53
Chapter 5
General Operation Factors
Introduction
The purpose of the First Light chapter was to help you get your system up and running so
you could verify that it worked. The step-by-step procedures provided the appropriate
settings but did not explain why those settings were selected. The information in this
chapter covers general operation factors that apply to both Shutter Mode and Gate
Mode operation of the PI-MAX system. These factors play a part before, during, and
after the exposure and readout of the CCD array: dark charge, clean cycles, continuous
cleans, exposure modes, readout, digitization, software binning, and background
subtraction. Factors that are specific to a particular intensifier mode and pulser are
included in the appropriate chapter.
Data Acquisition Sequence
When data is acquired, the CCD array is exposed to an incoming signal, which integrates on
the array. At the end of the exposure time, the charge from the array pixels must be read out,
digitized, and transferred to the computer before the image from the array appears on the
computer screen. This sequence is shown in the block diagram below (Figure 14).
Figure 14. Block Diagram of Signal Path in Standard PI-MAX System
To Next Page
Loading...
