Braun Network Card MCA166 USB User Manual

Miniature Multi-Channel Analyzer  
MCA166-USB  
User’s Manual  
Version 3.0  
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Table of Contents  
1 Introduction.......................................................................................................................5  
2 Hardware..........................................................................................................................6  
2.1 Users safety information...........................................................................................6  
2.1.1 Power Source..................................................................................................6  
2.1.2 High Voltage Supply........................................................................................6  
2.2 General Description..................................................................................................6  
2.2.1 Power management.........................................................................................7  
2.2.2 Switching on.....................................................................................................7  
2.2.3 Charging the MCA166-USB.............................................................................8  
2.2.4 Connecting the MCA166-USB to a Computer.................................................8  
2.2.5 Connection of detectors...................................................................................9  
2.2.6 Additional external battery pack and Power Pack.........................................10  
3 Software.........................................................................................................................10  
3.1 Overview.................................................................................................................10  
3.2 SPEC (MS-DOS), WinSPEC (Windows)................................................................11  
3.3 MCS (MS-DOS), WinMCS (Windows)...................................................................11  
3.4 U235 (MS-DOS), WinU235 (Windows)..................................................................11  
3.5 UF6 (MS-DOS), WinUF6........................................................................................11  
3.6 LENG......................................................................................................................11  
3.7 RATE......................................................................................................................12  
3.8 WinSCAN...............................................................................................................12  
3.9 Identify....................................................................................................................12  
3.10 MCAPlot and MCAPrint..........................................................................................13  
3.11 MMCAEVAL...........................................................................................................13  
3.12 MCAWAND.............................................................................................................13  
3.13 Miscellaneous.........................................................................................................14  
4 MCA166-USB parameters for use with different detectors............................................14  
5 Some of the most important photon energies................................................................15  
6 Technical Data...............................................................................................................16  
6.1 MCA166-USB Hardware Specifications.................................................................16  
6.1.1 Amplifier.........................................................................................................16  
6.1.2 ADC................................................................................................................17  
6.1.3 Power supply.................................................................................................18  
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MCA166-USB  
6.1.4 Preamplifier Voltages.....................................................................................18  
6.1.5 High Voltage..................................................................................................18  
6.1.6 Battery............................................................................................................18  
6.1.7 Computer Interface........................................................................................19  
6.1.8 Mechanical specification................................................................................19  
6.1.9 Environmental ratings....................................................................................19  
6.2 Diagrams and pin connections...............................................................................20  
7 Troubleshooting.............................................................................................................22  
APPENDIX 1 - MCA166-USB spectral data format..........................................................25  
APPENDIX 2 - MCA166-USB algorithm, formulas...........................................................32  
APPENDIX 3 - Description of the communication DLLs...................................................35  
APPENDIX 4 - Description of the MCA166-USB firmware functions............................... 58  
APPENDIX 5 - Changing the MCA166-USB Firmware....................................................72  
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1 Introduction  
The MiniMCA MCA166-USB is a battery powered high performance 4K Multi-Channel  
Analyzer/Multi-Channel Scaler module comparable in its performance with laboratory  
grade MCA. High voltage supply for detector and preamplifier power supply are integrated  
as well as an internal amplifier and pulse shaping network. Together with a small detector  
it forms a pocket-size gamma spectroscopy system and timer / counter, which is well  
suited to the demands of field measurements for international safeguards, environmental  
monitoring, nuclear waste treatment facilities, radioactive transport control and similar  
applications.  
Furthermore, the MCA166-USB supports a vast number of different detectors and its 4k  
resolution is adequate to support high resolution gamma spectrometry with HPGe  
detectors.  
The MiniMCA software allows to operate the device as a general purpose multi channel  
analyzer (SPEC, WinSPEC) and multi scaler analyzer (MCS, WinMCS). Additional user  
programs which support safeguards specific applications as U-235 enrichment  
verification, spectral radiation survey meter mode supporting active length determination  
are available. See chapter 3 for more information.  
The device can also be operated with the ORTEC software (MAESTRO, GammaVision,  
ScintiVision etc.); contact ORTEC for details.  
The firmware of the MCA166-USB (software of MCAs internal processor) is described in  
Appendix 3 and 4. Instructions how to change the firmware can be found in Appendix 5.  
Basic software functions  
File menu: write/read functions with drive/path and file pick list functions  
Setup menu: ADC, Amplifier, Presets, Memory splitting, MCA mode, MCS mode,  
Multi spectral recording mode, automated instrument configuration using setup files  
Acquire control: Start, Stop, Clear, Presets  
Automated repeated measurement functions  
Display functions: Automated linear and logarithmic, manual linear Y scale, X axis,  
expansion and scrolling, Cursor function, ROI setting and processing  
Peak stabilization  
Analysis functions: ROI peak area and integral, FWHM calculation  
Analysis report function  
Energy calibration function: calibration curve using up to 3 peaks  
Incorporated help texts  
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MCA166-USB  
2 Hardware  
2.1 Users safety information  
Read all these instructions first!  
Save these instructions for later use.  
Do Not Remove Connectors  
To avoid personal injury or damage of equipment, do not remove the connectors for the  
High Voltage supply, preamplifier supply, and the input connector until the High Voltage is  
shut down and the device is switched off at least for 1 minute.  
Do Not Remove Covers  
Do not open the device before the power is switched off.  
2.1.1 Power Source  
This device is intended to operate from an internal accumulator set (high  
performance Li-Ion battery) or together with an external wall adapter.  
Furthermore the device can be powered directly from a high power USB port (up  
to the maximum nominal input power of 2,5W).  
Do not apply more than the specified voltage to the wall adapter. Usually it is 230VAC  
nominal. The adapter must be in a good condition. Never use a damaged wall adapter!  
2.1.2 High Voltage Supply  
Make sure that the High Voltage connector and the High Voltage supply cable of  
the detector are in a good condition before connecting them to the MCA166-USB  
or before switching the High Voltage on. Do not allow anything to rest on the HV  
cable.  
Never insert objects of any kind into the High Voltage connector as they may touch the  
dangerous voltage point. This might cause an electric shock or a damage of the device.  
2.2 General Description  
The MCA166-USB is an autonomous module. The device has its own battery and  
provides power supply to radiation detectors. Together with a computer the MCA166-USB  
forms a multi channel analyzer. The spectra are collected in the memory of the MCA166-  
USB and are periodically transferred via a serial interface to the computer. The computer  
is used to setup the MCA166-USB, to display and process the measurement results, and  
to store the data. The design concept of the MCA166-USB also supports a Multi-Channel  
Scaler mode.  
For operation the MCA166-USB itself has only a power switch and a green LED indicator.  
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2.2.1 Power management  
The MCA166-USB works with a built in rechargeable Li-Ion battery, which has no memory  
effect and is deep discharge and short circuit protected. If the device is working, the  
remaining battery life time is permanently checked. When the battery voltage has dropped  
down to 6.8 Volts, while a data collection is in progress, the MCA166-USB gives out a  
warning to the user (the lamp will flash irregularly and the software will show an error  
message). The running measurement is automatically stopped and the detector high  
voltage together with the preamplifier power supply will be switched off.  
Now the user can transfer the measured spectrum to the computer, but should switch the  
device off afterwards or connect the charger. If the user does not respond, and the battery  
life time is nearly used up (battery voltage 6.5 Volts) , the device switches off  
automatically. It is made sure, that the set up and the spectrum gathered previously is  
saved in the memory of the MCA166-USB for at least several month.  
The remaining battery life time is sufficient to transfer the measured spectrum to a  
computer. It is recommended, before reading out the MCA166-USB, to connect it to the  
charger.  
In the case that the battery voltage drops below its lowest value, the battery itself switches  
off. This can be, for example, the result of a lasting short circuit at the preamplifier power  
supply. As a consequence the internal setup and the measured values are lost. The  
MCA166-USB has to be connected to the charger to recharge the battery.  
2.2.2 Switching on  
The MCA166-USB is set into operation by turning the power switch on (see Figure 1).  
After that, the green power ON LED flashes with a frequency of 2.5 Hz if no MMCA  
software runs on the connected computer. If the power switch is already in position ON  
(for example after an automatic switch off due to a complete loss of battery power) switch  
OFF and to ON again. When the power ON LED does not flash, connect the MCA166-  
USB with the charger and repeat once more. The MCA166-USB is on line with the  
computer if the LED flashes with 1.2 Hz. Irregular flashing of the lamp indicates an error.  
Figure 1:  
Front  
Panel of  
MCA166-  
USB  
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MCA166-USB  
2.2.3 Charging the MCA166-USB  
Charging the MCAs battery is usually done by connecting the wall adapter to the ”Charger  
In” connector and power it from the mains supply. The wall adapter is able to deliver  
enough power to operate the MCA166-USB stationary under a maximum load condition  
(HV on, detector draws up to 2W preamplifier power). If the MCA166-USB is operated on  
a high power USB hub and the wall adapter isn’t connected, the MCA166-USB can be  
charged from the USB port. But there is a limitation of 2,5W nominal input power which is  
the maximum power that can be drawn from a high power USB port (real usable input  
power depends on hub voltage, voltage loss on USB cable and connectors and efficiency  
of internal charger; it is usually about 2W). This is enough power to operate the MCA166-  
USB without detector or with a low power detector (e.g. CdZnTe or NaI). If a detector  
draws to much power from the MCA166-USB (e.g. some HPGe), charging via USB is still  
working but the battery runs out slowly.  
