ION IMAGING SYSTEM

HARDWARE

Overview

The imaging system hardware consists of the CCD camera, electronics unit for the camera, cooling unit for the camera, and the Photometrics interface card in the VME bus (the big white thing to the left of the Silicon Graphics computer.) (technical details of the hardware may be found in the CCD camera user's manual in the "Manuals Imaging" notebook in the ion probe lab.)

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  SETTING UP CCD CAMERA

  If the system is not already hooked up, the camera and cables are probably in the case by the door of the ion probe lab. You need the two black power cables for the control units and the two gray interface cables. To set up the system, first attach the camera to the ion probe. Remove the camera lens already on the CCD camera and slide the camera onto the lens installed in the sliding holder, to the left of the video camera. To do this, notice the "TOP" label on the camera head. This should be about 45 degrees clockwise from "up" to slide the camera on to the lens. Once the camera head is over the lens it should be rotated counter-clockwise so that "TOP" is up. Do not tighten the connection further (although you can) since its a good idea to have CCD images in the same orientation as you see on the video monitor. Once the camera is attached, put the plastic cap that was covering the ion probe lens on the other lens and put it back in the cabinet.

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  SETTING UP ELECTRONICS

  follow these steps:

   

  1. Place wooden support stand on floor under CCD camera, place LC200 cooling unit on stand, and place CE 200A electronics unit on cooling unit.

      

  2. Hook up power cables to both units and plug into power strip. DO NOT TURN ON POWER!

      

  3. Hook up interface cables (see diagram). Cable ends have labels stating where they go.

     

      

  4. Hook up cooling hose (double gray hose coming from front of LC200) to camera head (see diagram).

     

      

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  TURNING ON SYSTEM

  1. Turn on power strip.

      

  2. Turn on cooling unit first, then electronics.

     NEVER NEVER NEVER NEVER TURN ON THE ELECTRONICS UNIT WITH THE COOLING UNIT TURNED OFF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

      

  3. When camera temperature reaches -40 degrees C, you can use the system. Note there is a large black cloth kept on top of the cabinet by the door which should be placed over entire camera assembly during use to block out stray room light.

      

   

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  TAKING DOWN SYSTEM

  When the camera is not in use for a short period of time, the power should be turned off for both control units. If it is not in use for a long time it should be put away. To do this, make sure units are turned off, and disconnect all the cables. Put shorting plug in camera head, put tissue in liquid cooling plugs, remove the head, put original lens back on it and place it in the cabinet. Place plastic cap over lens on the sliding camera holder on the ion probe. Place control units on top of VME bus.

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