OCEAN OPTICS USB2000, USB4000, HR2000, HR4000, Jaz User Manual

External Triggering Options Instructions

Overview

Ocean Optics USB2000, USB2000+, USB4000, HR2000, HR2000+, HR4000, Jaz, Maya, QE65000, NIR
Series, NIRQuest Series, S2000, and S1024DW Spectrometers provide several methods of acquiring data
(see table below). In the Normal mode, the spectrometer is “free running.” That is, the spectrometer is
continuously scanning, acquiring, and transferring data to your computer, according to parameters set in
the software. In this mode, however, there is no way to synchronize the scanning, acquisition, and transfer
of data with an external event. However, trigger pulses for synchronizing an external event with the
spectrometer are available.

To synchronize data acquisition with external events, other modes of acquiring data are available. Each
mode involves connecting an external triggering device to the spectrometer and then applying an external
trigger to the spectrometer before the software receives the data. The length of the integration time and
the source for the integration clock depend upon the mode chosen. All other acquisition parameters are set
in the software.

Also see the

HR4000 and USB4000 Shutter Mode Performance in Hardware Trigger Mode for more

information on external triggering with these spectrometers.

Triggering Mode Description Applicable Spectrometer(s)

Normal Spectrometer acquires spectra continuously. All

External Software Integration time is set in the software. Software

receives a trigger event and transmits spectra
obtained in the data acquisition cycle in which the
trigger occurred.

External Hardware Integration time set via chip in spectrometer (USB

Series/Jaz/HR Series/S2000 D Series) or jumpers
(S2000 series). Spectrometer waits for a sharp rise
in voltage on the trigger input pin, and then acquires
spectra until the voltage is removed.

External
Synchronization

Spectrometer acquires data from an external trigger
event (such as a push button) until the next time the
trigger is activated, at which time the spectrometer
ceases spectral acquisition and begins a new
acquisition. Integration time cannot be set, since the
trigger can fire at random intervals.

All

USB2000/USB4000/Jaz/
HR2000/HR2000+/HR4000/
S2000/S1024DW

USB2000+/USB4000/Jaz/
HR2000/HR2000+/HR4000/
S2000/S1024DW

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External Triggering Options Instructions

Triggering Mode Description Applicable Spectrometer(s)

Quasi-Real Time
Acquisition Mode

The integration clock is set to 4ms, which is the time
required to completely read out all the pixels. When
the software (user) requests a spectrum, the
integration clock waits for the current period to
expire, changes to the desired integration time set
via software commands, and then returns to 4ms.
With this approach, the start of the integration
period will always be within 4ms of the time when
the request for a spectrum is issued. No trigger
signal is required to operate in this mode.

QE65000, Maya2000,
Maya2000 Pro

IMPORTANT: Voltage Regulation

The maximum recommended voltage on the Triggering Pin is 5.5 V. If your triggering device exceeds
this voltage, you must regulate or condition the signal (via transistor buffering, transformer isolation or
opto-isolation, for example) or isolate the signal from the spectrometer.

Note

To use one of the External Triggering options, you must know the specifications and
limitations of the triggering device. The design of the triggering device may prevent you
from using one of the external triggering modes as it is described in these pages.

Consult the following images and table for information on which pin to connect to the triggering device
when using each triggering mode on the spectrometer.

Pinout Diagrams for Ocean Optics Spectrometers

J2 (D-SUB-15) Accessory Connector on NIR
Series, S2000 and S1024DW Spectrometers

Pinout Diagram of 22-pin Connector on
USB2000+, USB4000, Jaz and HR2000
Spectrometers (be sure to also use Ground
Pin 6 when triggering)

Pinout Diagram of 10-pin Connector on USB2000
Spectrometer

Pinout Diagram of 30-pin Connector on HR2000+,
HR4000, JazNIRQuest Series, and QE65000
Spectrometers

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External Triggering Instructions

Trigger Input Pin Information for Ocean Optics
Spectrometers

Trigger Input Pin

Trigger Mode

External
Software

External
Synchronization

External
Hardware

S2000
S1024DW

8 10 7 10 8

5

4

QE65000

Not
Available

Not
Available

USB2000
USB2000+
USB4000
HR2000
Jaz

Not
Available

7 10

HR4000
HR2000+

Not
Available

NIR Series
NIRQuest
Series

Not
Available

Not
Available

Description

Asynchronous Mode ­Integration time specified in
software

Synchronous Mode - User
provides integration clock

Synchronous Mode ­Integration fixed by jumpers

External Triggering vs. Triggering an External
Event

There could be some confusion between the concepts of External Triggering and triggering an external
event. The following sections explain each of these concepts.

External Triggering

In External Triggering, an event outside the sampling system (such as a push button, lever activation, or
laser pulse) triggers the voltage level on the spectrometer’s trigger pin and instructs the spectrometer to
begin spectra acquisition.

Triggering an External Event

When triggering an external event, the spectrometer instructs an external device (typically a lamp such as
the PX-2 or the LS-450) to illuminate immediately prior to spectral acquisition.

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External Triggering Options Instructions

Level Triggering and Edge Triggering

In External Triggering, there are two modes of triggering available. The trigger mode in use determines
the kind of triggering that the system will use.

Level Triggering

Level triggering mode is only available when using External Software Triggering mode. In this mode, the
software monitors the A/D converter for an increase in the voltage level applied to the trigger pin. When
the appropriate increase in voltage is received (5 volts), the software instructs the spectrometer to acquire
spectra.

In this mode, the A/D converter will acquire data in intervals based on the integration time set in the
software. Thus, if a trigger occurs in the middle of an integration period, the software will retrieve the
spectra obtained for that entire integration period (before AND after the trigger event). Similarly, if a
trigger occurs immediately prior to the end of an integration period, the software will still retrieve the
spectra obtained during that integration period.

For example, if the integration time is 50 ms and the trigger event occurs 48 ms into the integration cycle,
the 2 ms following the trigger will be acquired, and the 48 ms prior to and including the trigger will be
acquired.

Edge Triggering

Edge triggering mode is available when using External Hardware and External Synchronization
Triggering modes. In both of these modes, the spectrometer monitors the trigger input pin for

in the voltage

voltage rise is received and the spectrometer “sees” the voltage peak caused by the increase, the
spectrometer acquires spectra and transmits the spectra to the software.

In External Hardware Triggering mode, the spectrometer begins an acquisition upon receiving trigger and
acquires for one integration cycle. In External Synchronization Triggering mode, however, data
acquisition continues until the next rise in voltage is “seen” by the spectrometer.

(which may or may not reach the 5 volt plateau) applied to the trigger pin. When this

rapid rise

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External Triggering Instructions

Integration Times Available with External
Triggering

The following table illustrates the integration times available with External Triggering modes:

Spectrometer External

Software

USB2000/HR2000 Set in Software 50 msec Cannot Manually

USB4000/USB2000+/Jaz/HR2000+/HR4000 Set in Software Set in Software Input by software

NIR Series Set in Software Not Available Not Available

NIRQuest Series Set in Software Not Available Not Available

S2000/S1024DW Set in Software Set on Jumpers Cannot Manually

S2000 D-Series Set in Software 55 msec Cannot Manually

QE65000 Set in Software Not Available Not Available

External
Hardware

External
Synchronization

Set

Set

Set

Software Support

The following table details External Triggering support capacity in all Ocean Optics software products:

Product Supported Not Supported

SpectraSuite

OOIBase

OOIBase32

OOIBase32 Platinum

OOIColor

OOI Driver Products

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All Modes --

All Modes --

All Modes --

All Modes --

External Software and External Hardware External Synchronization

All Modes --