23
Figure 8. System Configurations ..................................................................................... 25
Figure 9. Controller Power Module ................................................................................. 29
Figure 10. WinView Installation: Interface Card Driver Selection ................................. 30
Figure 11. Camera Detection Wizard - Welcome dialog box .......................................... 35
Figure 12. RSConfig dialog box ...................................................................................... 36
Figure 13. Hardware Setup wizard: PVCAM dialog box ................................................ 36
Figure 14. F-Mount Adapter 1 for TE-Cooled Cameras .................................................. 37
Figure 15. F-Mount Adapter 2 for TE- and LN-Cooled Cameras ................................... 37
Figure 16. Binning and Array Orientation ....................................................................... 40
Figure 17. Type 1 Entrance Slit Shutter Mount ............................................................... 40
Figure 18. Type 2 Entrance Slit Mount ........................................................................... 41
Figure 19. Bottom Lamp Secured to Relay Lens ............................................................ 43v

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Figure 20. Diagnostic Instruments Bottom Clamps for Different Microscopes .............. 45
Figure 21. 35 mm Shutter Coverage on 1340×1300 Array for F-mount Design ............. 47
Figure 22. 70 V Shutter Option Label ............................................................................. 47
Figure 23. Shutter Setting for Large Internal Shutter (40 mm) ....................................... 47
Figure 24. Coolant Ports .................................................................................................. 49
Figure 25. System Diagram: Air-Assist/Liquid-Assist TE Camera with Coolant
Circulator .................................................................................................................. 50
Figure 26. System Diagram: Liquid-Cooled TE Camera with Coolant Circulator.......... 50
Figure 27. Dewar Ports and Valves ................................................................................. 50
Figure 28. System Diagram: LN-cooled Camera............................................................. 52
Figure 29. Block Diagram of Light Path in System ......................................................... 55
Figure 30. Exposure of the CCD with Shutter Compensation ......................................... 64
Figure 31. WinView/WinSpec Detector Temperature dialog box .................................. 66
Figure 32. Array Terms for a CCD with Dual Output Amplifiers .................................. 68
Figure 33. Full Frame at Full Resolution ......................................................................... 68
Figure 34. 2 × 2 Binning for Images ................................................................................ 70
Figure 35. Analog Gain Switch on TE- and LN-cooled Cameras .................................. 71
Figure 36. Timing tab page .............................................................................................. 73
Figure 37. Free Run Timing Chart, part of the chart in Figure 43 ................................... 74
Figure 38. Free Run Timing Diagram.............................................................................. 75
Figure 39. Chart Showing Two External Sync Timing Options ...................................... 76
Figure 40. Timing Diagram for External Sync Mode (- edge trigger) ............................. 76
Figure 41. Continuous Cleans Operation Flowchart ........................................................ 77
Figure 42. Continuous Cleans Timing Diagram (- edge trigger) ..................................... 78
Figure 43. Chart of Safe and Fast Mode Operation ......................................................... 79
Figure 44. TTL In/Out Connector .................................................................................... 82
Figure 45. TTL Diagnostics dialog box ........................................................................... 82
Figure 46. Kinetics Readout ............................................................................................ 84
Figure 47. Hardware Setup dialog box ............................................................................ 85
Figure 48. Experiment Setup dialog box ......................................................................... 85
Figure 49. Free Run Timing Diagram.............................................................................. 86
Figure 50. Single Trigger Timing Diagram ..................................................................... 86
Figure 51. Multiple Trigger Timing Diagram.................................................................. 87
Figure 52. Camera1 in Camera Name Field .................................................................... 90
Figure 53. Power Input Module ....................................................................................... 91
Figure 54. Fuse Holder .................................................................................................... 91
Figure 55. Data Overrun Due to Hardware Conflict dialog box ...................................... 94
Figure 56. Hardware Wizard: Interface dialog box ......................................................... 95
Figure 57. RSConfig dialog box ...................................................................................... 96
Figure 58. Hardware Wizard: PVCAM dialog box ......................................................... 96
Figure 59. Hardware Wizard: Interface dialog box ......................................................... 97
Figure 60. RSConfig dialog box: Two Camera Styles..................................................... 97
Figure 61. Hardware Wizard: PVCAM dialog box ......................................................... 98
Figure 62. RSConfig dialog box: Two Camera Styles..................................................... 99
Figure 63. Error Creating Controller dialog box.............................................................. 99
Figure 64. Hardware Wizard: Detector/Camera/CCD dialog box ................................. 103
Figure 65. Program Error dialog box ............................................................................. 104
Figure 66. Module Installation....................................................................................... 105
Figure 67. Serial Violations Have Occurred dialog box ................................................ 107
Figure 68. TE F-Mount: Side and Bottom Views .......................................................... 113
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Figure 69. TE F-Mount: Front and Back Views ............................................................ 113
Figure 70. TE C-Mount: Side and Bottom Views ......................................................... 114
Figure 71. TE C-Mount: Front and Back Views ............................................................ 114
Figure 72. Fiber-Optic Coupled: Side and Bottom Views ............................................. 115
Figure 73. Fiber-Optic Coupled: Front and Back Views ............................................... 115
Figure 74. TE F-Mount: Side and Bottom Views .......................................................... 116
Figure 75. TE F-Mount: Front and Back Views ............................................................ 116
Figure 76. TE C-Mount: Side and Bottom Views ......................................................... 117
Figure 77. TE C-Mount: Front and Back Views ............................................................ 117
Figure 78. Fiber-Optic Coupled: Side and Bottom Views ............................................. 118
Figure 79. Fiber-Optic Coupled: Front and Back Views ............................................... 118
Figure 80. Side-Looking Dewar (Without Shutter): New Design ................................. 119
Figure 81. Side-Looking Dewar (With Shutter): New Design ...................................... 120
Figure 82. Side-Looking Dewar: Old Design ................................................................ 121
Figure 83. Down-Looking Dewar (Without Shutter): New Design ............................... 122
Figure 84. Down-Looking Dewar (With Shutter): New Design .................................... 123
Figure 85. Down-Looking Dewar: Old Design ............................................................. 124
Figure 86. ST-133B Controller Dimensions .................................................................. 125
Figure 87. ST-133A Controller Dimensions .................................................................. 125
Figure 88. F-mount Adjustment ..................................................................................... 127

TablesTable 1. PCI Driver Files and Locations ......................................................................... 31
Table 2. USB Driver Files and Locations ........................................................................ 34
Table 3. Bottom Clamps for Different Microscopes........................................................ 44
Table 4. ST-133 Shutter Setting Selection ....................................................................... 48
Table 5. Approximate Temperature Range vs. CCD ....................................................... 52
Table 6. Camera Timing Modes ...................................................................................... 74
Table 7. Bit Values with Decimal Equivalents: 1 = High, 0 = Low ............................... 81
Table 8. TTL In/Out Connector Pinout............................................................................ 82
Table 9. I/O Address & Interrupt Assignments before Installing Serial Card ............... 101
Table 10. I/O Address & Interrupt Assignments after Installing Serial Card ................ 101
Table 11. Typical Deepest Operating Temperature ....................................................... 110
Table 12. Features Supported under USB 2.0................................................................ 139

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Chapter 1
Introduction
VersArray® Family of Cameras
The VersArray CCD cameras are highperformance digital systems designed for
demanding low-light applications. Theline incorporates a wide selection of fullframe, front- or back-illuminated,scientific-grade CCDs, a choice ofthermoelectric or cryogenic cooling, andlow-noise electronics to provide highsensitivity and high dynamic range.
Permanent coatings are available toextend the range of the cameras into the
UV while maintaining high quantum
efficiency. The VersArray cameras are therefore ideal for a wide variety of demanding
applications, including high-throughput screening, streak tube readout, geldocumentation, astronomy, pressure-sensitive paint imaging, and semiconductor failure
analysis.

Complete Camera Control
The operation of the VersArray camera is regulated by the camera controller. This
electronics box contains the circuitry required to accept input from the host computer andsoftware and convert it to appropriate control signals for the camera. These signals include
extensive capabilities for synchronizing the operation of the VersArray system with the restof your experiment. Because all the sensitive electronic circuits are enclosed in the
EM-shielded controller, the system is able to deliver the lowest noise performance, even in
a less-than-optimal environment. The controller unit also collects the analog signal returnedby the camera, digitizes it, and sends it to the computer. Power supplies for the camera,
along with temperature-regulation circuits, are also contained in the controller.
The controller allows you to specify read rate, on-chip binning parameters (m x n), andregions of interest — all under software control. For instance, if your experiment requires
rapid image acquisition, then the CCD’s on-chip binning can be set to increase frame
rates. For the utmost in versatility, the VersArray controller can be configured with adual-speed digitizer that provides fast imaging rates and low-noise readout modes.

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System Components
Standard Components
A VersArray system consists of the camera, an ST-133 controller, the appropriate
interface hardware for your computer system, and this user manual. Note that an internal
shutter is standard with the thermoelectric and cryogenic (LN-cooled) cameras.

Figure 1. Standard Components

Optional System Components
Optional items include the WinView/32 application software, mounting adapters, coolant
circulators, and dual digitization capability.

Application Software
The VersArray camera can be operated by using WinView/32, Princeton Instrument's 32bit Windows® software package designed specifically for high-end imaging or by using
other commercially available image processing packages. WinView/32 provides
comprehensive image capture and display functions, so you can perform data acquisition
without having to rely on third-party software. The package also facilitates snap-ins topermit easy customization of any function or sequence. Using the built-in macro record
function, you can also create and edit your own macros to automate a variety ofoperations. WinView takes full advantage of the versatility of the VersArray camera andeven enhances it by making integration of the detection system into larger experiments or
instruments an easy, straightforward endeavor.
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11

Note: WinView/32 (version 2.5+) supports Programmable Virtual Camera Access
Method (PVCAM®), a library of functions that can be used to control and acquire data.
Image processing must be provided via custom code or by extensions to othercommercially available image processing packages.

About this Manual
Manual Organization
This manual provides the user with all the information needed to install a VersArraycamera and place it in operation. Topics covered include detailed description of thecameras in the VersArray family, installation, microscopy applications, cleaning,
specifications and more.
Notes:
1. The general identifier "ST-133" is used for both the ST-133A Controller and theST-133B Controller. Where there is a difference, the specific identifier is used.
2.

"WinX" is a generic term for WinView, WinSpec, and WinXTest application
software.
Chapter 1, Introduction provides an overview of the VersArray cameras.
Chapter 2, System Component Descriptions provides information about thecamera, controller, interface card, cables and application software.
Chapter 3, Installation Overview cross-references system setup actions with therelevant manuals and/or manual pages. It also contains system layout diagrams.
Chapter 4, System Setup provides detailed directions for setting up the camera
for imaging, spectroscopic, or microscopy applications and presents overexposure protection considerations.
Chapter 5, Operation discusses a number of topics, including cooling and effects
of high humidity and includes a step-by-step procedure for verifying system
operation.
Chapter 6, Advanced Topics discusses standard timing modes (Free Run,
External Sync, and Continuous Cleans), Fast and Safe speed modes, TTL control,and Kinetics mode.
Chapter 7, Troubleshooting provides courses of action to take if you shouldhave problems with your system.
Appendix A, Specifications includes camera and controller specifications.
Appendix B, Outline Drawings includes outline drawings of the VersArray®
cameras and the ST-133A and ST-133B Controllers.
Appendix C, Adapter Focusing Procedures discuss focusing of an F-mountadapter and focusing of F-mount and C-mount lenses
Appendix D, Spectrometer Adapters provides mounting instructions for the
spectrometer adapters available for VersArray LN and NTE cameras.
Appendix E, USB 2.0 Limitations covers the currently known limitations
associated with operating under the USB 2.0 interface.
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Declarations of Conformity contains the Declarations of Conformity for
VersArray systems (LN-, NTE-, and TEA-cooled).
Warranty & Service contains the warranty and customer support contact
information.

Safety Related Symbols Used in this Manual
Caution! The use of this symbol on equipment indicates that one ormore nearby items should not be operated without first consulting themanual. The same symbol appears in the manual adjacent to the textthat discusses the hardware item(s) in question.
Warning! Risk of electric shock! The use of this symbol on
equipment indicates that one or more nearby items pose an electric
shock hazard and should be regarded as potentially dangerous. Thissame symbol appears in the manual adjacent to the text that discusses
the hardware item(s) in question.

Grounding and Safety
The ST-133 is of Class I category as defined in IEC Publication 348 (Safety
Requirements for Electronic Measuring Apparatus). It is designed for indoor operation
only. Before turning on the controller, the ground prong of the powercord plug must be
properly connected to the ground connector of the wall outlet. The wall outlet must havea third prong, or must be properly connected to an adapter that complies with these safety
requirements.

WARNING! If the equipment is damaged, the protective grounding could be disconnected. Do not use
damaged equipment until its safety has been verified by authorized personnel.
Disconnecting the protective earth terminal, inside or outside the apparatus, or any
tampering with its operation is also prohibited.
Inspect the supplied powercord. If it is not compatible with the power socket, replace thecord with one that has suitable connectors on both ends.

WARNING! Replacement powercords or power plugs must have the same polarity as that of theoriginal ones to avoid hazard due to electrical shock.

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Precautions
To prevent permanently damaging the system, please observe the following precautions:

Always switch off and unplug the ST-133 Controller before changing yoursystem configuration in any way.



The CCD array is very sensitive to static electricity. Touching the CCD candestroy it. Operations requiring contact with the device can only be performed at
the factory.



If you are using high-voltage equipment (such as an arc lamp) with your camera
system, be sure to turn the controller power ON LAST and turn the controller
power OFF FIRST.



Use caution when triggering high-current switching devices (such as an arc lamp)
near your system. The CCD can be permanently damaged by transient voltage
spikes. If electrically noisy devices are present, an isolated, conditioned powerline or dedicated isolation transformer is highly recommended.



Never connect or disconnect any cable while the system is powered on.
Reconnecting a charged cable may damage the CCD.

Never prevent the free flow of air through the equipment by blocking the air
vents.



Never operate a liquid-assisted or liquid-cooled-only VersArray camera with
coolant at a temperature below that specified for it.

UV Effect on Scintillator
If you have a camera with a UV scintillator (lumogen) coated CCD, protect it from

Caution unnecessary exposure to UV radiation. This radiation slowly bleaches the scintillator,
reducing sensitivity.

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Cleaning
WARNING!

Turn off all power to the equipment and secure all covers before cleaning the units.
Otherwise, damage to the equipment or injury to you could occur.

Controller and Camera
Although there is no periodic maintenance that must be performed on a VersArraycamera, users are advised to wipe it down with a clean damp cloth from time to time.
This operation should only be done on the external surfaces and with all covers secured.
In dampening the cloth, use clean water only. No soap, solvents or abrasives should be
used. Not only are they not required, but they could damage the finish of the surfaces on
which they are used.

Optical Surfaces
Optical surfaces may need to be cleaned due to the accumulation of atmospheric dust. We
advise that the drag-wipe technique be used. This involves dipping a clean cellulose lenstissue into clean anhydrous methanol, and then dragging the dampened tissue over the
optical surface to be cleaned. Do not allow any other material to touch the opticalsurfaces.

Repairs
Save the original packing materials. Because the VersArray camera system contains nouser-serviceable parts, repairs must be done by Princeton Instruments. Should yoursystem need repair, contact Princeton Instruments customer support for instructions(telephone, e-mail, and address information are provided on page 150 of this manual).
Use the original packing materials whenever shipping the system or system components.

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Chapter 2
System Component Descriptions
VersArray Camera
CCD Array: The VersArray camera system offers both front- and back-illuminated
CCDs in a variety of array sizes that allow you to precisely match the sensor to yourapplication. Only scientific-grade devices are used in order to ensure the higher image
fidelity, resolution, and acquisition flexibility required for scientific imaging. Princeton
Instruments has developed exclusive large-area imaging CCDs with unmatched quantum
efficiency and low noise to offer the utmost in sensitivity. Large full wells, square pixels,
and 100% fill factors provide high dynamic range and excellent spatial resolution.
Unichrome (exclusive Princeton Instruments technology) and other UV-enhancement
coatings can be used to further improve the quantum efficiency of these CCDs in theultraviolet.
Fiberoptic Configuration: You can custom order a VersArray camera with afiberoptic bonded to the CCD. These fiberoptic cameras are ideal for lenseless direct
imaging of phosphor screens, MCPs, image intensifiers, and other Lambertian sources.
Princeton Instruments uses a unique, patented process (US patent 5,134,680) to bond thefiber directly to the CCD for maximum resolution and throughput. Imaging fiber bundles
are available in a range of demagnifications from 1:1 to 5:1. The input fiberoptic can beas large as 165 mm in diameter. Do not hesitate to contact your Princeton Instruments
representative for any custom requirement or refer to our VersArray models on our
website at www.princetoninstruments.com.
Internal Shutter: For TE- and LN-cooled cameras, the standard internal shutter has aquartz shutter window to protect the shutter mechanism from external dust and humidity.
Since each window causes a small signal loss, an optional shutter assembly may beavailable without the window: added caution must then be used in the handling andstorage of the camera. The standard shutter for a TE-cooled camera is the 35 mm shutter(the ST-133 must be equipped with the 70 V shutter option) and for the LN-cooled
camera it is the 40 mm shutter.
Shutters are mechanical devices with a finite lifetime, typically of the order of a million
cycles, although some individual shutters may last a good deal longer. How long a shutter
lasts in terms of experimental time will, of course, be strongly dependent on the operating
parameters. High repetition rates and short exposure times will rapidly increase thenumber of shutter cycles and hasten the time when the shutter will have to be replaced.
Cooling: Dark current is significantly reduced in VersArray camera systems throughdeep cooling of the CCD arrays. You can choose from either thermoelectric or cryogenic
options to best match your application requirements and environment:



Thermoelectric cooling: Cooling by this method uses a four-stage Peltiercooler in combination with either air- or coolant-circulation (liquid assist or
liquid only). To prevent condensation and contamination from occurring,cameras cooled this way can either be evacuated or nitrogen backfilled. Cameras
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under vacuum reach lower temperatures; nitrogen-backfilled cameras are
relatively maintenance free. The thermoelectric camera heads feature costeffective performance, ease of use, and cooling from -40 to -60°C.

Liquid Nitrogen cooling: Cooling by this method virtually eliminates darkcurrent through the containment of liquid nitrogen in a Dewar reservoir. The useof thermal-radiation shielding and thermal-isolation mounts makes extremely
long integration times possible, in excess of 25 hours for a large-capacity Dewar.
VersArray controllers provide stabilized temperature control of LN heads from
-70°C to -120°C (-70°C to -110°C for large arrays).
Connectors:
Controller: Power, control signals, and data are transmitted between the ST-133 andthe VersArray camera via the 25-pin D connector located on the rear of the detector. The
Detector-Controller cable is secured by a slide-lock mechanism. Controller power
must be OFF before connecting to or disconnecting from this connector.
Shutter: LEMO connector for driving an internal shutter. Controller power must be
OFF before connecting to or disconnecting from this connector.
Fan: (TE only) There may be a fan located inside the camera's back panel. Its purpose is: to remove heat from the Peltier device that cools the CCD array and to cool the electronics.
An internal Peltier device directly cools the cold finger on which the CCD is mounted.
The air drawn into the detector by the internal fan and exhausted through the back panel
then removes the heat produced by the Peltier device. The fan is always in operation andair-cooling of both the Peltier and the internal electronics takes place continuously. The
fan is designed for low-vibration and does not adversely affect the image. For the fan tofunction properly, free circulation must be maintained between the rear of the detector
and the laboratory atmosphere.
Coolant Ports: Thermoelectrically-cooled cameras are available with liquid-assisted or
liquid-only or liquid-cooled only cooling. Two coolant ports are provided on the sides ofthese cameras. These quick-disconnect ports require 1/4" thin-wall plastic tubing or 3/8"
I.D. thick-wall PVC tubing, depending on the VersArray model. Instructions for setting
up coolant flow are provided on page 48.
Dewar: LN-cooled cameras are available in both the standard side-on and the end-on
configuration. The Dewar for the standard side-on holds 1.7 liters of liquid nitrogen (LN).
The Dewar for the end-on camera holds 2.2 liters of liquid nitrogen (LN).
An "all-directional" Dewar is also available from Princeton Instruments. This Dewar canoperate in any angular orientation but holds about half as much LN as the standard Dewar(~0.85 liters). This reduced capacity translates to roughly half the hold time, as well.
Note: There is no simple way to determine if you have been shipped an all-directional
system simply by observing the detector. If you are uncertain, check the shipping paperwork
to verify that your Dewar is an all-directional model.

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17

ST-133 Controller
Electronics: The ST-133 controller is a compact, high performance CCD Detector
Controller for operation with Princeton Instruments* detectors. Designed for high speed
and high performance image acquisition, the ST-133 offers data transfer at speeds up to 1
megapixel per second, standard video output for focusing and alignment. A variety of
A/D converters are available to meet different speed and resolution requirements.
In addition to containing the power supply, the controller contains the analog and digitalelectronics, scan control and exposure timing hardware, and controller I/O connectors, allmounted on user-accessible plug-in modules. This highly modularized design gives
flexibility and allows for convenient servicing.
POWER Switch and Indicator: The powerswitch location and characteristics depend on
the version of ST-133 Controller that wasshipped with your system. In some versions, thepower switch (located on the front panel asshown in Figure 2), has an integral indicator
LED that lights whenever the ST-133 ispowered. In other versions, the power switch islocated on the back of the ST-133 and does notinclude an indicator LED.
Rear Panel Connectors: There are three
Figure 2. Power Switch Location
controller board slots. Two are occupied by the(ST-133A and ST-133B)
plug-in cards that provide various controller
functions. The third, covered with a blank panel, is reserved for future development. The
left-most plug-in card is the Analog/Control module. Adjacent to it is the Interface
Control module. Both modules align with top and bottom tracks and mate with a passive
backplane via a 64-pin DIN connector. For proper operation, the location of the modules
should not be changed. Each board is secured by two screws that also ground each
module’s front panel. The connectors and functions located on the rear panel are further
are described on the following page. Removing and inserting boards is described in
Chapter 7, pages 104-105.

WARNING! To minimize the risk of equipment damage, a module should never be removed or
installed when the system is powered.
The Analog/Control Module, which should always be located in the left-most slot,
provides the following functions.
 Pixel A/D conversion
 Timing and synchronization of readouts CCD scan control
 Temperature control
 Exposure control
 Video output control* The ST-133 controller must be factory configured for operation with an LN detector. For thisreason, a controller purchased for operation with an LN detector can only be used with an LN
detector. Similarly, a controller purchased for operation with a TE-cooled detector can not be
used with an LN detector.

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The Interface Control Module, which should always be located in the center slot,
provides the following functions.
 TTL In/Out Programmable Interface
 Communications Control (TAXI or USB 2.0 protocol)

WARNING! Always turn the power off at the Controller before connecting or disconnecting any cablethat interconnects the camera and controller or serious damage to the CCD may result.
This damage is NOT covered by the manufacturer’s warranty.
Rear Panel Features: The descriptions of the rear panel connectors are keyed to the accompanying figure.
Depending on your system, either the TAXI or the USB 2.0 Interface Control Module will be installed in thesecond from the left slot (as you face the rear of the ST-133). In the Figure 3, the TAXI module is shown inthat position.
#

Feature1

Temperature Lock LED: Indicates that thetemperature control loop has locked and thatthe temperature of the CCD array will be stable
to within  0.05C.

2

Video/Aux Output: If labeled Video,
composite video output is provided at thisconnector. The amplitude is 1 V pk-pk and thesource impedance is 75 . If labeled Aux, this
output is reserved for future use.
Video output is not currently supported underUSB 2.0.

3

External Sync Input: TTL input that has a 10k pullup resistor. Allows data acquisition andreadout to be synchronized with external events.
Through software, positive or negative (default)
triggering can be selected.

4Output: WinView/32 (ver. 2.4 andhigher) software selectable NOT SCAN or
SHUTTER signal. Default is SHUTTER.

Figure 3. ST-133 Rear Panel Callouts

5

Output: Initially HIGH. Changes state
on completion of cleaning cycles before the first
exposure.

11

Fan: Cools the controller electronics. Runs
continuously when the controller is turned on.

6

Zero Adjustment: Bias potentiometers control
the offset values of the Fast (F) and Slow (S) A/D
converters. Preadjusted at factory. If
potentiometers are not present, bias may be
software-settable.

12

Shutter Setting Selector: Sets the shutter drive
voltage. Dial is correctly set at the factory for thecamera’s internal shutter if one is present.

18

Chapter 2#
7

System Component Descriptions

FeatureDetector Connector: Transmits control
information to the camera and receives databack from the camera via the DetectorController cable.

19#

Feature13

Remote Shutter Connector: Provides shutterdrive pulses for an external shutter. An ST-133 withthe 70 V shutter option is required for a camera withthe 40 mm shutter. A 70 V OPT label will be next to
the Remote connector when this option is installed.
WARNING: Dangerous live potentials arepresent at the Remote Shutter Power connector.
To avoid shock hazard, the Controller powershould be OFF when connecting or disconnecting
a remote shutter.

8

TTL In/Out: User-programmable interface
with eight input bits and eight output bits thatcan be written to or polled for additional
control or functionality. Output is not currently
supported under USB 2.0. See Chapter 6.

14Power Module: Contains the powercord socket
and two fuses. Depending on the ST-133 version,
the power switch may be located directly above
the power module.

9

AUX Output: Reserved for future use.

15

Fuse/Voltage Label: Displays the controller’s
power and fuse requirements. This label may
appear below the power module.

10

Serial COM Connector: Provides two-way
serial communication between the controller andthe host computer.

16

USB 2.0 Connector: Provides two-way serial
communication between the controller and the hostcomputer. Uses USB 2.0 protocol.

Cables
Detector-Controller: The standard 10' (3 m) cable (6050-0321 for TE-cooled or
6050-0361 for LN-cooled camera) has DB-25 connectors with slide-latch locking
hardware. This cable interconnects the Detector connector on the rear of the
ST-133 with the Detector connector on the VersArray camera. The DetectorController cable is also available in 6', 15', 20', and 30' lengths.
Interface Cable: Depending on the system configuration, either a TAXI or a USB
cable will be shipped.
TAXI: The standard 25' (7.6 m) cable (6050-0148-CE) has DB-9 Male
connectors with screw-down locking hardware. The TAXI (Serial
communication) cable interconnects the "Serial Com" connector on the rear of the
ST-133 with the Princeton Instruments (RSPI) high speed PCI card installed in
the host computer. In addition to the standard length, this cable is available in 10',50', 100', and 165' lengths. Also available are fiber optic adapters with fiber optic
cables in 100, 300, and 1000 meter lengths.
USB 2.0: The standard 16.4' (5 m) cable (6050-0494) has USB connectorsthat interconnect the "USB 2.0" connector on the rear of the ST-133 with a
USB card installed in the host computer.

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Interface Card
PCI Card: The Princeton Instruments (RSPI) high speed PCI card is required when
the system interface uses the TAXI protocol rather than USB 2.0. The PCI card
plugs-into the host computer's motherboard and provides the serial communicationinterface between the host computer and the ST-133. Through WinView/32, the card
can be used in either High Speed PCI or PCI(Timer) mode. High Speed PCI allows
data transfer to be interrupt-driven and can give higher performance in somesituations. PCI(Timer) allows data transfer to be controlled by a polling timer.
USB 2.0 Card: The USB 2.0 card is required when the system interface uses theUSB 2.0 protocol rather than TAXI protocol and the computer does not have native
USB 2.0 support. The USB 2.0 card plugs-into the host computer's motherboard andprovides the communication interface between the host computer and the ST-133.
The USB 2.0 PCI card (70USB90011) by Orange Micro is recommended for desktop
computers; the SIIG, Inc. USB 2.0 PC Card, Model US2246 is recommended for
laptop computers. See www.orangemicro.com or www.siig.com, respectively, formore information.

