C&L Instruments RS-DAQ User Manual
Model RS-DAQ Instrument Controller
User Manual
Version 1.0
C&L Instruments, Inc.
314 Scout Lane
Hummelstown, PA 17036
Phone: 717-566-3642
Fax: 717-566-3643
E-mail: support@fluorescence.com
Web site: http://www.fluorescence.com
Table of Contents
Chapter 1: Overview..............................................................................................................................2
Chapter 2: Setup....................................................................................................................................3
Cable Connections.............................................................................................................................................. 3
Chapter 3: Using the Controller...........................................................................................................4
Overview............................................................................................................................................................4
Power on considerations..................................................................................................................................... 4
Filter Wheels ......................................................................................................................................................4
Filter Wheel Type .......................................................................................................................................... 4
Filter Wheels Modes and Data Acquisition Modes .......................................................................................5
Spin Mode...................................................................................................................................................... 5
Fixed Mode.................................................................................................................................................... 5
Mixed Mode...................................................................................................................................................5
Shutters............................................................................................................................................................... 6
Monitor Output................................................................................................................................................... 6
Chapter 4: Programming the Controller.............................................................................................7
Overview............................................................................................................................................................7
Switching between Panel Control and RS-232 Control Modes.......................................................................... 7
Programming using the Keypad.........................................................................................................................7
Toggling between filter wheel and neutral density positions....................................................................... 12
Using the TTL trigger Input.............................................................................................................................13
Manual Shutter Control.................................................................................................................................... 13
Programming using the RS-232 Interface........................................................................................................13
Control Language and Syntax..................................................................................................................... 13
Acquisition of Fluorescence Data.....................................................................................................................18
Acquisition of Analog Data.............................................................................................................................. 18
Chapter 5: Maintenance and Service.................................................................................................19
System Controller............................................................................................................................................. 19
Power supply.................................................................................................................................................... 19
Service.............................................................................................................................................................. 19
Chapter 6: Agreement, License and Warranty.................................................................................20
Agreement and License.................................................................................................................................... 20
Definitions:..................................................................................................................................................20
Copyright notice..........................................................................................................................................20
Term............................................................................................................................................................. 20
Limited Warranty.............................................................................................................................................21
Limitation of remedies.................................................................................................................................21
United States Federal Government Restricted Rights .................................................................................22
General........................................................................................................................................................ 22
RS-DAQ Instrument Controller User Manual (version 1.0) Page 1
Chapter 1: Overview
Chapter 1: Overview
Thank you for purchasing the C&L Instruments Model RS-DAQ Instrument Controller.
This controller not only provides microprocessor based control for the C&L Instruments
Dye Fluorometer system and components, but it can also function as a complete
fluorescence and analog data acquisition system.
The Controller can be programmed either by the front panel keypad or by ASCII
commands through the RS-232 port. The unit includes a BNC input for photon counting
photomultiplier tubes having TTL output signals (20 nsec minimum pulse width) and
auxiliary BNC inputs for 8 channels of A/D conversion, 0-5VDC.
Please follow the instructions provided in this manual. Proper care of the RS-DAQ will
insure peak-performance throughout the life of the instrument.
RS-DAQ Instrument Controller User Manual (version 1.0) Page 2
Chapter 2: Setup
Chapter 2: Setup
Cable Connections
There are 9 types of electrical connections to the Model RS-DAQ Controller. The cables
you use will depend upon your system configuration. These are:
1. A power cord from the desktop power supply.
2. A female DB-15 for control of the excitation (illuminator) filter wheel.
3. A female DB-15 for control of the neutral density (illuminator) wheel.
4. A female DB-15 for control of the emission (detector) filter wheel.
5. A female DB-9 for the Monitor output.
6. A female DB-9 for RS-232 communication.
7. A BNC input for TTL signals from the detector photomultiplier.
8. A BNC input for TTL trigger signals to toggle filter wheel filter changes.
9. Eight BNC connectors for input for auxiliary Analog Data input.
Attach the supplied power cable to the connector located on the end of the desktop power
supply. The power supply is of universal type, and should operate from 95-250 VAC and
47-63 Hz. The power supply is supplied with a power cord for operation in either North
America or Europe. In the event that the supplied power cord is incompatible with your
electric utility, you may have to obtain either an adapter or a power cord locally. The
power entry module is a standard IEC type. Attach the low voltage connector to the power
input of the RS-DAQ Controller. This connector is located on the right side of the
controller.