If the MCA166-USB is connected to a working high power USB hub, charging will start  
after 6 seconds automatically. It is possible to disable USB charging by some newer  
application programs such as WinSpec. This is very useful if the MCA is operated at a  
laptop computer which runs on battery. Connecting the wall adapter to the MCA166-USB  
and supply it with power will always disable USB charging.  
The old battery chargers supplied with the MCA166 (3 pin LEMO connector) are not  
compatible with the MCA166-USB! Don’t try to connect them to the MCA166-USB. The  
connectors are mechanically different.  
2.2.4 Connecting the MCA166-USB to a Computer  
Communication between MCA166-USB and host computer is possible via a standard  
serial connection (RS232) or via USB interface. For RS232 communication the RS232  
cable with SUB-D9 connector must be connected between the MCAs PC-socket and the  
computer, for USB communication the special USB cable with LEMO connector must be  
used respectively. Two baud rates can be used for communication on both interfaces,  
38.400 Baud and 307.200 Baud. Both baud rates are usable on both interfaces but most  
computers doesn't support 307.200 Baud on the RS232 interface. The firmware of the  
MCA166-USB is able to detect the baud rate and changes it accordingly. Newer  
application programs tries to connect the MCA with the higher baud rate first, if it doesn't  
work they try it with 38.400 Baud. This method guarantees that communication always  
works on the highest possible baud rate without user interaction and maintains  
compatibility to older MCAs (supporting only 38.400 Baud). Because the firmware of the  
MCA166-USB is able to detect the baud rate, it is also possible to control this MCA with  
older application programs which support only 38.400 Baud.  
Running the MCA166-USB on a Palmtop computer or Pocket PC is principal possible but  
needs a special communication cable. Please contact GBS-Elektronik for availability. For  
0S-306) on Page 21.  
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2.2.5 Connection of detectors  
To connect a detector switch the device off. Before connecting the high voltage  
connector of the detector make sure that the built in High Voltage supply has the correct  
polarity and that the power consumption of the detector does not exceed the maximum  
value ( 0.5mA or 0.25 Watt).  
On the right side of the MCA166-USB case (front view) the high voltage indicator is  
located (Figure 1). If it shines red a positive HV module is inserted, if it shines blue a  
negative HV module is present. If the indicator is black / dark gray no HV module is  
present. Furthermore, it is possible to check the HV polarity by software; go to the menu  
setup / high voltage and look at indicated polarity. The correct values for HV, polarity, and  
power consumption should be found in the detectors manual.  
Check by the detector manual that the pin assignment of the preamplifier power  
supply connector is compatible with the MCA166-USB, and that the power  
consumption does not exceed the maximum ratings (see Table 6, Chapter 6.2).  
Connect the cable for the preamplifier power supply of the detector to the  
concerning female D9 connector on the MCA166-USB and attach it by the clamps.  
Plug the BNC Signal connector of the detector to the female BNC input connector  
of MCA166-USB.  
Plug the High Voltage connector of detector into the female SHV connector of  
MCA166-USB.  
If problems occur, it is possible to check the detector signal and the main amplifier signal  
(Amplifier Test out, see figure 1) with a scope. A typical signal which should be seen is  
shown in figure 2.  
0
-0.01  
Figure 2:  
-0.02  
Typical signals which  
can be seen at the  
detector preamplifier out  
-0.03  
-0.04  
and the amplifier test  
out. This example:  
1
CdZnTe Detector  
SDP310/Z/60,  
measuring a Cs137  
sample, amplifier setting  
200*0.91, negative  
pulses, 1µs shaping  
time, pulse height  
0
0
5
10  
15  
Time (µs)  
equals to about channel  
662 of 1024 channels.  
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MCA166-USB  
Typical errors which may be observed with the detector preamp signal are:  
Rise time is too slow (>0.5 µs). This may cause that the pile up rejector does not  
work correctly. There may be even a large amount of regular pulses rejected and  
especially the high energetic part of the spectrum seriously affected. When using  
such detectors switch pile up rejection off.  
The fall time is too fast (time constant resp. 1/e fall time < 40µs). This causes that  
the pole/zero setting cannot be correctly adjusted. Consequences may be peak  
shift and peak broadening with higher count rates and increased low energy  
spectrum cutoff. Try to use another preamplifier.  
2.2.6 Additional external battery pack and Power Pack  
Because of the changed charging mechanism of the MCA166-USB the older battery  
packs and power packs cannot be used! The MCA166-USB offers a higher battery  
capacity, improved efficiency and is able to supply more power on ±24V than the older  
MCA166. So two main features offered by the battery pack / power pack are now partially  
integrated in the MCA itself and makes this devices obsolete. If more battery capacity is  
needed, please contact GBS-Elektronik GmbH.  
3 Software  
3.1 Overview  
There are several programs to operate the MCA166-USB. All of them serve a special  
purpose. There are programs for MS-DOS and Windows (32 Bit). The MS-DOS software  
was originally developed for the HP 200LX, whose footprint coincident with the footprint of  
the MCA166. The Windows programs were developed to operate the MCA166 more  
comfortably. Besides, they are (together with at least Windows 98 or Windows 2000)  
essential to connect the MCA166-USB via USB cable, for the rest, only RS232  
communication is possible.  
Furthermore, there are programs and software components to view and evaluate the  
measured data.  
The following sections give brief descriptions of the programs. You can find more detailed  
information on the CD delivered together with the device. You should also use the online  
help of each program.  
The diagnostics menu of each program shows the primary currents of the preamplifier  
power supply (±12V and ±24V). This are not the currents that draws the detector.  
However, this currents can be easily calculated using the following formula:  
U Batt  
I out0.8I Batt  
U out  
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3.2 SPEC (MS-DOS), WinSPEC (Windows)  
These programs are the default programs for measuring spectra. It supports semi-  
automated measurements of gamma ray spectra with the MCA166-USB. The spectra are  
stored on mass storage media on a PC. There are two variants of WinSPEC. WinSPEC-I  
(for Inspectors) was designed for standard use. WinSPEC-A (for Automation) was  
designed for unattended measurements. Special features of WinSPEC-A are:  
Automatic restart of the program after lost of mains power, program or operating  
system crash  
Sending commands to a special hardware module on LPT1 for monitoring the  
”State of health” (already integrated) and other states (not integrated yet)  
Writing zip files  
Data file retrieval to a flashcard  
Archiving of data files  
Writing a log file  
3.3 MCS (MS-DOS), WinMCS (Windows)  
These programs support semiautomated measurements of time distributions with any  
radiation detector (HPGe, NaI, CdTe, CdZnTe and neutron counters. There are two  
variants of WinMCS. WinMCS-I (for Inspectors) was designed for standard use. WinMCS-  
A (for Automation) was designed for unattended measurements. It contains the same  
special features like WinSPEC-A (see above).  
3.4 U235 (MS-DOS), WinU235 (Windows)  
These programs support stabilized U-235 enrichment verification measurements with a  
NaI or CdZnTe detector (PMCN, PMCC). The algorithm bases on absolute intensity  
measurement of the 186 keV photon energy. It also needs a two point intensity calibration  
with two standards.  
Reevaluation/recalibration using previously recorded spectra is possible. Verification results are  
documented in a report file, which is automatically saved with the extension *.rep.  
3.5 UF6 (MS-DOS), WinUF6  
Similar to U235 or WinU235, but optimized for HPGe detectors. Only one intensity  
calibration measurement is necessary.  
3.6 LENG  
This program supports semiautomated active length measurement (HM-4) using a  
miniature NaI or CdZnTe detector.  
11  
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MCA166-USB  
3.7 RATE  
This program supports measurements of count rates with any radiation detector (HPGe,  
NaI, CdTe, CdZnTe and neutron counters). In the most convenient mode of operation only  
the menu button "measurement" needs to be "pressed" to start a measurement and  
showing the count rates in form of a LCD display and a bar graph.  
3.8 WinSCAN  
WinSCAN is used for candu bundle verifications. WinSCAN is in its features somewhere  
between MCA and MCS. It can measure up to 500 Spectra and save them in one file.  
Evaluation is similar to MCS, just that there is not only an integral spectrum but one  
spectrum for every point so it is possible to evaluate courses off arbitrary net or integral  
ROI areas.  
3.9 Identify  
Identify is an intelligent, interactive software tool to evaluate spectra measured with the  
MCA166-USB or other MCAs. It does peak search and nuclide identification. HPGe,  
CdZnTe and NaI detector gamma spectra are supported. For correct peak search a  
starting point for the detector resolution and efficiency is assumed based on detector type  
and size. Features:  
includes full master library of gamma lines (derived from table of radioactive  
isotopes)  
editor for creating application specific evaluation libraries  
detector function is calculated from detector data sheet, no efficiency calibration  
needed  
automatic determination of FWHM of the peaks found in a spectrum as function of  
energy  
supports 1 to 3 point energy calibration  
linear, logarithmic, square root, and double log representation possible  
error estimations/confidence assessment for identified isotopes and visualization  
(by overlay of calculated spectrum for a certain isotope)  
switching between English and German languages  
interactive nuclide pattern identification  
nuclide assignment suggestions also for each single peak  
instant graphical comparison to simulated spectra by clicking on a nuclide  
Win 3.1 version also available  
IDENTIFY is not included in the MCA price  
IDENTIFY routines are also available as library for MS Windows and Linux  
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3.10 MCAPlot and MCAPrint  
MCAPlot and MCAPrint are programs to view and print spectra recorded with the  
MCA166-USB. Up to 32 spectra can be viewed at the same time and be printed on one  
page. Also some evaluation functions are available. MCAPlot is not included in the MCA  
price. MCAPrint is a free downgraded version of MCAPlot.  
