Ocean Optics NIR, NIR256-2.1, NIR512, NIR256-2.5 Installation And Operation Manual

NIR Near Infrared

Fiber Optic Spectrometers

Installation and Operation Manual

Document Number 197-00000-512-02-0305

Offices:

E-mail: [e-mail] (General sales inquiries)

Ocean Optics, Inc.

830 Douglas Ave., Dunedin, FL, USA 34698

Phone [phone]

Fax [phone]

8:30 a.m.-6 p.m. EST

Ocean Optics B.V. (Europe)

Nieuwgraaf 108 G, 6921 RK DUIVEN, The Netherlands

Phone [phone]

F ax 31-(0)26-3190505

[e-mail] (European sales inquiries)
[e-mail] (Questions about orders)
[e-mail] (Technical support)

Copyright © 2001-2005 Ocean Optics, Inc.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, by any means, electronic,
mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without written permission from Ocean Optics, Inc.
This manual is sold as part of an order and subject to the condition that it shall not, by way of trade or otherwise, be lent, re-sold, hired out or
otherwise circulated without the prior consent of Ocean Optics, Inc. in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published.

Trademarks

Microsoft, Windows, Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows Me, Windows NT, Windows 2000, Windows XP and Excel are either registered
trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corporation.

Limit of Liability

Every effort has been made to make this manual as complete and as accurate as possible, but no warranty or fitness is implied. The information
provided is on an “as is” basis. Ocean Optics, Inc. shall have neither liability nor responsibility to any person or entity with respect to any loss or
damages arising from the information contained in this manual.

197-00000-512-02-0305 ii

Table of Contents

About This Manual ......................................................................................................... iii

Document Purpose and Intended Audience ............................................................................. iii

What’s New in this Document ................................................................................................... iii

Document Summary.................................................................................................................. iii

Product-Related Documentation ............................................................................................... iv

Upgrades......................................................................................................................... iv

Chapter 1: Introduction ......................................................................1

Product Description ......................................................................................................... 1

About the Modular Approach..................................................................................................... 2

Interface Options ............................................................................................................. 2

Items Included with Shipment ......................................................................................... 3

Chapter 2: ......................................5Installing the NIR Spectrometer

Overview.......................................................................................................................... 5

NIR Spectrometer Installation ......................................................................................... 5

USB Mode ................................................................................................................................. 5

Serial Port Mode........................................................................................................................ 6

Configuring the NIR Spectrometer in OOIBase32........................................................... 7

Operator and Serial Number Dialog Box................................................................................... 7

Default Spectrometer Configuration File ................................................................................... 7

Configure Hardware Screen......................................................................................................8

Spectrometer Configuration Screen.......................................................................................... 9

Connect Spectroscopic Accessories ............................................................................... 10

External Triggering Options............................................................................................. 10

OOIBase32 NIR512 Controls .......................................................................................... 10

Chapter 3: ...............................................................13Troubleshooting

Overview.......................................................................................................................... 13

NIR Spectrometer Connected to PC Prior to OOIBase32 Installation............................. 13

Remove the Unknown Device from Windows Device Manager ............................................... 14

Remove Improperly Installed Files ............................................................................................ 14

Troubleshooting the Serial Port Configuration ................................................................ 15

Old Version of OOIBase32 Installed ............................................................................... 16

197-00000-512-02-0305 i

Table of Contents

Chapter 4: ........................................................17Sample Experiments

Preparing for Experiments............................................................................................... 17

Taking Measurements..................................................................................................... 18

Application Tips ......................................................................................................................... 18

Absorbance Experiments .......................................................................................................... 19

Transmission Experiments ........................................................................................................ 21

Reflection Experiments ............................................................................................................. 23

Relative Irradiance Experiments ............................................................................................... 25

Time Acquisition Experiments ................................................................................................... 27

Appendix A: 33Calibrating the Wavelength of the NIR Spectrometer

About Wavelength Calibration......................................................................................... 33

Calibrating the Spectrometer........................................................................................... 34

Preparing for Calibration ........................................................................................................... 34

Calibrating the Wavelength of the Spectrometer............................................................. 34

Saving the New Calibration Coefficients: USB Mode ...................................................... 36

Saving the New Calibration Coefficients: Serial Mode .................................................... 37

Appendix B: ................................................................39Specifications

How the Spectrometer Works.......................................................................................... 39

NIR Spectrometer Component Table........................................................................................ 39

NIR Detector Specifications ...................................................................................................... 40

