Ocean Optics External Triggering Options Instructions for Spectrometers with Firmware Version 3.0 and Above - Manual (Page 2)

External Triggering Options Instructions for FW 3.0 and Above
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Triggering Mode Description Use This Trigger Mode When You …
External Hardware
Level Trigger Integration time set via software on a
chip in spectrometer. The spectrometer
waits for a sharp rise in voltage on the
trigger input pin, and then acquires
spectra until the voltage is removed. Need a continuous acquisition
whenever a certain condition is met,
such as:
- when reacting to a sample being
present or
- when a sample reaches a specific
state that you want to measure
External
Synchronous Trigger Spectrometer acquires data from an
external trigger event (such as a push
button) until the next time the trigger is
activated, at which time the
spectrometer ceases spectral
acquisition and begins a new
acquisition. Integration time cannot be
set, since the trigger can fire at random
intervals. Must synchronize your scans to an
external clock source
Are using a lock-in amplifier
Are using a chopper
External Hardware
Edge Trigger Integration time set via software on a
chip in spectrometer. The spectrometer
waits for a sharp rise in voltage on the
trigger input pin, and then acquires
spectra. This trigger acquires one
spectrum each time that there is a
sharp rising edge (if an acquisition is
not already in progress). Are using a pulsed excitation source or
light source in your experiment (such
as a laser or flash lamp)
Are doing LIF (fluorescence with
pulsed excitation) or phosphorescence
experiments
Need to synchronize an acquisition
with an external event
Setting Up for External Triggering
IMPORTANT: Voltage Regulation
The maximum recommended voltage on the Triggering Pin is 5.5 V. If your triggering device exceeds
this voltage, you must regulate or condition the signal (via transistor buffering, transformer isolation or
opto-isolation, for example) or isolate the signal from the spectrometer.
Note
To use one of the External Triggering options, you must know the specifications and
limitations of the triggering device. The design of the triggering device may prevent you
from using one of the external triggering modes as it is described in these pages.