Application Software
WinView/32: The Princeton Instruments software package provides comprehensive
image acquisition, display, processing, and archiving functions so you can perform
complete data acquisition and analysis without having to rely upon third-party software.
WinView/32 provides reliable control over all Princeton Instruments cameras,
regardless of array format and architecture, via an exclusive universal programming
interface (PVCAM®). WinView/32 also features snap-ins and macro record functions topermit easy user customization of any function or sequence.
PVCAM®: The standard software interface for cooled CCD cameras from Princeton
Instruments. It is a library of functions that can be used to control and acquire datafrom the camera when a custom application is being written. For example, in the caseof Windows, PVCAM is a dynamic link library (DLL). Also, it should be understoodthat PVCAM is solely for camera control and image acquisition, not for image
processing. PVCAM places acquired images into a buffer, where they can then be
manipulated using either custom written code or by extensions to other commerciallyavailable image processing packages.
Scientific Imaging ToolKit™: SITK™ is a collection of LabVIEW® VIs forscientific cameras and spectrographs. This third party software can be purchasedfrom Princeton Instruments.

User Manuals
VersArray System User Manual: This manual describes how to install and use
the VersArray system components.
WinView/32 User Manual: This manual describes how to install and use theapplication program. A PDF version of this manual is provided on the installation
CD. Additional information is available in the program's on-line help.

20

Chapter 3
Installation Overview
The list and diagrams below briefly describe the sequence of actions required to
hookup your system and prepare to gather data. Refer to the indicated references
for more detailed information.
ActionReference

1. If the system components have not already been unpacked, unpackthem and inspect their carton(s) and the system components forin-transit damage.

Chapter 4 System Setup,
page 26

2. Verify that all system components have been received.

Chapter 4 System Setup,
page 26

3. If the components show no signs of damage, verify that theappropriate voltage settings have been selected for the Controller.

Chapter 4 System Setup,
page 29

4. If the application software is not already installed in the hostcomputer, install it.

Chapter 4 System Setup,
page 30 & Software manual

5. If the appropriate interface card is not already installed in the hostcomputer, install it.

Chapter 4 System Setup,
page 30(TAXI-PCI) or
page 32 (USB)6. Depending on application, attach lens to camera, mount camera tospectrometer, or mount camera to a microscope

Chapter 4 System Setup,
page 37, page 38, or page 42

7. With the Controller and computer power turned OFF, connect theinterface cable to the Controller and the interface card in the hostcomputer. Then tighten down the locking hardware.

Chapter 4 System Setup,
page 34

8. With the Controller power turned OFF, connect the Detector-Controller
cable to the appropriate connector on the rear of the Controller and theother end to the appropriate connector on the rear of the Camera.
Adjust the slide latches so the cable connections are locked.

Chapter 4 System Setup,
page 35

9. With the Controller power turned OFF, connect the Controller
power cable to the rear of the controller and to the power source.

Chapter 4 System Setup,
page 35

10. If the system is cooled by coolant circulation, make the tubing
connections between the coolant circulator and the camera. If thesystem is LN-cooled, DO NOT FILL DEWAR YET !!!

Chapter 4 System Setup,
page 48

Chapter 7 Troubleshooting,page 106

11. Turn the Controller ON.
12. Turn on the computer and begin running the application software.

Software manual

13. Enter the hardware setup information or load the defaults from thecontroller.

Software manual

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Reference

14. Set the target array temperature.

Chapter 5 Operation,
page 66

15. If the system is LN-cooled, fill the Dewar.

Chapter 4 System Setup,
page 50

16. When the system reaches temperature lock, wait an additional 20
minutes and then begin acquiring data in focus mode.

Chapter 5 Operation,
page 56 or page 60

17. Adjust the focus for the best image or spectral lines. If you are using
WinSpec/32, you may want to use the Focus Helper function for thispurpose.

Chapter 5 Operation,
page 56 or page 60

Figure 4. Imaging System Diagram: TE-cooled Camera

Figure 5. Imaging System Diagram: LN-cooled Camera

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Chapter 3

Installation Overview

23

Figure 6. Spectroscopy System Diagram: TE-cooled Camera

Figure 7. Spectroscopy System Diagram: LN-cooled Camera

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Chapter 4
System Setup
To minimize risk to users or to system equipment, turn the system OFF before any cables
are connected or disconnected.

Introduction
A VersArray camera system consists of four
hardware components:Interface hardware

ControllerCamera head (air-assisted, liquidassisted, or liquid-only thermoelectric;or LN )



CablesA VersArray system with a liquid-cooled
camera head also requires a coolant
circulator. All of the components andcables required for your configuration
should be included with your shipment.
Your VersArray system has been speciallyconfigured and calibrated to match thecamera and readout rate options specified at
the time of purchase. The CCD and coating
you ordered has been installed in yourcamera head.

Figure 8. System Configurations

Keep all the original packing materials so you can safely ship the VersArray system toanother location or return it for service if necessary. If you have any difficulty with any
step of the instructions, call Princeton Instruments Customer Service. For contact
information, refer to page 150.
Hardware installation may consist of:

Installing an interface card.



Attaching a lens to a C- or F-mount adapter.

Connecting the camera to the controller.



Selecting the appropriate power for an internal shutter.

Connecting the camera to an external shutter, if one is required.



Mounting the camera to a spectrometer or to a microscope.
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VersArray System ManualVersion 2.E

Connecting the camera to a coolant supply.

Software installation depends on the application software you will be using to run thesystem. Refer to the manual supplied with the software for information about installingand setting it up.

Unpacking the System
During the unpacking, check the system components for possible signs of shipping
damage. If there are any, notify Princeton Instruments and file a claim with the carrier. If
damage is not apparent but camera or controller specifications cannot be achieved,
internal damage may have occurred in shipment. Please save the original packing
materials so you can safely ship the camera system to another location or return it toPrinceton Instruments for repairs if necessary.

Checking the Equipment and Parts Inventory
Confirm that you have all of the equipment and parts required to set up the VersArraysystem. A complete system consists of:

Camera (TE air-assisted, liquid-assisted, or liquid-cooled only; or LN-cooled).

Controller: ST-133.

Detector-Controller cable: DB25 to DB25 cable. Standard length is 10 ft (6050-0321
for TE-cooled cameras; 6050-0361 for LN-cooled). Also available in 6’, 15’, 20’, and 30’
lengths.



Host Computer: Can be purchased from Princeton Instruments or provided by user.

Computer Interface Dependent Components:

TAXI: Princeton Instruments (RSPI) High Speed PCI Interface board orUSB 2.0: Native on motherboard or user-provided USB 2.0 Interface Card
(Orange Micro 70USB90011 USB2.0 PCI is recommended for desktop
computers and the SIIG, Inc. USB 2.0 PC Card, Model US2246 is
recommended for laptop computers).

Controller-Computer Interface cable:

TAXI cable: DB9 to DB9 cable (6050-0148-CE is standard) orUSB cable: Five (5) meter cable (6050-0494) is standard.



VersArray System User Manual

WinView/32 CD-ROM (optional)

System Dependent Cooling Components:26Interface Card:

Caron Chilled Coolant Circulator and Tubing/Fittings Kit

Chapter 4

System Setup

27

System Requirements
Environmental Requirements
Storage temperature: 55°C
Operating environment temperature: 5ºC to +30ºC; for TE-cooled Detectors, theenvironment temperature range over which system specifications can be guaranteedis +18ºC to +23ºC
Relative humidity 50%; non-condensing
Notes:
1. When using LN, periodic wiping of the Dewar vent ports may be required toprevent frost accumulation from interfering with venting. In a spectroscopy setup
with an LN-cooled camera, high humidity conditions may require continuous
flushing of the spectrometer’s exit port with nitrogen.
2. For TE-cooled cameras, the shutter enclosure may have a quartz window thatallows the shutter to be back-filled with dry nitrogen. This further reduces thepossibility of condensation on the window of the camera. The shutter window, if
present, can be seen whenever the lens is removed.
3. For TE-cooled cameras, the cooling performance may degrade if the room
temperature is above +23°C.

Ventilation
Detector: Allow at least one inch clearance for side and rear air vents. Where thedetector is inside an enclosure, > 30 cfm air circulation and heat dissipation of
100W is required for TE air-cooled detectors.
ST-133: There is an internal fan located at the right side of the rear panel behind an
exhaust opening. Its purpose is simply to cool the controller electronics. This fanruns continuously whenever the controller is powered. Air enters the unit throughventilation openings on the side panels, flows past the warm electronic
components as it rises, and is drawn out the rear of the controller by the fan. It is
important that there be an adequate airflow for proper functioning. As long as
both the controller’s intake ventilation openings and the fan exhaust opening
aren’t obstructed, the controller will remain quite cool.

Coolant
WARNING! COOLANT IS HARMFUL IF SWALLOWED.
KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN.
VersArray cameras with liquid-assisted cooling or liquid-only cooling require circulating
coolant (50:50 mixture of ethylene glycol and water) for proper operation. The
recommended flow rate and fluid pressure are: 2 liters/minute at 25 psig (maximum).

Power
Detector: The VersArray camera receives its power from the controller, which in turnplugs into a source of AC power.

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ST-133: The ST-133 Controller can operate from any one of four different nominal line
voltages: 100, 120, 220, or 240 V AC. Refer to the Fuse/Voltage label on theback of the ST-133 for fuse, voltage, and power consumption information.
Caution The plug on the line cord supplied with the system should be compatible with the linevoltage outlets in common use in the region to which the system is shipped. If the line
cord plug is incompatible, a compatible plug should be installed, taking care to maintainthe proper polarity to protect the equipment and assure user safety.

Host Computer
Note: Computers and operating systems all undergo frequent revision. The following
information is only intended to give an approximate indication of the computerrequirements. Please contact the factory to determine your specific needs.
Requirements for the host computer depend on the type of interface, TAXI or USB 2.0,
that will be used for communication between the ST-133 and the host computer. Thoserequirements are a listed below according to protocol.
TAXI Protocol:AT-compatible computer with 200 MHz Pentium® II (or better).



Windows® 95, Windows® 98SE, Windows® ME, Windows NT®, Windows®
2000, or Windows® XP operating system.

Princeton Instruments (RSPI) high speed PCI serial card (or an unused PCI cardslot). Computers purchased from Princeton Instruments are shipped with the PCI
card installed if High speed PCI was ordered.



Minimum of 32 Mbytes of RAM for CCDs up to 1.4 million pixels. Collecting
multiple spectra at full frame or high speed may require 128 Mbytes or more ofRAM.

CD-ROM drive.

Hard disk with a minimum of 80 Mbytes available. A complete installation of the
program files takes about 17 Mbytes and the remainder is required for data
storage, depending on the number and size of spectra collected. Disk levelcompression programs are not recommended.

Super VGA monitor and graphics card supporting at least 256 colors with at least
1 Mbyte of memory. Memory requirement is dependent on desired display
resolution.

IEEE-488 GPIB port (required by DG535 Timing Generator, if present). May
also be required by Spectrograph.



Two-button Microsoft compatible serial mouse or Logitech® three-button
serial/bus mouse.

USB 2.0 Protocol:

28AT-compatible computer with Pentium 3 or better processor and runs at 1 GHz or
better.



Windows 2000 (with Service Pack 4), Windows XP (with Service Pack 1) orlater operating system.

Chapter 4

System Setup

29

Native USB 2.0 support on the mother board or USB Interface Card (Orange
Micro 70USB90011 USB2.0 PCI is recommended for desktop; SIIG, Inc. USB
2.0 PC Card, Model US2246 for laptop)

Minimum of 256 Mb of RAM.



CD-ROM drive.

Hard disk with a minimum of 80 Mbytes available. A complete installation of the
program files takes about 17 Mbytes and the remainder is required for data
storage, depending on the number and size of spectra collected. Disk levelcompression programs are not recommended.

Super VGA monitor and graphics card supporting at least 256 colors with at least
1 Mbyte of memory. Memory requirement is dependent on desired display
resolution.

IEEE-488 GPIB port (required by DG535 Timing Generator, if present). May
also be required by Spectrograph.



Two-button Microsoft compatible serial mouse or Logitech three-button
serial/bus mouse.

Verifying Voltage Settings
The Power Module on the rear of the Controller contains thevoltage selector drum, fuses and the powercord connector. The
appropriate voltage setting is set at the factory and can be seen on
the back of the power module.
Each setting actually defines a range and the setting that is closest
to the actual line voltage should have been selected. The fuse andpower requirements are printed on the panel above the power
module. The correct fuses for the country where the ST-133 is tobe shipped are installed at the factory.
Note: Depending on the ST-133 version, voltage ranges and fuseratings may be printed either above or below the power module(Figure 9).

Figure 9. Controller
Power Module

To Check the Controller's Voltage Setting:
1. Look at the lower righthand corner on the rear of the Controller. The current
voltage setting (100, 120, 220, or 240 VAC) is displayed on the Power Module.
2. If the setting is correct, continue with the installation. If it is not correct, follow
the instructions on page 91 for changing the voltage setting and fuses.

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Installing the Application Software
Installation is performed via the
WinView/32 or WinSpec/32
installation process. If you areinstalling WinView or WinSpec for
the first time and have a TAXIinterface, you should run the
installation before the Princeton
Instruments (RSPI) PCI interface
card is installed in the hostcomputer. On the SelectComponents dialog box (seeFigure 10), click on the AUTO PCI
button to install the interface card
drivers (PCI and the Princeton
Figure 10. WinView Installation: Interface Card
Instruments USB drivers) and theDriver Selection
most commonly installed program
files. Select the Custom button if you would like to choose among the available program
files or do not want to install the PCI driver.
Note: WinView/32 and WinSpec/32 (versions 2.6.0 and higher) do not support the ISA
interface.

Setting up the Communication Interface
VersArray camera systems require either an installed Princeton Instruments (RSPI) PCI
card or an installed USB2.0 interface card in the host computer. The type of interface
card is dictated by the Interface Control Module installed in the ST-133 controller.

Setting up a PCI Interface
Administrator privileges are required under Windows NT®, Windows® 2000, andWindows® XP to install software and hardware.
A Princeton Instruments (RSPI) PCI card must be installed in the host computer if
the communication between computer and controller uses the TAXI protocol (i.e.,
the Interface Control Module installed in the ST-133 has a 9-pin SERIAL COM
connector as shown in the figure at right). With TAXI protocol, the standard cableprovided with an ST-133 is 7.6 meters (25 feet). Cable lengths up to 50 meters(164 feet) are available and the digitization rate may be as high as 2 MHz.
A computer purchased from Princeton Instruments will be shipped with the PCI cardalready installed. Otherwise, a PCI card will be shipped with the system and you will
have to install it in the host computer at your location.
Note: The PCI card can be installed and operated in any Macintosh having a
PCI bus, allowing the ST-133 to be controlled from the Macintosh via IPLab™
software and the PI Extension.

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Caution

System Setup

31

If using WinX software, Select either High Speed PCI or PCI(Timer) as the Interface
type. This selection is accessed on the Hardware Setup|Interface tab page. High Speed
PCI allows data transfer to be interrupt-driven and gives the highest performance in somesituations. PCI(Timer) allows data transfer to be controlled by a polling timer. This
selection is recommended when there are multiple devices sharing the same interrupt.
To Install a PCI Serial Buffer Card in the Host Computer:
1. Review the documentation for your computer and PCI card before continuingwith this installation.
2. To avoid risk of dangerous electrical shock and damage to the computer, verify
that the computer power is OFF.
3. Remove the computer cover and verify that there is an available PCI slot.
4. Install the PCI card in the slot.
5. Make sure that the card is firmly seated and secure it.

6. Replace and secure the computer cover and turn on the computer only. If an error
occurs at bootup, either the PCI card was not installed properly or there is an address
or interrupt conflict. Refer to Chapter 9 "Troubleshooting", page 100 for instructions.
Note: The PCI card has no user-changeable jumpers or switches.
To Install the PCI Card Driver
The following information assumes that you have already installed the WinView/32 or
WinSpec/32 software.
1. After you have secured the PCI card in the computer and replaced the cover, turnthe computer on.
2. At bootup, Windows will try to install the new hardware. If it cannot locate thedriver, you will be prompted to enter the directory path, either by keyboard entry
or by using the browse function.
If you selected AUTO PCI during the application software installation, WinView/32
or WinSpec/32 automatically put the required INF file into the Windows/INF
directory and put the PCI card driver file in the "Windows"/System32/ Drivers
directory. Refer to Table 1 for the appropriate file names and locations.
Windows Version

PCI INF Filename
Located in "Windows"/INF
directory*

PCI Device Driver Name
Located in "Windows"/System32/Drivers
directory

Windows® 2000
and XP

rspi.inf (in WINNT/INF, forexample)rspipci.sys (in WINNT/System32/Drivers,
for example)

Windows NT®

N/A

pi_pci.sys

Windows® 95, 98,
and Windows® ME

pii.inf

pivxdpci.vxd* The INF directory may be hidden.
Table 1. PCI Driver Files and Locations

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Setting up a USB 2.0 Interface
Administrator privileges are required under Windows® 2000 and Windows®
XP to install software and hardware.
Your system has been configured to use the USB communication protocol if theInterface Control Module installed in the ST-133 has a USB 2.0 connector as
shown in the figure at right). The advantages to the USB 2.0 interface are that it
uses a much higher data transfer rate than many common serial data formats (suchas the TAXI protocol) and it simplifies the connection to external devices. USB
supports "plug and play" -- you do not need to be heavily involved in the setup
process.
USB 2.0 Limitations
 Maximum cable length is 5 meters (16.4 feet) 1 MHz is currently the upper digitization rate limit for the ST-133
Controller. Large data sets and/or long acquisition times may be subject
to data overrun because of host computer interrupts during data acquisition.







USB 2.0 is not supported by the Princeton Instruments PC Interface Library (EasyDLLS).



Some WinView and WinSpec 2.5.X features are not fully supported withUSB 2.0. Refer to Appendix E, page 139, for more information.

Note: If you are installing the USB 2.0 interface on a laptop, you will need to perform allof the operations described in this section. In addition, if you are using the recommended
USB Interface Card (SIIG, Inc. USB 2.0 PC Card, Model US2246), you must replace theOrangeUSB USB 2.0 Host Controller driver installed for that card with the appropriate
Microsoft driver. Instructions for making the replacement are included in "To Update theOrangeUSB USB 2.0 Driver".
To Update the OrangeUSB USB 2.0 Driver:This procedure is highly recommended when a laptop computer will be used tocommunicate with the ST-133. As stated before, we recommend the SIIG, Inc. USB 2.0
PC Card, Model US2246 if USB 2.0 is not native to the laptop's motherboard. To reducethe instances of data overruns and serial violations, the OrangeUSB USB 2.0 Host
Controller installed for the SIIG card, should be replaced by the appropriate Microsoft
driver (Windows 2000 or Windows XP, depending on the laptop's operating system.)
Note: This procedure may also be performed for desktop computers that use theOrange Micro 70USB90011 USB2.0 PCI.
1. Download and install Microsoft Service Pack 4 (for Windows 2000) or Service
Pack 1 (for Windows XP) if the service pack has not been installed.
2. From the Windows Start menu, select Settings|Control Panel.
3. Select System and then System Properties.
4. Select the Hardware tab and click on Device Manager button.
5. Expand Universal Serial Bus Controllers.
6. Right-mouse click on OrangeUSB USB 2.0 Host Controller and selectProperties.

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33

7. On the Driver tab, click on the Update Driver… button. You may have to wait aminute or so before you will be allowed to click on the button.
8. When the Upgrade Device Driver wizard appears, click on Next. Select the
Search for a suitable driver … radio button.
9. On the next screen select the Specify a location checkbox.
10. Browse and select the location. Click on OK.
11. In the Driver Files Search Results window, check the Install one of the otherdrivers check box.
12. Select the NEC PCI to USB Enhanced Host Controller B1 driver. Click on
Next and the installation will take place. When the Completing the Upgrade
Device Driver wizard window appears, click on Finish. You will then be given
the choice of restarting the computer now or later. According to the window text, thehardware associated with the driver will not work until you restart the computer.

To Install the Princeton Instruments USB2 Interface:
The following information assumes that: You have verified that the host computer meets the required specifications
for USB 2.0 communication with the VersArray system (see page 28).
 A USB 2.0 board and its driver are installed in the host computer.
 The ST-133 has an installed USB 2.0 Interface Control module.
 You have already installed the WinX software (versions 2.5.15 and higher).
Versions 2.5.15 and higher automatically install the driver and INF files
required to support the USB 2.0 Interface Control module.
1. Before installing the Princeton Instruments USB2 Interface, we recommend thatyou defragment the host computer's hard disk. This operation reduces the time thecomputer spends locating files. Typically, the "defrag" utility "Disk
Defragmenter" can be accessed from the Windows® Start menu and can usuallyaccessed from the Programs/Accessories/System Tools subdirectory.
2. After defragmenting the hard disk, turn off the computer and make the USB cableconnections between the host computer and the ST-133. Then, turn the ST-133 on
before turning on the host computer.
3. At bootup, Windows will detect the Princeton Instruments USB2 Interface
hardware (i.e., the USB 2.0 Interface Control module). You may be prompted toenter the directory path(s) for the apausbprop.dll and/or the apausb.sys file(s),either by keyboard entry or by using the browse function.
If you selected AUTO PCI during the application software installation, WinX
automatically put the required INF, DLL, and USB driver file in the "Windows"
directories shown below. Refer to the Table 2 for the file locations.

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Windows
VersionUSB INF
Filename
Located in"Windows"/INF
directory*

Windows® rsusb2k.inf (in2000 and WINNT/INF,
XP
for example)

USB Properties DLL
Located in"Windows"/System32
directory

apausbprop.dll (inWINNT/System32, forexample)Version 2.E
USB Device Driver Name
Located in"Windows"/System32/Drivers
directory

apausb.sys (inWINNT/System32/Drivers, forexample)* The INF directory may be hidden.
Table 2. USB Driver Files and Locations

Connecting the Interface (Controller-Computer) Cable
TAXI® Cable (6050-0148-CE)
Turn the Controller power OFF (OFF = 0, ON = |) and the Computer power OFF before
connecting or disconnecting the Controller-Computer (TAXI) cable.
To Connect the TAXI Cable:
1. Verify that the Controller power is OFF.
2. Verify that the Computer power is OFF.
3. Connect one end of the TAXI cable to the 9-pin port on the Interface card in thehost computer.
4. Tighten down the screws to lock the connector in place.
5. Connect the other end of the cable to the "Serial Com" port on the rear of theController.
6. Tighten down the screws to lock the connector in place.

USB 2.0 Cable (6050-0494)
Turn the Controller power OFF (OFF = 0, ON = |) and the Computer power OFF before
connecting or disconnecting the Controller-Computer (TAXI) cable.
To Connect the USB 2.0 Cable:
1. Verify that the Controller power is OFF.
2. Verify that the Computer power is OFF.
3. Connect one end of the USB cable to the USB port on the host computer.
4. Connect the other end of the cable to the USB 2.0 port on the rear of theController.

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Connecting the Detector-Controller Cable
Turn the Controller power OFF (OFF = 0, ON = |) before connecting or disconnecting thedetector-Controller cable.
To Connect the detector-Controller Cable:
1. Verify that the Controller power is OFF.
2. Connect male end of the Detector-Controller cable (6050-0321 for TE-cooled cameras;
6050-0361 for LN-cooled) to the “Detector” port on the back of the Controller. Refer
to "Securing the Detector-Controller Cable Slide Latch", page 106.
3. Move the slide latch down to lock the connector in place.
4. Connect the female end of the cable to the Camera.
5. Lock the connector in place. Depending on the detector and the cable used, thisoperation may require tightening down locking screws or securing a slide-latch.

Entering the Default Camera System Parameters into WinX
(WinView/32, WinSpec/32, or WinXTest/32)
Software changes implemented in WinX version 2.15.9.6 affected the way in which
default parameters were entered for camera systems. Therefore, two sets of instructions
are included. Follow the instructions appropriate to the software version that you
installed. Note that these instructions assume that you have performed the computerinterface installation.
WinX Versions 2.5.19.6 and later
1. Make sure the ST-133 is connected to the host computer and that it is turned on.
2. Run the WinX application. The Camera Detection wizard will automatically run if
this is the first time you have installed a Princeton Instruments WinX application(WinView/32, WinSpec/32, or WinXTest/32) and a supported camera. Otherwise, if
you installing a new camera type, click on the Launch Camera Detection
Wizard… button on the Controller/CCD tab page to start the wizard.
3. On the Welcome dialog (Figure 11), leave the checkbox unselected and click on
Next.

Figure 11. Camera Detection Wizard - Welcome dialog box

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4. Follow the instructions on the dialog boxes to perform the initial hardware setup: thiswizard enters default parameters on the Hardware Setup dialog box tab pages andgives you an opportunity to acquire a test image to confirm the system is working.
WinX Versions before 2.5.19.6: Run RSConfig.exe
1. Make sure the ST-133 is connected to the host computer and that it is turned on.
2. Run RSConfig from the Windows|Start|Programs|PI Acton menu or from thedirectory where you installed WinView, WinSpec, or WinXTest.
3. When the RSConfig dialog box (Figure 12) appears, you can change the camera
name to one that is more specific or you can keep the default name "Camera1".
When you have finished, click on the Done button.
Note: If the first camera in the list is not the "Princeton Style (USB2)", you willneed to edit the PVCAM.INI file created by RSConfig. See the instructions in"Demo, High Speed PCI, and PCI(Timer) are Choices on Hardware
Wizard:Interface dialog", page 96.

Figure 12. RSConfig dialog box

4. Open the WinX application and, from Setup|Hardware…, run the Hardware
Setup wizard.
5. When the PVCAM dialog box (Figure 13) is displayed, click in the Yes radio
button, click on Next and continue through the wizard. After the wizard isfinished, the Controller/Camera tab card will be displayed with the Use
PVCAM checkbox selected. You should now be able to set up experiments andacquire data.

Figure 13. Hardware Setup wizard: PVCAM dialog box

6. Run the software in focus mode to verify communication between the ST-133
and the host computer.
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Attaching Lenses to C- and F-Mount Adapters
Caution Overexposure protection: Cameras that are exposed to room light or othercontinuous light sources will quickly become saturated. Set the lens to the smallest
aperture (highest f-number) and cover the lens with a lens cap to prevent overexposure.

Attaching to a C-Mount Adapter
Standard TE-cooled cameras and some TE-cooled cameras with the "microscope nose"
can be ordered with an integral C-mount adapter. C-mount lenses simply screw into thefront of these cameras. Tighten the lens by hand only.
Connecting to a microscope is discussed in "Mounting a TE-Cooled VersArray Camera
to a Microscope" on page 42. If you cannot use the adapter you received, contact thefactory for customer support or replacement. See page 150 for Information on accessing
the Princeton Instruments Customer Support Dept.
Note: C-mount cameras are shipped with a dust cover lens installed. Although this lensis capable of providing surprisingly good images, its throughput is low and the image
quality is not as good as can be obtained with a high-quality camera lens. Users should
replace the dust-cover lens with their own high-quality laboratory lens before making
measurements.

Attaching to an F-Mount Adapter
Cameras for use in imaging systems (cameras) are shipped with the lens mount alreadyattached. Standard Princeton Instruments lens mounts use the Nikon bayonet format, asshown in Figure 14 and Figure 15. This can be converted to most other formats by using
commercially available adapters. If your optical system cannot be converted to thisformat, contact the factory. Other mounts may be available. Consult the factory forspecific information relating to your needs. See page 150 for Information on accessing
the Princeton Instruments Customer Support Dept.