NIR Spectrometer – Slit Size vs. Resolution and Throughput......................................... 41

NIR Spectrometer Specifications .................................................................................... 41

Compatibility for Desktop or Notebook PCs.............................................................................. 43

9-pin RS-232 Serial Port Pinout ................................................................................................ 43

9-pin RS-232 Serial Port Connector – Pin Definitions .............................................................. 44

15-pin Accessory Connector Pinout.......................................................................................... 44

15-pin Accessory Connector – Pin Definitions .......................................................................... 44

LED Information .............................................................................................................. 44

Appendix C: .............................................45NIR256-2.5µm Sensitivity

Index.....................................................................................................47

ii 197-00000-512-02-0305

About This Manual

Document Purpose and Intended Audience

This document provides you with instructions to get your system up and running. In addition to the NIR
Spectrometer installation and operation instructions, this manual also includes information for locating
the OOIBase32 installation instructions (see

What’s New in this Document

This version of the NIR Near Infrared Fiber Optics Spectrometers Installation and Operation Manual
removes references to the Spectrometer Configuration Diskette.

Document Summary

Product-Related Documentation below).

Chapter Description

Chapter 1: Introduction

Chapter 2: Installing the NIR Spectrometer

Chapter 3: Troubleshooting

Chapter 4: Sample Experiments

Appendix A: Calibrating the Wavelength of

the NIR Spectrometer

Appendix B: Specifications

Appendix C: NIR256-2.5µm Sensitivity

Introduces the product features. Also contains a list
of items included in the shipment.

Contains information for installing and configuring
your NIR Spectrometer. These instructions include
information on using your NIR Spectrometer with
the OOIBase32 software.

Contains typical problems and suggested
resolutions.

Provides procedures for conducting sample
experiments with your NIR Spectrometer
(absorbance, reflection, transmission, relative
irradiance, and time acquisition).

Contains instructions for calibrating your NIR
Spectrometer.

Contains technical specifications for the NIR
Spectrometer and the NIR Detector.

Provides some additional sensitivity specifications
for the NIR256-2.5 Spectrometer.

197-00000-512-02-0305 iii

1: Introduction

Product-Related Documentation

You can access documentation for Ocean Optics products by visiting our website at

http://www.oceanoptics.com. Select Technical → Operating Instructions, then choose the appropriate

document from the available drop-down lists. Or, use the Search by Model Number field at the bottom
of the web page.

You can also access operating instructions for Ocean Optics products on the Software and Technical
Resources CD included with the system.

Engineering-level documentation is located on our website at Technical → Engineering Docs.

Upgrades

Occasionally, you may find that you need Ocean Optics to make a change or an upgrade to your system.
To facilitate these changes, you must first contact Customer Support and obtain a Return Merchandise
Authorization (RMA) number. Please contact Ocean Optics for specific instructions when returning a
product.

iv 197-00000-512-02-0305

Chapter 1

Introduction

Product Description

The NIR (Near Infrared) Fiber Optic Spectrometer connects to a notebook or desktop PC via a USB port.
It requires an external +5VDC power supply (USB-CBL-PS) to power the spectrometer’s high­performance InGaAs array detector. The NIR Spectrometer and the 16-bit A/D converter share a single
housing, forming a small-footprint plug-and-play system.

The NIR Spectrometer can connect via the USB port to any PC that uses a Windows 98/Me/2000/XP
operating system and has OOIBase32 installed and configured for use with your NIR Spectrometer.
Furthermore, the NIR Spectrometer has a serial port for interfacing to PCs, PLCs, and other devices that
support the RS-232 communication protocol.

An EEPROM memory chip in each NIR Spectrometer contains wavelength calibration coefficients,
linearity coefficients, and the serial number unique to each spectrometer. Ocean Optics OOIBase32
spectrometer operating software reads these values from the spectrometer, which allows “hot-swapping”
of spectrometers among multiple PCs.

As with all other Ocean Optics user-configured spectrometers, you can choose from six slit sizes and
hundreds of fiber optic accessories (such as light sources, probes, and optical fibers) to create the system
just right for your application.

197-00000-512-02-0305 1

1: Introduction

About the Modular Approach

Ocean Optics fiber optic spectrometer systems are based on low-cost, modular data acquisition principles.
A typical NIR Spectrometer system contains four basic elements:

• The NIR Spectrometer

• The Ocean Optics OOIBase32 operating software

• A light (excitation source)

• A variety of sampling optics (depending on application need)

The light (excitation source) sends light through an optical fiber to the sample. The light interacts with the
sample, and the results of that interaction are collected and transmitted through another optical fiber to the
spectrometer. The spectrometer measures the amount of light and transforms the data collected by the
spectrometer into digital information. Finally, the spectrometer passes that information to the OOIBase32
operating software.