3.11 MMCAEVAL  
MMCAEVAL is a program for evaluating groups of spectra and extracting information to a  
MS Access style data base.  
3.12 MCAWAND  
MCAWand is a program for converting different file formats. Please note that there may  
be always a loss of information as not all kind of information about the spectrum is  
supported by every file format. The following information is converted:  
Channel Data  
Energy Calibration  
Energy Calibration points  
Live time, Real time  
Date and Time of measurement  
Spectrum Remark  
The following file formats are supported:  
Table 1: Supported file formats by MCAWAND  
Source  
Target  
*.spe (MCA166 native)  
*.chn (Ortec)  
*.spe (Interwinner)  
*.spc (Target)  
*.dat  
*.spe (MCA166 native)  
*.chn (Ortec)  
*.spe (Interwinner)  
*.dat (two column: energy,  
Channel content)  
*.de1 (Canberra S100)  
*.dat (Silena Gamma 2000)  
*.spk (Röntgenanalytik)  
*.spa (Sarad)  
*.usf (URSA)  
13  
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MCA166-USB  
3.13 Miscellaneous  
For communication and evaluation some libraries for MS Windows and Linux are  
available. This may help the make own application programs or to integrate the  
MCA166-USB in an existing system.  
4 MCA166-USB parameters for use with different detectors  
This table shall just give an overview of possible settings useful with the MCA166-USB. It  
is far from being complete. For actual settings with your detector, see the detectors  
manual.  
Table 2: Parameters for different detectors  
CdZnTe SDP/Z/60  
CdZnTe SDP/Z/20  
CdZnTe CZT500  
Ritec  
Ritec  
Ritec  
+300  
+500  
+600  
x x -  
x x -  
x x -  
-
-
-
neg 1024 90  
neg 1024 80  
pos 1024 128  
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
2
2
2
2
2
NaI  
Scintiblock  
25825  
Crismatec +500  
Scionix +550  
Amcrys-h -800  
Eurorad  
pos 512  
pos 512  
pos 512  
neg 256  
7.2  
90  
NaI  
x x -  
x x  
-
-
NaI  
40*40  
14  
CsI  
Sc1010  
-
x x -  
160  
HPGe  
HPGe  
HPGe  
HPGe  
GMX-20190-S Ortec  
-3000 x x x x neg 4096 18  
+3000 x x x x pos 4096 24  
Canberra -3000 neg 4096 11  
GEM 15-190 Ortec  
GR 2018  
GL 0310  
7865S  
Canberra -2000 x x x - neg 4096 2.3  
Si  
Ortec  
-1000  
neg 4096 1.9  
planar  
HPGe  
HPGe  
EGC 30-190R Eurisys  
EGPC 25-185 Eurisys  
-3000  
+2000  
pos 4096 52  
neg 4096 35  
2
2
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5 Some of the most important photon energies  
Table 3: Photon energies for different isotopes  
Isotope  
Am241  
Cd109  
Bi214  
Half-life  
432.2y  
462.6d  
Energy (keV)  
26.34/59.54  
88.03  
Branching ratio (%)  
2.4/36  
3.63  
19.9min,  
daughter of  
Ra226  
609.31  
46.09  
Ce139  
Co60  
137.64d  
5.271y  
271.8d  
30.07y  
13.3.y  
165.86  
79.87  
1173.23/1332.49  
14.4/122.06/136.47  
661.66  
99.85/99.98  
9.16/85.6/10.68  
85.1  
Co57  
Cs137  
Eu152  
121.77/344.28/778.91/ 28.38/26.59/12.98/14.46/  
964.11/1112.07/1408. 13.57/20.85  
00  
Hg203  
Mn54  
46.61d  
312.2d  
279.19  
834.82  
81.84  
99.98  
Pb214  
26.8min,  
daughter of  
Ra226  
241.91/295.09/351.86 7.46/19.17/37.06  
Ra226  
Sn113  
Sr85  
1600y  
186.11  
391.7  
514.0  
3.28  
64.89  
98.4  
115.09d  
64.84d  
7.04E8y  
U235  
143.78/163.37/185.73/ 10.53/4.7/53.15/4.7  
205.33  
Y88  
106.65  
898.04  
94  
Pb fluorescence x- -  
rays  
74.96/72.79/84.99/  
87.34  
15  
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MCA166-USB  
6 Technical Data  
6.1 MCA166-USB Hardware Specifications  
6.1.1 Amplifier  
1. Type  
Gaussian programmable shaping amplifier with pile-up rejector and gated base  
line restorer  
2. Gain  
From 1 ... 1000  
Minimum gain step 0.5 channel for 2K scale  
Gain tuning under visual control of spectrum  
Gain adjustment by peak stabilizer  
Integral linearity of amplifier <0.1% for full output range  
3. Input  
accepts positive and negative preamplifier signals  
input resistance 1k  
DC coupled, accepting +/-200mV DC levels  
maximum input signal corresponding to full ADC scale at minimum gain:  
+/-3V (+/-10V with external attenuator) and input set to direct input. With input  
set to amplifier the maximum voltage step from preamplifier corresponding to  
ADC full scale at gain 1 is 9.5V, corresponding to a peak voltage at the test  
point of 2.2V.  
4. Pulse shaping  
active integrator and single, pole zero compensated differentiator with two  
shaping time constants (1µs and 2µs)  
5. Base line restorer (BLR)  
Active, gated Base Line Restorer  
6. Pole Zero Cancellation (PZC)  
settings: automated by MCA software and manual setting option  
designed for decay time of the preamplifier pulses >40µs; screen indicator  
allows PZC without scope  
7. Pile UP Rejector (PUR)  
settings: OFF and ON  
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6.1.2 ADC  
1. Successive approximation ADC with sliding scale linearisation  
Channel splitting 128, 256, 512, 1K, 2K, or 4K  
Full input voltage range 3V, positive and negative (10V with external attenuator)  
2. ADC Dead time (including time needed to write into memory)  
< 8 µsec  
3. Nonlinearities  
Differential nonlinearity (over 95% channel range) <2%  
Integral nonlinearity (over 95% channel range) <0.1%  
4. Peak capturing  
Works with pulse of gaussian shaping amplifier (range of shaping time constant  
between 0.5µs and 5µs)  
5. Temperature Stability  
TK 100 (ADC), TK 500 (Amplifier)  
6. Discriminators and threshold  
Digital LLD and ULD (allows channelwise cutting)  
Analogue threshold (2...60% of ADC range)  
Multi Channel Scaling (MCS) mode allowing to count the following pulses  
TTL input pulses (minimum width of flat top 0.2µs) not routed through the ADC  
(maximum rate 1 MHz)  
LLD/ULD counting mode, counting pulses within a preset digital window  
Count rate derived from internal amplifier ICR signal (maximum count rate  
determined by count rate limitation of amplifier )  
Dwell time 0.01s to 500s  
7. Spectrometric performance:  
Resolution (FWHM) for typical 500mm² planar HPGe detector for count rates <  
10000cps and a Co-57 source at 122keV:  
610±20eV at 1µs shaping time  
580±20eV at 2µs shaping time  
Peak shift:  
< 0.5% for 1µs shaping time and count rates from 1000 to 70000cps  
< 0.2% for 2µs shaping time and count rates from 1000 to 40000cps  
deterioration of FWHM < 5% for both conditions  
Throughput in memory:  
at least 25000cps in memory at 50000cps input rate and 1µs shaping time  
at least 13000cps in memory at 30000cps input rate and 2µs shaping time  
17  
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MCA166-USB  
6.1.3 Power supply  
Power supply adequate for commonly used NaI, HPGe, CdTe and proportional  
counters  
Current limited mode with indication of overload condition through software; short  
circuit protected and automated recovery after overload or shortening  
6.1.4 Preamplifier Voltages  
± 12V; maximum current 60mA for each of the voltages  
± 24V; maximum current 60mA for each of the voltages  
Maximum total power at least 2W  
6.1.5 High Voltage  
Single positive or negative modular HV supply reaching from 50V to 3000V  
Indication of high voltage sign and value by software  
Calibration within 1% at maximum of bias voltage  
Maximum current 0.5mA or 0.25W (e.g. 1000V and 0.25mA)  
6.1.6 Battery  
Rechargeable Li-ion battery with no memory effect  
Deep discharge protected  
Battery capacity 32Wh at 20°C  
Charger input: 9V ... 14V / 0.8A  
Measured values of the battery life time  
If no detector connected: 30 hours  
Expected battery life time with detection systems connected:  
Standard IAEA NaI detector (ORTEC/SCIONIX): 27 hours  
Bias:  
500V, 100µA  
100mW  
Preamplifier:  
Miniature CdTe detection probe (SDP310, RITEC, Latvia): 25 hours  
Bias:  
400V, 100nA  
Preamplifier:  
+12V/20mA, -12V/9.5mA (@8.4V)  
Standard planar HPGe detector (e.g. Canberra, Ortec): 14 hours  
Bias:  
2000V, 1nA  
Preamplifier:  
±12V: 35/-25mA; ±24V: 55/-27mA (@8.4V)  
18  
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6.1.7 Computer Interface  
RS-232C serial port  
USB 1.1; virtual COM port is used  
38.400Baud and 307.200Baud; both baud rates available on both interfaces  
proprietary software protocol  
6.1.8 Mechanical specification  
Size:  
155mm x 95mm x 45mm (footprint of palmtop HP200LX)  
Weight: app. 700g (incl. battery)  
6.1.9 Environmental ratings  
Range of storage temperature:  
-20°C ... +60°C  
Range of operational temperatures: 0°C ... 50°C  
Range of humidity: up to 90%, noncondensing  
19  
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MCA166-USB  
6.2 Diagrams and pin connections  
Figure 3: Block Diagram of the MCA166-USB  
20  
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Table 4: Wiring Diagram of the Charger Input Connector (female Lemo 00-302)  
Contact  
Signal  
1
2
+ charge voltage  
- charge voltage  
Table 5: Wiring Diagram of the PC Interface Connector (female Lemo 0S-306)  
Contact  
Signal  
1
2
3
4
5
6
5V USB  
D- USB  
D+ USB  
GND  
RxD RS232 (Input)  
TxD RS232 (Output)  
Table 6: Preamplifier Power Supply Connector (D9 female)  
Contact Voltage  
max. Current  
1
2
3
4
5
GND  
GND  
-
+12 V  
60mA  
HV-Inhibit Signal /  
ext. Trigger  
6
7
8
9
-24 V  
+24 V  
-
60mA  
60mA  
-12 V  
60mA  
Table 7: HV-Inhibit Signal  
HV-Inhibit mode2  
Voltage at Pin 5  
off  
-
Canberra, DFG  
Ortec  
< 0.5V  
+5V  
1 see Table 4  
2 see Windows DLL description  
21  
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MCA166-USB  
7 Troubleshooting  
General Remark:  
Before changing anything concerning the hardware, plugging or pulling cables etc. shut  
down the high voltage and switch off the MCA.  
