Advanced 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)

Solution

Developing of a measurement application with LabWindows/CVI (National Instruments) for Windows NT/2000. 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.