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DCS HELP |
I) PLATFORM:
Platform
Settings
Gain Conversion Factor
II) PORT/OPTIONS:
Filter Wheel
FW port
Interface
Link Type
Port Address
Shutter
III) CCD Selection:
CCD Sensor:
Out
Side
Mode
CCDs
IV) CCD Setup
V) Activity
The dcs.exe program allows you to configure your CCD camera.
It is based on three libraries:
- dcl.dll
- qt-mt336.dll
- FDT2XX.dll
Moreover, it must be present the dcl directory, including almost the 4 files here below:
a) camera.cfg: this is the camera configuration file. By this file, you can set the camera model, the sensor type, the onterface type and so on, with regards the CCD camera you are using.
b) dcl.cfg: this file contains all the definitions about our hardware platforms (that is the data relatives to the DTA cooled digital CCD cameras) and about the sensors we mount on these cameras.
c) eia1956.raw: this .raw file (optionally present) is that generating the images in case one uses the program in demo mode.
d) help: this is the file containing all the helps necessary to explain the commands of this program.
The program consists of 5 tabs: Platform, Port/Options, CCD Selection, CCD Setup e Activity.
Moreover, there are the following commands:
- Help: clicking this button, this guide on line is available.
- SAVE: it allows you to save your changes without to exit the program.
- OK: it allows you to save the changes, after then it exit the program.
- Cancel: it allows you to cancel the changes not already saved and exit the program.
All the changes you make on parameters directly by the us of this program are automatically wrote on the camera.cfg and dcl.cfg files, according to the relative fields there included.
Moreover, the program is provided with the "What's this" helper. If you click and place it on a command, it show a brief explanation about the command itself.
We recommend you to NOT change the parameters setted by DTA, if not differently specified by DTA.
The Platform menu consists of the following sub menus:
1) Platform: it provides the info about the CCD camera model you are using. If not already setted by DTA; the customer has to select the camera in use.
2) Settings: these are values DTA setted at the moment of the sale to the customer.
Do not change them, if not differently specified.
3) Gain Conversion Factor: it shows the nominal values of the gains. The user can find the physical gains obtained during the camera testing on the test report provided with the manual. It is than possible to insert these values on the relative fields of this menu in order to have real info about the images acquired.
This menu consists of the following sub menus:
1) FIlter Wheel: it allows you to select the Filter Wheel type (when present). According to the CCD camera in use, only some options are available. Some of the options there reported have not already been activated, they will be used for future upgrades.
This sub menu is related to the FW Port menu described at point 2).
2) FW Port: it allows to select the port type according to the Filter Wheel type in use.
In case of the following Filter Wheel types:
- 8 Pos. Int., 6 Pos. Int. --> select Internal
- RPF-6, RPF-8 Max --> select Aux. port
Moreover, there are the following auxiliary ports: COM1, COM2, LPT1 e LPT2 available for the connession to the PC.
Some of the options there reported have not already been activated, they will be used for future upgrades.
Do not change the parameters setted by DTA, if not differently specified.
3) Interface: select the interface type in use.
This sub menu is related to the Link Type menu described at point 4).
4) Link Type: it allows you to select the different fields according to the interface you are using.
In particular:
- EPP --> Parallel
- FDL-ISA --> Parallel or Fiber Optic (if you use the Fiber Optic Interface option). When you use the FDL-ISA interface it is necessary to provide even the data relative to the Interface Address (see the Interface Add. menu described at point 5) ).
- FDL-PCI --> 3 options: Parallel, Fiber Optic or Coax cable. In the case of Parallel link, check even the LongCable function for cable longer than 2.5 m.
- USB --> Serial
5) Interface Add.: this data of default is specified by DTA according to the Interface type utilized. If you changed this address, let insert the new data on this field.
6) Shutter: it allows you toe select the type of shutter utilized.
Moreover, there are the following fields:
- FDL-PCI index (0-7): it is possible to install up to 8 interfaces on the same PC. It involves the necessity to fill this field with the interface number reported on the board utilized.
- Camera Address: by the use of a multiplexer it is possible to make working up to 8 CCD cameras on the same interface, each of them with a different Address. Fill this filed with the Address, from 0 to 7, relative to the board you are using, specified by DTA.
This menu consists of the following sub menus:
1) CCD SENSOR: it describes the technical specifications of the sensor mounted in the CCD camera model in use, as specified in the CCDs menu (described at the point 2).
It consists of the three sub menus:
- Out: it allows you to select the OUTPUT of the sensor (when this option is available). This setting ie reported on the test report of your CCD camera, included in the manual.
- Ill. Side: it indicates if the sensor is a Back or Front Illuminated type.
- Mode: it includes two fields:
MPP: this option allows you the decreasing of the dark current. Pay attention: it involves the decreasing of the FWC of the pixel, too.
Color: check this function just in case you are using a coloured sensor.
2) CCDs: it indicates the type of sensor mounted on the CCD camera you are using.
These parameters are setted by DTA and refer to the technical specifications of the CCD camera you are using.
We recommend you to NOT change these values.
It consists of the following 11 fields:
1) Enable the BackGround Activity: this function is automatically setted when you check the "Enable Temperature Handle" (see below).
If you select this function together with the "Enable Automatic Clear CCD" function, an automatic Clear CCD is performed every 0.5 s.
2) Enable Temperature Handle: if selected, a temperature control is performed every 0.5 s
3) Enable Automatic Clear CCD: if selected, an automatic Clear CCD is performed before the acquisition of the image.
4) Don't show status: if selected, the download status window is not shown. Check this function just in case of fast scan CCD cameras.
5) Disable FAN: if selected, it disables the fan in order to reduce the vibration of the camera. Take into account it will reduce the cooler efficiency, too. Not all CCD camera models accept this option.
6) Flush Horizontal Register: when selected, it continuosly clears the horizontal register in case of long exposure time (> 0.5 s).
7) Max Cooler Power 80%: when selected, the cooler power will reach up to 80% of maximum value of the functionality. Use this option to reduce cooler overloading.
8) Non Realtime OS: select this option in case you use WINDOWS NT/2000/XP or Linux Operating Systems.
9) Disable interrupts: when selected, it disables the interrupts or requires the maximum priority on the image downloading.
10) Force 16 bit DMA counter: check this function in case you use an Operating System not allowing to use a 32 bit DMA counter. For example: XP allows you to work on 32 bit DMA counter, some kernels of Linux Operating System allows this option and some other doesn't allow it.
11) Enable E. M. Shutter: when selected, it enables the shutter to operate with exposure.
CameraSelect command line parameters:
As default CameraSelect load the file camera.cfg present in the current directory or into subdirectory config or dcl. It is possible to specify a different filename and path with the following command:
| -f filenamepath | where filenamepath is the path name of the camera configuration file. |
Example: CameraSelect -f /home/guest/cam.cfg
It is possible to browse a camera configuration file with the command parameter -b
Less important parameter are the window style available with the following command:
-style windowstyle
Available windowstyle: windows, motif, motifplus, cde, sgi, platinum
Example: CameraSelect -style motifplus
XP style is automatically detected.
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