Acquisition control layout:
Acquisition control area provides overall control over spectral acquisition. This is where data acquisition mode is selected and actual acquisition is started and stopped.
The main parameter is Acquisition mode. It is selected through icon buttons on tabs in the upper pane and lower, general part. Total duration of acquisition in some modes is controlled by duration value. A special tab controls behavior in the SuperCycle mode.
xDSoft supports the following Acquisition modes:
mode |
what it does |
uses |
duration |
output |
idle
 |
idling, no acquisition |
none |
indefinite |
none |
monitor
 |
acquires and processes data, displays on the plot but does not save data |
probe shutter only, if present |
indefinite |
none |
single
 |
acquires, processes, and saves a single spectrum |
probe shutter only, if present |
integration count |
2DF |
continuous
 |
continuously acquires spectra, processes and appends to the destination file |
probe shutter only, if present |
duration here in real time |
3DF |
flash-continuous
 |
same as Continuous, except for operation of Exposure Shutter once or every cycle |
flash shutter reqd.
probe shutter, if present |
duration here in real time |
3DF |
exposure
 |
operates Exposure Shutter every cycle |
flash shutter reqd.
probe shutter, if present |
duration here in total exposure |
3DF |
Pause/Go
|
not a true mode, suspends current acquisition until stopped or resumed |
none |
indefinite |
N/A |
supercycle |
Repeats the same Acquisition mode a number of times |
by first mode |
by first mode |
xDF |
Idle mode
Idling is the main system mode when no data are acquired. During idling, data acquisition by the Detector is typically stopped.
Switching to Idle mode does not happen instantaneously upon pressing the Idle button. Instead, Acquisition control allows current acquisition cycle to complete and then terminates acquisition. If Idle button is pressed the second time before the end of the cycle is reached, pending mode switch will be aborted and acquisition will proceed uninterrupted.
In some cases it may be necessary to forcefully terminate acquisition cycle before it is complete. This can be done by double-clicking of Idle button while switching to Idle mode is pending. This is an extreme measure that can leave system unstable and should be used only as last resort.
Depending on the duration and number of acquisitions, there may be an extended delay before acquisition cycle is actually paused. During this period status bar will indicate that system is preparing to pause.
Icon of Idle button changes with current mode and pending mode switch. Point to images above for their meanings.
Pause/Go
Some modes can be paused and resumed using Pause/Go button. This is not a true mode but rather temporarily state that suspends current acquisition until it is either resumed by pressing Pause/Go button again or aborted by clicking Idle button.
While pause can be initiated at any moment, data flow will not be affected until the end of acquisition cycle, right after data have been saved to the Destination. If Pause/Go button is pressed the second time before the end of the cycle is reached, pending pause will be aborted and acquisition will proceed uninterrupted.
Depending on the duration and number of acquisitions, there may be an extended delay before acquisition cycle is actually paused. During this period status bar will indicate that system is preparing to pause.
Pausing is particularly useful in Exposure mode (i.e. pause to refill cryogen) and in long static accumulations (i.e. Raman spectroscopy) which are not based on real time and therefore are not affected. In real-time measurements pausing will produce corresponding gap in data.
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