User`s guide

ACQUISITION MODES
SDK SECTION 4
Page 42
Fast Kinetics
Fast Kinetics is a special readout mode that uses the actual sensor as a temporary storage medium and
allows an extremely fast sequence of images to be captured. The capture sequence is described with the
following steps:
Step 1: both the Image and Storage areas of the sensor are fully cleaned out (the Keep Clean Cycle)
Step 2: the Keep Clean Cycle stops and the acquisition begins. The image builds up on the illuminated section
of the sensor which is typically a small number of rows at the top of the sensor
Step 3: the sensor remains in this state until the exposure time has elapsed, at which point the complete
sensor is clocked vertically by the number of rows specified by the user.
Steps 4 & 5: the process is continued until the number of images stored equals the series length set by the
user.
Step 6: at this point the sequence moves into the readout phase by first vertically shifting the first image to the
bottom row of the sensor. The sensor is then read out in the standard method.
Points to consider for Fast Kinetics Mode:
• Light MUST only be allowed to fall on the specified sub-area. Light falling anywhere else will contaminate the
data.
• The maximum number of images in the sequence is set by the position of the sub-area, the height of the sub-
area and the number of rows in the CCD (Image and Storage area)
• There are no Keep Clean cycles during the acquisition sequence.
• The industry fastest vertical shift speeds of the iXon
EM
+ enables fastest time resolution with minimal vertical
smearing.
• A range of internal trigger and external trigger options are available for Fast Kinetics Readout.