OOIBase32 is the latest generation of operating software for all Ocean Optics spectrometers. OOIBase32,
which is free to all customers, is a 32-bit, user-customizable, advanced acquisition and display program
that provides a real-time interface to a variety of signal-processing functions. With OOIBase32, users
have the ability to perform spectroscopic measurements (such as absorbance, reflectance and emission),
control all system parameters, collect and display data in real time, and perform reference monitoring and
time acquisition experiments.

Ocean Optics also offers a complete line of spectroscopic accessories to use with the NIR Spectrometer.
Most spectroscopic accessories have SMA connectors for application flexibility. Thus, changing the
sampling system is as easy as unscrewing a connector and adding a new component or accessory. A
partial list of Ocean Optics spectroscopic accessories includes light sources, sampling holders, filter
holders, flow cells, fiber optic probes and sensors, collimating lenses, attenuators, diffuse reflectance
standards, integrating spheres and an extensive line of optical fibers.

This modular approach, where components are easily mixed and matched, offers remarkable applications
flexibility. You can select from hundreds of products to create distinctive systems for an almost endless
variety of optical-sensing applications.

Interface Options

Because the NIR Spectrometer has both a USB and a serial port, you can connect the NIR Spectrometer
to a desktop or notebook PC via a USB port or to a desktop or notebook PC via a serial port.

Computer Interface

Desktop or Notebook
PC via USB Port

Operating System
Requirements

Windows 98/Me/
2000/XP

Cable Needed Description of Cable

USB-CBL-1
(included)

Cable connects from USB port
on NIR Spectrometer to USB
port on desktop or notebook PC

Desktop or Notebook
PC via Serial Port

2 197-00000-512-02-0305

Any 32-bit
Windows operating
system

ADC-USB-SER
(not included)

Cable connects from serial port
on NIR Spectrometer to serial
port on desktop or notebook PC

1: Introduction

Items Included with Shipment

Important information and documentation accompany your NIR Spectrometer upon shipment. This
includes:

 Packing List – The packing list is located inside a plastic bag attached to the outside of the

shipment box (the invoice is mailed separately). The items listed on the packing slip include all of
the components in the order, including customized items installed in the spectrometer, such as the
slit. The packing list also includes important information, such as the shipping and billing
addresses, as well as any components on back order.

 Wavelength Calibration Data Sheet – Each spectrometer is shipped with a Wavelength

Calibration Data Sheet that contains information unique to your spectrometer. OOIBase32
Operating Software reads this calibration data from your spectrometer when it interfaces to a PC
via the USB port. Any other interface requires that you manually enter the calibration data in
OOIBase32 (select Spectrometer | Configure | Wavelength Calibration tab). See the
OOIBase32 documentation for more information (refer to
instructions on accessing OOIBase32 documentation).

Note

Product-Related Documentation for

Please save the Wavelength Calibration Data Sheet for future reference.

 Software and Resources Library CD – Each spectrometer order comes with Ocean Optics’

Software and Resources Library CD. This disc contains all Ocean Optics software and manuals
for software operation, spectrometers, and spectroscopic accessories. Documentation is provided
in Portable Document Format (PDF). You need Adobe Acrobat Reader version 6.0 or higher to
view these files. Adobe Acrobat Reader is included on the CD.

With the exception of OOIBase32 Spectrometer Operating Software, all Ocean Optics software is
password protected. Passwords for other software applications can be found on the back of the
Software and Resources Library CD package.

197-00000-512-02-0305 3

1: Introduction

4 197-00000-512-02-0305

Chapter 2

Installing the NIR Spectrometer

Overview

You must install the OOIBase32 software application prior to connecting the NIR Spectrometer to the
PC. The OOIBase32 software installation installs the drivers required for NIR Spectrometer installation.
If you do not install OOIBase32 first, the system will not properly recognize the NIR Spectrometer.

If you have already connected the NIR Spectrometer to the PC prior to installing OOIBase32, consult
Chapter 3:

Troubleshooting for information on correcting a corrupt NIR Spectrometer installation.

NIR Spectrometer Installation

This section contains instructions for connecting the NIR Spectrometer via both USB and serial modes.

USB Mode

Follow the steps in this section to interface the NIR Spectrometer via the USB port to a desktop or
notebook PC.