Soldering or manipulating with the SMD boards is strongly not recommended for users.  
We have specialists for that. If you have a problem which cannot be solved by the table  
below, contact us. If it is really a hardware fault, we can repair this for a fair price.  
1. Software tells "MCA not connected!"  
Switch on the MCA  
Check cable between MCA and Computer. Serial cable may be loose or not  
connected. Connect cable correctly  
Check MCA battery. Charge MCA battery  
The MCA is not recognized (”MCA not connected”) running MCA DOS Software  
in a DOS Box on Notebooks  
Disable Power Save Mode for COM Port  
2. MCA lamp does not flash regardless if the switch is on or off  
MCA battery empty. Charge MCA battery.  
The MCA firmware programming switches are in a wrong position. The firmware  
programming switches must be all in ”off” position. Do not play around with  
them!  
3. MCA lamp flashes irregularly, Computer tells "MCA power failure" or beeps  
MCA battery very low. Charge MCA battery.  
MCA internal or communication error. Switch off and on MCA, restart software.  
4. Power Supply Error: Goto Diagnostics, Measurement is not possible  
MCA battery very low. Charge MCA battery and switch on HV and preamplifier  
supplies again.  
Go to diagnostics, blinking power supply currents indicate overload.  
Short circuit in detector? Check if detector is defective. Disconnect detector, try  
again. (Do not pull or plug connectors when MCA is on!) Change detector.  
Too power-hungry preamplifier. A fully charged MCA battery may help  
sometimes. Otherwise you have to exchange the preamplifier.  
If the diagnostics menu shows irregular high currents or even overload although  
there is no detector connected to the MCA and the battery voltage is ok, there  
may be a fault in the internal power supply. Contact GBS for repair.  
22  
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5. The threshold of the spectrum seems to be much higher than expected.  
The input polarity may be wrong. Does the threshold depend on radioactive  
source and count rate? Try some other input polarity.  
P/Z may not be set correctly. Please check if P/Z is correctly adjusted.  
If the lower cutoff rises by itself, this is most probable caused by the auto  
threshold circuit which is responsible for detecting the noise level and adjusting  
the threshold to it. This auto threshold circuit uses the negative part of the  
amplifier output pulses to estimate noise. If now pole zero is severely  
maladjusted with strong undershoot, the undershoot is misinterpreted as noise  
and the threshold is increased, especially at medium and high count rates.  
Please check the detector preamplifier waveform. The decay half time of the  
signal should be optimum 40 us, but never shorter than 25 us. If it is shorter (as  
experienced with some NaI's) then it is not possible to adjust P/Z correctly, the  
time constant of the preamp has to be adjusted instead.  
6. The high energy part of the spectrum is reduced or even missing  
Check if the behavior changes if the pile up rejector is switched off. Check the  
signal from the preamplifier. If the preamplifier signal rise time is slower than  
500ns, then there is the danger that regular pulses (especially the large ones)  
are misinterpreted as pile-up. Try to use another preamplifier or just switch the  
pile-up rejector off.  
Similar effects can be seen if detector cables longer than 50m are used.  
7. Dead time shown is very high although the count rate is low.  
There may be some detectors with excessive electronic noise. Try higher fast  
and slow threshold (You have to edit a setup file with a text editor for this).  
8. Too high background rate with BICRON detectors  
Set Fast Threshold to 600 (You have to edit a setup file with a text editor for  
this) for gain > 50 (Edit setup file)  
9. Everything should be okay, but the MCA gets no signals or just measures strange  
spectra  
wrong input polarity. Check input polarity, just toggle it for a test.  
The amplification is severely wrong set.  
wrong input mode. Check also ADC input mode  
10. Strange error messages  
MCA opened recently, flat cables loose? Connect flat cable again .  
11. Very bad resolution in a HPGe spectrum  
Detector worn out or defective. Change and regenerate detector.  
Problems with the high voltage module. Try another high voltage module.  
Check cables. Keep them away from switch mode power supplies and other  
possible sources of electromagnetic noise.  
23  
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MCA166-USB  
12. Bad resolution in a HPGe spectrum or from a test generator, specially at high  
amplification factors  
Check electrical noise and EMC compatibility of surroundings. Some laptops  
and also some switch mode power supply battery chargers may disturb.  
Remove all connections from the MCA to ground or to mains voltages. Try a  
different computer / laptop / palmtop.  
Winding the cable to the detector / computer several times around a ferrite ring  
also may help  
13. While opening a spectrum, the MCA program tells "Wrong data format" or "data  
format error"  
spectrum was created by another program or another program version. Check  
results, just ignore.  
14. too high count rate  
Keep a bigger distance to radiation source. Try a less sensitive detector. Watch  
for your personal safety!  
Check detector  
24  
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APPENDIX 1 - MCA166-USB spectral data format  
The MiniMCA spectral data format is in compliance with the IAEA SPE Spectral Data Format (see SPEDAC PRO User’s Manual  
Rel. 1.0, IAEA, Feb 1994). All information is stored in a block structured ASCII BSA file so that its content can be viewed with any  
text editor and the file content can be printed directly.  
Each block of the file is identified by a string that starts with the dollar sign ($) and ends with a colon (:). The block name is case  
sensitive. The structure of the data and the order in which blocks appear in the files is uniquely defined.  
There are four general types of blocks used by the MiniMCA software (Release 1998):  
1. Data Block  
2. ROI information  
3. Energy or Enrichment Calibration Data  
4. Setup information  
Data Block  
FILE CONTENT  
EXPLANATION  
$MCA_166_ID:  
Mini MCA module identification  
Serial number  
SN#  
5
HW# 9503  
Hardware version  
FW# 9619  
Firmware version  
$SPEC_REM:  
Mini MCA (MCA166-USB)  
Spectrum measured in facility  
C:\DATA\format.spe  
$DATE_MEA:  
12/31/1996 16:00:00  
$MEAS_TIM:  
120 203  
Notes about the spectrum  
Remarks from the operator prompted before file save.  
Original storage location of the file.  
Start date and time of the measurement.  
mm/dd/yyyy hh:mm:ss  
Spectrum measurement time in seconds  
(lifetime, real-time)  
$DATA:  
Spectral data  
0 4095  
First channel (i.e. 0) last channel(i.e. 4095)  
0
. . . .  