The 15 pin connectors used with the RS-DAQ controller will depend upon your system
configuration. Attach one end of one of the supplied 15 pin molded cables to the
connector located on the back panel of the Instrument Controller labeled EXCITATION.
The other end is attached to a similarly labeled connector on the Model S48D Illuminator.
Attach a second supplied 15 pin molded cable to the connectors marked NEUTRAL
DENSITY on the Illumination Source and the RS-DAQ Controller in a similar fashion. If
your application includes a detector, attach another 15 pin molded cable to the Detector
module and the connector labeled EMISSION on the RS-DAQ Controller.
If your application includes analog inputs, attach BNC cables to the auxiliary inputs on the
RS-DAQ. Input voltages should be restricted to the range of 0-5 VDC.
TTL inputs are provided to trigger filter wheel changes by the RS-DAQ Controller and to
collect data from TTL-output photon counting systems.
The Model RS-DAQ can be used with several illumination and detection components
offered by C&L Instruments. For more information about the RS-DAQ Controller that is
not contained in this manual, please contact C&L Instruments or visit our web site.
RS-DAQ Instrument Controller User Manual (version 1.0) Page 3
Chapter 3: Using the Controller
Chapter 3: Using the Controller
Overview
The Model RS-DAQ Controller is designed to operate the Model S48D Illuminator and
the Model D48 Detector and other hardware devices manufactured by C&L Instruments.
The Illumination source contains an arc lamp assembly, a filter wheel and a neutral
density wheel, motor controllers, a shutter and power supplies. The Detector contains a
filter wheel, motor controller, shutter, power supply and a photon counting
photomultiplier (PMT). The filter wheels are used for wavelength selection and the
neutral density wheel is used to attenuate the light intensity of the illuminator output. The
reader is referred to the manuals provided with the Illumination Source and Detector for
more information about the operation of these instruments.
The RS-DAQ Controller also has complete data acquisition capability. It can collect
photon count data from a photon-counting photomultiplier having a TTL output. It also
can collect analog data using eight separate analog input channels. The data is obtained
from the Controller using the supplied RS-232 interface. This manual describes the
general operation of the RS-DAQ Controller and how it is programmed. To use the RSDAQ as a data acquisition system, contact C&L Instruments to obtain the appropriate
software.
Power on considerations
To use your RS-DAQ Controller safely and as a component of other equipment from C&L
Instruments, a specific sequence should be followed when turning the equipment on and
off. Please follow these steps:
1. Always turn the Illumination System on
any other components. This is a good practice to follow if C&L Instruments, or any
other manufacturer supplies other equipment you plan to use with the Controller. It is
unlikely, but it is possible that the initial illumination of an arc lamp assembly can
damage other components due to electromagnetic discharge.
2. After igniting the arc lamp assembly, all other components can be turned on. The
power switch on the RS-DAQ is located on the right side of the unit.
3. If you are using a computer with your RS-DAQ, it should be turned on last.
before
turning on the Controller, computer or
Filter Wheels
Filter Wheel Type
The Illuminators and Detector manufactured by C&L Instruments utilize filter wheels for
wavelength selection. Your fluorometer may be configured with either one or two filter
wheels. The complete C&L Instruments Dye Fluorometer uses two filter wheels to select
the excitation and emission wavelengths. One is in the excitation path and one is in the
emission path. Depending on the particular type(s) of filter wheels purchased with your
RS-DAQ Instrument Controller User Manual (version 1.0) Page 4
Chapter 3: Using the Controller
instrument, the filter wheels can contain either four 1-inch diameter filters or eight ½-inch
filters.