To connect the NIR Spectrometer to a PC via the USB port, the PC must be running the Windows
98/ME/2000/XP operating system.

►

Procedure

1. Install OOIBase32 on the destination PC, and then reboot the system.

2. Plug the +5VDC wall adapter (USB-CBL-PS) into an electrical outlet, then connect the
power cord to the 2.5 mm power jack (older versions may have a 1.3 mm power jack) on
the rear of the NIR Spectrometer.

3. Locate the USB cable (USB-CBL-1) that came with the NIR Spectrometer.

4. Insert the square end of the cable into the rear of the NIR Spectrometer, and then insert
the rectangular end into the USB port of the PC.

197-00000-512-02-0305 5

2: Installation

If OOIBase32 was installed prior to connecting the NIR Spectrometer, the Add New Hardware Wizard
appears and installs the NIR Spectrometer drivers. If the drivers do not successfully install, or if you
connected the NIR Spectrometer to the PC before installing OOIBase32, consult Chapter 4:

Troubleshooting.

Note

Windows XP users may encounter a Hardware Installation warning window regarding
Windows XP driver testing. Click the Continue Installation button at this screen, as this
is an expected warning.

Serial Port Mode

To use the serial port capacity of the NIR Spectrometer, the PC must be running a 32-bit version of the
Windows operating system.

Procedure

►

Follow the steps below to connect the NIR Spectrometer to the PC via serial port:

1. Connect one end of the serial cable to the RS-232 connector on the rear of the NIR Spectrometer,
and then connect the other end to a serial port on the PC.

2. Note the serial port number (also called COM Port) on the PC to which the NIR Spectrometer is
connected (some PCs may not have numbered ports).

3. Plug the +5VDC wall adapter (USB-CBL-PS) into an electrical outlet, then connect the power
cord to the 2.5 mm power jack (older versions may have a 1.3 mm power jack) on the rear of the
NIR Spectrometer.

The NIR Spectrometer is now connected to the PC’s serial port.

Note

Connecting the spectrometer to the PC’s serial port requires that you manually enter the
calibration coefficients from the Wavelength Calibration Data Sheet into OOIBase32
software (select Spectrometer | Configure | Wavelength Calibration tab). See the
OOIBase32 documentation for more information (refer to

Documentation

for instructions on accessing OOIBase32 documentation).

Product-Related

6 197-00000-512-02-0305

2: Installation

Configuring the NIR Spectrometer in OOIBase32

Once the NIR Spectrometer is installed, you must configure OOIBase32’s Configure Spectrometer
options so that the application recognizes the connected NIR Spectrometer.

The following sections contain instructions on initially configuring the NIR Spectrometer the first time
you start OOIBase32. Consult the OOIBase32 Spectrometer Operating Software Operating Instructions
for detailed instructions on configuring the spectrometer in OOIBase32 (see

Documentation

Start the OOIBase32 software application. The following configuration screens appear the first time
OOIBase32 runs with the NIR Spectrometer attached.

).

Operator and Serial Number Dialog Box

The operator and serial number dialog box prompts you to enter a user name and software serial number
into OOIBase32. Some data files use this information in the data file headers.

Product-Related

Default Spectrometer Configuration File

The default spectrometer configuration file screen prompts you to select a default .SPEC file to use with
the NIR Spectrometer. The .SPEC file extension is preceded by the unique serial number of the NIR
Spectrometer (for example, HRA001.SPEC).

Navigate to the OOIBase32 installation directory and select the default .SPEC file, then proceed. Do not
specify a .SPEC file located on removable media (e.g., a floppy disk).

197-00000-512-02-0305 7

2: Installation

Configure Hardware Screen

The Configure Hardware screen prompts you to enter spectrometer-specific information into
OOIBase32 the first time you run the program. Typically, you need only enter this information the first
time you run OOIBase32. However, you can alter the hardware configuration at any time using the
Spectrometer Configuration screen. Select Spectrometer | Configure from the OOIBase32 menu bar
to access the Spectrometer Configuration screen.

Configuring Hardware in USB Mode

► Procedure

Follow the steps below to configure the NIR Spectrometer:

1. Specify NIR Spectrometer in the Spectrometer Type drop-down menu.

2. Specify NIR Spectrometer in the A/D Converter Type drop-down menu.

3. Specify the serial number of the NIR Spectrometer under the USB Serial Number drop-down
menu.

4. Click the OK button to finish.

The spectrometer should be able to acquire data and respond to light. If not, exit and restart the
OOIBase32 application.