Channel content  
0
ROI Information  
FILE CONTENT  
EXPLANATION  
$ROI:  
1
ROI (Region of Interest)  
Number of ROI’s  
266 332  
ROI start (i.e. 266) ROI begin (i.e. 332)  
Energy Calibration Data  
FILE CONTENT  
EXPLANATION  
$ENER_FIT:  
Energy calibration coefficients  
Offset and slope (KeV/channel)  
E-calibration data  
n point calibration (in this case n=2)  
Channel energy pair (lower)  
Channel energy pair (higher)  
0.000000 0.393559  
$ENER_DATA:  
2
0.000000 0.000000  
2981.000000 1173.199951  
25  
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MCA166-USB  
Setup Information  
FILE CONTENT  
$ADC:  
EXPLANATION  
ADC resolution  
4096  
Channels  
0
3967  
$PRESETS:  
Integral  
LLD (lower level discriminator channel)  
ULD (upper level discriminator channel)  
MCA Presets  
Live Time, Real Time,  
Integral (sum of all counts within a ROI)  
Area (sum of all net counts within a ROI)  
Value  
10000  
1
ROI number  
266 332  
ROI begin and end (optional line, depend on the application)  
$PZC_VALUE:  
PZC Settings  
1232  
15  
15  
$FAST_DISCR:  
400  
$SLOW_DISCR:  
400  
DAC adjustment value for PZC (0..2499 mV)  
Pre-defined time parameter for PZC adjustment  
Pre-defined time parameter for PZC adjustment  
Fast discriminator level  
Factory setting for auto threshold  
Slow discriminator level  
Factory setting for auto threshold  
Threshold value (%)  
$THR:  
2
% of ADC channels; 2-60 % possible  
$GAIN_VALUE:  
200  
Amplifier gain  
Coarse gain (2...1000)  
1.0261  
$DTC:  
1
Fine gain (0.5000...1.5000)  
Shaping Time  
1, 2 µs3  
4.0  
Actual shaping time4  
$INPUT:  
Amplifier  
ADC input source and polarity  
Amplifier (internal main amplifier),  
Direct (+3V, -3V), direct input with full range amplitude of 3V  
pos or neg (amplifier input polarity)  
State of the Pile Up Rejector (PUR)  
”on” or ”off”  
Neg  
$PUR:  
On  
$STAB:  
On  
Stabilization  
”on” or ”off”  
230  
ROI limits of the stabilization peak  
370  
300  
Stabilization target channel  
Stabilization parameter  
Stabilization time  
Stabilization error  
Preamplifier power supply  
”on” or ”off”  
”on” or ”off”  
”on” or ”off”  
”on” or ”off”  
High voltage polarity and value  
Value  
$STAB_PARAM  
10  
25000  
$POWER:  
+12= on  
-12= on  
+24=off  
-24=off  
$HV:  
+500V  
Unused  
HV Inhibit Mode  
3
4
1 and 2 µs are the shaping time of a standard MMCA. By use a modified MMCA: 1 = low shaping time, 2 = high shaping time  
The actual shaping time (only written by newer applications)  
26  
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Setup information - continued  
$MCS_CHANNELS:  
4096  
Multi Channel Scaler (MCS) Setup  
Channels  
$MCS_INPUT:  
MCS input  
Extern TTL  
Extern TTL (external TTL signal),  
Input Rate (count rate from the internal amplifier / fast  
discriminator)  
$MCS_TIME:  
MCS time per channel  
10  
Time in msec , 0.01 – 655.35 sec  
$MCS_SWEEPS:  
Number of sweeps  
0
0 .... 65535  
0
MCS Repeat Mode Type  
$MODE:  
Operation Mode  
MCA  
MCA or MCS  
$MCA_REPEAT:  
Number of sweeps  
1
0 .... 65535  
0
MCA Repeat Mode Type  
$TDF  
800  
$POWER_STATE:  
I+12= 8mA  
Dead Time Correction Factor  
100 ... 3000, default 800 nsec  
Power state at the end of the measurement  
Input current of the DC-DC converters for +12V preamplifier  
power supply from the battery  
Input current of the DC-DC converters for -12V preamplifier  
power supply from the battery  
Input current of the DC-DC converters for +24V preamplifier  
power supply from the battery  
Input current of the DC-DC converters for -24V preamplifier  
power supply from the battery  
Total current drawn from battery  
Input current of the HV DC-DC converter drawn from the battery  
External charger current  
I-12= 3mA  
I+24= 0mA  
I-24= 1mA  
IBAT= 135mA  
IHV = 14mA  
ICHR= 0mA  
UBAT=7900mV  
UHVs= 418mV  
$COUNTS:  
Battery Voltage  
Control voltage of the HV module  
Integral counts  
8370252  
Sum of all input counts (from the internal amplifier / fast  
discriminator) of the whole measurement  
Integral peak detector counts  
Sum of all input counts from the peak detector  
Real time [s]  
$PD_COUNTS:  
5113594  
$RT:  
203  
$DT:  
Dead time [ms]  
883027  
$BT:  
64042  
$STAB_OFFSET:  
Busy time [ms] of the ADC  
Current offset  
315  
$STAB_OFFSET_MIN:  
Minimal offset  
310  
$STAB_OFFSET_MAX:  
Maximal offset  
408  
$STAB_COUNTER:  
Stabilization cycles  
19  
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MCA166-USB  
Setup information’s – continued  
FILE CONTENT  
EXPLANATION  
$REC_COUNTER:  
Counter of received commands  
2823  
$REC_ERROR_COUNTER:  
2
$SPEC_INTEGRAL:  
Counter of received commands with errors  
Counts in the spectrum  
4098917  
$ROI_INFO:  
ROI information  
1 266 332 299.74 24.19 1233477 1142868  
2066  
ROI# Begin End Centroid FWHM Integral Area Area_Error  
According to the specifications other blocks can be added depending on the type of the application. Almost each application add  
inspection information to the spectrum file. Following tables show the inspection information of applications written by the Research  
Center Rossendorf or the GBS Elektronik GmbH.  
WinSPEC (Inspection information if no extern analysis application or MGAU is attached)  
FILE CONTENT  
EXPLANATION  
$WINSPEC_INFO:  
ANALYSIS:MGAU  
1999/001  
1999/10/31  
Inspector1/Inspector2  
DIV1/DIV2  
Facility name  
FACC  
WinSPEC inspection information  
Extern analysis application attached with WinSPEC  
Inspection number  
Inspection date  
Inspector names  
Division or section of the inspectors  
Facility name  
Facility code  
MBA  
MBA  
Stratum  
Stratum  
ItemID  
Item ID  
10.000 ± 1.000 wt%  
Item description  
767  
Declared enrichment  
Item description  
Instrument code  
MMCA ID  
0156  
8289/025  
NAJ  
9475/020  
Computer ID  
Detector type  
Detector ID  
Collimator  
Filter  
Collimator  
Filter  
28  
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WinSPEC (inspection information if CsRation is attached)  
FILE CONTENT  
EXPLANATION  
$WINSPEC_INFO:  
ANALYSIS:CSRATIO  
1999/001  
1969/12/31  
Inspector1/Inspector2  
DIV1/DIV2  
FACC  
WinSPEC inspection information  
Extern analysis application attached with WinSPEC  
Inspection number  
Inspection date  
Inspector names  
Division or section of the inspectors  
Facility code  
ItemID  
Item ID  
1997/01/01  
0.000 Mwd/tU  
0.000  
Date of discharge  
Burnup  
Neutron rate  
0.00E00  
0.000 %  
ICOD  
Calculated Cs ratio at discharge  
Initial enrichment  
Instrument code  
0156  
MMCA ID  
8289/025  
NAJ  
Computer ID  
Detector type  
9475/020  
Collimator  
Filter  
Detector ID  
Collimator  
Filter  
WinSPEC (inspection information if MGA is attached)  
FILE CONTENT  
EXPLANATION  
$WINSPEC_INFO:  
ANALYSIS:MGA  
1999/001  
WinSPEC inspection information  
Extern analysis application attached with WinSPEC  
Inspection number  
1999/01/01  
Inspection date  
Inspector1/Inspector2  
DIV1/DIV2  
Inspector names  
Division or section of the inspectors  
Facility name  
FACC  
Facility name  
Facility code  
MBA  
MBA  
ItemID  
Item ID  
Batch ID  
Batch ID  
1997/01/01  
Date of declaration  
10.000 wt% ± 1.000 %  
Decl. isotopic abundance and relative uncertainty for 238  
Pu  
20.000 wt% ± 2.000 %  
20.000 wt% ± 2.000 %  
25.000 wt% ± 2.500 %  
10.000 wt% ± 1.000 %  
5.000 wt% ± 0.500 %  
1.000 ± 0.100 %  
ICOD  
... for 239 Pu  
... for 240 Pu  
... for 241 Pu  
... for 242 Pu  
... for 241 Am  
U / Pu ratio  
Instrument code  
MMCA ID  
0156  
8289/025  
NAJ  
9475/020  
Collimator  
Computer ID  
Detector type  
Detector ID  
Collimator  
Filter  
Filter  
29  
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MCA166-USB  
WinSCAN (inspection information)  
FILE CONTENT  
EXPLANATION  
$WINSCAN_INFO:  
1999/001  
1999/11/01  
Inspector1/Inspector2  
DIV1/DIV2  
Facility name  
FACC  
WinSCAN inspection information  
Inspection number  
Inspection date  
Inspector names  
Division or section of the inspectors  
Facility name  
Facility code  
MBA  
MBA  
ItemID  
Item ID  
Stratum  
Stratum  
Item description  
ICOD  
0156  
Item description  
Instrument code  
MMCA ID  
8289/025  
NAJ  
Computer ID  
Detector type  
9475/029  
1234/345  
2356/432  
3478/384  
3456/419  
2578/456  
1000/150  
0.000  
Detector ID  
Collimator ID  
Motor drive ID  
Motor controller ID  
System ID  
External amplifier ID  
Gain (coarse/fine)  
Time constant  
Output  
OUT  
Good measurement.  
