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A 32 bit RISC processor allows the Tristan to automatically carry out measurements, to process the results and export them over various interfaces. The TRISTAN® firmware serves first and foremost to provide useful measuring results directly from the spectrometer. All the device specific parameters are processed in the spectrometer and ready-to-use data is immediately available from the interface. Extra data processing in the PC is not necessary. As a result TRISTAN® Spectrometers can be easily integrated into the customer’s own software environment.
All the following functions can be controlled by PC or integrated display (TRISTAN® 5). The settings have to be made just once and then are stored in the device to be used for further measurements:
Add Cycles
The number of Add Cycles stands for the number of measurements (maximum 100 measurements) which are used to form and display an average value. Noise is thus reduced to a minimum and signals which are of an amplitude that corresponds to the noise of an individual measurement are visible
Iterations – Dynamic Extension
The iterations function allows the dynamic field of the TRISTAN® spectrometer to be increased. The maximum possible increase is by a factor of 27. This function is used for representing strong and weak signals in a measurement at the same time.
Both strong and weak signals can each be measured with their respective optimal exposure time. Small signal is raised out of the noise, strong signals do not run into saturation. The results from various measurements with changing exposure times are combined into one spectrum. A maximum of 8 iteration steps is possible.
Exposure Time
The exposure time either be chosen manually or automatically. The detector limits the exposure time. The software is suitably preconfigured. In automatic exposure mode, TRISTAN® automatically prevents the strongest signal reaching saturation and so presents the signal in an optimal way.
Amplitude Correction
The sensitivity of silicon detectors is different for every wavelength. The amplitude correction is used to balance out these characteristics. This function allows the spectral distribution and intensity to be represented correctly without the characteristics of the detector influencing the results. This correction function is used on every measurement but can be manually switched off.
Dark Current Compensation
Depending on the detector temperature and exposure time, a variably strong dark current is influencing every measurement. The dark current compensation reduces noise and signal drifts by exposure time and temperature are eliminated. This is an automatic function, which means that neither manual dark current correction nor a shutter are necessary. In order to perform precise temperature compensation, every TRISTAN is equipped with a continuos temperature measurement on the detectors surface. This temperature is also logged within the measurement results.
Noise Filter
The amplitude difference between two pixels can not be more than the Gaussian form allows. If a greater deviation is determined, it is not caused by the measured signal but by noise. The noise filter cleans such disturbances from the signal. This function can be constantly activated as it only reduces noise without reducing the signals resolution.
Gaussian Filter
The Gaussian filter provides a smoothing function for the curves. A Gaussian function is set mathematically for each pixel. The smoothing can be adjusted manually. This function can reduce the resolution of the measurement results in order to make effects visible what are related to a greater number of pixels.
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