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ICS-PCI 

 

Integrated Computer Spectrometer 

PCI Card Version for Windows

®

 

 

User’s Manual 

 

 

 

 

Spectrum Techniques, Inc. 

106 Union Valley Road 

Oak Ridge, TN 37830 

 

Tel. (865) 482-9937 

Fax (865) 483-0473 

e-mail [email protected] 

web http://www.spectrumtechniques.com

 

 

 

February, 2005

Summary of Contents for ICS-PCI

Page 1: ...pectrometer PCI Card Version for Windows User s Manual Spectrum Techniques Inc 106 Union Valley Road Oak Ridge TN 37830 Tel 865 482 9937 Fax 865 483 0473 e mail spectech esper com web http www spectru...

Page 2: ...LLD and Upper ULD Level Discriminator Adjustments 13 Operation 15 Preset Time Adjustments 15 Integrals and Preset Counts 15 Start 16 Stop 17 Erase 17 Regions of Interest ROI 17 Functions 19 Energy Ca...

Page 3: ...3 Live and Real Time 39 Calibration Status 39 Temperature 39 Technical Reference 40 Specifications 41 Hardware 41 Software 42 Warranty and Repair 43...

Page 4: ...ool Bar Buttons or by the mouse If the function has a Tool Bar Button its symbol will be shown on the left hand side of the description Introduction Installation Analysis Modes Start Up Operation Func...

Page 5: ...n on board microprocessor acts as the master controller and data storage device as well as the communication link directly to the PC bus The integrated amplifier and high voltage are fully compatible...

Page 6: ...en making these connections Software Installation Place ICS PCI software disk into the appropriate disk drive on the computer that will be using the ICS PCI card Using the Windows Explorer locate the...

Page 7: ...HV high voltage connected directly to the top HV MHV connector An optional temperature sensor can be connected to the T COMP connector on the ICS PCI The BNC and MHV connectors have a similar appeara...

Page 8: ...ng signal is routed through the card s internal Pre Amplifier and Amplifier stages The amplitude of each detector pulse is then measured by the ADC and is stored as an amplitude energy spectrum Pulse...

Page 9: ...nted for specific predetermined times dwell time and stored in sequential memory locations The card is factory set with the internal preamplifier amplifier enabled for counting events directly from a...

Page 10: ...n may be started for a specific serial number card by using a shortcut icon created using Windows standard methods A quick way to create a shortcut is to copy the existing standard icon created during...

Page 11: ...11 Normal Program Window...

Page 12: ...tage as listed by the detector manufacturer As an example set the high voltage to 600 volts click ON DO NOT exceed the maximum high voltage rating of the detector usually 1200 volts Set the amplifier...

Page 13: ...nergy regions Low energy noise may be rejected by raising the LLD Detected counts may be limited to a range of energies by adjusting both LLD and ULD near the region boundaries Two methods are availab...

Page 14: ...14...

Page 15: ...stment and exit menu Both the REAL TIME and LIVE TIME values of a measurement are displayed on the ICS PCI display screen and updated during acquisition The values are saved with the file during data...

Page 16: ...To set Peak or Integral click on Settings click on Presets enter the preset number in the correct box Click on OK to set the adjustment and exit menu Peak and Integral presets can also be entered by m...

Page 17: ...n advanced feature which provides instantaneous computation of peak gross and net counts These values may be used along with isotope decay tables and detection efficiency to calculate absolute or rela...

Page 18: ...8 Clear all ROIs Click the right mouse button click on ROI click on Clear All ROIs Clear Individual ROI Move marker to the ROI to be cleared click the right mouse button Click on ROI click on Clear RO...

Page 19: ...the first peak and enter the peak energy value Move the marker to the high point on the second peak to be used for the calibration enter energy number If a 3 point calibration is required continue by...

Page 20: ...meters This dialog allows entering the temperature correction values if they are known If a temperature correction calibration has been performed the values will be displayed in this dialog box Setup...