Remarks  
UF6 / WinUF6 (inspection information)  
FILE CONTENT  
EXPLANATION  
$UF6_INSP_INFO:  
123  
UF6 / WinUF6 inspection information  
Inspection number  
19991006  
Inspector ID  
Facility code  
LOT  
Inspection date  
Inspector ID  
Facility code  
LOT ID  
MBA  
MBA  
4.6%+10mmAl  
4.462  
0.003  
wt%  
1.200  
Sample ID  
Declared enrichment  
Declared enrichment uncertainty  
Scale unit (wt%=weight percent or At%= atom percent)  
Wall thickness  
0.012  
Wall thickness uncertainty  
0.340  
Attenuation  
0.000  
1.014  
0.000  
Attenuation uncertainty  
Material correction factor  
Material correction factor uncertainty  
30  
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UF6 / WinUF6 (inspection information) - continued  
FILE CONTENT  
EXPLANATION  
ICOD  
0156  
Instrument code5  
MMCA ID  
8289/025  
NAJ  
9475/029  
Collimator  
Filter  
Computer ID  
Detector type  
Detector ID  
Collimator  
Filter  
U235 / WinU235 (inspection information)  
FILE CONTENT  
EXPLANATION  
$INSP_INFO:  
123  
19991006  
Inspector ID  
Facility code  
MBA  
U235 / WinU235 inspection information  
Inspection number  
Inspection date  
Inspector ID  
Facility code  
MBA  
LOT  
LOT ID  
4.6%+10mmAl  
Sample ID  
4.462  
0.003  
wt%  
1.200  
Declared enrichment  
Declared enrichment uncertainty  
Scale unit (wt%=weight percent or At%= atom percent)  
Wall thickness  
0.012  
0.340  
Wall thickness uncertainty  
Attenuation  
0.000  
1.014  
0.000  
ICOD  
Attenuation uncertainty  
Material correction factor  
Material correction factor uncertainty  
Instrument code6  
MMCA ID  
0156  
8289/025  
NAJ  
Computer ID  
Detector type  
9475/029  
Collimator  
Filter  
Detector ID  
Collimator  
Filter  
5
6
From here the items are only written and read by WinUF6  
From here the items are only written and read by WinU235  
31  
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MCA166-USB  
APPENDIX 2 - MCA166-USB algorithm, formulas  
This appendix lists the algorithms used by the MiniMCA for the following functions:  
Area, Area uncertainty  
Centroid  
FWHM  
Smooth  
Strip  
Energy Calibration  
The Area and the Area Uncertainty Function:  
The area algorithm calculates the number of counts above the background in a ROI. The background area is  
determined by averaging 4 points on both sides of the peak (the ROI limit points and 3 outer points) and linear  
fit:  
Area = Integral - Background  
(
ROIend  
ROIbegin  
+
1
)
ROIbegin  
ROIend  
+
*
(
Spectrumi  
+
3Spectrumi  
)
Background =  
i
=
ROIbegin  
3
i
=
ROIend  
8
ROIend  
Spectrumi  
Integral =  
i
=
ROIbegin  
Area Uncertainty =  
2
ROIbegin  
ROIend  
+
3
ROI  
ROIbegin  
+
1
)
(
end  
Integral  
+
Spectrum  
+
Spectrum  
i
i
8
i
=
ROIbegin  
3
ROIend  
where,  
Spectrum  
ROIbegin  
ROIend  
= the absolute number of counts in channels i  
= the ROI’s start channel  
i
= the ROI’s stop channel  
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Centroid:  
The peak centroid is the sum of the channel contents7 times the channel number divided by the sum of the  
channel contents in the range of the channels above the half maximum:  
h
i *Spectrum  
i
i
=
l
h
Centroid =  
Spectrum  
i
i
=
l
where,  
i
= channel number  
Spectrumi = net contents of channel i  
FWHM:  
The Full Width at Half Maximum (FWHM) is the background corrected peak’s width at one-half of its  
maximum amplitude. The algorithm first proceeds down one side of the peak until it finds a channel (e.g.  
1203) whose counts fall below the half maximum channel. It is now made sure that the following channel (e.g.  
1204) also falls below the half maximum channel. The same algorithm is applied for the other side of the  
peak. The left and the right FWHM points are the interpolated channels between the counts of the channel  
below and above the half maximum value.  
Smooth:  
Smooth averages the current spectrum (the original data will be overwritten) using a binomial formula:  
3 point smoothing:  
Spectrum−  
+
2*Spectrum  
+
Spectrum+  
i 1  
i
i
1
Spectrum '  
=
i
4
5 point smoothing:  
Spectrumi−  
+
4*Spectrumi−  
+
6*Spectrumi  
16  
+
4*Spectrumi+  
+
Spectrumi+  
Spectrumi'  
=
2
1
1
2
where,  
Spectrum  
- the original contents of channel i  
i
Spectrum '  
- the smoothed contents of channel i  
i
7
background corrected  
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MCA166-USB  
Strip:  
Strip subtracts a specified fraction of the spectrum. The Strip factor can be “positive“ or “negative“ :  
'
Spectrumy = Spectrumy - F*Spectrumx  
where  
Spectrumy  
'
- Count content of channel i in the resulting spectrum  
Spectrum  
F - Strip factor  
Spectrum  
y - Count content of channel i in the original spectrum  
x - Count content of channel i in the spectrum to be subtracted  
E-calibration:  
The Energy calibration allows to convert the x-axis channel numbers into energy values in KeV. The following  
formula is used:  
E = S  
Channel + O  
where,  
S - Slope  
O - Offset  
The coefficients can be set as numeric values or by linear fit of two energy channel/peak centroid pairs.  
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APPENDIX 3 - Description of the communication DLLs8  
A3.1 MS-Windows DLL for communication with one MCA166-USB  
The Dynamic Link Library exists as a 16-bit variant (mca_comm.dll) and as a 32-bit variant (mca32com.dll). The DLL must reside in  
the system directory of Windows or in the same directory as the calling application. In order to include the DLL in your program, you  
have to use in Visual Basic the file MCA32COM.BAS (valid only for Win32 applications) or in C/C++ the files MCA_COMM.H and  
MCA_COMM.LIB or MCA32COM.LIB. All functions and structures are declared in these files.  
A3.1.1 Initializing and closing the serial communication port  
Before you can use any function, the serial communication port must be initialized. Pass to the function COMM_INIT a string with  
the name of the serial communication port (e.g. ”COM1”). If the return value is unequal zero, the initialization was successful. The  
serial communication port is unable to initialize if another device (or program) is already using this one. Before you exit your  
program, you have to close the serial communication port so that it can be used from other programs now. You can use only one  
communication port at the same time. If you want to change the communication port, you have to close the used communication  
port before you can initialize another one.  
A3.1.2 Sending commands to the MCA  
With the function MCA_COMM you can send single firmware commands9 to the MCA. This function is only intended for testing. For  
the real work with the MCA you should use the other functions (MMCA_ ...) described in chapter A3.1.3. The function MCA_COMM  
is declared as follows:  
in C/C++  
ERROR_FLAG FAR PASCAL MCA_COMM(  
LPSTR command,  
LPSTR rec_data,  
unsigned long param1=0,  
unsigned long param2=0,  
unsigned long param3=0,  
unsigned long param4=0);  
in Visual Basic  
Declare Function MCA_COMM Lib "Mca32com" (  
ByVal Command$,  
Received As RECDATA,  
ByVal Param1&,  
ByVal Param2&,  
ByVal Param3&,  
ByVal Param4&) As Integer  
8
9
MCA_COMM.DLL (16 Bit) and MCA32COM.DLL (32 Bit) Version 1.04.0006 for MCA166 Firmware #9901  
MCA_COMX.DLL (16 Bit) and MCA32CMX.DLL (32 Bit) Version 1.00.0006 for MCA166 Firmware #9901  
The firmware commands are described in Appendix 4.  
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MCA166-USB  
The first argument is a string with the name of the command. In the following table all available commands (use of capital and small  
letters is possible), the corresponding firmware specific names and the number of the required parameters are listed.  
