Andor Technology iXon3 Series - Capture Sequence for Fast Kinetics with an FT CCD; Points to Consider When Using Fast Kinetics Mode; SECTION 3 (Continued)

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iXon 3
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 specied 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
• Lightmustonlybeallowedtofallonthespeciedsub-area.Lightfallinganywhereelsewillcontaminatethedata.
• Themaximumnumberofimagesinthesequenceissetbythepositionofthesub-area,theheightofthesub-
area and the number of rows in the CCD (Image and Storage area).
• TherearenoKeepCleansduringtheacquisitionsequence.
• Duetotheveryshortexposuretimes,streakingmaybeevident.
Figure 24: Capture
sequence (Fast
Kinetics mode)