Page 37
Features & Functionality
3.4.3 - Capture Sequence for Fast Kinetics with an FT CCD
Fast Kinetics (FK) is a special readout mode that uses the actual CCD as a temporary storage medium and allows an
extremely fast sequence of images to be captured. The capture sequence is illustrated here:
Step 1 Both the Image and Storage areas of the CCD are fully cleaned (the Keep Clean Cycle).
Step 2 The CCD stops the Keep Clean Cycle and the acquisition begins. The image builds up on the illuminated sub-area of the CCD.
Step 3 The CCD remains in this state until the exposure time has elapsed, at which point the complete CCD is clocked vertically by the number
of rows specied by the user.
Step 4 The process is continued until the number of images stored equals the series length set by the user.
Step 5 At this point the sequence moves into the readout phase by rst vertically shifting the rst image to the bottom row of the CCD. The
CCD is then read out in the standard method.
3.4.3.1 - Points to consider when using Fast Kinetics mode
• Lightmustonlybeallowedtofallonthespeciedsub-area.Lightfallinganywhereelsewillcontaminatethedata.
• Themaximumnumberofimagesinthesequenceissetbythepositionofthesub-area,theheightofthesub-
area and the number of rows in the CCD (Image and Storage area).
• TherearenoKeepCleansduringtheacquisitionsequence.
• Duetotheveryshortexposuretimes,streakingmaybeevident.
Figure 24: Capture
sequence (Fast
Kinetics mode)