Name of the command  
INIT  
START  
STOP  
CLEAR  
Firmware specific name  
CMD_INIT  
CMD_START  
CMD_STOP  
CMD_CLEAR  
Number of the parameters  
1
2
0
1
1
3
1
2
2
1
1
2
3
1
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
2
2
0
0
2
3
4
1
2
2
1
0
1
3
0
0
2
0
MODE  
CMD_SET_MODE  
ADC_RES_DISCR  
THRESHOLD  
PRESETS  
ROI  
REPEAT  
TIME_PER_CHANNEL  
GAIN  
STABILISATION  
PREAMPLIFIER_POWER  
BIAS  
FAST  
SLOW  
SHAPING_TIME  
PUR  
MCA_INPUT  
CMD_SET_ADC_RES_DISCR  
CMD_SET_THRESHOLD  
CMD_SET_PRESETS  
CMD_SET_ROI  
CMD_SET_REPEAT  
CMD_SET_TIME_PER_CHANNEL  
CMD_SET_GAIN  
CMD_SET_STABILISATION  
CMD_SET_PREAMPLIFIER_POWER  
CMD_SET_BIAS  
CMD_SET_FAST  
CMD_SET_SLOW  
CMD_SET_SHAPING_TIME  
CMD_SET_PUR  
CMD_SET_MCA_INPUT  
CMD_SET_MCS_INPUT  
CMD_SET_INPUT_POLARITY  
CMD_SET_USER_DATA  
CMD_SET_MEASURE_PZC  
CMD_QUERY_POWER  
CMD_QUERY_STATE  
CMD_QUERY_SPECTRA  
CMD_QUERY_IMAGE  
CMD_QUERY_ENRICHMENT  
CMD_QUERY_USER_DATA  
CMD_QUERY_CENTROID  
CMD_SET_PZC_TIME_OFFSET  
CMD_SET_TDF  
CMD_QUERY_SYSTEM_DATA  
CMD_SET_MCS_CHANNEL  
CMD_SET_UF6_ROIS  
CMD_QUERY_UF6_ROIS  
CMD_QUERY_UF6_INFO  
CMD_SET_STAB_PARAM  
CMD_QUERY_VOLTAGE_CURRENT  
MCS_INPUT  
INPUT_POLARITY  
USER_DATA  
SET_MEASURE_PZC  
QUERY_POWER  
QUERY_STATE  
QUERY_SPECTRA  
QUERY_IMAGE  
QUERY_ENRICHMENT  
QUERY_USER_DATA  
QUERY_CENTROID  
PZC_TIME_OFFSET  
TDF  
QUERY_SYSTEM_DATA  
MCS_CHANNEL  
UF6_ROIS  
QUERY_UF6_ROIS  
QUERY_UF6_INFO  
STAB_PARAM  
QUERY_VOLTAGE_CURRENT  
The second argument of MCA_COMM refers to the received data of the command (in Visual Basic always a RECDATA data type,  
in C/C++ a RECDATA or a command specific structure). Information about the data structures you can find in chapter A3.2 and in  
the files mca32com.bas (Visual Basic) or mca_comm.h (C/C++). The received data are significant if the command is a QUERY  
command.  
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The other arguments are the parameters of the firmware command. These arguments are optional since not all commands use the  
same number of parameters. Unnecessary arguments you can leave out. Information about the parameters you can find in  
appendix 4. You can ignore the parameters ”preamble”, ”command” und ”end flag” listed in this document. These parameters are  
assigned the right value automatically. The parameters that you pass to the function MCA_COMM are always long integer. Within  
the function these parameters are partially passed on to variables with another data type, therefore it is imperative that the  
maximum values specified in the document are not exceeded. The return value indicates the result of the data transfer. It can be  
one of the following values:  
ERROR_OK  
= 0 successful data transfer  
= 1 communication port is not initialized  
= 2 unknown command  
= 3 faulty data transfer  
= 4 invalid parameter  
ERROR_INTERFACE  
ERROR_INVALID_COMMAND  
ERROR_COMMUNICATION  
ERROR_INVALID_PARAM  
A3.1.3 Functions to work with the MCA  
For the work with the MCA a lot of functions are available. You can subdivide all functions in five groups:  
Function for resetting the MCA (MMCA_RESET)  
Functions for starting and stopping the data acquisition (MMCA_..._AQUIRE)  
Functions for clearing (MMCA_CLEAR_...)  
Functions for setting (MMCA_SET_...)  
Functions for query (MMCA_QUERY_...)  
The query functions are handed over a reference to a specific data structure. You can derive the name of the structure from the  
name of the function, by leaving out ”MMCA_” from the function name. (e. g. function MMCA_QUERY_STATE requires the data  
structur QUERY_STATE). The functions and data structures are listed and described in chapter A3.2. You can also find important  
information in the files mca32com.bas (Visual Basic) and mca_comm.h (C/C++).  
The return value indicates the result of the data transfer. It can be one of the following values:  
ERROR_OK  
= 0 successful data transfer  
= 1 communication port is not initialized  
= 3 faulty data transfer  
ERROR_INTERFACE  
ERROR_COMMUNICATION  
ERROR_INVALID_PARAM  
= 4 invalid parameter  
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MCA166-USB  
A3.2 Command set  
MCA Reset Command:  
Name  
MMCA_RESET  
Description  
All MCA Parameters will be reset to their initial state and the spectra are cleared.  
The measurement is aborted, but the states of the preamplifier power and the value of the high voltages  
are unchanged!  
Parameter  
Results  
-
-
Return Code  
ERROR_OK  
= 0 (command accepted successfully)  
= 1 (communication port not initialised)  
= 2 (command not yet implemented)  
= 3 (serial communication error, off line)  
= 4 (parameter out of range)  
ERROR_INTERFACE  
ERROR_INVALID_COMMAND  
ERROR_COMMUNICATION  
ERROR_INVALID_PARAMETER  
MCA Acquire Commands:  
Name  
MMCA_START_ACQUIRE  
Description  
1. Parameter  
The acquisition is started or continued with the actual parameter (mode, resolution, ...)  
Clear flag  
integer value  
0
leaves spectrum and times unchanged  
the start time is ignored  
1
2
3
4
5
spectrum and time are cleared  
Repeat Mode 110 (MCA/MCS)  
Repeat Mode 211 (MCA)  
Repeat mode flag  
Repeat Mode 312 (MCA)  
Repeat Mode 413 (MCS)  
Trigger flags  
Bit 14 Trigger: 1=on / 0=off  
Bit 13 Trigger signal edge: 1=pos / 0=neg  
[2. Parameter]  
Start time  
long value  
if the 1. Parameter 0, then the value is stored in  
status field (start_time)  
Results  
-
Return Code  
see MMCA_RESET command  
Name  
MMCA_STOP_ACQUIRE  
The acquisition is stopped  
-
Description  
Parameter  
Results  
The mca_state is set to STATE_STOP  
see MMCA_RESET command  
Return Code  
10 Measurement will be stopped if buffer overrun. In MCS mode a differential amplitude spectrum per sweep is collected.  
11 Measurement will be resumed, after the buffer is read out.  
12 Buffers will be overwritten, even if not read out.  
13 MCS Repeat Mode with one integral amplitude spectrum for all MCS sweeps.  
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MCA Mode Commands:  
Name  
MMCA_SET_MODE_MCA  
Description  
Parameter  
The command sets the acquire mode to Multi-Channel Analyser  
-
Results  
-
Return Code  
see MMCA_RESET command  
Name  
MMCA_SET_MODE_MCS  
Description  
Parameter  
Results  
The command sets the acquire mode to Multi-Channel Scaler  
-
-
Return Code  
see MMCA_RESET command  
MCA Clear Commands:  
Name  
MMCA_CLEAR_MEMORY  
Description  
Parameter  
The acquisition is stopped and the spectrum is cleared  
-
Results  
-
Return Code  
see MMCA_RESET command  
Name  
MMCA_CLEAR_TIME  
Description  
Parameter  
Results  
The acquisition is stopped and the dead time together with the real time are set to 0  
-
-
Return Code  
see MMCA_RESET command  
Name  
MMCA_CLEAR_ROI  
Description  
Parameter  
Results  
The acquisition is stopped and the ROI limits are set to LLD and ULD  
-
-
Return Code  
see MMCA_RESET command  
Name  
MMCA_CLEAR_ALL  
Description  
The command is a combination of MMCA_CLEAR_ROI, MMCA_CLEAR_MEMORY and  
MMCA_CLEAR_TIME  
Parameter  
Results  
-
-
Return Code  
see MMCA_RESET command  
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MCA166-USB  
MCA Measurement Setup Commands:  
Name  
MMCA_SET_PRESET_NONE  
Description  
Parameter  
Results  
None preset  
-
-
Return Code  
see MMCA_RESET command  
Name  
MMCA_SET_PRESET_LIVE_TIME  
Description  
1. Parameter  
Results  
The command sets the time for measurement (dead time corrected).  
Live time  
-
integer value  
1 ... 65535 sec  
Return Code  
see MMCA_RESET command  
Name  
MMCA_SET_PRESET_REAL_TIME  
Description  
1. Parameter  
Results  
The command sets the time for measurement  
Real time  
-
integer value  
1 ... 65535  
Return Code  
see MMCA_RESET command  
Name  
MMCA_SET_PRESET_INTEGRAL  
Description  
1. Parameter  
Results  
The command sets the value for the ROI integral  
Integral  
-
long value  
1 ... 4294967295  
Return Code  
see MMCA_RESET command  
Name  
MMCA_SET_PRESET_AREA  
Description  
1. Parameter  
Results  
The command sets the value for the ROI area  
Area  
-
long value  
1 ... 4294967295  
Return Code  
see MMCA_RESET command  
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Name  
MMCA_SET_ADC_RES_DISCR  
Description  
1. Parameter  
2. Parameter  
3. Parameter  
Results  
The command sets the ADC resolution and the software discriminator range.  
Channels  
integer value  
integer value  
integer value  
128, 256, 512, 1024, 2048 or 4096  
0 <= LLD < ULD  
LLD  
ULD  
-
LLD < ULD <(Channels-(Channels>>5))  
Return Code  
see MMCA_RESET command  
Name  
MMCA_SET_ROI  
Description  
1. Parameter  
2. Parameter  
Results  
The command sets the begin and end of the ROI for the preset integral and area.  