Filter Wheels Modes and Data Acquisition Modes
The RS-DAQ Controller allows the user to control the operation of an excitation filter
wheel, an emission filter wheel and a Neutral Density (ND) wheel. The features for each
of the wheels can be controlled separately. Both the excitation and emission filter wheels
can be operated in three different operation modes: Spin, Fixed and Mixed.
When used with accessory data acquisition software provided by C&L Instruments, data
can be acquired with RS-DAQ Controller when the excitation and emission filter wheels
are operated in these three operation modes, as described more detail below (i.e., Fixed,
Spin and Mixed). Although the setting for each filter wheel can be specified separately,
the user can select from 5 data acquisition modes when used in combination. These are
Fixed-Fixed, Spin-Spin, Spin-Fixed, Fixed-Spin and Mixed-Mixed. For further details
about data acquisition with the RS-DAQ Controller, the reader is referred to the software
manuals provided by C&L Instruments.
Spin Mode
In Spin Mode, the filter wheel revolves at a constant velocity. In this mode, the period of
time in which the sample is exposed to a specific wavelength of light is determined by the
speed of revolution. This period of time is referred to as either the
aperture time
. The exposure of the sample to specific excitation wavelengths and the
sampling time
or the
measurement of light emission from the sample are in a constant ordered sequence,
determined by the placement of the individual filters in the filter wheels.
Fixed Mode
In Fixed Mode, the filter wheel is held in a stationary position, permitting light to pass
through one position in the filter wheel. Both filter wheels can be placed in the Fixed
mode for measurement of fluorescence using a single excitation and emission wavelength
pair. Alternately, either the excitation filter wheel or the emission filter wheel can be
placed in the Fixed Mode while the other filter wheel is operated in the Spin Mode. This
setting would be used for either multiwavelength excitation with a single emission
wavelength or multiwavelength emission with a single excitation wavelength. When
either the excitation or emission wheel is operated in the Spin mode, the sampling time is
determined by the speed of revolution.
Mixed Mode
In the Mixed Mode, the excitation and emission filter wheels can each be programmed to
go to any filter position in any sequence. For instance, the excitation filter wheel can be
set to cycle through the filter sequence of 2,1,4 while the emission wheel cycles through
the filter sequence of 3,2,1. In this case, the excitation-emission pairs would be 2-3, 1-2,
and 4-1. The
dwell time
can be specified. The
dwell time
is the duration of time that the
filter wheels remain stationary in one position prior to moving to the next position
RS-DAQ Instrument Controller User Manual (version 1.0) Page 5
Chapter 3: Using the Controller
programmed in the sequence. This feature provides a programming ring, capable of up to
eight excitation wavelength pair combinations.
Shutters
The C&L Dye Fluorometer contains two shutters, one in the excitation path (within the
Model S48D Illumination Source) and one in the emission path (within the D48 Detection
Module). These shutters can be controlled with the RS-DAQ Controller using the front
panel switches or by download to the Controller using the RS-232 interface. With control
of these shutters, the user can specify that the sample be exposed only during active data
collection and that light be blocked when the filter wheel is repositioning during operation
in the Mixed Mode.
Monitor Output
The RS-DAQ Controller has a Monitor output located on the right side of the unit. This
output can be used to synchronize external events to the operation of the filter wheels.
When either the excitation or emission filter wheel is in the Spin mode, timing signals are
available on the Monitor output jack. This output is a set of TTL pulses indicating the
position of the spinning filter wheel.
When both of the filter wheels are in the Fixed or Mixed mode, these outputs are not
available.
The specifications for this output and further information about the use of this output can
be obtained by contacting C&L Instruments.
RS-DAQ Instrument Controller User Manual (version 1.0) Page 6
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