Page 21: ...edit an isotope from the available library highlight the isotope and click Edit To add an isotope click the Add button An Edit screen will be presented Edit Isotope To add a peak to the displayed iso...

Page 22: ...and can be very useful when working with low level environmental samples Smoothing Smooth Data When executed smoothing performs a 3 point averaging of the data currently being displayed The function u...

Page 23: ...ibration coefficients are automatically adjusted for other conversion gains If a range other than 1024 KeV is needed manual 2 or 3 point calibration must be performed When auto calibration is performe...

Page 24: ...irectory The content of cal directories are cleared at the start of each calibration but are not automatically removed at the end of the process Stored data files and card cal and data directories are...

Page 25: ...allows user to exit ICS PCI program will prompt user to save data Edit Experiment provides a means of inserting text into spectral file headers for referencing specific measurements This text is saved...

Page 26: ...ed into a document of your choosing such as a word processing file Once pasted the text can be manipulated and formatted to suit your needs Mode Start Start data acquisition using the currently define...

Page 27: ...he Undo function Smooth Data When selected smoothing performs a 3 point averaging of the data currently being displayed The function uses the following algorithm to average data in each channel n 1 n...

Page 28: ...assigned to the overlay buffer this function is disabled Iso Match allows the user to turn the IsoMatch Marker on off once the isotopes have been selected using Show Isotope Menu Show Isotopes allows...

Page 29: ...e edge of the desired region Drag to the other edge of the desired region and release the mouse button A similar ROI menu is available by right clicking the mouse while within the graphing region of a...

Page 30: ...o the peak channel of the third peak enter its energy and click OK The system will now be calibrated and the marker position will read directly in energy If ROI s are set around each peak used in the...

Page 31: ...displayed Presets Click on the desired preset condition and enter the number click on OK to enter data and exit menu Amp HV Enter the detector manufacturer s recommended high voltage value click on O...

Page 32: ...OK to enter data and exit menu Colors This function allows the user to select personal preferences of colors for ROIs Background and Text Click on Settings click on Colors select the item to change c...

Page 33: ...ctive ICS PCI data windows visible Sized to fill the application window horizontally and stacked one above another Vertical Sized to fill the application window vertically and stacked side by side Cas...

Page 34: ...nu provides a convenient operator reference for the ICS PCI Key phrases and words are highlighted in green indicating hypertext Clicking on these words or phrases opens a direct link to that section o...

Page 35: ...the user to copy the contents of the currently displayed window If a spectrum is being displayed a graphic image of the spectrum is placed in the copy paste buffer If a report peak or detail is being...

Page 36: ...h count rates the deadtime meter will indicate a high value and the real counting time may be more than doubled Increasing the LLD setting can help reduce some high deadtime effects Preset Real Time s...

Page 37: ...cludes all hardware setting counting parameters and spectrum data ROI data is reported by lower and upper channels set gross net FWHM centroid all channels and corresponding counts Contents Contents D...

Page 38: ...ctrum when in stop mode This can also be accomplished by clicking on Erase in the Edit menu Zoom Buttons The zoom in and out buttons appear at the bottom of the spectrum display Pressing the zoom in b...

Page 39: ...mes of the active card or the values for the stored measurement The values may be reset to zero by using the Erase function Calibration Status The calibration status panel appears at the bottom of the...

Page 40: ...r ICS PCI cards may be installed and operated with a single computer providing bus slots are available and sufficient power can be supplied from the power supply When installing multiple cards each ca...

Page 41: ...ve approximation type computer selected conversion gains of 4096 2048 1024 512 or 256 channels Direct input accepts pulse peaking times of 1usec to 10usec Includes dead time correction when used in Li...

Page 42: ...s Time units in MCS mode Bkgd Buffer Used to store background spectrum for time normalized background subtraction Subtract Subtracts channel by channel time normalized data stored in Background Buffer...

Page 43: ...ory prepaid and we in turn will pay the cost of the return shipping The warranty does not cover damage caused by mishandling or misuse GM tubes with broken windows are specifically excluded from this...

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