Princeton Instruments PI-MAX2 System User Manual

238 pages

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4411-0069

Version 5.F

September 9, 2009

*4411-0 069*

Default Chapter3
- Table of Contents3
Attention15
Chapter 1 Introduction17
- PI-MAX System Components17
- Summary of PI-MAX Data Acquisition19
- Figure 2. Major Components of the Intensifier-CCD19
- Safety Information20
- Precautions22
- Cleaning and Maintenance22
- Repairs23
- Manual Organization24
Chapter 2 Installation Overview27
- Figure 3. PI-MAX with PTG System Diagram29
- Figure 4. PI-MAX2 with PTG System Diagram29
- Figure 5. Gen II PI-MAX with DG535 System Diagram30
- Figure 6. Gen II PI-MAX2 with DG535 System Diagram30
- Figure 7. Gen III PI-MAX with DG535 System Diagram31
- Figure 8. Gen III PI-MAX2 with DG535 System Diagram31
Chapter 3 System Setup33
- Introduction33
- Dangers and Warnings33
- Unpacking the System33
- Checking the Equipment and Parts Inventory33
- System Requirements34
- Verifying Controller Voltage Setting36
- Figure 9. Power Module36
- Mounting the PI-MAX37
- Installing the Application Software38
- Setting up the Communication Interface38
- Connecting the Interface (Controller-Computer) Cable42
  - TAXI ® Cable (6050-0148-CE)42
  - USB 2.0 Cable (6050-0494)42
- Connecting the Detector-Controller Cable42
- Table 2. USB Driver Files and Locations42
- Connecting to the Timing Generator43
  - Ptg43
  - Dg53543
- Making the Coolant Circulator-Camera Connections44
- Entering the Default Camera System Parameters into Winx (Winview/32, Winspec/32, or Winxtest/32)44
- Figure 11. Camera Detection Wizard - Welcome Dialog Box45
- Figure 12. Rsconfig Dialog Box46
- Figure 13. Hardware Setup Wizard: PVCAM Dialog Box46
Chapter 4 First Light47
- Introduction47
- Required Equipment and Cables47
- Cable Connections48
- Before Turning on the System48
- Turning on the System and Setting up the Software49
- Configuring the Software for Shutter Mode Operation49
- Pre-Acquisition Check51
- Initial Data Acquisition51
- Focusing52
- Final Comments52
Chapter 5 General Operation Factors53
- Introduction53
- Data Acquisition Sequence53
- Figure 14. Block Diagram of Signal Path in Standard PI-MAX System53
- USB 2.0 and System On/Off Sequences54
- Pre-Exposure Removal of Accumulated Charge54
- Shutter Compensation Time57
- Temperature Control57
- Exposure58
  - Exposure with an Image Intensifier59
  - Saturation59
- Background Subtraction59
- Readout of the Array60
- Software Binning66
- Figure 22. 2 × 2 Binning for Interline CCD66
- Digitization67
- Experiment Setup|Main67
- Experiment Setup|Timing69
Chapter 6 Shutter Mode Operation73
- Introduction73
- Cabling73
- Shutter Control73
- Timing Modes74
- Table 4. Timing Mode, Shutter Control, Ext. Trigger Input for Shutter Mode74
- Timing Modes and Cleans/Continuous Cleans75
- External Triggering78
Chapter 7 Gated Operation with a PTG81
- Introduction81
- Precautionary Measures82
  - Intensifier Modes and Safety82
  - Alarm82
- Timing Mode83
- Fast Gating83
- Table 5. Timing Mode, Shutter Control, and Ext. Trigger Input When a PTG Is the83
- Figure 32. PTG Fast Gating Experiment Block Diagram84
- MCP Bracket Pulsing85
- MCP Gating88
- 500 Picosecond Gating Option91
- Additional Experiments92
Chapter 8 Gated Operation with a DG535107
- Introduction107
- Precautionary Measures108
  - Intensifier Modes and Safety108
  - Alarm108
- DG-535 and Gate Mode Overview109
- Timing Modes109
- DG535 Gating Setup111
- Figure 65. DG535 Gating Tab112
- Fast Gating113
- Figure 69. DG535 Fast Gating Experiment Block Diagram114
- MCP Bracket Pulsing115
- MCP Gating117
Chapter 9 Kinetics Operation121
- Introduction121
- Masking121
- Shutter Mode and Kinetics121
- Array Readout123
- PTG Burst Mode124
- One Shot Experiments125
- Table 8. Burst Mode Repetition Rate for PI-MAX 512 and PI-MAX 1K Models125
- Gate Mode Experiments - Examples126
- Figure 79. Timing Diagram: Experiment 1127
- Figure 80. Timing Diagram: Experiment 2128
Chapter 10 PI-MAX2 DIF Camera (Double Image Feature)129
- Introduction129
- Requirements129
- Interline CCD Operation129
- Timing Modes130
  - Single Trigger Mode130
  - Dual Trigger Mode131
- Setup132
  - Hardware132
  - Software132
- Operation132
  - Single Trigger Mode132
  - Dual Trigger Mode133
- Tips and Tricks134
Chapter 11 Tips and Tricks135
- Introduction135
- Overexposure Protection135
- Signal Delay135
- Lasers138
- Inhibiting the Pulser During Readout139
- Lens Performance139
- Baseline Signal140
- Temperature Lock141
- Intensifier Alarm141
- Preamplifier Output Mode142
Chapter 12 Microscopy Applications143
- Introduction143
- Mounting the Camera on the Microscope143
- Operation146
- Imaging Hints147
- Fluorescence147
- Microscopes and Infrared Light148
Chapter 13 TTL Control149
- Introduction149
- TTL in149
- Buffered Vs. Latched Inputs150
- TTL out150
- Table 10. Bit Values with Decimal Equivalents: 1 = High, 0 = Low150
- TTL Diagnostics Screen151
- Hardware Interface151
  - Table 11. TTL In/Out Connector Pinout151
  - Example152
Chapter 14 System Component Descriptions153
- Introduction153
- PI-MAX Camera153
- ST-133 Controller155
- Figure 90. Power Switch Location (ST-133A and ST-133B)156
- Figure 91. ST-133 (Standard) Rear Panel Callouts157
- Figure 92. ST-133 (PI-MAX2) Rear Panel Callouts159
- Interface Card161
- Pulser161
- Spectrograph162
- Cables162
- Application Software164
- User Manuals164
Chapter 15 Troubleshooting165
- Introduction165
- Alarm Sounds Sporadically166
- Alarm Sounds Continuously166
- Baseline Signal Suddenly Changes166
- Camera Stops Working166
- Camera1 (or Similar Name) on Hardware Setup Dialog Box167
- Changing the ST-133 Line Voltage and Fuses168
- Controller Is Not Responding169
- Data Loss or Serial Violation169
- Data Overrun Due to Hardware Conflict Message169
- Data Overrun Has Occurred Message170
- Demo Is Only Choice on Hardware Wizard:interface Dialog (Versions 2.5.19.0 and Earlier)170
- Figure 97. Hardware Wizard: Interface Dialog Box171
- Demo, High Speed PCI, and PCI(Timer) Are Choices on Hardware Wizard:interface Dialog (Versions 2.5.19.0 and Earlier)172
- Figure 101. Rsconfig Dialog Box: Two Camera Styles173
- Detector Temperature, Acquire, and Focus Are Grayed out (Versions 2.5.19.0 and Earlier)174
- Error Creating Controller Message175
- Error Occurs at Computer Powerup175
- Table 12. I/O Address & Interrupt Assignments before Installing Serial Card176
- Table 13. I/O Address & Interrupt Assignments after Installing Serial Card176
- Excessive Readout Noise177
- No CCD Named in the Hardware Wizard:CCD Dialog (Versions 2.5.19.0 and Earlier)178
- Program Error Message178
- Removing/Installing a Plug-In Module179
- Figure 107. Module Installation180
- Securing the Detector-Controller Cable Slide Latch181
- Serial Violations Have Occurred. Check Interface Cable182
- Temperature Lock Cannot be Achieved or Maintained182
Appendix A Specifications183
- General183
- Computer185
- Operating Environment186
- Controller186
- Internal Pulser188
Appendix B Outline Drawings189
- Pi-Max/Pi-Max2189
- ST-133A Controller190
- ST-133B Controller191
Appendix C Software193
- Introduction193
- Camera State193
- Main Tab Page (Experiment Setup on Acquisition Menu)194
- Pulsers Dialog Box195
- PTG Dialog Box196
- DG535 Dialog Box196
Appendix D C-Mount and F-Mount Adapters199
- Attaching the C-Mount or F-Mount Adapter to the PI-MAX199
- Mounting the Lens200
- Mounting Orientation201
- Focusing202
Appendix E Spectroscopy-Mount and Spectrograph Adapters203
- Spectroscopy-Mount Adapter203
- Spectrograph Adapters204
- Spectrograph-Detector Focusing204
- Table 14. Spectrograph Adapters205
- Acton (Sliding Tube)206
- Acton (C-Mount Adapter)207
- Chromex 250 IS208
- Isa Hr 320209
- Isa Hr 640210
- Spex 270M211
- Spex 500M212
- SPEX Triplemate213
Appendix F IVUV Detector215
- Introduction215
- Nitrogen Purging of the Detector215
  - Dryness Requirement215
  - Backfilling216
Appendix G USB 2.0 Limitations217
- Table 15. Features Supported under USB 2.0217
Appendix H Glossary219
Declarations of Conformity225
- PI-MAX with ST-133 and PTG226
- Declaration of Conformity226
- PI-MAX with ST-133227
- PI-MAX2 with 16-Bit 5 Mhz ST-133228
Warranty & Service229
- Limited Warranty229
- Contact Information232
Index233