Figure 14. F-Mount Adapter 1 for TE-Cooled
CamerasFigure 15. F-Mount Adapter 2 for TE- and
LN-Cooled Cameras

To Mount the Lens on the Camera:
1. Locate the large indicator dot on the side of the lens.
2. Note the corresponding dot on the front side of the adapter.
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3. Line up the dots and slide the lens into the adapter.
4. Turn the lens counterclockwise until a click is heard. The lens is now locked in place.
5. In addition to the focusing ring of the lens, there is provision for focusing the adapter
itself. That adjustment is secured by setscrews on the side of the adapter's adjustment
ring. Directions for focusing the lens and the adapter are provided on page 127.
To Remove the Lens:
1. Locate the lens release lever at the front of the lens mount.
2. Press the lever toward the camera housing and simultaneously rotate the lens
clockwise.
3. Then pull the lens straight out.
Although microscopes more commonly are used with a C-mount adapter, operation witha camera having an F-mount adapter may also be possible. See "Mounting a TE-Cooled
VersArray Camera to a Microscope" on page 42, Microscopy Applications and theadapter literature for further directions.

WARNING! The standard LN-cooled side-looking camera or an end-looking LN-cooled camera mustnever be tilted more than 30° from vertical unless the "all-directional" Dewar option has
been purchased. If mounting the camera to your system means that you will tilt the
Dewar more than 30°, you may have the wrong type of Dewar. Contact the factory.

Mounting to a Spectrometer
The camera must be properly mounted to thespectrometer to take advantage of all the available
grouping features. Depending on the spectrometerand camera type, special adapters may be required
to mount the detector to the spectrometer. The
appropriate adapters should have been included
with your system if the spectrometer type wasindicated when the system was ordered.
Because of the many possible VersArray camera and spectrometer combinations, all of theadapter mounting instructions are located in Appendix D. Refer to the table at the beginningof that appendix to find the instruction set appropriate to your system.

WARNING! A Dewar must never be tilted more than 30° from vertical, unless the "all-directional"
Dewar option has been purchased. For this reason, a side-looking camera and an endlooking camera are available for mounting to vertical and horizontal image planes,
respectively. If mounting the Dewar to your system requires you to exceed the 30° limit,
you may have the wrong type of Dewar. Contact the factory.

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Focal Plane DistanceThe distance to the focal plane from the front of the mechanical assembly depends on thespecific configuration. Refer to "Focal Distance" on page 109 for more information.
In addition, the focal distance for an end-on Dewar detector is affected by the shrinkagethat occurs as the detector cools to its operating temperature. The change isapproximately +.047" (1.194 mm) as the CCD shifts up toward the bottom of the Dewar.
Because of this movement, an image area or a focus set at room temperature will change
as a detector cools.
In the past, Princeton Instruments LN-cooled detectors were designed so the focal
distance for end-on Dewars was set at room temperature. When the detectors cooled
down to operating temperature, the offset would become apparent and the user might berequired to shift the region of interest, move a slit, or refocus.
The new integral nose LN-cooled detectors (as of 2004) have been designed so the focal
distance for end-on Dewars is offset at room temperature. Now, when a detector cools to
operating temperature the focal distance is as noted on the end-on Dewar outline drawing.

Optical Center of the Array
An LN-cooled detector shrinks when the Dewar is filled with LN and the detector cools
down to operating temperature. For side-on Dewars, the optical center of the CCD shifts(towards the fill port) by approximately .035" (.889 mm) with respect to the nose.
Because of this, an image area or a focus set at room temperature will change as adetector cools.
In the past, Princeton Instruments LN-cooled detectors were designed so the opticalcenter of a CCD (side-on Dewars) was set at room temperature. When the detectors
cooled down to operating temperature, the offset would become apparent and the usermight be required to shift the region of interest, move a slit, or refocus.
The new integral nose LN-cooled detectors (as of 2004) have been designed so theoptical center of a CCD (side-on Dewars) is offset at room temperature. Now, when adetector cools to operating temperature, the optical center of the CCD is at the center ofthe nose (side-on Dewars).

Array Orientation
For square format CCDs (for example, 512 × 512, 1340 × 1300, or 2048 × 2048) you
may orient the CCD to achieve binning along either direction of the CCD.


Binning along columns (parallel mode) provides maximum scan rate and lowest noise.

Binning along the rows (perpendicular mode) minimizes crosstalk and is therefore
better for multi-spectral applications. The drawback to this method is that scanning isslower and noise may increase somewhat.

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Figure 16. Binning and Array Orientation

Note: Users of TE-cooled cameras can easily switch between these orientations byrotating the camera 90° and changing the binning parameters in the application software.

Camera-Spectrometer Adapters
Princeton Instruments has a variety of adapters for mating VersArray cameras tospectrometers. In some cases, the appropriate adapter is mounted to the camera before thedetector is shipped from the factory. In other cases, an adapter kit, containing mounting
hardware and adapter(s), is shipped with the detector. Refer to Appendix D for mounting
instructions.

Entrance Slit ShutterThis shutter can either be mounted on theentrance slit of the spectrometer or used asa stand-alone shutter. Shutters for standalone operation have two tapped holes for
mounting to a stand: one metric, the other
English.
Entrance slit shutter mounts come in two
types. The first type is for use with CP-200
and HR-250 Spectrometers, and is shownin Figure 17.

Figure 17. Type 1 Entrance Slit Shutter Mount

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Type 1 Shutter Mount Directions
1. Remove the Adapter Mount Cover by removing the four Phillips head screws.
2. Place the Adapter Mount Body over the entrance slit.
3. Mount it by threading the Retainer to the spectrograph.
4. Replace the shutter and the Adapter Mount Cover.
Type 2 Shutter Mount Directions
The second shutter mount type, used with all
Acton Research spectrographs, requires nodisassembly. Mount it to the spectrograph asshown in Figure 18.

Figure 18. Type 2 Entrance Slit Mount

Shutter Cable Connection
WARNING!

Dangerous live potentials are present at the Remote Shutter power connector. To avoid
shock hazard, the Controller power should be OFF when connecting or disconnecting a
remote shutter.
1. Verify that the ST-133 controller is turned OFF (or not connected)
2. Connect the shutter cable to the side of the camera.
3. Then connect the other end to either the Shutter Power connector on the camera or to
the Shutter Power connector on the ST-133 controller. In the case of TE cameras, theshutter cable should be connected to the Shutter Power connector on the rear panel ofthe camera or to the Shutter Power connector on the ST-133 Controller. In manysystems, cable length considerations will make it more convenient to connect to the
Shutter Power connector on the camera.
Note: Longer cables are available from the factory.

Overexposure Protection
Cameras that are exposed to room light or other continuous light sources will quickly
become saturated. This most often occurs when operating without a shutter. If the camera
is mounted to a spectrograph, close the entrance slit of the spectrograph completely to
reduce the incident light.

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Notes:
1. If the CCD is cooled to low temperatures (below -50°C), exposure to ambient lightwill over-saturate it. This may increase dark charge significantly. If the camera
remains saturated after all light sources are removed, you may have to bring thecamera back to room temperature to restore dark charge to its original level.
2. Saturation is not harmful to a non-intensified camera.

Mounting a TE-Cooled VersArray Camera to a Microscope
Introduction
This section discusses the setup and optimization of your digital imaging system asapplied to microscopy.
Since scientific grade cooled CCD imaging systems are usually employed for low lightlevel microscopy, the major goal is to maximize the light throughput to the camera. In
order to do this, the highest Numerical Aperture (NA) objectives of the desired
magnification should be used. In addition, you should carefully consider the transmission
efficiency of the objective for the excitation and emission wavelengths of the fluorescentprobe employed. Another way to maximize the transmission of light is to choose thecamera port that uses the fewest optical surfaces in the pathway, since each surface
results in a small loss in light throughput. Often the trinocular mount on the uprightmicroscope and the bottom port on the inverted microscope provide the highest lightthroughput. Check with the manufacturer of your microscope to determine the optimal
path for your experiment type.
A rule of thumb employed in live cell fluorescence microscopy is "if you can see thefluorescence by eye, then the illumination intensity is too high". While this may not beuniversally applicable, it is a reasonable goal to aim for. In doing this, the properties of the
CCD in your camera should also be considered in the design of your experiments. For
instance, if you have flexibility in choosing fluorescent probes, then you should takeadvantage of the higher Quantum Efficiency (QE) of the CCD at longer wavelengths (QEcurves can be found on the Princeton Instruments camera data sheets). Another feature to
exploit is the high resolution offered by cameras with exceptionally small pixel sizes (dataavailable on the Princeton Instruments camera data sheets). Given that sufficient detail ispreserved, you can use 2x2 binning (or higher) to increase the light collected at each"super-pixel" by a factor of 4 (or higher). This will allow the user to reduce exposure times,
increasing temporal resolution and reducing photodamage to the living specimen.
Another method to minimize photodamage to biological preparations is to synchronize ashutter on the excitation pathway to the exposure period of the camera. This will limit
exposure of the sample to the potentially damaging effects of the excitation light.

Mounting the Camera on the Microscope
The camera is connected to the microscope via a standard type mount coupled to a
microscope specific adapter piece. There are two basic camera-mounting designs, theF-mount (standard) and the C-mount (optional). The F-mount uses a tongue and groove
type mechanism to connect to the camera while the C-mount employs a standard size
thread to make the connection.

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F-Mount
For a camera with the F-mount type design, you need two elements to mount the camera
on your microscope:

A Diagnostic Instruments Relay Lens. This lens is usually a 1x relay lens that
performs no magnification. Alternatively, you may use a 0.6x relay lens to partiallydemagnify the image and to increase the field of view. There is also a 2x relay lensavailable for additional magnification.



A Microscope-specific Diagnostic Instruments Bottom Clamp. Table 3 shows
which bottom clamps are routinely used with each of the microscope types. They areillustrated in Figure 20. If you feel that you have received the wrong type of clamp, or if
you need a clamp for a microscope other than those listed, please contact the factory.

To Mount the Camera:
1. First, pick up the camera and look for the black dot
on the front surface.
2. Match this dot with the red dot on the side of therelay lens.
3. Then engage the two surfaces and rotate them until
the F-mount is secured as evidenced by a soft
clicking sound.
4. Next place the long tube of the relay lens into thebottom clamp for your microscope, securing it to
the relay lens with the three set screws at the top of
the clamp as shown in Figure 19.
5. This whole assembly can now be placed on the
microscope, using the appropriate setscrews on the
microscope to secure the bottom clamp to the
output port of the microscope.
6. The F-mount is appropriate for any trinocular
output port or any side port.

Figure 19. Bottom Lamp
Secured to Relay Lens



When mounting the camera perpendicular to the microscope on the side port, it is
ADVISED that you provide some additional support for your camera to reduce
the possibility of vibrations or excessive stress on the F-mount nose.

Princeton Instruments DOES NOT advise using an F-mount to secure the camera
to a bottom port of an inverted microscope due to possible failure of the locking
mechanism of the F-mount. Contact the factory for information about a special
adapter for operating in this configuration.

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C-Mount
For a camera equipped with a C-mount thread, use the standard C-mount adapter that is
supplied by the microscope manufacturer to attach the camera to the microscope.
1. Screw the adapter into the camera.
2. Secure the assembly to the microscope using the standard setscrews on the
microscope. The camera can be mounted on the trinocular output port, the side port
or the bottom port of the inverted microscope.
3. If you are mounting one of the LARGER cameras in the following orientations, it is
ADVISED that you provide additional support for the camera:

Perpendicular to the microscope, on the side port. Additional support
is advised to reduce vibrations or excessive stress on the C-mount nose.

At the bottom port of the inverted microscope. The C-mount is designed
to support the full weight of the camera. However, additional support is advisable
since the camera is in a position where it could be deflected by the operator’sknee or foot. This kind of lateral force could damage the alignment of the noseand result in sub-optimal imaging conditions.

4. If additional optical elements are required at an output port for image collection,please check with your microscope manual to determine if the chosen output port
requires a relay lens.
5. Verify that all optical surfaces are free from dust and fingerprints, since these willappear as blurry regions or spots and hence degrade the image quality.
Microscope Type

Diagnostic Instruments
Bottom Clamp Type

Leica DMR

L-clamp

Leitz All types

NLW-clamp

Nikon Optiphot, Diaphot, Eclipse

O-clamp

Olympus BH-2, B-MAX, IMT-2

V-clamp

Zeiss Axioscope, Axioplan, Axioplan 2,
AxiophotZ-clamp

Zeiss Axiovert

ZN-clamp
Table 3. Bottom Clamps for Different Microscopes

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Figure 20. Diagnostic Instruments Bottom Clamps for Different Microscopes

Adjusting the Parfocality of the Camera
After the camera has been mounted, verify that you get a clear, focused, transmitted lightimage through the eyepiece. Then, divert the light to the camera and lower theilluminating light intensity.
To adjust the parfocality on an F-mount system:

Begin collecting images with a short exposure time.

Focus the light on the camera by rotating the ring on the Diagnostic Instruments
relay lens without touching the main focusing knobs on the microscope.

To adjust the parfocality on a C-mount system:
On a C-mount system, the camera should be very close to parfocal, although someC-mounts will be adjustable using setscrews on the microscope to secure the adapter
slightly higher or lower in position.
To focus a Camera with an F-mount Lens Adapter:
Focusing is normally done by means a focus adjustment on the relay-lens adapter.
Note: The camera lens mount itself also has a focus adjustment. Although it is unlikelythat you would ever need to use this adjustment in operation with a microscope (it ispreferable that you use the relay-lens focus adjustment), it could be used if necessary.
The procedure for using the adjustment is provided in Appendix C, page 127.

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Microscope optics have very high transmission efficiencies in the infrared region of thespectrum. Since typical microscope light sources are very good emitters in the infrared,some microscopes are equipped with IR blockers or heat filters to prevent heating of
optical elements or the sample. For microscopes that do not have the better IR blockers,
the throughput of infrared light to the CCD can be fairly high. In addition, while the eye
is unable to see the light, CCD cameras are particularly efficient in detecting infrared
wavelengths. As a result, the contaminating infrared light will cause a degradation of theimage quality due to a high background signal that will be invisible to the eye. Therefore,
it is recommended that you add an IR blocker prior to the camera if you encounter thisproblem with the microscope.

WARNING!

Before You Start, if your system includes a microscope Xenon or Hg arc lamp, it is
CRITICAL to turn off all electronics adjacent to the arc lamp, especially your digital
camera system and your computer hardware (monitors included) before turning on thelamp power.
Powering up a microscope Xenon or Hg arc lamp causes a large EMF spike to be
produced that can cause damage to electronics that are running in the vicinity of the lamp.
We advise that you place a clear warning sign on the power button of your arc lamp
reminding all workers to follow this procedure. While Princeton Instruments has taken
great care to isolate its sensitive circuitry from EMF sources, we cannot guarantee that
this protection will be sufficient for all EMF bursts. Therefore, in order to fully guarantee
the performance of your system, you must follow this startup procedure.

Attaching/Connecting Shutters
Internal Shutters
WARNING!

Disconnecting or connecting the shutter cable to the camera while the controller is on can
destroy the shutter or the shutter driver in the controller!
A camera will have an internal shutter if ordered by the user.
TE-cooled Cameras: C-mount cameras use a 25 mm internal shutter that is housedin the main body. F-mount cameras use a 35 mm shutter that is housed in an
additional front section of the camera. Cameras with the 35 mm internal shutter must
be controlled by an ST-133 Controller with the 70 Volt Option.



LN-cooled Cameras: The 40 mm internal shutter is housed in the nose section of thecamera. To accommodate the shutter, a deeper nose housing is used, with a resulting
increase in the focal plane distance. The 70 Volt Option is not required by 40 mm
shutters.

The only case in which an internal shutter will not be supplied is when an TE-cooled
camera is configured for spectroscopic applications.
Note: Electromechanical shutters typically have a lifetime of about a million cycles.
Avoid running the shutter unnecessarily. Also avoid using shorter exposure times andhigher repetition rates than are required.

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Shutter Cable
The Shutter to Controller cable connects an external shutter to the Remote Lemo
connector on the rear of the controller. If the camera is equipped with an internal shutter,then the Remote connector should not be used to drive an external (second) shutter. Sucha configuration will result in under-powering both shutters and may cause damage to thesystem. If your application requires both an internal and an external shutter, refer to thecontroller manual for the setup information.

WARNINGS

1. Dangerous live potentials are present at the Remote connector. To avoid shock
hazard, always turn the controller power OFF before connecting or disconnecting an
external shutter cable.
2. Disconnecting or connecting the shutter cable to the controller while the controller
power is ON can destroy the shutter or the shutter driver in the controller.

35 mm Shutter
As shown in Figure 21, TE cameras
having an F-mount nose use a 35mm opening shutter. This shutter
does not completely clear a large
array (for example, a 1340×1300
array with ~38 mm diagonal) andthe array is not fully illuminated.
This does not mean that the shutter
is too small. The F-mount lens
actually limits the field size ahead of
Figure 21. 35 mm Shutter Coverage on 1340×1300
the 35 mm shutter. The difficulty is
Array for F-mount Designthat the F-mount standard itself
does not provide sufficient coverage to completely illuminate the large array.
Note that a camera having the 35 mm shutter can
only be used with an ST-133 equipped with the
70 V shutter option. An ST-133 that has the 70 V
shutter option can be identified by the 70 V OPTlabel on its rear panel as shown in
Figure 22.
Figure 22. 70 V Shutter Option Label

Shutter Setting Selection
The Shutter Setting dial is correctly set at thefactory for the camera’s internal shutter if one ispresent.
1. Verify that the Controller power is OFF.
2. Refer to Table 4 when looking at the rearof the Controller. Verify that the correct
shutter setting has been selected for the
shutter you are using.

Figure 23. Shutter Setting for Large
Internal Shutter (40 mm)

3. If the setting is not correct, press the "-" or the "+" button until the correct setting
is displayed in the window.
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Shutter Setting*
1
2
4
5

Version 2.E

Shutter Type25 mm Princeton Instruments supplied External shutter(typically an Entrance slit shutter)
25 mm Princeton Instruments Internal shutter
35 mm Princeton Instruments Internal shutter (requires
70 V Shutter option)
40 mm Princeton Instruments Internal shutter (suppliedwith LN camera having a 1340 × 1300 or larger CCD)

* Shutter settings 0, 3, and 6-9 are unused and are reserved for future use.
Table 4. ST-133 Shutter Setting Selection

WARNING! An incorrect setting may cause the shutter to malfunction or be damaged. An ST-133
with the 70 V Shutter option cannot be used with a camera having the 25 mm shutter orthe 40 mm shutter, even by selecting a different number, because the shutter could bepermanently damaged by the high drive voltage and larger stored energy required to drive
the 35 mm shutter. Note that the shutter is not covered by the warranty.

Overheating
Larger shutters do not normally exhibit thermal overloading, so they do not require thethermal interlock used by small shutters.

Making the Coolant Circulator-Detector Connections
Caution

1. Do not use any coolant fittings other than those supplied by Princeton Instruments.
Although standard pipefittings are similar, in most cases they are not the same.
Forcing these fittings into the cooling block will permanently damage the threads.
2. VersArray cameras with liquid-assisted cooling or liquid-only cooling require circulating
coolant (50:50 mixture of ethylene glycol and water) for proper operation.
3. Take care that the coolant used is pH neutral. Acidic or alkaline coolant can damage
the camera fittings and internal cooling block through corrosion. Such damage could
be very expensive to repair.
4. Coolant should be no colder than +15°C to prevent condensation at 50% relative
humidity. Operating a VersArray detector with coolant at a colder temperature could
cause induced condensation in the electronics enclosure and possible catastrophic
damage to the detector. Damage resulting from this type of operation may void thewarranty.
1. Set up the coolant circulator according to the directions in the user manual for that
equipment. Do not apply power to the circulator until directed to do so.
2. Make the hose connections between the circulator and the detector. For best cooling
performance, the tubing should be no longer than necessary. Connection directions
are provided for two tubing sizes. Follow the directions appropriate to your camera.
a. 1/4" Connections: Use 1/4", thin-wall plastic tubing. Be sure the tubing isproperly secured at both ends. Note that the ports on this camera use a ferrule-lessquick-disconnect method of securing the tubing and that both the camera's valve

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body and the fitting insert include automatic shutoff to prevent coolant leaks when
disconnected.
To Secure the Tubing:For best cooling, connect the inflow and outflow tubing to the ports as indicated in
Figure 24.
1) Remove the retaining nuts for the fitting and slide them over the outside of
the plastic tubing.
2) Slide the tubing over the barb on the fitting.
3) Slide the retaining nuts to the end of the tubing and tighten them to thethreads of the fitting.
4) Insert the fitting into the appropriate valve body (Inlet or Outlet) until you hear aclick.
5) Then insert the fitting at the other end of the tubing into the appropriate port on
the coolant circulator. You should hear a click, which indicates that the fitting
is latched in place.
6) Because of the automatic shutoffs, disconnecting the coolant supply is doneby simply depressing the release tabs (Figure 24) and removing the fittings.
Reconnecting the supply is done by reinserting each fitting into theappropriate valve body until you hear a click.
b. 3/8" Connections: Use 3/8" I.D., thick-wall PVC tubing. Hose clamps secure thetubing to the male quick-disconnects.
To Secure the Tubing:For best cooling, connect the inflow and outflow tubing to the ports as indicated in
Figure 24.
1) Insert the male quick-disconnect (on tubing) into the appropriate female
quick-disconnect on the camera (Inlet or Outlet) until you hear a click.
2) Then insert the fitting at the other end of the tubing into the appropriate porton the coolant circulator. You should hear a click, which indicates that thefitting is latched in place.
3) Because of the automatic shutoffs, disconnecting the coolant supply is doneby simply depressing the release tabs (Figure 24) and removing the fittings.
Reconnecting the supply is done by reinserting each fitting into theappropriate valve body until you hear a click.

Figure 24. Coolant Ports

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Recommended Flow Rate and Fluid Pressure
Flow Rate: 2 liters/minute. Users are advised to install a flow meter to monitor therate.
Fluid Pressure: 25 psig (maximum).

Figure 25. System Diagram: Air-Assist/Liquid-Assist TE Camera with Coolant Circulator

Figure 26. System Diagram: Liquid-Cooled TE Camera with Coolant Circulator

Filling the Dewar (LN-cooled Detectors)
DANGER

1. Even minimal contact with LN can cause severe injury to eyes and skin. Avoid
contact with the splashing that will invariably accompany pouring LN into a room
temperature Dewar.
2. Always be careful when removing the LN port cap if there is LN present in the
Dewar. Pressure due to nitrogen gas can cause the cap to fly out when the retaining
nut is loosened, possibly spraying you with liquid LN, which can cause severe injury.
1. Verify that the system has been turnedon and that the application software is
running.
2. Set the detector temperature to -100ºC
3. Assuming that the camera has been
properly evacuated, loosen the retaining
nut (Figure 27) a few turns, then remove
the LN Dewar port cap by pulling it
straight out.

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Figure 27. Dewar Ports and Valves

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It is recommended that an LN transfer Dewar with a pouring spout be used to transfer LN
from the storage tank to the camera. If you are going to use a funnel, place a thin venttube into the Dewar through the funnel to reduce splashing due to boiling LN.
4. Pour approximately 100 ml of LN into the Dewar. Stop for 5-10 minutes until you
observe a "geyser-like" vapor burst from the Dewar opening. This burst is normal andhas to do with reaching a thermal equilibrium between the LN and the Dewar
container surfaces.
5. Fill up the Dewar (approximately 1.7 liters for standard Dewar or 0.75 liters for an
all-directional Dewar). To test the LN level, insert a straight piece of wire (acryogenic "dip stick") into the Dewar briefly, then remove it. The LN level will be
indicated by the condensation on the wire.
6. Once the Dewar has been filled, replace the filler cap and hand-tighten the retaining
nut by giving it about 3/4 turn (or more) beyond the point where the nut feels snug.

WARNING!

Ice buildup may occur at the valve ports if the camera is being operated under highhumidity conditions. If frost appears on the valves, periodically clean the outside of thevalves so that ice does not prevent the valves from venting normally.
7. Once a temperature of -80°C has been achieved, maintain the CCD at thattemperature for 2-3 hours, then reset the dial to the desired temperature. This
procedure prevents any residual water vapor (if introduced during shipment or
through erroneous pumping in your lab, e.g., if your trap is inefficient) fromcondensing on the CCD window.
If the Dewar is continuously refilled, this procedure is unnecessary and the dial canbe set at the desired temperature without the intermediate -80°C stage.
Note: The pressure relief valves (Figure 27) underneath the protective covering will
occasionally emit a plume of N2 gas and mist. Continuous hissing indicates that thevacuum in the Dewar jacket is probably inadequate. In this case, first remove all LN fromthe Dewar, then reconnect the camera to the vacuum pump.
The cooler status indicator will turn from orange to green to indicate that the temperatureis thermostated to within ±0.050°C. For an LN-cooled CCD to reach -100°C normallyrequires 45-55 minutes.
Note: Temperature regulation does not reach its ultimate stability for at least 30 minutes
after the green indicator LED has turned on. After this period of time the desired
temperature is maintained with great precision.

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Figure 28. System Diagram: LN-cooled Camera

Dewar Options
Also available is the "all-directional" Dewar. An all-directional Dewar can operate in any
angular orientation but hold only about approximately 0.85 liters, roughly half as much
LN as the side-looking and end-looking Dewars. This reduced capacity translates to half
the hold time as well.
Note: There is no simple way to verify whether you have been shipped an all-directional
system simply by observing the camera. If you are uncertain, check the shipping
paperwork to verify that your Dewar is an all-directional model.
For operation of the all-directional Dewar in a 90° orientation you can refill the Dewar
only through a special 90° funnel provided by Princeton Instruments. For operation at
greater than 90° angles, there is only one refilling choice: the Dewar must be returned toa 0° (upright) orientation for refilling.
ATTENTION It is generally good practice to turn on the controller and start at least one data collection
while the camera is cooling down, and then to keep the controller in operation for theentire time the Dewar contains LN2. This will establish and maintain the "keep cleans"mode of the controller so that, even when the CCD is not actively taking data, it will be
continuously cleaning (shifting charge on the array to clear dark charge and cosmic ray
artifacts).

Introduction
LN-cooled cameras use liquid nitrogen to reduce
the temperature of the CCD. The liquid nitrogenis stored in a Dewar that is enclosed in a vacuum
jacket for minimal external thermal losses. The
chip temperature is regulated by closed-loop
proportional control circuitry. A thermal sensing
diode attached to the cooling block of the camera
monitors the chip temperature. The range
depends on the CCD device (see Table 5).

Caution52

CCD Model

Approx. Range

512F-70°C to -120°C

1300B/F-70°C to -110°C

2048B/F-70°C to -110°C

Table 5. Approximate Temperature
Range vs. CCD

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LN-cooled CCDs, because of their low operating temperatures, must always beconnected to an operating controller. If the controller power is turned off with liquid
nitrogen remaining in the Dewar, the CCD will quickly become saturated with charge,
which cannot be readily removed without warming the camera to room temperature.

Holding Times
At its lowest operating temperature, Princeton Instrument’s large capacity Dewar(1.7 liters) has a hold time of 25 hours or more in an upright position. However, the holdtime will vary depending on the Dewar orientation, array size, and operating temperature.
To maximize the holding time when leaving the camera overnight, in addition to topping
off the Dewar, you will want to set the array temperature to its lowest operating
temperature ( -120 C or -110°C, depending on the array size) via the Detector
Temperature dialog box in the WinView software. You must leave the controller power
on to prevent potential damage due to excessively cold temperatures. The effect of setting
the array temperature to its lowest operating temperature is to reduce the heating of thearray and thereby minimize LN evaporation. The following day, reset the camera
temperature to the array's operating temperature.

