Control Software for CCD Rows (CCDControl)

Task

Developing of a windows application for CCD rows (Stresing) within a spectroscope for aquiring the spectral intensity distribution. Recording and displaying time-shifting spectra with the highest possible precision of time.

Requirements

  • Highest constance of time while reading out the CCD row (necessary because of integrating behaviour)
  • Minimal sampling rate 10 ms
  • Automatic deleting of saturated CCD pixels
  • User-defined measurement periods: From 10 ms up to unlimited
  • Conversion alignment CCD pixel - wave length
  • Online and offline measurement data compression
  • Controlling the measurement with an external trigger signal possible
  • Remote controlling via DDE for synchronizing with other measurement software
  • Usage of 2D and 3D diagrams for displaying measurement data
  • Universal driver for several types of CCD rows
  • Offline data analysis with commercial software (Microsoft Excel, Microcal Origin)
LabWindows/CVI Application

Solution

Software development and programming in LabWindows/CVI (National Instruments). Usage of multithreading and realtime processes. Measurement controlled by multimedia timer and high performance timer of the operating system. Evaluated measurement data are displayed in a combined 2D/3D diagram and exported as spreadsheet ASCII file.