Configuring Hardware in Serial Port Mode

1. Select the NIR Spectrometer option from the Spectrometer Type drop-down menu.

2. Select the Serial (RS-232) A/D option from the A/D Converter Type drop-down menu. This
selection enables serial-specific options in the lower portion of the Configure Hardware screen.

8 197-00000-512-02-0305

2: Installation

3. Select the COM port that NIR Spectrometer is connected to in the Serial Port drop-down menu.
See Chapter 3:

4. Select the NIR Spectrometer’s operating speed from the Baud Rate drop-down menu
(115,200 baud is recommended).

5. Specify the pixel resolution (from 1 to 500) in the Pixel Resolution box. This value specifies that
every nth pixel of the spectrometer will transmit from the NIR Spectrometer to the PC.

Troubleshooting for information on identifying serial ports.

Note

You can sacrifice pixel resolution to gain speed. The transfer of one complete spectra
requires ~0.3 seconds at 115,200 baud.

6. Enable the Compress Data function to minimize the amount of data transferred over the RS-232
connection. The transmission of spectral data over the serial port is a relatively slow process.
Enabling this function ensures that the NIR Spectrometer compresses every scan that it transmits.
This greatly increases the data transfer speed of the NIR Spectrometer.

7. Click the OK button to complete the setup.

The spectrometer should now be able to acquire data and respond to light. Exit and restart OOIBase32 to
save configuration data to disk.

Spectrometer Configuration Screen

The Spectrometer Configuration screen prompts you to configure specific channel-level spectrometer
information, if necessary.

►

Procedure

1. Select Spectrometer | Configure from the menu and set system parameters.

2. Select the Wavelength Calibration tab. If you have connected your spectrometer to the PC’s
USB port, OOIBase32 pre-fills the coefficients for the NIR Spectrometer from information on a
memory chip in the spectrometer. Otherwise, you must manually type the coefficients as they are
printed on the Wavelength Calibration Data Sheet that accompanied your spectrometer.

3. Verify that the calibration coefficients match the coefficients from the Wavelength Calibration
Data Sheet. If necessary, modify these values using the USB Programmer utility.

4. Additionally, ensure that you select both the Master and Channel Enabled boxes.

5. In the A/D Interface tab, enter the same values as in the Configure Hardware screen.
OOIBase32 stores this information for future use once you close the program.

197-00000-512-02-0305 9

2: Installation

Connect Spectroscopic Accessories

To find operating instructions on NIR Spectrometer-compatible products such as light sources, sampling
chambers, probes, fibers or any other Ocean Optics spectroscopic accessories, check the Software and
Technical Resources CD or the Ocean Optics website at:

http://www.oceanoptics.com/Technical/OperatingInstructions.asp.

Chapter 1: Introduction contains a list of NIR Spectrometer-compatible products. You can find
information related to these products on

http://www.oceanoptics.com/.

External Triggering Options

You can trigger the NIR Spectrometer using the External Software Triggering option through the 15-pin
accessory connector on the spectrometer. Only the External Software Trigger mode is available with the
NIR Spectrometer.

The External Triggering Options document contains instructions on configuring External Triggering with
the NIR Spectrometer. The External Triggering Options document is located at the following web site:

http://www.oceanoptics.com/technical/externaltriggering.PDF

If you do not have web access, you can retrieve this document from the Software and Technical
Resources CD included with your spectrometer shipment.

OOIBase32 NIR512 Controls

The NIR toolbar in OOIBase32 allows you to control a variety of options on the NIR Spectrometer. These
options are also applicable to the NIR256.

Note

If the NIR512 Toolbar in your version of OOIBase32 does not have the options listed
below, you should upgrade your version of OOIBase32 to the latest release.

Visit

http://www.oceanoptics.com/technical/softwaredownloads.asp to obtain the

latest software version.

10 197-00000-512-02-0305

2: Installation

Control Description

TEC On Check this box to enable (recommended setting for laboratory conditions) or

uncheck to disable the thermoelectric cooler.

Det. Temp. Set Point Enter the target temperature of the NIR Spectrometer detector as follows:

• NIR512: Minimum is –10 ºC, Recommended is –5 ºC

• NIR256: Minimum is –15 ºC, Recommended is –10 ºC

The TEC and fans will operate until the detector reaches this temperature.

Apply Click this button to apply the changes made in this toolbar to the NIR

Spectrometer.

Current Det. Temp. Displays the current temperature of the detector in the NIR Spectrometer.

197-00000-512-02-0305 11