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Chapter 5
Operation
Introduction
Once the VersArray camera has been installed, camera operation is basicallystraightforward. 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 theTemperature" 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 thearray, digitized, and thentransferred to the hostcomputer. Upon datatransfer, the data is data is displayed and/or stored
via the application software. This sequence isillustrated by the block diagram shown in Figure 29.
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
Figure 29. Block Diagram of
use the Experiment Setup parameters to establish theLight Path in System
exposure time (the period when signal of interest isallowed 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 Acquireis 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 thecurrently 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 crosssections off, and with Zoom 1:1 selected.

In Acquire mode, every frame of data collected can be automatically stored (thecompleted dataset may include multiple frames with one or more accumulations).
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This mode would ordinarily be selected during actual data collection. One limitationof Acquire mode operation is that if data acquisition continues at too fast a rate for it
to be stored, data overflow will eventually occur. This could only happen in Fast
Mode operation.
The remainder of this chapter is organized to first talk about the system on/off sequences.
Then "First Light" procedures for imaging and spectroscopy applications follow: theseprocedures provide step-by-step instruction on how to initially verify system operation.
The last three sections discuss factors that affect exposure, readout, and digitization of theincoming signal. By understanding these factors and making adjustments to softwaresettings you can maximize signal-to-noise ratio. For information about synchronizing
data acquisition with external devices, please refer to Chapter 6, Advanced Topics.

USB 2.0 System On/Off Sequences
If your system is configured for the USB 2.0 communication interface, you must follow
the system on/off sequences as stated below. These sequences ensure that communication
is established and maintained between the camera and the host computer:
1.

The VersArray camera must be powered ON before WinView/32 or WinSpec/32 is
opened to ensure communication between the camera and the computer. If WinView
or WinSpec is opened and the VersArray is not powered ON, many of the functions
will be disabled and you will only be able to retrieve and examine previously
acquired and stored data. You must close WinView or WinSpec, power the camera
ON, and reopen WinView or WinSpec before you can set up experiments and acquire
new data.

2.

WinView/32 or WinSpec/32 must be closed before powering the camera OFF. If you
power the camera OFF before closing WinView or WinSpec, the communication linkwith the camera will be broken. You can operate the program in a playback mode
(i.e., examine previously acquired data) but will be unable to acquire new data until
you have closed WinView or WinSpec, powered the camera ON, and then re-opened
WinView or WinSpec.

First Light (Imaging)This section provides step-by-step instructions for acquiring an imaging measurement for
the first time. The intent of this procedure is to help you gain basic familiarity with theoperation of your system and to show that it is functioning properly. Once basic familiarity
has been established, then operation with other operating configurations, ones with more
complex timing modes, can be performed.

Assumptions
The following procedure assumes that
1. You have already set up your system in accordance with the instructions in
Chapters 3 and 4.
2. You have read the previous sections of this chapter.
3. You are familiar with the application software.
4. The system is air-cooled.
5. The system is being operated in imaging mode.

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6. The target is a sharp image, text, or a drawing that can be used to verify that thecamera is "seeing" and can be used to maximize focus.

Warnings
WARNING

Before You Start, if your system includes a microscope Xenon or Hg arc lamp, it is
CRITICAL to turn off all electronics adjacent to the arc lamp, especially your digital
camera system and your computer hardware (monitors included) before turning on thelamp power.
Powering up a microscope Xenon or Hg arc lamp causes a large EMF spike to be
produced that can cause damage to electronics that are running in the vicinity of the lamp.
We advise that you place a clear warning sign on the power button of your arc lamp
reminding all workers to follow this procedure. While Princeton Instruments has taken
great care to isolate its sensitive circuitry from EMF sources, we cannot guarantee that
this protection will be sufficient for all EMF bursts. Therefore, in order to fully guarantee
the performance of your system, you must follow this startup procedure.

Getting Started
1. Mount a test target in front of the camera.
2. Turn on the controller power.
Note: With USB 2.0, the controller must be turned on before WinView/32 or
WinSpec/32 is opened and WinView/32 or WinSpec/32 must be closed before
the controller is turned off.
3. Turn on the computer power.
4. Start the application software.
5. Start the coolant flow or fill the LN Dewar.
6. Block light from the lens.

Setting the Parameters
Note: The following procedure is based on WinView/32: you will need to modify it
if you are using a different application. Basic familiarity with the WinView/32
software is assumed. If this is not the case, you may want to review the software
manual or have it available while performing this procedure.
Set the software parameters as follows:
Environment dialog (Setup|Environment): Check the DMA Buffer size.
Large arrays (2048x2048, for example) require a buffer size on the order of
32 Mbytes. If you change the buffer size, you will have to reboot thecomputer for this memory allocation to be activated, and then restart
WinView.
Controller|Camera tab page (Setup|Hardware): Because the Camera
Detection wizard (Hardware Setup wizard for earlier software version)
installed default values appropriate for your system, verify the settings on
this page. To reload the defaults, you click on the Load Defaults From
Controller button on this tab page to load the default settings.

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

Use PVCAM: For software versions 2.5.19.0 and lower, verify that thebox is checked if you are using the USB 2.0 interface.
Note: This check box is not present on software versions 2.5.19.6 andhigher.



Controller type: ST-133



Controller version: 3 or higher

Camera type: Select the array installed in your camera.



Shutter type: None, Large, or Remote (system dependent).



Readout mode: Full frame.

Detector Temperature (Setup|Detector Temperature…): -40°C for
air-cooled. To see when the array temperature reaches and stabilizes at thetarget temperature, leave the Detector Temperature dialog box open. Whenthe target temperature is reached, the dialog box will report that the Current
Temperature has Locked and the Temp Lock LED on the back of the
ST-133 will light to indicate that the temperature is thermostated to within
0.25°C.
Notes:
1. Some overshoot may occur. This could cause temperature lock to be
briefly lost and then quickly re-established. If you are reading the actual
temperature reported by the application software, there may be a small
difference between the set and reported temperature when lock isestablished. This is normal and does not indicate a system malfunction.
2. If you are using the USB 2.0 interface, the Detector Temperature dialog
box will not display temperature information while you are acquiring data.
Interface tab page (Setup|Hardware): High Speed PCI (or PCI(Timer))
Note: This tab page is not available if you are using the USB 2.0 interface.
Cleans and Skips tab page (Setup|Hardware): Default
Experiment Setup Main tab page (Acquisition|Experiment Setup…):

Exposure Time: 100 ms

Accumulations & Number of Images: 1

Experiment Setup ROI tab page (Acquisition|Experiment Setup…):
Use this function to define the region of interest (ROI).


Imaging Mode: Selected

Clicking on Full loads the full size of the chip into the edit boxes.

Experiment Setup Timing tab page (Acquisition|Experiment Setup…):58

Timing Mode: Free RunShutter Control: Normal

Safe Mode vs. Fast Mode: Safe

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Acquiring Data
1. If you are using WinView/32 and the computer monitor for focusing, selectFocus from the Acquisition menu. Successive images will be sent to themonitor as quickly as they are acquired.
2. Adjust the lens aperture, intensity scaling, and focus for the best image asviewed on the computer monitor. Some imaging tips follow:


Begin with the lens blocked off and then set the lens at the smallest
possible aperture (largest f-stop number).



Make sure there is a suitable target in front of the lens. An object withtext or graphics works best. If working with a microscope, use any easily
viewed specimen.

Adjust the intensity scaling and lens aperture until a suitable setting isfound. The initial intensity scaling setting of 4096 assures that the image
won’t be missed altogether but could be dim. Once you’ve determinedthat the image is present, select a lower setting for better contrast. Checkthe brightest regions of the image to determine if the A/D converter is atfull-scale. A 12-bit A/D is at full scale when the brightest parts of theimage reach an intensity of 4095. Adjust the aperture to where it is justslightly smaller (higher f-stop) than the setting where maximum
brightness on any part of the image occurs.



Set the focus adjustment of the lens for maximum sharpness in theviewed image.



In the case of a camera with an F-mount, the camera lens adapter itself
also has a focus adjustment. If necessary, this focus can be changed tobring the image into range of the lens focus adjustment. See "F-Mount
Adapter Focusing Procedure", page 127.

3. After you have focused the camera, you can stop Focus mode, continue
Focus mode, begin Acquire mode, or wait for the CCD to reach theoperating temperature before going to Acquire mode.
4. If the array is cooled by LN, empty the Dewar before turning off thecontroller. If a coolant circulator or a chiller/circulator unit is being used tocool the array, stop the flow before turning off the controller.
Note: Exposing the CCD to bright light (10× saturation) when cold (<-70°C)
will cause the dark current in the exposed pixels to be 3 to 10 times higher
than normal for that operating temperature. This effect is due to theformation of temporary traps. The effect can be reversed by allowing thecamera to warm up to room temperature.

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First Light (Spectroscopy)
The following paragraphs provide step-by-step instructions for placing your spectroscopy
system in operation the first time. The intent of this simple procedure is to help you gain
basic familiarity with the operation of your system and to show that it is functioning
properly. Once basic familiarity has been established, then operation with other operating
configurations, ones with more complex timing modes, can be performed. An underlying
assumption for the procedure is that the detector is to be operated with a spectrograph suchas the Acton SpectraPro™ 300i (SP300i) on which it has been properly installed. A suitable
light source, such as a mercury pen-ray lamp, should be mounted in front of the entrance
slit of the spectrograph. Any light source with line output can be used. Standard fluorescent
overhead lamps have good calibration lines as well. If there are no "line" sources available,
it is possible to use a broadband source such as tungsten for the alignment. If this is thecase, use a wavelength setting of 0.0 nm for alignment purposes.

Assumptions
The following procedure assumes that
1. You have already set up your system in accordance with the instructions in
Chapters 3 and 4.
2. You have read the previous sections of this chapter.
3. You are familiar with the application software.
4. The system is air-cooled.
5. The system is being operated in spectroscopy mode.
6. An entrance slit shutter is not being controlled by the ST-133.

Getting Started
1. Set the spectrometer entrance slit width to minimum (10 µm if possible).
2. Power ON the spectrograph (i.e., switch the power supply ON).
3. Turn on the controller power.
Note: With USB 2.0, the controller must be turned on before WinView/32 or
WinSpec/32 is opened and WinView/32 or WinSpec/32 must be closed before
the controller is turned off.
4. Turn on the computer power.
5. Start the application software.
6. Start the coolant flow or fill the LN Dewar.

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Setting the Parameters
Note: The following procedure is based on WinSpec/32: you will need to modify it
if you are using a different application. Basic familiarity with the WinSpec/32
software is assumed. If this is not the case, you may want to review the software
manual or have it available while performing this procedure.
Set the software parameters as follows:
Environment dialog (Setup|Environment): Check the DMA Buffer size.
Large arrays (2048x2048, for example) require a buffer size on the order of
32 Mbytes. If you change the buffer size, you will have to reboot thecomputer for this memory allocation to be activated, and then restart
WinSpec.
Controller|Camera tab page (Setup|Hardware): Because the Camera
Detection wizard (Hardware Setup wizard for earlier software version)
installed default values appropriate for your system, verify the settings on
this page. To reload the defaults, you click on the Load Defaults From
Controller button on this tab page to load the default settings.


Use PVCAM: For software versions 2.5.19.0 and lower, verify that thebox is checked if you are using the USB 2.0 interface.
Note: This check box is not present on software versions 2.5.19.6 andhigher.

 Controller type: ST-133
 Controller version: 3 or higher Camera type: Select the array installed in your detector.
 Shutter type: None or Remote.
 Readout mode: Full frame.
Detector Temperature (Setup|Detector Temperature…): -40°C for
air-cooled. To see when the array temperature reaches and stabilizes at thetarget temperature, leave the Detector Temperature dialog box open. Whenthe target temperature is reached, the dialog box will report that the Current
Temperature has Locked and the Temp Lock LED on the back of the
ST-133 will light to indicate that the temperature is thermostated to within
0.25°C.
Notes:
1. Some overshoot may occur. This could cause temperature lock to be
briefly lost and then quickly re-established. If you are reading the actual
temperature reported by the application software, there may be a small
difference between the set and reported temperature when lock isestablished. This is normal and does not indicate a system malfunction.
2. If you are using the USB 2.0 interface, the Detector Temperature dialog
box will not display temperature information while you are acquiring data.
Interface tab page (Setup|Hardware): High Speed PCI (or PCI(Timer))
Note: This tab page is not available if you are using the USB 2.0 interface.
Cleans and Skips tab page (Setup|Hardware): Default
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Experiment Setup Main tab page (Acquisition|Experiment Setup…):

Exposure Time: 100 ms

Accumulations & Number of Images: 1

Experiment Setup ROI tab page (Acquisition|Experiment Setup…):
Use this function to define the region of interest (ROI).


Spectroscopy Mode: Selected

Clicking on Full loads the full size of the chip into the edit boxes.

Experiment Setup Timing tab page (Acquisition|Experiment Setup…):
Timing Mode: Free RunShutter Control: Normal

Safe Mode vs. Fast Mode: Safe

Focusing
The mounting hardware provides two degrees of freedom, focus and rotation. In thiscontext, focus means to physically move the detector back and forth through the focal
plane of the spectrograph. The approach taken is to slowly move the detector in and out
of focus and adjust for optimum while watching a live display on the monitor, followed
by rotating the detector and again adjusting for optimum. The following procedure, which
describes the focusing operation with an Acton 300I spectrograph, can be easily adapted
to other spectrographs.
1. Mount a light source such as a mercury pen-ray type in front of the entrance slitof the spectrograph. Any light source with line output can be used. Standard
fluorescent overhead lamps have good calibration lines as well. If there are no"line" sources available, it is possible to use a broadband source such as tungsten
for the alignment. If this is the case, use a wavelength setting of 0.0 nm foralignment purposes.
2. With the spectrograph properly connected to the controller, turn the power on,
wait for the spectrograph to initialize. Then set it to 435.8 nm if using a mercury
lamp or to 0.0 nm if using a broadband source.
Hint: Overhead fluorescent lights produce a mercury spectrum. Use a white card
tilted at 45 degrees in front of the entrance slit to reflect overhead light into thespectrograph. Select 435.833 as the spectral line.
3. Set the slit to 25 µm. If necessary, adjust the Exposure Time to maintain optimum(near full-scale) signal intensity.
4. In WinView, select Focus (on the Acquisition menu or on the Experiment
Setup dialog box) to begin data accumulation. Data will be continuously
acquired and displayed but will not be stored until Start Store is selected. At thattime, data collection stops and the last frame taken will be stored.
5. Slowly move the detector in and out of focus. You should see the spectral line gofrom broad to narrow and back to broad. Leave the detector set for the narrowest
achievable line. You may want to use the Focus Helper function(Process|Focus Helper…) to determine the narrowest line width: it can
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automatically locate peaks and generate a report on peak characteristics during
live data acquisition (see the WinSpec/32 on-line help for more information).
Note that the way focusing is accomplished depends on the spectrograph, as
follows:
Long focal-length spectrographs such as the Acton 300i: The
mounting adapter includes a tube that slides inside another tube to movethe detector in or out as required to achieve optimum focus.



Short focal-length spectrographs: There is generally a focusing
mechanism on the spectrograph itself which, when adjusted, will movethe optics as required to achieve proper focus.

No focusing adjustment: If there is no focusing adjustment, either
provided by the spectrograph or by the mounting hardware, then the only
recourse will be to adjust the spectrograph’s focusing mirror.

6. Next adjust the rotation. You can do this by rotating the detector while watchinga live display of the line. The line will go from broad to narrow and back to
broad. Leave the detector rotation set for the narrowest achievable line.
Alternatively, take an image, display the horizontal and vertical cursor bars, andcompare the vertical bar to the line shape on the screen. Rotate the detector until
the line shape on the screen is parallel with the vertical bar.
Note: When aligning other accessories, such as fibers, lenses, optical fiber adapters,
first align the spectrograph to the slit. Then align the accessory without disturbing thedetector position. The procedure is identical to that used to focus the spectrograph(i.e., do the focus and alignment operations while watching a live image).

Exposure and Signal
Introduction
The following topics address factors that can affect the signal acquired on the CCD array.
These factors include array architecture, exposure time, CCD temperature, dark charge,
and saturation.

CCD Array Architecture
Charge coupled devices (CCDs) can be roughly thought of as a two-dimensional grid of
individual photodiodes (called pixels), each connected to its own charge storage "well."
Each pixel senses the intensity of light falling on its collection area, and stores a
proportional amount of charge in its associated "well." Once charge accumulates for the
specified exposure time (set in the software), the pixels are read out serially.
CCD arrays perform three essential functions: photons are transduced to electrons,
integrated and stored, and finally read out. CCDs are very compact and rugged and canwithstand direct exposure to relatively high light levels, magnetic fields, and RF
radiation. They are easily cooled and can be precisely thermostated to within a few tensof millidegrees.

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Exposure Time
Exposure time (set on the Experiment
Setup|Main tab page) is the time between startand stop acquisition commands sent by theapplication software to the camera. In
combination with triggers, these commands
control when continuous cleaning of the CCD
stops and when the accumulated signal will beread out. The continuous cleaning prevents
buildup of dark current and unwanted signal
before the start of the exposure time. At the endof the exposure time, the CCD is read out andcleaning starts again.
For some CCD arrays, the VersArray camera
uses a mechanical shutter to control exposure of
the CCD. The diagram in Figure 30 shows how
the exposure period is measured. The NOTSCAN signal at the
BNC on the back of
the ST-133 can be used to monitor the exposure and readout cycle (tR). This signal is also
shown in Figure 30. The value of tc is shutter type dependent, and will be configured
automatically for ST-133 controllers shipped with an internal shutter.

Figure 30. Exposure of the CCD with Shutter Compensation

Note that NOT SCAN is low during readout, high during exposure, and high during
shutter compensation time.
Since most shutters behave like an iris, the opening and closing of the shutter will cause
the center of the CCD to be exposed slightly longer than the edges. It is important torealize this physical limitation, particularly when using short exposures.

Continuous Exposure (No Shuttering)
For full-frame imaging CCDs, the standard VersArray camera for imaging is equippedwith an integral shutter. However, inasmuch as it is possible to order the camera withouta shutter, the following general discussion of unshuttered operation is provided.
Slow scan scientific cameras require a shutter to prevent "smearing" of features during
readout. This is because charge is moved horizontally or vertically across the surface of
the CCD during readout. If light is falling on the CCD during readout then charge willcontinue to accumulate, blurring the image along one direction only.

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Because spectroscopy CCDs typically have their parallel shifting aligned vertically(perpendicular to the spectrum), smearing does not affect the spectral resolution, only theintensity level of the spectral features. When vertically binned, the readout generally
takes a few milliseconds to tens of milliseconds. In experiments where the exposure time
is much larger than the readout time, the smearing due to readout is insignificant, and the
CCD can be operated without a shutter with very little loss of performance.
If the CCD is set up for imaging mode (in WinSpec, the Imaging option has been
installed and is selected on the Experiment Setup|ROI Setup tab page), smearing
may be more of a factor. In this case, controlling the light source so no light falls on the
CCD during readout would minimize any smearing. If the light source can be controlled
electronically via the output of the
BNC (configured for SHUTTER output), theCCD can be read out in darkness.

Cooling the CCD
Cameras in the VersArray family can be either thermoelectrically- or cryogenicallycooled. The thermoelectrically-cooled cameras feature cost-effective performance, ease ofuse, and cooling from +20°C to as low as -60°C. Cooling performance depends on whether
the array chamber is backfilled or evacuated and whether the TE-cooling is air-assisted,liquid-assisted, or is liquid cooled. With cryogenic cooling, VersArray controllers provide
stabilized temperature control of LN cameras from -70 to -120°C (-70°C to -110°C forlarge arrays). Generally speaking, the lower the array temperature, the lower the darkcurrent and, therefore, the greater the sensitivity.
The temperature control mechanism used in a TE-cooled camera chills the array. The
temperature control mechanism in an LN-cooled camera heats the array. Because thetemperature of LN is -196°C and the operating temperature of the array is in the range of-70°C to -120°C, it is essential that an LN-cooled camera be connected to an operating
controller before LN is poured into the Dewar and while there is LN remaining in the Dewar.
This prevents potential damage to the array by excessive cold or saturation of the CCD.
Note: Temperature regulation does not reach its ultimate stability for at least 30 minutes
after temperature lock is established.

Cautions 1. The VersArray camera requires the ST-133 Controller that has been shipped with it.
Do not use a controller for a TE-cooled system with an LN-cooled camera. Do not
use a controller for an LN-cooled system with a TE-cooled camera.
2. LN-cooled CCDs, because of their low operating temperatures, must always beconnected to an operating controller. If the controller power is turned off with liquid
nitrogen remaining in the Dewar, the CCD will quickly become saturated withcharge, which cannot be readily removed without warming the camera to room
temperature. It is generally good practice to turn on the controller and start at least
one data collection while the camera is cooling down, and then to keep the controller
in operation for the entire time the Dewar contains liquid nitrogen. This will establish
and maintain the "keep cleans" mode of the controller so that, even when the CCD is
not actively taking data, it will be continuously cleaning (shifting charge on the array
to clear dark charge and cosmic ray artifacts).

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CCD Temperature Control
As stated before, lowering the temperature of the
CCD will generally enhance the quality of theacquired signal. When WinView or WinSpec is thecontrolling software, temperature control is done
via the Detector Temperature dialog box (seeFigure 31) accessed from the Setup menu. Oncethe target array temperature has been set, theFigure 31. WinView/WinSpec
software controls the circuits in the camera so the
Detector Temperature dialog box
array temperature is reduced (thermoelectricallycooled operation) or the array temperature is raised (cryogenically-cooled operation) to
the set value. On reaching that temperature, the control loop locks to that temperature forstable and reproducible performance.
When temperature lock has been reached (temperature within 0.25°C of set value) the
Detector Temperature dialog box reports that the current temperature is Locked. This
on-screen indication allows easy verification of temperature lock. In addition, the TEMPLOCK indicator on the back of the controller lights GREEN to indicate that lock has
been achieved (for more information, refer to the description of the ST-133 rear panelfeatures, page 18).
The deepest operating temperature for a system depends on the CCD array size, the CCD
packaging, and the type of cooling; and the time required to achieve lock can vary over aconsiderable range, depending on such factors as the camera type, CCD array type,ambient temperature, etc. (see Table 11, on page 110, for typical deepest coolingtemperatures). Once lock occurs, it is okay to begin focusing. However, you should wait
an additional twenty minutes before taking quantitative data so that the system has timeto achieve optimum thermal stability.
Note: If you are using the USB 2.0 interface, the Detector Temperature dialog box will
not display temperature information while you are acquiring data.

ADC Offset (Bias)
With the camera completely blocked, the CCD will collect a dark charge pattern,
dependent on the exposure time and camera temperature. The longer the exposure time
and the warmer the camera, the larger this background will appear. This background canbe dealt with in a couple of ways: background subtraction, in which a background imageis acquired and then subtracted from an illuminated image, or by offsetting the baseline
so that much of the background is ignored during analog-to-digital conversion (ADC).
The baseline offset is a voltage that is added to the signal to bring the A/D output to a
non-zero value, typically 50-100 counts. This offset value ensures that all the truevariation in the signal can really be seen and not lost below the A/D "0" value. Since theoffset is added to the signal, these counts only minimally reduce the range of the signal
from 65535 (16-bit ADC) to a value in the range of 50-100 counts lower.
Notes:
1. Do not be concerned about either the DC level of this background or its shape unless
it is very high (i.e., > 1000 counts for LN-cooled or > 400 counts for TE-cooled).
What you see is not noise. It is a fully subtractable readout pattern. Each CCD has its
own dark charge pattern, unique to that particular device. Every device has beenthoroughly tested to ensure its compliance with Princeton Instruments' demanding
specifications.
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2. The baseline can be adjusted by using the F and S Zero pots located on the rear panelof the controller. If these pots are not present, the baseline may be softwareadjustable.
3. Do not adjust the offset values to zero or some low-level data will be missed.
CAUTION

If you observe a sudden change in the baseline signal you may have excessive humidity
in the vacuum enclosure of the detector. Turn off the controller (if LN-cooled, remove theliquid nitrogen also) and contact Princeton Instruments Customer Support. See page 150
for contact information.

Dark Charge
Dark charge (or dark current) is the thermally induced buildup of charge in the CCD overtime. The statistical noise associated with this charge is known as dark noise. Dark charge
values vary widely from one CCD array to another and are exponentially temperaturedependent. Dark charge effect is more pronounced in the case of cameras having a nonMPP array.
With the light into the camera completely blocked, the CCD will collect a dark charge
pattern, dependent on the exposure time and camera temperature. The longer the
exposure time and the warmer the camera, the larger and less uniform this backgroundwill appear. Thus, to minimize dark-charge effects, you should operate with the lowest
CCD temperature possible.
Notes:
1. Do not be concerned about either the DC level of this background or its shape unless
it is very high, i.e., > 1000 counts with 16-bit ADC or 300 counts with a 12-bit ADC.
What you see is not noise. It is a fully subtractable readout pattern. Each CCD has its
own dark charge pattern, unique to that particular device. Simply acquire and save adark charge "background image" under conditions identical to those used to acquirethe "actual" image. Subtracting the background image from the actual image will
significantly reduce dark-charge effects.
2. Offset and excess noise problems are more likely to occur if the controller andcamera weren’t calibrated and tested as a system at the factory.
CAUTION

If you observe a sudden change in the baseline signal, you may have excessive humidity
in the camera's vacuum enclosure. Immediately turn off the system and contact Princeton
Instruments Customer Support for instructions. See page 150 for contact information.

Saturation
When signal levels in some part of the image are very high, charge generated in one pixel
may exceed the "well capacity" of the pixel, spilling over into adjacent pixels in a process
called "blooming." In this case a more frequent readout is advisable, with signal
averaging to enhance S/N (Signal-to-Noise ratio) accomplished through the software.
For signal levels low enough to be readout-noise limited, longer exposure times, andtherefore longer signal accumulation in the CCD, will improve the S/N ratio
approximately linearly with the length of exposure time. There is, however, a maximum
time limit for on-chip accumulation, determined by either the saturation of the CCD by
the signal or the loss of dynamic range due to the buildup of dark charge in the pixels.

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Readout
Introduction
After the exposure time has
elapsed, the charge accumulated
in the array pixels needs to beread out of the array, converted
from electrons to digital format,
and transmitted to theapplication software where it
can be displayed and/or stored.
Readout begins by moving
charge from the CCD image
area to the shift register. The
charge in the shift register
pixels, which typically have
Figure 32. Array Terms for a CCD withtwice the capacity of the image
Dual Output Amplifiers
pixels, is then shifted into the
output node and then to the output amplifier where the electrons are grouped aselectrons/count. This result leaves the CCD and goes to the preamplifier where gain isapplied.
WinView and WinSpec allow you to specify the type of readout (full frame or binned),the output amplifier, and the gain (the number of electrons required to generate an ADU).

Full Frame
This section uses a simple 6 x 4
CCD to explain readout at full
resolution, where every pixel isdigitized separately.
The upper left drawing in
Figure 33 represents a CCD
after exposure but before thebeginning of readout. The
capital letters represent
different amounts of charge,
including both signal and darkcharge.
Note: With VersArray cameras
you have a choice of amplifier(low noise or high capacity).
Depending on the selected
amplifier, the shift register may
be read out to the right or to theleft. For simplicity, this drawing
shows the readout to the left.
Readout of the CCD begins with thesimultaneous shifting of all pixels one row
toward the "shift register," in this case the68

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row at the top. The shift register is a single line of pixels along one edge of the CCD, notsensitive to light and used for readout only. Typically the shift register pixels hold twice
as much charge as the pixels in the imaging area of the CCD.
After the first row is moved into the shift register, the charge now in the shift register isshifted toward the output node, located at one end of the shift register. As each value is"emptied" into this node it is digitized. Only after all pixels in the first row are digitized isthe second row moved into the shift register. The order of shifting in our example istherefore A1, B1, C1, D1, A2, B2, C2, D2, A3 ...
After charge is shifted out of each pixel the remaining charge is zero, meaning that thearray is immediately ready for the next exposure.
Below are the equations that determine the rate at which the CCD is read out.
The time needed to take a full frame at full resolution is:t R  texp  tc

(1)

where
tR is the CCD readout time,
texp is the exposure time, andtc is the shutter compensation time (added to compensate for the time required toclose a mechanical shutter). If there is no shutter selected in the software, thistime will be approximately 0 ms.