Questions and Answers:

M
Marvin MosesAug 16, 2025
What to do if a 'Data Overrun Has Occurred' message appears on my Princeton Instruments PI-MAX2 System Security Camera?
- A
  Alexa TateAug 16, 2025
  If you receive a 'Data Overrun Has Occurred' message while using your Princeton Instruments Security Camera, try the following: * Minimize the number of programs running in the background during data acquisition with WinX application software (WinView/32 or WinSpec/32). * Run data acquisition in Safe Mode. * Add memory. * Use binning. * Increase the exposure time. * Defragment the hard disk. * Update the Orange Micro USB 2 driver.
G
Gregory LopezAug 19, 2025
How to fix 'Data Overrun Due to Hardware Conflict' message on Princeton Instruments PI-MAX2 System?
- S
  Scott McdonaldAug 19, 2025
  To resolve a 'Data Overrun Due to Hardware Conflict' message on your Princeton Instruments Security Camera, follow these steps: 1. Check the CCD array size and then check the DMA buffer size. 2. Increase the DMA buffer size to a minimum of 32 Mb (64 Mb if it is currently 32 Mb or 128 Mb if it is currently 64 Mb), click on OK, and close the WinX application software. 3. Reboot your computer. 4. Restart the WinX application software and begin acquiring data or focusing. If you see the message again, increase the DMA buffer size.