The readout time is approximately given by:t R  N x  N y t sr  tv   N x  ti 

(2)

where
Nx is the smaller dimension of the CCD
Ny is the larger dimension of the CCD
tsr is the time needed to shift one pixel out of the shift register
tv is the time needed to digitize a pixel
ti is the time needed to shift one line into the shift register

A subsection of the CCD can be read out at full resolution, sometimes dramaticallyincreasing the readout rate while retaining the highest resolution in the region of interest(ROI). To approximate the readout rate of an ROI, in Equation 2 substitute the x and ydimensions of the ROI in place of the dimensions of the full CCD. Some overhead time,
however, is required to read out and discard the unwanted pixels.

Binning
Binning is the process of adding the data from adjacent pixels together to form a single
pixel (sometimes called a super pixel), and it can be accomplished in either hardware orsoftware. Rectangular groups of pixels of any size may be binned together, subject tosome hardware and software limitations.

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Hardware Binning
Hardware binning is performed
before the preamplifier reads
out the signal. For signal levels
that are readout noise limited
this method improves S/N ratio
linearly with the number ofpixels grouped together. For
signals large enough to render
the camera photon shot noise
limited, the S/N ratio
improvement is roughly
proportional to the square-rootof the number of pixels binned.
Binning also reduces readout
time and the burden on
computer memory, but at theexpense of resolution. Since
shift register pixels typicallyhold only twice as much charge
as image pixels, the binning oflarge sections may result insaturation and "blooming", or spilling of
charge back into the image area.

Figure 34. 2 × 2 Binning for Images

Figure 34 shows an example of 2 x 2 binning. Each pixel of the image displayed by thesoftware represents 4 pixels of the CCD array. Rectangular bins of any size are possible.
The readout rate for n x n binning is approximated using a more general version of thefull resolution equation. The modified equation is:

t




R 


Nx  N


 sr

y 





t
t  
 v2     N x  ti 
n n  (3)

Software Binning
One limitation of hardware binning is that the shift register pixels and the output node are
typically only 2-3 times the size of imaging pixels. Consequently, if the total charge binned
together exceeds the capacity of the shift register or output node, the data will be corrupted.
This restriction strongly limits the number of pixels that may be binned in cases where there
is a small signal superimposed on a large background, such as signals with a large
fluorescence. Ideally, one would like to bin many pixels to increase the S/N ratio of the weak
peaks but this cannot be done because the fluorescence would quickly saturate the CCD.
The solution is to perform the binning in software. Limited hardware binning may be used
when reading out the CCD. Additional binning is accomplished in software, producing a
result that represents many more photons than was possible using hardware binning.
Software averaging can improve the S/N ratio by as much as the square-root of thenumber of scans. Unfortunately, with a high number of scans (i.e., above 100) camera 1/fnoise may reduce the actual S/N ratio to slightly below this theoretical value. Also, if the70Chapter 5

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light source used is photon flicker (1/f noise) limited rather than photon shot-noise
limited, this theoretical signal improvement cannot be fully realized. Again, backgroundsubtraction from the raw data is necessary.
This technique is also useful in high light level experiments, where the camera is again
photon shot-noise limited. Summing multiple pixels in software corresponds to collecting
more photons, and results in a better S/N ratio in the measurement.

Output Amplifier Selection
VersArray systems with dual output amplifiers allow you to choose the array output
amplifier (High Capacity or Low Noise) via WinView/32 or WinSpec/32 on the
Acquisition|Experiment Setup…|Main tab page. The High Capacity amplifier
selection provides a spectrometric well capacity that is approximately 3 times the wellcapacity for the Low Noise amplifier selection. High Capacity is suitable when you haveintense light signals or signals with high dynamic range. The Low Noise amplifier
provides highest sensitivity performance and is suitable when you have weak signals.
Note: The choice of output amplifier and analog gain setting should be considered
together for the best signal capture.

Analog Gain Control
Camera (analog) gain is software-selectable inmany of the VersArray cameras. In
WinView/32 and WinSpec/32, gain selection
is made on the Acquisition| Experiment
Setup…|ADC tab card. If there is no Analog
Gain parameter on that tab card, analog gain
may not be selectable or it may be controlled
by a gain switch on the detector, as is the casewith older TE- and LN-cooled cameras (seeFigure 35).
Note: When software-selection of Analog Gainis available, this selection will override any
hardware setting that may be selected at thecamera.

Figure 35. Analog Gain Switch on
TE- and LN-cooled Cameras

Analog gain control is used to change the number of electrons required to generate an
Analog-to-Digital Unit (ADU, also known as a count). In WinView/32 and WinSpec/32,
the analog gain choices vary depending on the CCD array and the number of output
amplifiers:Single Amplifier: Typically, three settings are available: Low 2x, Medium 1x,
and High 1/2x.

Dual Amplifier: Typically, three settings are available: Low 2x, Medium 1x, and High
1/2x (Low-noise mode) or Low 4x, Medium 2x, and High 1x (High-capacity mode).

Users who measure high-level signals may wish to select Low to allow digitization oflarger signals. At Medium gain, the detector has typically been calibrated so the overallnoise is ~1 ADU RMS. This setting is suitable for experiments within the mid-level
intensity range. Users who consistently measure low-level signals may wish to selectHigh, which requires fewer electrons to generate an ADU and reduces some sources ofnoise. This is a particularly important consideration in absorbance measurements.
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Example: The following descriptions assume that the actual incoming light level is
identical in all three instances. The numbers used illustrate the effect of changing
an analog gain setting and do not reflect actual performance: gain at the Low,
Medium, and High settings depends on the CCD installed.
Low requires eight electrons to generate one ADU. Strong signals can be acquired
without flooding the CCD array. If the gain is set to Low and the images or spectra
appear weak, you may want to change the gain setting to Medium or High.
Medium requires four electrons to generate one ADU. If the gain is set to Medium
and the images or spectra do not appear to take up the full dynamic range of the CCD
array, you may want to change the gain setting to High. If the CCD array appears to
be flooded with light, you may want to change the setting to Low.
High requires two electrons to generate one ADU and some noise sources are
reduced. Because fewer electrons are needed to generate an ADU, weaker signals canbe more readily detected. Lower noise further enhances the ability to acquire weaksignals. If the CCD array appears to be flooded with light, you may want to change
the setting to Medium or Low.
Note: The baseline level may require adjustment if you change the analog gain. See"ADC Offset", page 66, for more information.

Digitization
Introduction
After gain has been applied to the signal, the Analog-to-Digital Converter (ADC)
converts that analog information (continuous amplitudes) into a digital data (quantified,discrete steps) that can be read, displayed, and stored by the application software. The
number of bits per pixel is based on both the hardware and the settings programmed into
the camera through the software (see "Readout", page 68).
Factors associated with digitization include the digitization rate and baseline offset. The
speed at which digitization occurs is software-selectable but baseline offset is factory-set.
These factors are discussed in the following paragraphs.

Digitization Rate
Depending on the VersArray system, single, dual (100 kHz/1 MHz or 50kHz/1 MHz), or
multiple digitization rates may be available.
Dual and multiple digitization rates provide optimum signal-to-noise ratios at all readout
speeds. Because the readout noise of CCD arrays increases with the readout rate, it issometimes necessary to trade off readout speed for high dynamic range. In the mostcommon ST-133 configurations, there will be a 1 MHz conversion speed for the fastest
possible data collection and a 100 kHz or 50 kHz conversion speed for use where noise
performance is the paramount concern. With the VersArray XP systems, up to six
digitization rates are available. Switching between the conversion speeds is completely
under software control for total experiment automation.
Note: In WinView and WinSpec, the ADC rate can be changed on the Experiment
Setup|ADC tab page.

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Introduction
Previous chapters have discussed setting up the
hardware and the software for basic operation. This
chapter discusses topics associated with experiment
synchronization (set up on the Experiment Setup|
Timing tab page in WinView and WinSpec), TTL
control, and the Kinetics mode option.
"Timing Modes", the first topic, discusses Timing
Modes, Shutter Control, and Edge Trigger. Also included
under this topic is a discussion of the EXT SYNC
connector, the input connector for a trigger pulse.
"Fast and Safe Modes", the second topic, discusses
the Fast and the Safe modes. Fast is used for real-timedata acquisition and Safe is used when coordinating
acquisition with external devices or when thecomputer speed is not fast enough to keep pace withthe acquisition rate.
Figure 36. Timing tab page
"TTL Control", the third topic, discusses the TTL
IN/OUT connector on the rear of the ST-133. TTL
In/Out levels can be set and read via the WinX32 Automation language to automate dataacquisition and processing functions.

"Kinetics Mode", the final topic, discusses the Kinetics mode option. This form of dataacquisition relies on mechanical or optical masking of the CCD array for acquiring timeresolved images/spectra.

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Timing Modes
Overview
The Princeton Instruments ST-133 Controller has been designed to allow the greatest
possible flexibility when synchronizing data collection with an experiment.
The chart to the right lists the timing mode
combinations (selected on the Experiment
Setup|Timing tab page). These timing
modes are combined with the Shutter
options to provide the widest variety oftiming modes for precision experiment
synchronization.

Mode

Shutter

Free Run

NormalExternal Sync

NormalExternal Sync

PreOpenExternal Sync with
Continuous Cleans

NormalThe shutter options available include
External Sync with
PreOpenNormal, PreOpen, Disable Opened orContinuous Cleans
Disable Closed. Disable simply means thatthe shutter will not operate during theTable 6. Camera Timing Modes
experiment. Disable closed is useful formaking dark charge measurements, or when no shutter is present. PreOpen, available in
the External Sync and External Sync with Continuous Cleans modes, opens the shutter assoon as the ST-133 is ready to receive an External Sync pulse. This is required if the time
between the External Sync pulse and the event is less than a few milliseconds, the time ittakes the shutter to open.
The shutter timing is shown in the timing diagrams that follow. Except for Free Run,
where the modes of shutter operation are identical, both Normal and PreOpen lines areshown in the timing diagrams and flowchart.
The timing diagrams are labeled indicating the exposure time (texp), shutter compensation
time (tc), and readout time (tR). For more information about these parameters, see thediscussion of frame readout, starting on page 68.

Free Run
In the Free Run mode the controller does notsynchronize with the experiment in any way. The shutter
opens as soon as the previous readout is complete, andremains open for the exposure time, texp. Any External
Sync signals are ignored. This mode is useful forexperiments with a constant light source. Other
experiments that can utilize this mode are high repetition
studies, where the number of shots that occur during asingle shutter cycle is so large that it appears to becontinuous illumination.
Other experimental equipment can be synchronized to
the ST-133 controller by using the output signal(software-selectable SHUTTER or NOT SCAN on the
Hardware Setup|Controller/Camera tab page) fromtheconnector. Shutter operation and the NOTSCAN output signal are shown in Figure 38.

74

Figure 37. Free Run Timing Chart,
part of the chart in Figure 43

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Figure 38. Free Run Timing Diagram

External Sync
In this mode all exposures are synchronized to an external source via signal input to the
EXT SYNC BNC on the back of the ST-133. To ensure synchronization, the trigger edge
(negative- or positive-going as set in the software) of the Ext Sync signal must be
identified in the application software (in WinView and WinSpec, this is done on theExperiment Setup|Timing tab page). As shown in the flowchart, Figure 39, External
Sync mode can be used in combination with Normal or PreOpen Shutter operation. In
Normal Shutter mode, the controller waits for an External Sync pulse trigger edge, thenopens the shutter for the programmed exposure period. As soon as the exposure iscomplete, the shutter closes and the CCD array is read out.
Because the external shutter requires a finite amount of time to open completely (shutter
open time may be 5-28 msec depending on the shutter), the External Sync pulse trigger
edge provided by the experiment should precede the actual signal by at least that muchtime. If not, the shutter may not be open for the duration of the entire signal, or the signal
may be missed completely.
Also, since the amount of time from initialization of the experiment to the first External
Sync pulse trigger edge is not fixed, an accurate background subtraction may not be
possible for the first readout. In multiple-shot experiments this is easily overcome bysimply discarding the first frame.
In the PreOpen Shutter mode, on the other hand, shutter operation is only partiallysynchronized to the experiment. As soon as the controller is ready to collect data, theshutter opens. Upon arrival of the first External Sync pulse trigger edge at the ST-133
EXT SYNC BNC, the shutter remains open for the specified exposure period, closes, andthe CCD is read out. As soon as readout is complete, the shutter reopens and waits for the
next frame.

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Figure 39. Chart Showing Two External Sync Timing Options

The PreOpen mode is useful in cases where an External Sync pulse trigger edge cannot
be provided 5-28 msec (shutter open time) before the actual signal occurs. Its maindrawback is that the CCD is exposed to any ambient light while the shutter is open
between frames. If this ambient light is constant, and the triggers occur at regularintervals, this background can also be subtracted, providing that it does not saturate the
CCD. As with the Normal Shutter mode, accurate background subtraction may not be
possible for the first frame.
Also note that, in addition to signal from ambient light, dark charge accumulates duringthe "wait" time (tw). Any variation in the external sync frequency also affects the amountof dark charge, even if light is not falling on the CCD during this time.
Note: If EXT SYNC is still active (in Figure 40, these means that if it is still LOW) at
the end of the readout, the hardware may interpret this as a second sync pulse, and so on.

Figure 40. Timing Diagram for External Sync Mode (- edge trigger)

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External Sync with Continuous Cleans
Another timing mode available with the ST-133 controller is called Continuous Cleans.
In addition to the standard "cleaning" of the array, which occurs after the controller isenabled, Continuous Cleans will remove any charge from the array until the moment theExternal Sync pulse trigger edge is received.

Figure 41. Continuous Cleans Operation Flowchart

Once the External Sync pulse trigger edge is received, cleaning of the array stops as soon
as the current row is shifted, and frame collection begins: a delay time of up to one row
shift can be expected. With Normal Shutter operation the shutter is opened for the set
exposure time. With PreOpen Shutter operation the shutter is open during the continuous
cleaning, and once the External Sync pulse trigger edge is received the shutter remains
open for the set exposure time, then closes. If the vertical rows are shifted midway when
the External Sync pulse trigger edge arrives, the pulse is saved until the row shifting iscompleted, to prevent the CCD from getting "out of step." As expected, the response
latency is on the order of one vertical shift time, from 1-30 sec depending on the array.
This latency does not prevent the incoming signal from being detected, since photogenerated electrons are still collected over the entire active area. However, if the signal
arrival is coincident with the vertical shifting, image smearing of up to one pixel in heightis possible. The amount of smearing is a function of the signal duration compared to thesingle vertical shift time.
Note: If EXT SYNC is still active (in Figure 42, these means that if it is still LOW) at
the end of the readout, the hardware may interpret this as a second sync pulse, and so on.

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Figure 42. Continuous Cleans Timing Diagram (- edge trigger)

Fast Mode and Safe Mode
The WinView/32 Experiment Setup|Timing tab page allows you to choose Fast Mode or
Safe Mode. Figure 43 is a flow chart comparing the two modes. In Fast Mode operation, theST-133 runs according to the timing of the experiment, with no interruptions from thecomputer. In Safe Mode operation, the computer processes each frame as it is received. The
ST-133 cannot collect the next frame until the previous frame has been completely processed.
Fast Mode operation is primarily for collecting "real-time" sequences of experimental data,
where timing is critical and events cannot be missed. Once the ST-133 is sent the Start
Acquisition command by the computer, all frames are collected without further intervention
from the computer. The advantage of this timing mode is that timing is controlled
completely through hardware. A drawback to this mode is that the computer will only
display frames when it is not performing other tasks. Image display has a lower priority, so
the image on the screen may lag several images behind. A second drawback is that a data
overrun may occur if the number of images collected exceeds the amount of allocated
RAM or if the computer cannot keep up with the data rate.
Safe Mode operation is primarily useful for experiment setup, including alignment andfocusing, when it is necessary to have the most current image displayed on the screen. It isalso useful when data collection must be coordinated through software with external devices
such as external shutters and filter wheels. As seen in Figure 43, in Safe Mode operation, thecomputer controls when each frame is taken. After each frame is received, the computer
sends the Stop Acquisition command to the camera, instructing it to stop acquisition. Once
that frame is completely processed and displayed, another Start Acquisition command is sentfrom the computer to the camera, allowing it to take the next frame. Display is therefore, at
most, only one frame behind the actual data collection.
One disadvantage of the Safe Mode is that events may be missed during the experiment,
since the ST-133 is disabled for a short time after each frame.

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Figure 43. Chart of Safe and Fast Mode Operation

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TTL Control
Fully supported by WinView/WinSpec Version 2.5 when the communication
protocol is TAXI (PCI), this feature is not supported when the protocol is USB 2.0.

Introduction
Princeton Instruments' WinView/32 (WinSpec/32) software package incorporates WinX32
Automation, a programming language that can be used to automate a variety of dataacquisition and data processing functions, including use of the TTL In/Out functions.
WinX32 Automation can be implemented in programs written in Visual Basic or Visual
C++. See the WinX32 documentation for more detailed information.
The TTL lines are made available through the TTL In/Out connector on the rear of the
ST-133 Controller. This connector provides 8 TTL lines in, 8 TTL lines out and an input
control line. Figure 44 illustrates the connector and Table 8 lists the signal/pin
assignments.

TTL InThe user controls the 8 TTL Input lines, setting them high (+5 V; TTL 1) or low (0 V;
TTL 0). When the lines are read, the combination of highs and lows read defines adecimal number which the computer can use to make a decision and initiate actions as
specified in the user’s program. If a TTL IN line is low, its numeric value is 0. If a TTL
IN line is high, its numeric value is as follows.
TTL IN
1
2

Value
1
2

TTL IN
5
6

Value
16
32

3

4

7

64

4

8

8

128

This coding allows any decimal value from 0 to 255 to be defined. Thus, as many as 256
different sets of conditions can be specified, at the user’s discretion, using the TTL IN
lines. Any unused lines will default to TTL high (+5 V). For example, to define thenumber three, the user would simply set the lines TTL IN 1 and TTL IN 2 both high(+5 V). It would be necessary to apply TTL low to the remaining six lines because theywould otherwise default to TTL high as well.

80

TTL IN
1

Value
High (1)TTL IN
5

Value
Low (0)2

High (2)6Low (0)3

Low (0)7

Low (0)4

Low (0)8

Low (0)Chapter 6

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81

Table 7 illustrates this coding for decimal values 0 through 7. Obviously this table could
easily be extended to show the coding for values all the way to 255.

DecimalEquiv.

TTLIN/OUT 8
1= dec 128

TTL
IN/OUT 7
1=dec 64TTL
IN/OUT 6
1=dec 32TTL
IN/OUT 5
1=dec 16TTL
IN/OUT 4
1=dec 8TTL
IN/OUT 3
1=dec 4TTL
IN/OUT 2
1=dec 2TTL
IN/OUT 1
1=dec 1

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

1

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

1

2

0

0

0

0

0

0

1

0

3

0

0

0

0

0

0

1

1

4

0

0

0

0

0

1

0

0

5

0

0

0

0

0

1

0

1

6

0

0

0

0

0

1

1

0

7

0

0

0

0

0

1

1

1

Table 7. Bit Values with Decimal Equivalents:
1 = High,
0 = Low

Buffered vs. Latched Inputs
In controlling the TTL IN lines, users also have the choice of two input-line states,
buffered or latched. In the buffered state, the line levels must remain at the intended
levels until they are read. With reference to the preceding example, the high level at TTL
IN 1 and TTL IN 2 would have to be maintained until the lines are read. In the latchedstate, the applied levels continue to be available until read, even if they should change at
the TTL In/Out connector.
This control is accomplished using the EN/CLK TTL input (pin 6). If EN/CLK is open or
high, buffered operation is established and the levels reported to the macro will be thosein effect when the READ is made. With reference to our example, if pin 6 were left
unconnected or a TTL high applied, TTL IN 1 and TTL IN 2 would have to be held highuntil read. If, on the other hand, EN/CLK were made to go low while TTL IN 1 and TTL
IN 2 were high, those values would be latched for as long as EN/CLK remained low. The
levels actually present at TTL IN 1 and TTL IN 2 could then change without changing
the value that would be read by software.

TTL Out
The state of the TTL OUT lines is set from WinView/32. Typically, a program monitoring
the experiment sets one or more of the TTL Outputs. Apparatus external to the VersArraysystem interrogates the lines and, on detecting the specified logic levels, takes the action
appropriate to the detected condition. The coding is the same as for the input lines. Thereare eight output lines, each of which can be set low (0) or high (1). The combination ofstates defines a decimal number as previously described for the TTL IN lines.

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Pin #Assignment

Pin #Version 2.E

Assignment

1

IN 1

14

IN 2

2

IN 3

15

IN 4

3

IN 5

16

IN 6

4

IN 7

17

IN 8

5

GND

18

GND

6

EN/CLK

19

Reserved

7

Reserved

20

GND

8

GND

21

OUT 2

9

OUT 1

22

OUT 4

10

OUT 3

23

OUT 6

11

OUT 5

24

OUT 8

12

OUT 7

25

GND

13

Reserved

Table 8. TTL In/Out Connector Pinout

Figure 44. TTL In/Out
Connector

TTL Diagnostics Screen
WinView/32 and WinSpec/32 provide a TTL
Diagnostics screen (located under Hardware
Setup|Diagnostics) that can be used to test andanalyze the TTL In/Out lines.

Hardware Interface
A cable will be needed to connect the TTL In/Out
connector to the experiment. The design will vary
widely according to each user’s needs, but astandard 25-pin female type D-subminiatureconnector will be needed to mate with the TTL
In/Out connector on the back of the ST-133. The
hardware at the other end of the cable will
depend entirely on the user’s requirements. If theindividual connections are made using coaxial
Figure 45. TTL Diagnostics dialog box
cable for maximum noise immunity(recommended), the center conductor of the coax should connect to the proper signal pin
and the cable shield should connect to the nearest available ground (grounds areconveniently provided at pins 5, 8, 18 and 20). Connector hardware and cables of manydifferent types are widely available and can often be obtained locally, such as at a nearby
Radio Shack® store. A list of possibly useful items follows. Note that, although the items
listed may be appropriate in many situations, they might not meet your specific needs.

8225-pin female type D-subminiature solder type connector (Radio Shack® part no276-1548B).



RG/58U coaxial cable.

Chapter 6

Advanced Topics

83Shielded Metalized hood (Radio Shack part no 276-1536A).



BNC connector(s) type UG-88 Male BNC connector (Radio Shack part no 278103).

Cable Assembly Example
Suppose you needed to build a cable to monitor the line TTL OUT 1. One approach
would be to build a cable assembly as described in the following paragraphs. This
procedure could easily be adapted to other situations.
1. Begin with a 25-pin female type D-subminiature solder type connector (Radio Shackpart no 276-1548B). This connector has 25 solder points open on the back.
2. Referring to Table 8, note that pin 8 = GND and pin 9 = TTL OUT 1.
3. Using coaxial cable type RG/58U (6 feet length), strip out the end and solder theouter sheath to pin 8 (GND) and the inner line to pin 9 (TTL OUT 1). Then apply
shielding to the lines to insulate them.
4. Mount the connector in a Shielded Metalized hood (Radio Shack part no 2761536A).
5. Build up the cable (you can use electrical tape) to where the strain relief clamp holds.
6. Connect a BNC connector (UG-88 Male BNC connector) to the free end of the cablefollowing the instructions supplied by Radio Shack on the box (Radio Shack part no278-103).
7. To use this cable, connect the DB-25 to the TTL In/Out connector on the back of the
ST-133.
8. To check the cable, start WinView/32 and open the TTL Diagnostics screen (locatedin WinView under Hardware Setup|Diagnostics). Click the Write radio button.
Then click the Output Line 1 box. Next click the OK button to actually set TTL
OUT 1 high. Once you set the voltage, it stays until you send a new command.
9. Measure the voltage at the BNC connector with a standard voltmeter (red on thecentral pin, black on the surrounding shielding). Before clicking OK at the TTL
Diagnostics screen you should read 0 V. After clicking OK you should read +5 V.
Note that adding a second length of coaxial cable and another BNC connector would bestraightforward. However, as you increase the number of lines to be monitored, it
becomes more convenient to consider using a multiple conductor shielded cable rather
than individual coaxial cables.

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Kinetics Mode
Kinetics operation requires that the Kinetics option has been installed. Additionally,
WinView (or WinSpec), version 2.5.18.1 or higher, is required when operating underUSB 2.0.

Introduction
Kinetics mode uses the CCD to expose and store a limited number of images in rapid
succession. The time it takes to shift each line (or row) on the CCD is as short as a few
hundred nanoseconds to few microseconds, depending on the CCD. Therefore the time
between images can be as short as a few microseconds. Kinetics mode in combination
with a mechanical or optical mask allows full frame CCDs to take time-resolved
images/spectra.
Note: Kinetics mode is an option, so the controller must be programmed before yourorder is shipped. If the Kinetics option has been installed in the ST-133, this readout
mode will be made available when you select the appropriate camera type on the
Hardware Setup dialog box.
Below is a simplified illustration of kinetics mode. Returning to our 4 × 6 CCD example,
in this case 2/3 of the array is masked, either mechanically or optically. The shutter opens
to expose a 4 × 2 region. While the shutter remains open, charge is quickly shifted justunder the mask, and the exposure is repeated. After a third image is collected the shutter
is closed and the CCD is read out. Since the CCD can be read out slowly, very highdynamic range is achieved. Shifting and readout are shown in Figure 46.

Figure 46. Kinetics Readout84Chapter 6

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85

Timing Modes
Kinetics mode operates with three timing modes: Free Run, Single Trigger, and Multiple
Trigger.

Figure 47. Hardware Setup dialog box

Figure 48. Experiment Setup dialog box

Free Run
In the Free Run Kinetics mode, the controller takes a series of images, each with the
Exposure time set through the software (in WinSpec/32 or WinView/32, the exposure time isset on the Experiment Setup|Main tab page). The time between image frames, which may
be as short as a few microseconds, is limited by the time required to shift an image under themask: this interimage time equals the Vertical Shift rate (specified in sec/row) multiplied by
the Window Size (the number of rows allocated for an image frame). The exact number offrames depends on the selected Window Size and is equal to the number of pixels
perpendicular to the shift register divided by the Window Size.
Example: Referring to the readout shown in Figure 46, there are 6 pixels perpendicular
to the shift register and the Window Size is 2 pixels high. The number of frames is 3. If
the Vertical Shift Rate for the CCD is 1.6 sec/row, the Shift time will be 3.2 sec perframe. Integrate signals (SHUTTER) or Readout signals (NOT SCAN) are provided atthe
BNC for timing measurements

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Figure 49. Free Run Timing Diagram

Single Trigger
Single Trigger Kinetics mode takes an entire series of images with each External Trigger
Pulse (applied at the Ext. Sync BNC on the control board of ST-133). After the series iscomplete the shutter closes and the CCD is read out at normal speeds. Once the readout iscomplete the camera is ready for the next series of exposures. This timing is shown in
Figure 50, where a single External trigger pulse is used to collect a burst of 6 frames.

Figure 50. Single Trigger Timing Diagram

Multiple Trigger
Multiple Trigger Kinetics mode takes a single image in the series for each External Sync
pulse received by the controller. Once the series is complete the shutter closes andreadout begins. Since the shutter is open during the entire series of images, if the External
Sync pulses are irregularly spaced then the exposures will be of different lengths. Oncethe series has been read out the camera is ready for the next series. This timing is shownin Figure 51, where a series of 6 frames is collected with 6 External Sync pulses.

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Figure 51. Multiple Trigger Timing Diagram

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Chapter 7
Troubleshooting
WARNING!

Do not attach or remove any cables while the camera system is powered on.

Introduction
The following issues have corresponding troubleshooting sections in this chapter.
Baseline Signal Suddenly Changes

Page 90

Camera Stops Working

Page 90

Camera1 (or similar name) in Camera Name field

Page 90

Changing the ST-133 Line Voltage and Fuses

Page 91

Controller Is Not Responding

Page 92

Cooling Troubleshooting

Page 93

Data Loss or Serial Violation

Page 94

Data Overrun Due to Hardware Conflict message

Page 94

Data Overrun Has Occurred message

Page 95

Demo is only Choice on Hardware Wizard:Interface dialog (Versions
2.5.19.0 and earlier)

Page 95

Demo, High Speed PCI, and PCI(Timer) are Choices on Hardware
Wizard:Interface dialog (Versions 2.5.19.0 and earlier)

Page 96

Detector Temperature, Acquire, and Focus are Grayed Out (Versions
2.5.19.0 and earlier)

Page 98

Error Creating Controller message

Page 99

Error Occurs at Computer Powerup

Page 100

Excessive Readout NoisePage 102

No CCD Named in the Hardware Wizard:CCD dialog(Versions 2.5.19.0 and earlier)

Page 103

No Images

Page 103

Overexposed or Smeared Images

Page 103

Program Error message

Page 104

Removing/Installing a Module

Page 104

Securing the Detector-Controller Cable Slide Latch

Page 106

Serial violations have occurred. Check interface cable.

Page 107

Shutter Failure

Page 107

Vignetting: LN-cooled Cameras

Page 107

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Baseline Signal Suddenly Changes
A change in the baseline signal is normal if the temperature or gain setting has beenchanged. If this occurs when the temperature or gain setting has not been changed,
contact Customer Support.

Camera Stops Working
Problems with the host computer system or software may have side effects that appear to
be hardware problems. If you are sure the problem is in the camera system hardware,
begin with these simple checks:Turn off all AC power.



Verify that all cables are securely fastened and that all locking screws are inplace.



Check for a burned-out fuse in the Controller power module. For information
about changing a fuse, see "Changing the ST-133's Line Voltage and Fuses"on page 91.

Correct any apparent problems and turn the system on.

If you hear 2 clicks separated by 1 second (shutter opening then closing), theshutter is working. Call Princeton Instruments Customer Service for further
instructions.

If the system still does not respond, contact Princeton Instruments Customer Support.

Camera1 (or similar name) in Camera Name field

Figure 52. Camera1 in Camera Name Field

When a PVCAM-based camera is detected/selected during the Camera Detection wizard(formerly the Hardware Setup wizard), a default name such as Camera1 will be shown in
the Detected Hardware table and will be entered in the Camera Name field on the
Setup|Hardware|Controller/CCD tab page. Because this name is not particularly
descriptive, you may want to change it. Such a change is made by editing the
PVCAM.INI file that is generated by Camera Detection wizard (or by the RSConfig.exe
if you have a software version 2.5.19.0 or earlier).
To change the default Camera Name:
1. Using Notepad or a similar text editor, open PVCAM.INI, which is located in
the Windows directory (C:\WINNT, for example). You should see entries likethe ones below.
[Camera_1]
Type=1
Name=Camera1
Driver=apausb.sys
90Chapter 7

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91

Port=0ID=523459
2. Change the "Name=" entry to something more meaningful for you (for example,
ST133USB - to indicate that this is a PVCAM-based system using an ST-133
with a USB 2.0 interface) and save the edited file.
[Camera_1]
Type=1
Name=ST133USB
Driver=apausb.sys
Port=0ID=523459
3. The new camera name will now appear in the Camera Name field.

Changing the ST-133 Line Voltage and Fuses
The appropriate voltage setting for your country is set at the factory and can be seen on
the power input module. If your voltage source changes, you will need to change thevoltage setting and you may need to change the fuse configuration.

WARNING!

Use proper fuse values and types for the controller and camera to be properly protected.
To Change Voltage and Fuse Configuration:

WARNING!

Before opening the power input module, turn the Controller OFF and unplug
the line cord.
1. As shown in Figure 53, place the flat side ofa flat bladed screwdriver parallel to the rearof the Controller and behind the small tab at
the top of the power input module, and twist
the screwdriver slowly but firmly to pop themodule open.
2. To change the voltage setting, roll theselector drum until the setting that is closest
to the actual line voltage is facing outwards.

Figure 53. Power Input Module

3. Confirm the fuse ratings by removing the two white fuseholders. To do so, simply insert the flat blade of thescrewdriver behind the front tab of each fuse holder(Figure 54) and gently pry the assembly out.

Figure 54. Fuse Holder

4. Refer to the Fuse/Voltage label (above or below the Power Module) to see whichfuses are required by the selected voltage. If Controller power switch is on the backof the ST-133, the Fuse/Voltage label is located below the Power Module.

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5. After inspecting and if necessary, changing the fuses to those required by the selectedvoltage, reinstall the holders with the arrow facing to the right.
6. Close the power input module and verify that the correct voltage setting is displayed.
7. Verify that the Controller power switch is in the OFF position and then plug thepowercord back into the power input module.

Controller Is Not Responding
If this message pops up when you click on OK after selecting the "Interface Type" during
Hardware Setup (under the WinX application Setup menu), the system has not beenable to communicate with the Controller. Check to see if Controller has been turned ON
and if the interface card, its driver, and the interface cable have been installed.


If the Controller is ON, the problem may be with the interface card, its driver,interrupt or address conflicts, or the cable connections.



If the interface card is not installed, close the WinX application program(WinView/32 or WinSpec/32) and turn the Controller OFF. Follow the interface
card installation instructions in provided with your interface card and cable thecard to the SERIAL COM port on the rear of the Controller. Then do a "Custom"
installation of WinX application with the appropriate interface component
selected: "PCI Interface" or "ISA Interface", depending on the interface card
type. Be sure to deselect the interface component that does not apply to yoursystem.
Note: WinX applications (versions 2.6.0 and higher) do not support the ISA
interface.



If the interface card is installed in the computer and is cabled to the SERIAL
COM port on the rear of the Controller, close the application program and turn
the Controller OFF. Check the cable connections and tighten the locking screws
if the connections are loose.



If the interface card was installed after the application program was installed,close the application program and do a "Custom" installation of the WinX
application with the appropriate interface component selected: "PCI Interface" or"ISA Interface", depending on the interface card type. Be sure to deselect theinterface component that does not apply to your system.
Note: WinX applications (versions 2.6.0 and higher) do not support the ISA
interface.

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Cooling Troubleshooting
Temperature Lock Cannot be Achieved or Maintained.
CAUTION

Operating a VersArray liquid-cooled-only camera with coolant at a temperature colder
than specified could cause induced condensation in the electronics enclosure and possible
catastrophic damage to the camera. Damage resulting from this type of operation may
void the warranty.
Possible causes for not being able to achieve or maintain lock could include:Ambient temperature greater than +23°C. This condition primarily affects the
TE-cooled cameras (air-assisted, liquid-assisted and liquid-cooled). If ambient isgreater than +23°C, you will need to cool the camera environment or raise the set
temperature.



Airflow through the camera is blocked.



The vacuum has deteriorated and needs to be refreshed.

The connectors of the cable that interconnects the controller and the camera need
to be secured.



The target array temperature is not appropriate for your particular camera and CCD
array.

For cameras that are liquid-cooled or have liquid-assisted cooling, the coolant
flow rate may be insufficient due to a pinched coolant line, blockages, circulator
power problem, or pump failure. Check the flow rate and coolant temperature.

For a TE camera, the camera's internal temperature may be too high, such as
might occur if the operating environment is particularly warm or if you areattempting to operate at a temperature colder than the specified limit. TE cameras
are equipped with a thermal-protection switch that shuts the cooler circuits down
if the internal temperature exceeds a preset limit. Typically, camera operation isrestored automatically in about ten minutes. Although the thermo-protection
switch will protect the camera, you are nevertheless advised to power down andcorrect the operating conditions that caused the thermal-overload to occur.

Camera loses Temperature Lock
The internal temperature of the camera is too high. This might occur if the operating
environment is particularly warm or if you are trying to operate at a temperature colder
than the specified limit. If this happens, an internal thermal overload switch will disable
the cooler circuits to protect them. Typically, camera operation is restored in about ten
minutes. Although the thermal overload switch will protect the camera, users are advised
to power down and correct the operating conditions that caused the thermal overload tooccur. With some versions of the software, the indicated temperature when the camera isin thermal overload (thermal switch is in the cut-out state) is -120° C.

Gradual Deterioration of Cooling Capability
With time, there may be a gradual deterioration of the camera’s vacuum. This can affecttemperature performance such that it may be impossible to achieve temperature lock at
the lowest temperatures. In the kind of applications for which cooled CCD cameras are sowell suited, it is highly desirable to maintain the system’s lowest temperature
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performance because lower temperatures result in lower thermal noise and better thesignal-to-noise ratio.
Vacuum deterioration occurs primarily as a result of material outgassing in the vacuum
chamber. Because outgassing normally diminishes with time, the rate of vacuum
deterioration in new cameras may be faster than in old ones. For example, a camera thathas to be repumped after perhaps a year of operation, may not have to be pumped again
for several years. In any case you may notice a gradual deterioration in temperature
control performance indicative of vacuum deterioration. If this happens, the camera will
have to be repumped. Contact the factory to make arrangements for returning the camera
to the support facility nearest to you to have the vacuum restored.

Data Loss or Serial Violation
You may experience either or both of these conditions if the host computer has been set
up with Power Saving features enabled. This is particularly true for power saving withregard to the hard drive. Make sure that Power Saving features are disabled while you arerunning the WinX application.

Data Overrun Due to Hardware Conflict message

Figure 55. Data Overrun Due to Hardware Conflict dialog box

If this dialog box appears when you try to acquire a test image, acquire data, or run infocus mode, check the CCD array size and then check the DMA buffer size. A large array(for example, a 2048x2048 array), requires a larger DMA buffer larger setting than thatfor a smaller array (for example, a 512x512 array).
To change the DMA buffer setting:
1. Note the array size (on the Setup|Hardware|Controller/CCD tab page or theAcquisition|Experiment Setup|Main tab page Full Chip dimensions).
2. Open Setup|Environment|Environment dialog box.
3. Increase the DMA buffer size to a minimum of 32 Mb (64 Mb if it is currently
32 Mb or 128 Mb if it is currently 64 Mb), click on OK, and close the WinX
application.
4. Reboot your computer.
5. Restart the WinX application and begin acquiring data or focusing. If you see
the message again, increase the DMA buffer size.

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95

Data Overrun Has Occurred message
Because of memory constraints and the way that USB transfers data, a "Data overrun has
occurred" message may be displayed during data acquisition. If this message is displayed,take one or more of the following actions:
1. Minimize the number of programs running in the background while you are
acquiring data with WinX application.
2. Run data acquisition in Safe Mode.
3. Add memory.
4. Use binning.
5. Increase the exposure time.
6. Defragment the hard disk.
7. Update the Orange Micro USB2 driver. See "To Update the OrangeUSB
USB 2.0 Driver", page 32.
If the problem persists, your application may be USB 2.0 bus limited. Since the hostcomputer controls the USB 2.0 bus, there may be situations where the host computerinterrupts the USB 2.0 port. In most cases, the interrupt will go unnoticed by the user.
However, there are some instances when the data overrun cannot be overcome because
USB 2.0 bus limitations combined with long data acquisition times and/or large data sets
increase the possibility of an interrupt while data is being acquired. If your experimentrequirements include long data acquisition times and/or large data sets, your application may
not be suitable for the USB 2.0 interface. Therefore, we recommend replacement of theUSB 2.0 interface module with our TAXI interface module and Princeton Instruments (RSPI)
high speed PCI card. If this is not the case and data overruns continue to occur, contact
Customer Support (see page 150 for contact information).

Demo is only Choice on Hardware Wizard:Interface dialog(Versions 2.5.19.0 and earlier)
If RSConfig.exe has not been run and there is not an installed Princeton Instruments (RSPI)
high speed PCI card, the Hardware Setup wizard will only present the choice "Demo" in theInterface dialog box (Figure 56). Clicking on Next presents an "Error Creating Controller.
Error=129." message, clicking on OK presents "The Wizard Can Not Continue Without a
Valid Selection!" message, clicking on OK presents the Interface dialog box again.

Figure 56. Hardware Wizard: Interface dialog box

At this point, you will need to exit the WinX application and run the RSConfig.exe
program, which creates a file called PVCAM.INI. This file contains information required
to identify the interface/camera and is referenced by the Hardware Setup wizard when
you are setting up the WinX application with USB for the first time:95

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1. If you have not already done so, close the WinX application.
2. Make sure the ST-133 is connected to the host computer and that it is turned on.
3. Run RSConfig from the Windows|Start|Programs|PI Acton menu or from thedirectory where you installed the WinX application.
4. When the RSConfig dialog box (Figure 57) appears, you can change the camera
name to one that is more specific or you can keep the default name "Camera1".
When you have finished, click on the Done button.

Figure 57. RSConfig dialog box

5. You should now be able to open the WinX application and, from
Setup|Hardware…, run the Hardware Setup wizard.
6. When the PVCAM dialog box (Figure 58) is displayed, click in the Yes radio
button, click on Next and continue through the wizard. After the wizard isfinished, the Controller/Camera tab card will be displayed with the Use
PVCAM checkbox selected. You should now be able to set up experiments andacquire data.

Figure 58. Hardware Wizard: PVCAM dialog box

Demo, High Speed PCI, and PCI(Timer) are Choices on Hardware
Wizard:Interface dialog (Versions 2.5.19.0 and earlier)If there is an installed Princeton Instruments (RSPI) high speed card in the host computerand you want to operate a camera using the USB 2.0 interface, the PVCAM.INI file(created by RSConfig.exe) must exist and the USB 2.0 supported camera must be[Camera_1]. PVCAM.INI, which contains information required to identify theinterface/camera, is referenced by the Hardware Setup wizard when you are setting up the
WinX application with USB for the first time. If the wizard did not find a PVCAM.INI
file or if RSConfig.exe was run but the USB 2.0 camera is [Camera_2] in the96Chapter 7

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97

PVCAM.INI file, "Demo", "High Speed PCI", and "PCI(Timer)" will be selectable fromthe wizard's Interface dialog box.

Figure 59. Hardware Wizard: Interface dialog box

At this point, you will need to run the RSConfig.exe program:
1. If you have not already done so, close the WinX application..
2. Make sure the ST-133 is connected to the host computer and that it is turned on.
3. Run RSConfig from the Windows|Start|Programs|PI Acton menu or from thedirectory where you installed the WinX application.
4. When the RSConfig dialog box (Figure 60) appears, you can change the camera
name to one that is more specific or you can keep the default name "Camera2".
When you have finished, click on the Done button.

Figure 60. RSConfig dialog box: Two Camera Styles

5. Using Notepad or a similar text editor, open PVCAM.INI, which is located in
the Windows directory (C:\WINNT, for example).
If the contents of the file look like: Change the headings so the contents now look like:[Camera_1]
Type=1
Name=Camera1
Driver=rspipci.sys
Port=0[Camera_2]
Type=1
Name=Camera1
Driver=rspipci.sys
Port=0[Camera_2]
Type=1
Name=Camera2
Driver=apausb.sys
Port=0[Camera_1]
Type=1
Name=Camera2
Driver=apausb.sys
Port=097

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Note: The [Camera_#] must be changed so the camera supported by the USB
interface will be recognized (the USB driver is "apausb.sys"). For consistency,
you may also want to change the camera names.
6. Save the file. With the ST-133 connected and on, open the WinX application.
7. Run the Hardware Setup wizard.
8. When the PVCAM dialog box (Figure 61) is displayed, click in the Yes radio
button, click on Next and continue through the wizard. After the wizard isfinished, the Controller/Camera tab card will be displayed with the Use
PVCAM checkbox selected. You should now be able to acquire data.

Figure 61. Hardware Wizard: PVCAM dialog box

Detector Temperature, Acquire, and Focus are Grayed Out(Versions 2.5.19.0 and earlier)
These functions and others will be deactivated if you have installed a camera being run
under USB 2.0 and have opened the WinX application without having first turned on the
ST-133. They will also be deactivated if you have installed a camera being run underUSB 2.0 and a Princeton Instruments (RSPI) high speed PCI card was also detected when
RSConfig.exe was run.
1. Check to see if the ST-133 is connected to the host computer and is turned on. If
it is not connected or is connected but not turned on, go to Step 2. If it isconnected and on, go to Step 3.
2. Close the WinX application, verify that the ST-133 is connected to the hostcomputer, turn on the ST-133, and reopen the WinX application. The formerly
grayed out functions should now be available.
3. If the ST-133 is connected and on, the USB 2.0 camera may not be listed as
Camera 1 in the PVCAM.INI file.
4. Run RSConfig.exe (accessible from the Windows|Start|Programs|PI Actonmenu). If the USB 2.0 camera is listed as Camera 2 (Princeton Style (USB2) inFigure 62), you will have to edit the PVCAM.INI file.

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Figure 62. RSConfig dialog box: Two Camera Styles

5. Using Notepad or a similar text editor, open PVCAM.INI, which is located in
the Windows directory (C:\WINNT, for example).
If the contents of the file look like: Change the headings so the contents now look like:[Camera_1]
Type=1
Name=Camera1
Driver=rspipci.sys
Port=0[Camera_2]
Type=1
Name=Camera1
Driver=rspipci.sys
Port=0[Camera_2]
Type=1
Name=Camera2
Driver=apausb.sys
Port=0[Camera_1]
Type=1
Name=Camera2
Driver=apausb.sys
Port=0Note: The [Camera_#] must be changed so the camera supported by the USB
interface will be recognized (the USB driver is "apausb.sys"). For consistency,
you may also want to change the camera names.
6. Save the file. With the ST-133 connected and on, open the WinX application.
The formerly grayed out functions should now be available.

Error Creating Controller message
This message may be displayed if you are using the USB 2.0 interface and have not run
the RSConfig.exe program (see previous topic), if the PVCAM.INI file has beencorrupted, or if the ST-133 was not turned on before you started the WinX application
and began running the Hardware Setup wizard.

Figure 63. Error Creating Controller dialog box

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Error 129: Indicates that the problem is with the PVCAM.INI file. Close the WinX
application, run RSConfig, make sure the ST-133 is on, reopen the WinX application,and begin running the Hardware Setup wizard.
Error 183: Indicates that the ST-133 is off. If you are running the Hardware Setup
wizard when this message appears, click on OK, turn on the ST-133, and, on the
PVCAM dialog box, make sure Yes is selected and then click on Next. The
Hardware Setup wizard should continue to the Controller Type dialog box.

Error Occurs at Computer Powerup
If an error occurs at boot up, either the Interface is not installed properly or there is anaddress or interrupt conflict. Turn off the computer, try a new address or interrupt andreinstall the card. Be sure the Interface is firmly mounted in the slot.

Caution Since interrupts and DMA channels cannot be shared, make sure no other boards in yourcomputer use this interrupt or these DMA channels.

Conflicts
One of the many advantages that PCI offers over ISA is that the whole issue of address andinterrupt assignments is user transparent and under BIOS control. As a result, users
typically do not have to be concerned about jumpers or switches when installing a PCI card.
Nothing more should be required than to plug in the card, make the connections, andoperate the system. As it turns out, however, in certain situations conflicts may neverthelessoccur and user intervention will be required to resolve them.
Typical PCI motherboards have both ISA and PCI slots and will have both PCI and ISA
cards installed. In the case of the ISA cards, the I/O address and Interrupt assignments
will have been made by the user and the BIOS will not know which addresses andinterrupts have been user assigned. When a PCI card is installed, the BIOS checks foravailable addresses and interrupt levels and automatically assigns them so that there are
no PCI address or interrupt conflicts. However, because the BIOS doesn't know about theuser-assigned ISA I/O address and interrupt level assignments, it is possible that a PCI
card will be assigned an address or interrupt that is already assigned to an ISA card. If
this happens, improper operation will result. Specifically, the problems could range fromerratic operation under specific conditions to complete system failure. If such a conflictoccurs, because the user has no control over the PCI address and interrupt assignments,
there will be no recourse but to examine the ISA assignments and change them to values
that do not conflict. Most (but by no means all) ISA cards make provision for selecting
alternative I/O addresses and interrupt levels so that conflicts can be resolved. Software isavailable to help identify specific conflicts.
The following example may serve to illustrate the problem. Suppose you had a systemwith an ISA network card, a PCI video card and an ISA sound card. Further suppose thatyou were then going to install a PCI Serial Buffer card. Before installing the PCI Serialcard, the I/O address and interrupt assignments for the installed cards might be as shownin Table 9.

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Slot Type

Status101

I/O Address

Interrupt

1 (ISA)ISA Network Card200-21011

2 (PCI)PCI Video Card

FF00-FFFF

15

3 (ISA)ISA Sound Card

300-3049

4 (PCI)

Empty

N/A

N/A

Table 9. I/O Address & Interrupt Assignments
before Installing Serial Card

As shown, there are no conflicts, allowing the three peripheral cards to operate properly.
If the PCI Serial card were then installed, the BIOS would interrogate the PCI cards andmay reassign them new address and interrupt values as follows.
Slot Type

StatusI/O Address(s)Interrupt

1 (ISA)ISA Network Card200-21011

2 (PCI)PCI Video Card

FE00-FEFF

11

3 (ISA)ISA Sound Card

300-3049

4 (PCI)

Princeton Instruments (RSPI)PCI Serial Card

FF80-FFFF

15

Table 10. I/O Address & Interrupt Assignments
after Installing Serial Card

As indicated, there is now an interrupt conflict between the ISA Network Card and the
PCI Video card (both cards have been assigned Interrupt 11), causing the computer to nolonger function normally. This doesn't mean that the PCI Serial card is defective because
the computer stops functioning properly when the Serial card is installed. What it doesmean is that there is an interrupt conflict that can be resolved by changing the interrupt
level on the conflicting Network card in this example. It is up to the user to consult the
documentation for any ISA cards to determine how to make the necessary change.
Note: Changing the order of the PCI cards, that is, plugging them into different slots,
could change the address and interrupt assignments and possibly resolve the conflict.
However, this would be a trial and error process with no guarantee of success.

Diagnostics Software
Many diagnostics programs, both shareware and commercial, are available to help
resolve conflicts. Most often, all that's required is a program that will read and report theaddress and interrupt assignments for each PCI device in the computer. One suchprogram available from Princeton Instruments' Customer Support department is called
PCICHECK. When the program is run, it reports the address and interrupt assignments
for the first PCI device it finds. Each time the spacebar is pressed, it moves on to the next
one and reports the address and interrupt assignments for that one as well. In a few
moments this information can be obtained for every PCI device in the computer. Note
that, even though there are generally only three PCI slots, the number of PCI devices
reported may be larger because some PCI devices may be built onto the motherboard. A
good strategy for using the program would be to run it before installing the PCI Serialcard. Then run it again after installing the card and note any address or interrupt
assignments that may have changed. This will allow you to easily focus on the ones that
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may be in conflict with address or interrupt assignments on ISA cards. It might be notedthat there are many programs, such as the MSD program supplied by Microsoft, that aredesigned to read and report address and interrupt assignments, including those on ISA
cards. Many users have had mixed results at best using these programs.

Operation
There are no operating considerations that are unique to the PCI Serial card. The card caneasily accept data as fast as any Princeton Instruments system now available can send it.
The incoming data is temporarily stored in the card’s memory, and then transferred to themain computer memory when the card gains access to the bus. The PCI bus arbitration
scheme assures that, as long as every PCI card conforms to the PCI guidelines, the onboard memory will never overflow.
Unfortunately, there are some PCI peripheral cards that do not fully conform to the PCI
guidelines and that take control of the bus for longer periods than the PCI specification
allows. Certain video cards (particularly those that use the S3 video chip) are notorious inthis respect. Usually you will be able to recognize when memory overflow occurs
because the displayed video will assume a split-screen appearance and/or the message
Hardware Conflict will be displayed (in the WinX application). At the same time, theLED on the upper edge of the PCI Serial card will light.
Users are thus advised not to take any actions that would worsen the possibility ofmemory overflow occurring when taking data. In that regard, avoid multitasking while
taking data. Specific operations to avoid include multitasking (pressing ALT TAB or
ALT ESC to start another program), or running a screensaver program.

Excessive Readout Noise
Excessive readout noise with the intensifier off indicates possible moisture accumulation in
the CCD. This should be corrected promptly or permanent damage not covered by the
Warranty could occur.
Normal camera noise is a function of the gain setting and temperature as well as CCD type,but is typically in the range of 1 ADU rms (6 ADU pk-pk). This is on top of offset thattypically is about 40 counts. Moisture accumulation produces a coarser noise with many
spikes  30 ADU. If these types of spikes occur, especially after the camera has been in use
for an extended period, turn off the system immediately. Have the unit serviced by Princeton
Instruments or an authorized service facility of Princeton Instruments.

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No CCD Named in the Hardware Wizard:CCD dialog(Versions 2.5.19.0 and earlier)Figure 64. Hardware Wizard: Detector/Camera/CCD dialog box

If you have installed a USB 2.0 Interface Module in your ST-133, a blank field may bedisplayed in the Detector/Camera/CCD dialog box (Figure 64) if the ST-133 controller
was made before January 2001. Earlier versions of the ST-133 did not contain nonvolatile RAM (NVRAM), which is programmed with information about the controller
and the camera. PVCAM, the program under which the Princeton Instruments USB
works, retrieves the information stored in NVRAM so it can enter specific camera
characteristics into the WinX application.
Check the serial label on underside of your controller. If the first five characters are
D1200 (December 2000) or earlier (J0797 or July 1997, for example), contact Customer
Support to find out about an NVRAM controller upgrade.

No Images
See "Overexposed or Smeared Images", page 103.

Overexposed or Smeared Images
If the camera has an internal shutter, check to see that the shutter is opening and closing
correctly. Possible shutter problems include complete failure, in which the shutter nolonger operates at all: the shutter may stick or open (causing overexposed or smeared
images) or stick closed (resulting in no images). It may even happen that one leaf of the
shutter will break and no longer actuate. High repetition rates and short exposure times
will rapidly increase the number of shutter cycles and hasten the time when the shutter
will have to be replaced.
Shutter replacement is usually done at the factory. If you find that the shutter on yourcamera is malfunctioning, contact the factory to arrange for a shutter-replacement repair.
Shutters are not covered by the warranty.

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Program Error message

Figure 65. Program Error dialog box

This dialog may appear if you have tried to acquire a test image, acquire data, or run infocusing mode and the DMA buffer size is too small. A large array (for example, a2048x2048 array), requires a larger setting than that for a smaller array (for example, a
512x512 array).
To correct the problem:
1. Click on OK.
2. Reboot the WinX application.
3. Note the array size (on the Setup|Hardware|Controller/CCD tab page or theAcquisition|Experiment Setup|Main tab page Full Chip dimensions). If yourcamera contains a large array (such as a 2048x2048 array), and the DMA buffer
size is too small, there will not be enough space in memory for the data set.
4. Open Setup|Environment|Environment dialog box.
5. Increase the DMA buffer size to a minimum of 32 Mb (64 Mb if it is currently
32 Mb or 128 Mb if it is currently 64 Mb), click on OK, and close the WinX
application.
6. Reboot your computer.
7. Restart the WinX application and begin acquiring data or focusing. If you see themessage again, increase the DMA buffer size.

Removing/Installing a Module
The ST-133 Controller has three plug-in slots. The Analog/Control module (leftmost slot
when the controller is viewed from the rear) and the Interface Control module (either a
TAXI or a USB 2.0 compatible module in the middle slot) are always provided. For
VersArray systems, the third slot is covered with a blank panel.
If a module is ever removed for any reason, internal settings should not be disturbed.
Changing a setting could radically alter the controller’s performance. Restoring normal
operation again without proper equipment and guidance would be very difficult, and it
might be necessary to return the unit to the factory for recalibration.

WARNING!

1. Always turn the Controller OFF before removing or installing a module. If a module
is removed or installed when the controller is powered, permanent equipment damage
could occur which would not be covered by the warranty.
2. Before handling any boards, take precautions to prevent electrostatic discharge(ESD). The modules are susceptible to ESD damage. Damage caused by improper
handling is not covered by the Warranty.

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Figure 66. Module Installation

To Remove a Module:
1. Verify that the Controller has been turned OFF.
2. Rotate the two locking screws (one at the top of the module and one at thebottom) counterclockwise until they release from the chassis.
3. Then, grasp the module and pull it straight out.
4. Set the module aside in a safe place. If you are replacing it with another module,
as in the case of exchanging a TAXI module with a USB 2.0 module, you may beable to use the packaging from the new module to store the module being
replaced. This packaging is usually an antistatic bag that will protect the module
components from electrostatic discharge.
To Install a Module:
Installing a module is a bit more complex because you first have to be sure the locking
screws are aligned correctly. The following procedure is suggested.
1. Verify that the Controller has been turned OFF.
2. Remove the replacement module from its antistatic packaging. This packaging isdesigned to protect the module components from electrostatic discharge.
3. Rotate the two locking screws counterclockwise until the threads on the screws
engage those of the module panel. See Figure 66. By doing this, the screws will
be perfectly perpendicular to the module panel and will align perfectly when themodule is inserted.
4. Insert the module so that the top and bottom edges of the board are riding in theproper guides.
5. Gently but firmly push the module in until the 64-pin DIN connector at the backof the module mates with the corresponding connector on the backplane, leaving
the module panel resting against the controller back panel.
6. Rotate the two locking screws clockwise. As the screws are rotated, they will
first disengage from the module panel threads, and then begin to engage those of
the bracket behind the controller panel.

WARNING! Tighten the screws to where they are just snug. Do not tighten them any further because
you could easily bend the mating bracket.

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Securing the Detector-Controller Cable Slide Latch
Some Princeton Instruments Detector-Controller cables use a slide latch to secure theDetector-Controller cable to the DETECTOR connector on the back of the ST-133.
Incorrectly plugging this cable into the connector and improperly securing the slide latch
may prevent communication with the VersArray (the camera may appear to stop working).
1. Before trying to plug in the cable, slide the latch up (toward Pin 1). Then, plug thecable into the DETECTOR connector on the ST-133.

2. Slide the latch down. You may hear a click when the latch locks.

3. Verify that the connector is fully secured.
If you are having trouble sliding the latch, slightly pull the connector out and then slide
the latch into its locked position.

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Serial violations have occurred. Check interface cable.

Figure 67. Serial Violations Have Occurred dialog box

This error message dialog will appear if you try to acquire an image or focus the cameraand either (or both) of the following conditions exists:The camera system is not turned ON.

There is no communication between the camera and the host computer.

To correct the problem:
1. Turn OFF the camera system (if it is not already OFF).
2. Make sure the Detector-Controller cable is secured at both ends and that thecomputer interface cable is secured at both ends.
3. After making sure that the cables are connected, turn the camera system powerON.
4. Click OK on the error message dialog and retry acquiring an image or running infocus mode.
Note: This error message will also be displayed if you turn the camera system OFF or acable comes loose while the application software is running in Focus mode.

Shutter Failure
See "Overexposed or Smeared Images", page 103.

Vignetting: LN-cooled Cameras
All CCD arrays have been tested for uniformity and do not exhibit any unusual vignetting(reduction of response) at the extreme ends of the array. If you do measure such reduction
in response across the array, it may be the result of one or more of the following
conditions:Condensation of water on the edges of the array window has occurred. This should
not happen unless the cooling/pumping instructions, previously mentioned, were notfollowed or if the Dewar has sprung a leak (a rare situation).



The arrays are held with a special mask that has been designed to minimize reflection
and stray light. These masks were designed to allow light rays to enter through the
Dewar window even at very wide angles (> f/1.5). If vignetting is observed, it ispossible that your experiment exceeds these angular constraints. Princeton
Instruments measures the array response with a collimated uniform light source toprevent such false bias results.

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Appendix A
Specifications
Window
SI-UV fused-silica quartz

CCD Arrays
EEV (Marconi) CCD77-00: 512x512B/F, MPP, 24 x 24 µm pixels, TE/LN, Standard orXP
E2V (Marconi) CCD47-10: 1024x1024B/F, MPP, 13x13 µm, LN, Standard or XP
EEV (Marconi) CCD36-40: 1340x1300B/F, MPP, 20 x 20µm pixels, TE/LN
EEV (Marconi) CCD42-40: 2048x2048B/F, MPP, 13.5 x 13.5µm pixels, TE/LN
Note: The arrays listed are those that were available at the time that the manual was
written. Contact Princeton Instruments for an updated list of arrays supported by the
VersArray.

MountsC-mount (standard threaded video mount)
F-mount (standard Nikon® bayonet mount)

Focal Distance
LN:
Front of Shutter to Focal Plane:
0.894
TE:
C-mount, Front Surface to Focal Plane: .720"
F-mount, Front Surface to Focal Plane: 1.849"
Fiberoptic, Front Surface to Focal Plane: 1.969"
Note: The shutter has a 3.88bolt circle.

Shutter
LN/TE: 1.59 in (40 mm) aperture, 28 msec open time, 28 msec close time

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Camera Head
Connector: Male, D-subminiature 25-pin power/signal connector
Deepest Operating Temperature:
VersArray System
512F/512B

Cooling Type

TypicalTE air-45°C

TE chilled liquid

-60°C

LN

-120°C

1K/1KB

LN-120°C

1300F/1300B

TE air-40°C

TE chilled liquid

-55°C

LN

-110°CTE air-40°C

TE chilled liquid

-55°C

LN

-110°C

XP 512F/512B

TE air with ambient air at +20°C-70°C

XP 1K/1KB

TE air with ambient air at +20°C-70°C

2048F/ 2048B

Table 11. Typical Deepest Operating Temperature

Temperature Stability: ±0.05°C; closed-loop stabilized-temperature control
Gain: Software-selectable (high, medium, low)
LN-Cooled camera head dimensions:6.25 in (15.56 cm) width;
9.24 in (23.47 cm) length;14.56 in (36.98 cm) height;
9 lb (4.2 kg) weight, with shutter, when empty

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111

TE-Cooled camera head dimensions:
C-Mount

F-Mount

4.63 in (11.76 cm) width;

4.63 in (11.76 cm) width;

7.05 in (17.91 cm) length;8.18 in (20.78 cm) length;4.63 in (11.76 cm) width;

4.63 in (11.76 cm) width;

7 lb (3.2 kg) weight

7 lb (3.2 kg) weightController
Dimensions: See Appendix B
Controller Weight:
ST-133A: 13 lb (5.9 kg)
ST-133B: 12.5 lb (5.7 kg)
Connectors:
VIDEO: 1 V pk-pk from 75 , BNC connector. Either RS-170 (EIA) or CCIR
standard video as specified when system was ordered. Requires connection via
75  cable that must be terminated into 75 .
EXT SYNC: TTL input (BNC) to allow data acquisition to be synchronized withexternal events. Sense can be positive or negative going as set in software.
Trigger Modes and Fast Mode vs. Safe Mode are discussed in Chapter 6.
: TTL output (BNC) for monitoring detector status. Logic output is softwareselectable as either NOT SCAN or SHUTTER. When the logic output is
NOT SCAN, it is at a TTL low when CCD is being read; otherwise high. Whenthe logic output is SHUTTER, the output precisely brackets shutter-open time
(exclusive of shutter compensation) and can be used to control an external shutter
or to inhibit a pulser or timing generator. Default selection is SHUTTER.
: TTL output (BNC); marks start of first exposure. When run is initiated,remains high until completion of cleaning cycles preceding first exposure, thengoes low and remains low for duration of run.
Detector Interface: female, D-subminiature 25-pin connector for communication anddata transfer between the controller and the detector. Provides power to detector.
TTL In/Out: 8 TTL Inputs and 8 TTL Outputs are provided for control via the TTL
connector. Refer to "TTL Control", page 80, for more information.
TTL Input: external sync
TTL Output: (ready) frame start; (scan) shutter/readout status
TTL Requirements: Rise time  40 nsec, Duration  100 nsec.
AUX BNC connector: Not currently activate. Reserved for future use
SERIAL COM: Data link to computer via proprietary cable connected to this 9-pin"D" connector. Cable lengths to 165 feet (50 m) available. An optional fiber optic
link is available to extend the distance to ~3300 feet (1 km).
USB 2.0: Data link to computer via USB cable inserted at this connector. Cable
length of 5 meters is standard. Other lengths may be available. Contact Customer
Service for more information.
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A/D Converters:
Standard: 16-bit, 100 kHz readout rate only. Multiple digitizers are standard with
the ST-133 2 MHz controller.
Optional: Dual digitizers with either 100 kHz/1 MHz or 50 kHz/1 MHz readout
rates. Software-selectable. Low-speed operation gives better noise performance;high-speed operation allows faster data acquisition.
Power Input: Nominally 100, 120, 220 or 240 VAC. Refer to the Fuse/Voltage label on
the back of the controller for details. Required DC voltages are generated in thecontroller. Power to detector is supplied via controller cable.
Power Consumption: Refer to the back of the controller.

Options
A partial listing of options includes: Internal Shutters, C-mount Adapters, F-mount
Adapters, and Spectroscopic Mount Adapters. Contact the factory for more information
regarding options available for your system.

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Appendix B
Outline Drawings
Note: Dimensions are in inches.

VersArray TE Camera: Air- and Liquid-Assist

Figure 68. TE F-Mount: Side and Bottom Views

Figure 69. TE F-Mount: Front and Back Views

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Figure 70. TE C-Mount: Side and Bottom Views

Figure 71. TE C-Mount: Front and Back Views

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Outline Drawings

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Figure 72. Fiber-Optic Coupled: Side and Bottom Views

Figure 73. Fiber-Optic Coupled: Front and Back Views

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Figure 74. TE F-Mount: Side and Bottom Views

Figure 75. TE F-Mount: Front and Back Views

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Figure 76. TE C-Mount: Side and Bottom Views

Figure 77. TE C-Mount: Front and Back Views

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Figure 78. Fiber-Optic Coupled: Side and Bottom Views

Figure 79. Fiber-Optic Coupled: Front and Back Views

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Outline Drawings

119

VersArray LN-Cooled Camera

Figure 80. Side-Looking Dewar (Without Shutter): New Design

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Outline Drawings

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Figure 82. Side-Looking Dewar: Old Design

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Figure 84. Down-Looking Dewar (With Shutter): New Design

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Outline Drawings

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ST-133B Controller

Figure 86. ST-133B Controller Dimensions

ST-133A Controller

Figure 87. ST-133A Controller Dimensions

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Appendix C
Adapter Focusing Procedures
F-Mount Adapter Focusing Procedure
Note: This procedure sets the focus for the F-mount adapter, not the lens. Once set, it
should not need to be disturbed again.
1. The lens should be mounted to the camera as described in Chapter 4.
2. The F-mount adapter is in two sections: the adapter body (into which the lens ismounted) and the adapter adjustment ring that is secured to the front of the camera.
Try rotating the adapter body. If it doesn’t rotate, you will have to loosen the securing
setscrew(s) in the side of the adapter adjustment ring. To change the focus setting,proceed as follows.


Loosen the setscrew(s) with a 0.050 hex
key*. Do not remove the screw(s); loosen justenough to allow the adapter body to be
adjusted.



Set the lens focus adjustment to the target
distance.

3. Block off the lens and set it to the smallest
possible aperture (largest F-stop number).
4. Mount a suitable target at a known distance infront of the lens. Typically, a photo resolution
chart is used. However, even a page of small print
will generally serve quite well for this purpose.

Figure 88. F-mount Adjustment

5. Verify that all cables and connectors are secured.
6. Turn on the system and start the WinX application software.
7. Set the software to the FreeRun and Safe modes (consult the software manual if
you are unfamiliar with these modes). Choose a fast exposure (.1 msec) and begin
data collection by selecting Focus.
8. Slowly uncover the lens. If the image becomes washed out, recover the lens, choose ashorter exposure, and uncover the lens again. If it is too dark, choose a longer
exposure.
9. Double check to be sure the lens focus is set to the target distance and readjust if
necessary.

* The screws are #4-40 setscrews. A 0.050 hex key is required to loosen or tighten them.

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10. Taking care not to disturb the lens focus, rotate the adapter body for maximum
sharpness in the observed image and tighten the setscrews to secure the adapter
body's position.
This completes the procedure for adjusting the F-mount adapter. It should not benecessary to disturb the adjustment again. In actual measurements with real subjects, thefocusing will be done entirely with the lens focus adjustment. Microscope adapters follow
a similar procedure except, in this case, the front part of the lens mount should not needadjustment. See Chapter 4 for additional information.

Lens Focusing Procedure
Except for the lens mount focus procedure that applies to F-mount lenses as describedabove, there is no difference between focusing considerations for an F-mount lens and a
C-mount lens. Simply use the focusing ring on the lens to produce the sharpest image atfull aperture. Then stop the lens down to its sharpest aperture (probably at a mid-range
aperture setting) and adjust the Exposure Time for the best possible image as observed at
the monitor. In microscopy applications, it will also be necessary to review thediscussions in Mounting a TE-Cooled VersArray Camera to a Microscope, page 42.

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Appendix D
Spectrometer Adapters
Princeton Instruments offers a variety of spectrometer adapters for LN- and NTE-based
VersArray systems. The mounting instructions for these adapters are organized byspectrometer model, detector type, and adapter kit number. The table below crossreferences these items with the page number for the appropriate instruction set.
Spectrometer

Detector Type

Adapter
Kit No.

Page

Acton

LN with shutter, NTE with/without shutter

130

Acton

NTE with C-Mount

131

Chromex 250 IS

LN with shutter, NTE with/without shutter

7050-0089

132

ISA HR 320

LN with shutter, NTE with/without shutter

7050-0002

133

ISA HR 640

LN with shutter, NTE with/without shutter

7050-0014

134

JY TRIAX

NTE without shutter

7384-0072

135

SPEX 270M

LN with shutter, NTE with/without shutter

7050-0042

136

SPEX 500M

LN with shutter, NTE with/without shutter

7050-0018

137

SPEX TripleMate

LN with shutter, NTE with/without shutter

7050-0006

138

129

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VersArray System Manual

Version 2.E

Acton (LN with shutter, NTE with or without shutter)

1.

Qty

P/N

3

2826-0127

Description
Screw, 10-32  1/4, Button Head Allen Hex, Stainless Steel

Assembly Instructions
1. Make sure that the shipping cover has been removed from the detector port on the
spectrometer.
2. Loosen the setscrews holding the Acton sliding tube in the spectrometer and remove
the adapter. If there is a spacer plate installed on the sliding tube, remove it..
3. Mount the sliding tube to the face of the detector drum housing (dashed outline inillustration) with the three (3) 1/4" long button head screws.
4. Gently insert the sliding tube into the spectrometer and fasten with the setscrews.
Note: Spectrometer parts are machined to provide a tight fit. It is necessary to rotate thedetector back and forth when inserting the sliding tube into the spectrometer. Forcing the tube
into the spectrometer could permanently damage the tube and the spectrometer opening.

130

Appendix D

Spectrometer Adapters

131

Acton (NTE with C-Mount)
Sliding Tube (supplied with spectrometer)
Spacer Plate (Removed)
1

3

2

Qty

P/N

Description

1.

1 8401-071-01 Adapter Plate

2.

1 8401-071-02 Threaded C-Mount Adapter

3.

3 2826-0127

Screw, 10-32  1/4, Button Head Allen Hex, Stainless Steel

Assembly Instructions
1. Make sure that the shipping cover has been removed from the detector port on the
spectrometer.
2. Loosen the setscrews holding the Acton sliding tube in the spectrometer and remove
the tube. If there is a spacer plate installed on the sliding tube, remove it.
3. Place the flat side of the adapter plate against the face of the detector.
4. Insert the threaded C-mount adapter through the center hole in the plate and screw
the adapter into the detector’s C-mount.
5. Using three (3) 1/4" long button head screws, secure the sliding tube to the adapter
plate.
6. Gently insert the sliding tube into the spectrometer and fasten with the setscrews.
Note: Spectrometer parts are machined to provide a tight fit. It is necessary to rotate thedetector back and forth when inserting the sliding tube into the spectrometer. Forcing the tube
into the spectrometer could permanently damage the tube and the spectrometer opening

132

VersArray System Manual

Version 2.E

Chromex 250 IS (LN with shutter, NTE with or without shutter)

Qty

P/N

Description

1.

12517-0901

Plate, Adapter-Female

2.

42826-0283

Screw, 10-32  3/4, Socket head, Stainless Steel, Hex, Black3.

12518-0107

Adapter-Male, HR3204.

32826-0127

Screw, 10-32  1/4, Button Head Allen Hex, Stainless Steel

5.

12826-0082

Set Screw, 10-32  1/4, Stainless Steel, Allen Hex, Nylon Tip

Assembly Instructions
1. Attach part 1 to the spectrometer (dashed line in illustration) with the socket headscrews provided.
2. Attach part 3 to the detector with the three (3) 1/4" long button head screws provided.
3. Gently insert part 3 into part 1 and fasten with the setscrew.
Note: Adapter parts are machined to provide a tight fit. It is necessary to rotate thedetector back and forth when inserting into the spectrometer adapter. Do not force thetwo parts of the adapter together, as they can be permanently damaged by excessive
force.

132

Appendix D

Spectrometer Adapters

133

ISA HR 320 (LN with shutter, NTE with or without shutter)

Qty

P/N

Description

1.

12518-0106

Adapter-Female, HR3202.

32826-0087

Screw, M5-10, Flat Head, Socket, Stainless Steel

3.

12518-0107

Adapter-Male, HR3204.

32826-0127

Screw, 10-32  1/4, Button Head Allen Hex, Stainless Steel

5.

22826-0082

Set Screw, 10-32  1/4, Stainless Steel, Allen Hex, Nylon Tip

Assembly Instructions
1. Remove the spectrometer cover.
2. Insert part 1 into the spectrometer (dashed line in illustration), fasten with the flatheadscrews provided, and replace spectrometer cover.
2. Attach part 3 to the detector with the three (3) 1/4" long button head screws provided.
3. Gently insert part 3 into part 1 and fasten with the setscrews.
4. Replace the spectrometer cover.
Note: Adapter parts are machined to provide a tight fit. It is necessary to rotate the detector
back and forth when inserting into the spectrometer adapter. Do not force the two parts of theadapter together, as they can be permanently damaged by excessive force.

133

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VersArray System Manual

Version 2.E

ISA HR 640 (LN with shutter, NTE with or without shutter)

Qty

P/N

Description

1.

12518-0203

Adapter-Female, HR640

2.

42826-0144

Screw, M4-.7  14, Socket Head Cap, Stainless Steel

3.

12518-0107

Adapter-Male, HR3204.

32826-0127

Screw, 10-32  1/4, Button Head Allen Hex, Stainless Steel

5.

22826-0082

Set Screw, 10-32  1/4, Stainless Steel, Allen Hex, Nylon Tip

Assembly Instructions
1. Insert part 1 into the spectrometer (dashed line in illustration) and fasten with the socket
head screws provided.
2. Attach part 3 to the detector with the three (3) 1/4" long button head screws provided.
3. Gently insert part 3 into part 1 and fasten with the setscrews.
Note: Adapter parts are machined to provide a tight fit. It is necessary to rotate the detector
back and forth when inserting into the spectrometer adapter. Do not force the two parts of theadapter together, as they can be permanently damaged by excessive force.

134

Appendix D

Spectrometer Adapters

135

JY TRIAX family (NTE without shutter)

Qty

P/N

Description

1.

12518-1000

Adapter, TRIAX, NTE, 7377, 7376, 7413

2.

42826-0191

Screw, 10-32  5/8, Socket Head, Stainless Steel, Hex, Black

Typically, the adapter is shipped already mounted to the detector. The following
procedure is provided in case you have ordered a JY TRIAX adapter for a shutterless
NTE camera that you already own.
Assembly Instructions
1. While supporting the flange, remove the four (4) of the socket head screws from thefront of the detector (see illustration above) and store these screws.
2. Using the four (4) screws provided with the adapter kit, mount part 1 to the front of
the detector.
3. Remove the spectrometer cover.
4. Insert part 1 into the spectrometer and fasten it in place with the spectrometer
setscrew.
5. Replace the spectrometer cover.
Note: Adapter parts are machined to provide a tight fit. It may be necessary to rotate thedetector back and forth when inserting into the spectrometer adapter. Do not force the twoparts of the adapter together, as they can be permanently damaged by excessive force

135

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VersArray System Manual

Version 2.E

SPEX 270M (LN with shutter, NTE with or without shutter)

Qty

P/N

Description

1.

12518-0691

Female Adapter Plate, 2.400 ID

2.

62826-0068

Screw, 6-32  3/8, Socket Head, Cap, Stainless Steel

3.

12518-0690

Adapter, Focusing, Male, Spec 270

4.

32826-0127

Screw, 10-32  1/4, Button Head, Hex, Stainless Steel

5.

22826-0073

Screw 6-32  1/8, Set, Allen Hex, Brass Tip

Assembly Instructions
1. Remove the cover of the spectrometer.
2. Attach part 1 to the inner wall of the spectrometer (dashed line in illustration) withthe socket head screws provided.
3. Attach part 3 to the detector with the three (3) 1/4" long button head screws provided.
4. Gently insert part 3 into part 1 and fasten with the setscrews.
5. Replace the spectrometer cover.
Note: Adapter parts are machined to provide a tight fit. It is necessary to rotate the detector
back and forth when inserting into the spectrometer adapter. Do not force the two parts of theadapter together, as they can be permanently damaged by excessive force.

136

Appendix D

Spectrometer Adapters

137

SPEX 500M (LN with shutter, NTE with or without shutter)

Qty

P/N

Description

1.

12517-0214

Adapter-Female, Spex 500m

2.

82826-0170

Screw, 1/4-20  0.51, Low Socket Head Cap, Black3.

12518-0223

Adapter-Male, Spex 500m

4.

32826-0134

Screw, 10-32  1/4, Flat Head Slot, Stainless Steel (Prontor)

5.

22826-0055

Screw, 8-32  14, Set Allen Hex, Nylon

Assembly Instructions
1. Insert part 1 into the spectrometer wall (dashed line in illustration) and fasten withthe socket head screws provided.
2. Attach part 3 to the detector with the three (3) 1/4" long flathead screws provided.
3. Gently insert part 3 into part 1 and fasten with the setscrews.
Note: Adapter parts are machined to provide a tight fit. It is necessary to rotate the detector
back and forth when inserting into the spectrometer adapter. Do not force the two parts of theadapter together, as they can be permanently damaged by excessive force.

137

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VersArray System Manual

Version 2.E

SPEX TripleMate (LN with shutter, NTE with or without shutter)

Qty

P/N

Description

1.

12518-0184

Adapter-Male, LN/TE, CCD/For Spex TripleMate

2.

42826-0128

Screw, 10-32  5/8, Socket Head Cap, Stainless Steel,

3.

12517-0163

Slit Mount, Spex

4.

42826-0129

Screw, 1/4-20  3/4, Socket Head Cap, Stainless Steel

5.

32826-0127

Screw, 10-32  1/4, Button Head, Hex, Stainless Steel (Prontor)

6.

12518-0185

Adapter-Female, Flange Spex

7.

22826-0082

Set Screw, 10-32  1/4, Stainless Steel, Allen Hex, Nylon Tip

1

2500-0025

O-ring, 2.359x.139, Viton (installed)

12500-0026

O-ring, 2.484x.139, Viton (installed)

Assembly Instructions
1. Mount the whole assembly onto the spectrometer.
2. Loosen setscrews and pull out part 1 far enough to enable access to screws with Allen
wrench. Do not pull part 1 past the O-ring (If you do pull out part 1 completely,
reinsert before attaching the detector).
3. Attach the detector to part 1 with the three (3) 1/4" button head screws provided.
4. Tighten the setscrews.
Note: Adapter parts are machined to provide a tight fit. It is necessary to rotate the detector
back and forth when inserting into the spectrometer adapter. Do not force the two parts of theadapter together, as they can be permanently damaged by excessive force.
138

Appendix E
USB 2.0 Limitations
The following information covers the currently known limitations associated with
operating under the USB 2.0 interface.
Maximum cable length is 5 meters (16.4 feet)

1 MHz is currently the upper digitization rate limit for the ST-133 Controller.



Large data sets and/or long acquisition times may be subject to data overrun
because of host computer interrupts during data acquisition.

USB 2.0 is not supported by the Princeton Instruments PC Interface Library (Easy
DLLS).



Some WinView/WinSpec 2.5.X features are not fully supported with USB 2.0.
See the table below.
FeatureSupported with USB 2.0
in WinX 2.5.X

Remarks

Demo Port Capability

NO

DIF

NO

Kinetics

YES

Reset Camera to NVRAM
Defaults

NO

Temperature Lock Status

YES

PTG

YES

Virtual ChipNO

Custom Timing

YES

WinX 2.5.18.1

Custom Chip

YES

WinX 2.5.18.1

Frames per Interrupt

NO

RS170 (Video Output)

NO

Online Exposure

NO

File Information

YES

Overlapping ROIsNO

WinX 2.5.18.1

WinX 2.5.x doesn’t utilize
hardware lock status

Not all header info iscurrently available in
WinX 2.5.x through
PVCAM

Table 12. Features Supported under USB 2.0 (continued on next page)

139

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VersArray System Manual

FeatureVersion 2.E

Supported with USB 2.0
in WinX 2.5.X

Remarks

Macro Record

YES

Macros recorded for nonPVCAM cameras may
have to be re-recorded tofunction

TTL I/ONO
Table 12. Features Supported under USB 2.0

140Declarations of Conformity
This section of the VersArray manual contains the declarations of conformity for
VersArray systems. VersArray systems encompass LN-cooled, NTE-cooled, andTEA-cooled camera heads and their associated controllers.

141

DECLARATION OF CONFORMITY
We,

ROPER SCIENTIFIC(PRINCETON INSTRUMENTS)

3660 QUAKERBRIDGE ROAD
TRENTON, NJ 08619
Declare under our sole responsibility, that the productST-133 CONTROLLER w/LN CAMERA HEAD,
To which this declaration relates, is in conformity with general safety requirement for electricalequipment standards:

IEC 61010-1:2001,
EN 61326:2000, Class A,(EN 61000-4-2:1995, EN 61000-4-3:1995, EN 61000-4-4:1995,
EN 61000-4-5:1995, EN 61000-4-6:1996, EN 61000-4-11:1994),
EN 61000-3-2:2000, and EN 61000-3-3:2001,
Which follow the provisions of the

CE LOW VOLTAGE DIRECTIVE 73/23/EEC
And
EMC DIRECTIVE 89/336/EEC with Amending Directive 93/68/EEC.

Date: August 7, 2002
TRENTON, NJ

142(PAUL HEAVENER)
Engineering Manager

DECLARATION OF CONFORMITY
We,

ROPER SCIENTIFIC(PRINCETON INSTRUMENTS)

3660 QUAKERBRIDGE ROAD
TRENTON, NJ 08619
Declare under our sole responsibility, that the productST-133 1MHz HIGH POWER CONTROLLER
w/NTE CAMERA HEAD,
To which this declaration relates, is in conformity with general safety requirement for electricalequipment standards:

IEC 61010-1:2001,
EN 61326:2000, Class A,(EN 61000-4-2:1995, EN 61000-4-3:1995, EN 61000-4-4:1995,
EN 61000-4-5:1995, EN 61000-4-6:1996, EN 61000-4-11:1994),
EN 61000-3-2:2000, and EN 61000-3-3:2001,
Which follow the provisions of the

CE LOW VOLTAGE DIRECTIVE 73/23/EEC
And
EMC DIRECTIVE 89/336/EEC with Amending Directive 93/68/EEC.

Date: August 20, 2002
TRENTON, NJ(PAUL HEAVENER)
Engineering Manager

DECLARATION OF CONFORMITY
We,

ROPER SCIENTIFIC(PRINCETON INSTRUMENTS)

3660 QUAKERBRIDGE ROAD
TRENTON, NJ 08619
Declare under our sole responsibility, that the productST-133 1MHz HIGH POWER CONTROLLER
w/TEA CAMERA HEAD,
To which this declaration relates, is in conformity with general safety requirement for electricalequipment standards:

IEC 61010-1:2001,
EN 61326:2000, Class A,(EN 61000-4-2:1995, EN 61000-4-3:1995, EN 61000-4-4:1995,
EN 61000-4-5:1995, EN 61000-4-6:1996, EN 61000-4-11:1994),
EN 61000-3-2:2000, and EN 61000-3-3:2001,
Which follow the provisions of the

CE LOW VOLTAGE DIRECTIVE 73/23/EEC
And
EMC DIRECTIVE 89/336/EEC with Amending Directive 93/68/EEC.

Date: August 20, 2002
TRENTON, NJ

144(PAUL HEAVENER)
Engineering Manager

DECLARATION OF CONFORMITY
We,

ROPER SCIENTIFIC(PRINCETON INSTRUMENTS)

3660 QUAKERBRIDGE ROAD
TRENTON, NJ 08619
Declare under our sole responsibility, that the productST-133A 2 MHz PCI CONTROLLER with VERSARRAY XP CAMERA,
To which this declaration relates, is in conformity with general safety requirement for electricalequipment standards:

IEC 1010-1:1990, EN 61010-1:1993/A2:1995,
EN 61326 for Class A, 1998,(EN 61000-4-2, EN 61000-4-3, EN 61000-4-4, EN 61000-4-5,
EN 61000-4-6, EN 61000-4-11), EN 61000-3-2:2000, andEN 61000-3-3:1995,
Which follow the provisions of the

CE LOW VOLTAGE DIRECTIVE 73/23/EEC
And
EMC DIRECTIVE 89/336/EEC.

Date: July 18, 2003
TRENTON, NJ(PAUL HEAVENER)
Engineering Manager

DECLARATION OF CONFORMITY
We,

ROPER SCIENTIFIC(PRINCETON INSTRUMENTS)

3660 QUAKERBRIDGE ROAD
TRENTON, NJ 08619
Declare under our sole responsibility, that the productST-133 1 MHz USB 2.0 CONTROLLER with VERSARRAY XP CAMERA,
To which this declaration relates, is in conformity with general safety requirement for electricalequipment standards:

IEC 61010-1:2001,
EN 61326:2000, Class A,(EN 61000-4-2:1995, EN 61000-4-3:1995, EN 61000-4-4:1995,
EN 61000-4-5:1995, EN 61000-4-6:1996, EN 61000-4-11:1994),
EN 61000-3-2:2000, and EN 61000-3-3:2001,
Which follow the provisions of the

CE LOW VOLTAGE DIRECTIVE 73/23/EEC
And
EMC DIRECTIVE 89/336/EEC with Amending Directive 93/68/EEC.

Date: July 21, 2003
TRENTON, NJ

146(PAUL HEAVENER)
Engineering Manager

Warranty & Service
Limited Warranty
Princeton Instruments, a division of Roper Scientific, Inc. ("Princeton Instruments", "us","we", "our") makes the following limited warranties. These limited warranties extend tothe original purchaser ("You", "you") only and no other purchaser or transferee. We havecomplete control over all warranties and may alter or terminate any or all warranties at
any time we deem necessary.

Basic Limited One (1) Year Warranty
Princeton Instruments warrants this product against substantial defects in materials and /or workmanship for a period of up to one (1) year after shipment. During this period,
Princeton Instruments will repair the product or, at its sole option, repair or replace any
defective part without charge to you. You must deliver the entire product to the Princeton
Instruments factory or, at our option, to a factory-authorized service center. You areresponsible for the shipping costs to return the product. International customers should
contact their local Princeton Instruments authorized representative/distributor for repair
information and assistance, or visit our technical support page atwww.princetoninstruments.com.

Limited One (1) Year Warranty on Refurbished or Discontinued
Products
Princeton Instruments warrants, with the exception of the CCD imaging device (which
carries NO WARRANTIES EXPRESS OR IMPLIED), this product against defects inmaterials or workmanship for a period of up to one (1) year after shipment. During thisperiod, Princeton Instruments will repair or replace, at its sole option, any defective parts,
without charge to you. You must deliver the entire product to the Princeton Instruments
factory or, at our option, a factory-authorized service center. You are responsible for the
shipping costs to return the product to Princeton Instruments. International customers
should contact their local Princeton Instruments representative/distributor for repair
information and assistance or visit our technical support page atwww.princetoninstruments.com.

XP Vacuum Chamber Limited Lifetime Warranty
Princeton Instruments warrants that the cooling performance of the system will meet our
specifications over the lifetime of an XP style detector (has all metal seals) or Princeton
Instruments will, at its sole option, repair or replace any vacuum chamber components
necessary to restore the cooling performance back to the original specifications at no costto the original purchaser. Any failure to "cool to spec" beyond our Basic (1) year limited
warranty from date of shipment, due to a non-vacuum-related component failure (e.g.,
any components that are electrical/electronic) is NOT covered and carries NO
WARRANTIES EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED. Responsibility for shipping charges is as
described above under our Basic Limited One (1) Year Warranty.

147

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VersArray System Manual

Version 2.E

Sealed Chamber Integrity Limited 12 Month Warranty
Princeton Instruments warrants the sealed chamber integrity of all our products for aperiod of twelve (12) months after shipment. If, at anytime within twelve (12) months
from the date of delivery, the detector should experience a sealed chamber failure, allparts and labor needed to restore the chamber seal will be covered by us. Open chamber
products carry NO WARRANTY TO THE CCD IMAGING DEVICE, EXPRESSED ORIMPLIED. Responsibility for shipping charges is as described above under our Basic
Limited One (1) Year Warranty.

Vacuum Integrity Limited 12 Month Warranty
Princeton Instruments warrants the vacuum integrity of “Non-XP” style detectors (do nothave all metal seals) for a period of up to twelve (12) months from the date of shipment.
We warrant that the detector head will maintain the factory-set operating temperature
without the requirement for customer pumping. Should the detector experience a Vacuum
Integrity failure at anytime within twelve (12) months from the date of delivery all partsand labor needed to restore the vacuum integrity will be covered by us. Responsibility forshipping charges is as described above under our Basic Limited One (1) Year Warranty.

Image Intensifier Detector Limited One Year Warranty
All image intensifier products are inherently susceptible to Phosphor and/or Photocathodeburn (physical damage) when exposed to high intensity light. Princeton Instruments
warrants, with the exception of image intensifier products that are found to have
Phosphor and/or Photocathode burn damage (which carry NO WARRANTIESEXPRESSED OR IMPLIED), all image intensifier products for a period of one (1) year
after shipment. See additional Limited One (1) year Warranty terms and conditions
above, which apply to this warranty. Responsibility for shipping charges is as describedabove under our Basic Limited One (1) Year Warranty.

X-Ray Detector Limited One Year Warranty
Princeton Instruments warrants, with the exception of CCD imaging device and fiber
optic assembly damage due to X-rays (which carry NO WARRANTIES EXPRESSEDOR IMPLIED), all X-ray products for one (1) year after shipment. See additional Basic
Limited One (1) year Warranty terms and conditions above, which apply to thiswarranty. Responsibility for shipping charges is as described above under our Basic
Limited One (1) Year Warranty.

Software Limited Warranty
Princeton Instruments warrants all of our manufactured software discs to be free fromsubstantial defects in materials and / or workmanship under normal use for a period ofone (1) year from shipment. Princeton Instruments does not warrant that the function of
the software will meet your requirements or that operation will be uninterrupted or error
free. You assume responsibility for selecting the software to achieve your intended
results and for the use and results obtained from the software. In addition, during the one(1) year limited warranty. The original purchaser is entitled to receive free version
upgrades. Version upgrades supplied free of charge will be in the form of a downloadfrom the Internet. Those customers who do not have access to the Internet may obtain theversion upgrades on a CD-ROM from our factory for an incidental shipping and handlingcharge. See Item 12 in the following section of this warranty ("Your Responsibility") for
more information.

148

Warranty & Service

149

Owner's Manual and Troubleshooting
You should read the owner’s manual thoroughly before operating this product. In theunlikely event that you should encounter difficulty operating this product, the owner’s
manual should be consulted before contacting the Princeton Instruments technical support
staff or authorized service representative for assistance. If you have consulted the owner's
manual and the problem still persists, please contact the Princeton Instruments technicalsupport staff or our authorized service representative. See Item 12 in the following sectionof this warranty ("Your Responsibility") for more information.

Your Responsibility
The above Limited Warranties are subject to the following terms and conditions:
1. You must retain your bill of sale (invoice) and present it upon request for service
and repairs or provide other proof of purchase satisfactory to Princeton
Instruments.
2. You must notify the Princeton Instruments factory service center within (30)days after you have taken delivery of a product or part that you believe to be
defective. With the exception of customers who claim a "technical issue" with theoperation of the product or part, all invoices must be paid in full in accordancewith the terms of sale. Failure to pay invoices when due may result in theinterruption and/or cancellation of your one (1) year limited warranty and/or any
other warranty, expressed or implied.
3. All warranty service must be made by the Princeton Instruments factory or, at our
option, an authorized service center.
4. Before products or parts can be returned for service you must contact the
Princeton Instruments factory and receive a return authorization number (RMA).
Products or parts returned for service without a return authorization evidenced by
an RMA will be sent back freight collect.
5. These warranties are effective only if purchased from the Princeton Instruments
factory or one of our authorized manufacturer's representatives or distributors.
6. Unless specified in the original purchase agreement, Princeton Instruments is not
responsible for installation, setup, or disassembly at the customer’s location.
7. Warranties extend only to defects in materials or workmanship as limited above
and do not extend to any product or part which has:
been lost or discarded by you;
been damaged as a result of misuse, improper installation, faulty or
inadequate maintenance or failure to follow instructions furnished by us;
had serial numbers removed, altered, defaced, or rendered illegible;
been subjected to improper or unauthorized repair; orbeen damaged due to fire, flood, radiation, or other "acts of God" or othercontingencies beyond the control of Princeton Instruments.
8. After the warranty period has expired, you may contact the Princeton Instruments
factory or a Princeton Instruments-authorized representative for repair
information and/or extended warranty plans.
9. Physically damaged units or units that have been modified are not acceptable forrepair in or out of warranty and will be returned as received.

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VersArray System Manual

Version 2.E

10. All warranties implied by state law or non-U.S. laws, including the implied
warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose, are expressly
limited to the duration of the limited warranties set forth above. With the exceptionof any warranties implied by state law or non-U.S. laws, as hereby limited, theforgoing warranty is exclusive and in lieu of all other warranties, guarantees,
agreements, and similar obligations of manufacturer or seller with respect to therepair or replacement of any parts. In no event shall Princeton Instruments' liability
exceed the cost of the repair or replacement of the defective product or part.
11. This limited warranty gives you specific legal rights and you may also have otherrights that may vary from state to state and from country to country. Some states
and countries do not allow limitations on how long an implied warranty lasts,
when an action may be brought, or the exclusion or limitation of incidental orconsequential damages, so the above provisions may not apply to you.
12. When contacting us for technical support or service assistance, please refer to the
Princeton Instruments factory of purchase, contact your authorized Princeton
Instruments representative or reseller, or visit our technical support page atwww.princetoninstruments.com.

Contact Information
Roper Scientific's manufacturing facility for this product is located at the following
address:
Princeton Instruments
3660 Quakerbridge Road
Trenton, NJ 08619 (USA)
Tel: 800-874-9789 / 609-587-9797
Fax: 609-587-1970
Customer Support E-mail: techsupport@princetoninstruments.com
For immediate support in your area, please call the following locations directly:
America

1.877.4.PIACTON (877.474.2286)

Benelux+31 (347) 324989

France+33 (1) 60.86.03.65

Germany+49 (0) 89.660.7793

Japan+81 (3) 5639.2741

UK & Ireland+44 (0) 28.3831.0171

Otherwise, see our Support web page at www.princetoninstruments.com.
An up-to-date list of addresses and telephone numbers is posted on the
www.princetoninstruments.com/Support page. In addition, links on thispage to support topics allow you to send e-mail based requests to theCustomer Support group..

150

Index#64-pin DIN connector......................................... 17, 105
70 V shutter drive option ............................................ 19A
A/D converters.......................................................... 112
standard .................................................................... 112
AC power requirements ............................................. 27
Accessories, alignment of .......................................... 63
Acton adapter instructions................................ 130, 131
Adapter instructions
Acton ........................................................................ 130
Acton (C-Mount)..................................................... 131
Chromex 250 IS ...................................................... 132
ISA HR 320 ............................................................. 133
JY TRIAX................................................................ 135
SPEX 270M............................................................. 136
SPEX 500M............................................................. 137
SPEX TripleMate .................................................... 138
Air-circulation requirement ........................................ 16
Analog gain control .................................................... 71
Analog/Control module .............................................. 17
AUX BNC connector ............................................... 111

B
BackgroundDC level ..................................................................... 67
subtraction.................................................................. 75
Back-plane .................................................................. 17
Baseline signal ...................................................... 66, 67
excessive humidity .................................................... 67
ST-133 zero adjustment ............................................ 18
sudden change in ....................................................... 67
troubleshooting .......................................................... 90
Binningalong columns............................................................ 39
along rows .................................................................. 39
hardware..................................................................... 70
restrictions due to well capacity ...................... 70
software ...................................................................... 70
effect on S/N ratio ........................................... 70
high light level measurements ........................ 71
shot-noise limited measurements .................... 71
Blooming .................................................................... 67
Bottom clamps, table of ............................................. 44

C
Cables
Detector-Controller .................................................... 19
fiber optic.................................................................... 19
PCI interface............................................................... 19
TAXI........................................................................... 19
USB 2.0 ...................................................................... 19
Calibration, spectrometersuitable light sources.................................................. 62
Camera Detection wizard ......................... 35, 57, 61, 90
Cautions
baseline signal shift.................................................... 67
coolant fittings............................................................ 48
coolant mixture .......................................................... 48
coolant pH .................................................................. 48
coolant temperature ................................................... 48
DMA and Interrupt .................................................. 100
excessive humidity in CCD chamber ....................... 67
IR contamination........................................................ 46
scintillator & UV ....................................................... 13
CCD arrayblooming..................................................................... 67
dark charge effects ..................................................... 67
functions performed ................................................... 63
maximum on-chip integration................................... 67
readout of.................................................................... 68
readout theory ............................................................ 68
shift register ................................................................ 68
signal-to-noise ratio vs on chip integration time...... 67
square format.............................................................. 39
theory of operation ..................................................... 63
well capacity............................................................... 67
Chromex 250 IS adapter instructions ....................... 132
Cleaning
camera......................................................................... 14
controller..................................................................... 14
optical surfaces........................................................... 14
C-mount ...................................................................... 44
adapters ....................................................................... 37
assembly ..................................................................... 44
lens installation/removal............................................ 37
support recommendations ......................................... 44
Compensation time, shutter ........................................ 64
Composite video output ............................................. 18

151

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Connectors
detector ....................................................................... 16
detector shutter .......................................................... 16
LEMO ........................................................................ 16
ST-133,..................................................................... 111
ST-133, AUX Output................................................ 19
ST-133, Detector ....................................................... 19
ST-133, External Sync .............................................. 18
ST-133, NOT READY ..................................... 18, 111
ST-133, NOT SCAN ................................................ 18
ST-133, Serial COM ................................................. 19
ST-133, TTL In/Out .................................................. 19
ST-133, USB 2.0 ....................................................... 19
ST-133, Video Output............................................... 18
Contact information.................................................. 150
Controller modules ..................................................... 17
Coolant
mixture ratio............................................................... 27
pH of........................................................................... 48
ports ............................................................................ 16
temperature control ................................................... 27
Coolant circulator
coolant flow rate ........................................................ 50
coolant mixture .......................................................... 48
coolant temperature ................................................... 48
fluid pressure (max.) ................................................. 27
fluid pressure, maximum .......................................... 50
installation .................................................................. 48
Cooling ....................................................................... 16
Cooling and vacuum................................................... 93
Customer support ..................................................... 150

D
Dark charge........................................................... 42, 76
definition of................................................................ 67
dynamic range ........................................................... 67
pattern......................................................................... 67
temperature dependence ........................................... 67
typical values ............................................................. 67
Dark current ................................................................ 67
Declaration of Conformity
LN systems .............................................................. 142
NTE systems............................................143, 145, 146
TEA systems............................................................ 144
Detector connector (ST-133)...................................... 19
Detector fan ................................................................ 16
Detector, rotation of ................................................... 63
Dewar
all-directional ............................................................. 16
capacity ...................................................................... 16
Diagnostic Instruments Bottom Clamp...................... 43
Diagnostic Instruments Relay Lens ........................... 43
Dual A/D converters................................................... 72
Dynamic range ........................................................... 67

Version 2.E

E
EMF spike ............................................................ 46, 57
Environmental conditions .......................................... 27
Environmental requirements ...................................... 27
Ethylene glycol ........................................................... 48
Excessive humidity..................................................... 67
Exposure ..................................................................... 64
shutter ......................................................................... 64
Exposure and Readout................................................ 55
Exposure time ....................................................... 64, 74
External Sync
background subtraction ............................................. 75
dark charge accumulation ......................................... 76
input pulse .................................................................. 75
shutter synchronization.............................................. 75
timing .......................................................................... 75
timing mode ............................................................... 75
External synchronization ................... See External Sync

F
Fan
detector ....................................................................... 16
ST-133 ..................................................................18, 27
Fast mode .................................................................... 78
Fast Modedata acquisition .......................................................... 78
flowchart..................................................................... 79
image update lag ........................................................ 78
Fiber optic cable (PCI optional) ................................. 19
First light ............................................................... 56, 60
Flow rate, coolant ....................................................... 50
Fluid pressure, flow rate ....................................... 27, 50
Fluorescent probe ....................................................... 42
F-mount
assembly of................................................................. 43
operation with microscope bottom port ................... 43
support recommendations ......................................... 43
Focusingalignment .................................................................... 62
F-mount adapter ....................................................... 127
lens ............................................................................ 128
microscope ............................................................... 128
Freerunexperiments best suited for ........................................ 74
timingdiagram ........................................................... 75
flowchart ......................................................... 74
mode of synchronization ................................. 74
Frost ............................................................................ 51
Full frame readout ...................................................... 68
Fuse
replacement, ST-133.................................................. 91
requirements ............................................................... 28

Index153

G-K

Microscopy (cont.)
focusing ...................................................................... 45
IR blockers ................................................................. 46
light throughput.......................................................... 42
parfocality................................................................... 45
Xenon or Hg lamp EMF spike ............................ 46, 57
Moduleinstallation ................................................................ 105
removal ..................................................................... 105
Mounting
microscope ................................................................. 42
C-mount .......................................................... 44
F-mount .......................................................... 43
NOT READY signal ................................................ 111
NOT SCAN
signal ...................................................................18, 111
timing .......................................................................... 64
Operating temperature .............................................. 110
Output amplifier, dual ................................................ 68
Overexposure protection ...................................... 37, 41

Grounding and safety (ST-133) ................................. 12
Hardware binning ....................................................... 70
Hardware Setup wizard ...................... 36, 57, 61, 90, 99
Hose connections ........................................................ 48
Humidity, in vacuum enclosure ................................. 67
I/O Address conflicts ................................................ 100
Ice buildup .................................................................. 51
IEC Publication 348 ................................................... 12
Installation
coolant circulator ....................................................... 48
hose connections........................................................ 48
PCI card driver .......................................................... 31
PCI drivers ................................................................. 30
software ...................................................................... 30
tubing.......................................................................... 48
USB 2.0 driver ........................................................... 33
Interface card
driver installation ....................................................... 30
PCI
High Speed PCI .............................................. 31
PCI(Timer) ...................................................... 31
USB 2.0 ...................................................................... 32
Interface Control module ..................................... 17, 18
Interrupt conflicts ..................................................... 100
IRblockers ...................................................................... 46
CCD sensitivity to ..................................................... 46
ISA HR 320 adapter instructions ............................. 133
ISA interface card
driver installation ....................................................... 92
I/O address, DMA channel, and interrupt level..... 100
JY TRIAX adapter instructions................................ 135
Kinetics mode option ................................................. 84

L-O
LEMO connector ........................................................ 16
LensesC-mount adapter ........................................................ 37
F-mount adapter ........................................................ 37
mounting .................................................................... 38
removal ...................................................................... 38
Light throughput ......................................................... 42
Line voltage selection (ST-133)
procedure ................................................................... 91
selector drum ............................................................. 29
Live cell fluorescence microscopy............................. 42
Maintenance ............................................................... 14
Mercury spectrum, fluorescent lights ........................ 62
Microscope mounting................................................. 42
C-mount ..................................................................... 44
F-mount ...................................................................... 43
Microscopy
applications ................................................................ 42
arc lamp EMF spike damage warning ............... 46, 57

P-R
Parfocality ................................................................... 45
PCI
diagnostics software................................................. 101
non-conforming peripheral cards............................ 102
PCI card driver installation ........................................ 31
PCI serial interface card
driver installation ....................................................... 30
fiber optic adapters..................................................... 19
installation .................................................................. 31
Photodamage .............................................................. 42
Plug-in modules, installation and removal .............. 105
Power cord .................................................................. 28
Power module (ST-133) ............................................. 19Power requirements .............................................. 27, 28
Power switch and indicator ........................................ 17
Preopen Shutter mode ................................................ 75
Procedures
adapter installation ................................................... 129
line voltage selection and line fuse ........................... 91
plug-in module installation/removal....................... 105
Programmable TTL interface
connector .................................................................... 19
pinout levels ............................................................... 80
PVCAM.INI ................................. 36, 90, 95, 96, 98, 99
Quantum Efficiency (QE) .......................................... 42
Readout
binning ........................................................................ 69
hardware ......................................................... 70
software .......................................................... 70
subsection of array ..................................................... 69
time ............................................................................. 74
Readout rate
control of .................................................................... 72
precision vs speed tradeoff ........................................ 72

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Relay Lens .................................................................. 43
Requirements
environmental ............................................................ 27
power.......................................................................... 28
ventilation .................................................................. 27
Roper Scientific USB2 driver installation ................. 33
RSConfig.exe................................ 36, 90, 95, 96, 98, 99

S
S/N ratio ................................................................ 67, 70
Safe Mode
as used for setting up ................................................. 78
fast image update ....................................................... 78
flowchart .................................................................... 79
missed events ............................................................. 78
Safety related symbols used in manual ..................... 12
Saturation .................................................................... 67
Serial COM connector, ST-133 ................................. 19
Shift register ............................................................... 68
Shutter
35 mm for TE-cooled ................................................ 15
40 mm for LN-cooled ............................................... 15compensation time .................................................... 64
detector connector ..................................................... 16
effect on exposure ..................................................... 64
exposure ..................................................................... 64
lifetime ................................................................. 15, 46
modes
Disable ............................................................ 74
Normal ............................................................ 74
Preopen ..................................................... 74, 75
photodamage minimization ...................................... 42
signs of failure ......................................................... 103
ST-133 connector ...................................................... 19
window....................................................................... 15
SHUTTER signal ............................................... 18, 111
Signal-to-noise ratio
on-chip integration .................................................... 67
Slide latch operation ................................................. 106
Smearing ..................................................................... 65
Software binning ........................................................ 71
Specifications
camera head ............................................................. 110
operating temperature ............................................. 110
Spectrometer
adapter instructions ................................................. 129
mounting to detector ................................................. 38
SPEX 270M adapter instructions ............................. 136
SPEX 500M adapter instructions ............................. 137
SPEX TripleMate adapter instructions .................... 138
ST-133 Controller
description of ............................................................. 17
fuse/voltage label ....................................................... 19
grounding and safety ................................................. 12
power module ............................................................ 19

Version 2.E

ST-133 Controller (cont.)
power requirements ................................................... 28
zero adjustment .......................................................... 18

T
TAXI
cable ............................................................................ 19
interface card .............................................................. 20
Technical support ..................................................... 150
Temperature
control problems ........................................................ 93
operating ................................................................... 110
specifications ............................................................ 110
thermal cutout switch................................................. 93
Temperature control ................................................... 66
effect of vacuum deterioration .................................. 93
Temperature lock ........................................................ 66
Temperature Lock LED (ST-133) ............................. 18
Thermal cutout switch ................................................ 93
Timingcontrol of data acquisition ......................................... 78
table of modes ............................................................ 74
Transmission efficiency ............................................. 42
Trinocular output port ................................................ 43
Troubleshooting
coolant ........................................................................ 93
temperature lock ........................................................ 93
vacuum deterioration ................................................. 93
TTL In/Out
pin assignments .......................................................... 80
ST-133 connector....................................................... 19
Tubing connections .................................................... 48
Tygon tubing .............................................................. 27

U-Z
Upgrade Device Driver wizard .................................. 33
USB 2.0
cable ............................................................................ 19
connector .................................................................... 19
data overrun................................................................ 95
installation .................................................................. 33
interface card .............................................................. 20
Vacuum deterioration ................................................. 93
Ventilation requirements ............................................ 27
Warnings
cleaning....................................................................... 14
Controller/Camera cable ........................................... 18
coolant hazard ............................................................ 27
coolant pH .................................................................. 48
fuse type...................................................................... 91
module installation/removal under power................ 17
opening the power input module .............................. 91
overtightening the ST-133 module screws............. 105
protective grounding .................................................. 12
replacement powercord ............................................. 12

Index
Warnings (cont.)
shutter selection setting ............................................. 48
ST-133 module installation/removal under power 104
touching the CCD array ............................................ 13
Xenon and Hg arc lamps..................................... 46, 57
Warranties
image intensifier detector........................................ 148
one year .................................................................... 147
one year on refurbished/discontinued products ..... 147
owner's manual and troubleshooting...................... 149
sealed chamber ........................................................ 148
software .................................................................... 148
vacuum integrity ...................................................... 148

155
Warranties (cont.)
XP vacuum chamber ............................................... 147
x-ray detector ........................................................... 148
your responsibility ................................................... 149
Website ..................................................................... 150
Well capacity .............................................................. 67
blooming..................................................................... 67
restrictions on hardware binning............................... 70
saturation .................................................................... 67
WizardCamera Detection ................................... 35, 57, 61, 90
Hardware Setup................................. 36, 57, 61, 90, 99
Upgrade Device Driver ............................................. 33

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