ROI begin channel  
Integer value  
Integer value  
LLD <= begin < end  
LLD < end <= ULD  
ROI end channel  
-
Return Code  
see MMCA_RESET command  
Name  
MMCA_SET_REPEAT  
Description  
1. Parameter  
Results  
The command sets the number of sweeps for repetitive measurement.  
Sweeps  
-
Integer value  
0 ... 65535  
Return Code  
see MMCA_RESET command  
Name  
MMCA_SET_MCS_CHANNEL  
Description  
1. Parameter  
Results  
The command sets the number of channels for the MCS and Rate mode.  
MCS channels  
-
Integer value  
0 (only for Rate mode), 128, ... 4096  
Return Code  
see MMCA_RESET command  
Name  
MMCA_SET_TIME_PER_CHANNEL  
Description  
1. Parameter  
Results  
The command sets the dwell time per channel for the MCS mode.  
Time14  
Integer value  
1 ... 65535  
-
Return Code  
see MMCA_RESET command  
14 It is the real time per channel multiplied with 10 msec.  
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MCA166-USB  
Name  
MMCA_SET_MCS_INPUT_ICR  
Description  
Parameter  
Results  
The command selects the count rate signal as MCS input.  
-
-
Return Code  
see MMCA_RESET command  
Name  
MMCA_SET_MCS_INPUT_TTL  
Description  
Parameter  
Results  
The command selects the external TTL signals as MCS input.  
-
-
Return Code  
see MMCA_RESET command  
Name  
MMCA_SET_MCS_INPUT_DISCR  
Description  
1. Parameter  
2. Parameter  
3. Parameter  
Results  
The command selects the software discrimination of ADC-input pulses as MCS input.  
Channels  
integer value  
integer value  
integer value  
128, 256, 512, 1024, 2048 or 4096  
0 <= LLD < ULD  
LLD  
ULD  
-
LLD < ULD< (Channels-(Channels>>5))  
Return Code  
see MMCA_RESET command  
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MCA Hardware Setup Commands:  
Name  
MMCA_SET_GAIN  
The command sets the amplifier coarse and fine gain.  
Description  
1. Parameter  
2. Parameter  
Results  
Coarse gain  
Fine gain15  
-
integer value  
integer value  
2, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, 500 or 1000  
5000 ... 15000 (10000 if Coarse Gain=1000)  
Return Code  
see MMCA_RESET command  
Name  
MMCA_SET_MCA_INPUT_AMPLIFIER_POS  
Description  
Parameter  
Results  
The command sets the amplifier input polarity to positive.  
-
-
Return Code  
see MMCA_RESET command  
Name  
MMCA_SET_MCA_INPUT_AMPLIFIER_NEG  
Description  
Parameter  
Results  
The command sets the amplifier input polarity to negative.  
-
-
Return Code  
see MMCA_RESET command  
Name  
MMCA_SET_MCA_INPUT_DIRECT_POS  
Description  
Parameter  
Results  
The command sets the ADC input to direct (0 to +3V input range) and PUR to off.  
-
-
Return Code  
see MMCA_RESET command  
Name  
MMCA_SET_MCA_INPUT_DIRECT_NEG  
Description  
Parameter  
Results  
The command sets the ADC input to direct (0 to -3V input range) and PUR to off.  
-
-
Return Code  
see MMCA_RESET command  
15 It is the real fine gain value multiplied with 10000.  
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MCA166-USB  
Name  
MMCA_SET_THRESHOLD  
Description  
1. Parameter  
Results  
The command sets the analog threshold  
Threshold  
-
integer value  
2 ... 60  
Return Code  
see MMCA_RESET command  
Name  
MMCA_SET_SHAPING_TIME_LOW  
Description  
Parameter  
Results  
The command sets the amplifier shaping time (1µs). 16  
-
-
Return Code  
see MMCA_RESET command  
Name  
MMCA_SET_SHAPING_TIME_HIGH  
Description  
Parameter  
Results  
The command sets the amplifier shaping time (2µs). 17  
-
-
Return Code  
see MMCA_RESET command  
Name  
MMCA_SET_PILE_UP_REJECTION  
Description  
1. Parameter  
Results  
The command sets the pile up rejection.  
Pile up switch  
-
integer value  
0 turns PUR off and 0 turns PUR on  
Return Code  
see MMCA_RESET command  
16 The values may be different for some MMCA configurations.  
17 The values may be different for some MMCA configurations.  
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Name  
MMCA_SET_FAST  
Description  
1. Parameter  
Results  
The command sets the fast discriminator threshold.  
Threshold  
integer value  
0 ... 2499, default 400  
-
Return Code  
see MMCA_RESET command  
Name  
MMCA_SET_SLOW  
Description  
1. Parameter  
Results  
The command sets the slow discriminator threshold.  
Threshold  
integer value  
0 ... 2499, default 400  
-
Return Code  
see MMCA_RESET command  
Name  
MMCA_SET_PZC_MANUAL18  
Description  
1. Parameter  
The command sets the PZC value and returns the PZC offset.  
PZC value  
integer value  
integer value  
0 ... 2499  
Result array  
Number of measured pulses  
Byte offset 128  
Result array  
Byte offset 130  
averaged negative offset of measured  
input pulses  
integer value  
Return Code  
see MMCA_RESET command  
Name  
MMCA_SET_PZC_VALUE19  
The command sets the PZC value.  
PZC value  
Description  
1. Parameter  
Results  
integer value  
0 ... 2499  
-
Return Code  
see MMCA_RESET command  
Name  
MMCA_SET_PZC_TIME_OFFSET  
Description  
1. Parameter  
2. Parameter  
Results  
The command sets the time offset for the PZC measurement.  
Offset for low DTC  
integer value  
integer value  
0 ... 31, default 15  
0 ... 31, default 15  
Offset for high DTC  
-
Return Code  
see MMCA_RESET command  
18 Please note that this function may cause a firmware hang up if the following requirements are not meets:  
- statistical distributed input pulses with a count rate between 500 and 30000 Cps  
- the significant peak is located above the first quarter of the spectrum  
19 The function requires a reference to a pzc result array, but the function has no effect on this array at the moment.  
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MCA166-USB  
MCA Stabilisation Commands:  
Name  
MMCA_SET_STABILISATION  
The command sets the peak stabilisation.  
Description  
1. Parameter  
Stabilisation flag  
Integer value  
0
1
turns stabilisation off  
turns stabilisation on (keep peak at current position)  
>1 stabilisation channel (move peak to the stabilisation  
channel and hold peak at the stabilisation channel)  
2. Parameter  
3. Parameter  
Results  
Peak ROI begin  
Integer value  
Integer value  
LLD<= begin < end  
Peak ROI end  
-
begin < end <= ULD, (end-begin) < 250  
Return Code  
see MMCA_RESET command  
Name  
MMCA_SET_STAB_PARAM  
Description  
1. Parameter  
2. Parameter  
Results  
The command sets the peak stabilisation parameters.  
Stabilisation time  
Integer value  
long value  
default 10 sec interval  
default 25000  
Stabilisation area  
-
Return Code  
see MMCA_RESET command  
MCA Detector Power Commands:  
Name  
MMCA_SET_PREAMPLIFIER_POWER  
The command sets the preamplifier power.  
Preamplifier switch integer value  
Description  
1. Parameter  
0X80 -24V  
0X40 +24V  
0X20 -12V  
0X10 +12V  
Results  
-
Return Code  
see MMCA_RESET command  
Name  
MMCA_SET_HIGH_VOLTAGES  
Description  
1. Parameter  
2. Parameter  
The command sets the detector high voltage and controls the HV-inhibit-signal.20  
High voltage  
integer value  
long value  
0 ... 3000  
High voltage inhibit  
i = 0 Inhibit off  
i = 1 ”Canberra-/ DGF-mode”, HV shut down  
if inhibit signal high  
i =-1 ”Ortec-mode”, HV shut down  
if inhibit signal low  
Results  
-
Return Code  
see MMCA_RESET command  
20 The high voltages will ramp up or down by the MMCA.  
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MCA Data Setup Commands:  
Name  
MMCA_SET_TDF  
The command sets the dead time correction parameter.  
Description  
1. Parameter  
Results  
Tdf  
integer value  
100 ... 3000, default 800  
-
Return Code  
see MMCA_RESET command  
Name  
MMCA_SET_USER_DATA  
Description  
1. Parameter  
2. Parameter  
Results  
The command stores a 32 bit value in the MCA parameter memory.  
Number  
Value  
-
integer value  
0 ... 63  
0 ...  
long or float value  
Return Code  
see MMCA_RESET command  
Name  
MMCA_SET_UF6_ROIS  
Description  
1. Parameter  
2. Parameter  
3. Parameter  
Results  
The command sets the begin and the end of a ROI used by the other UF6 commands.  
ROI number  
ROI begin  
ROI end  
-
integer value  
integer value  
integer value  
1 ... 3  
LLD<= begin < end  
begin < end <= ULD, (end-begin) < 250  
Return Code  
see MMCA_RESET command  
47  
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MCA166-USB  
MCA Query Commands:  
Name  
MMCA_QUERY_USER_DATA  
Description  
The command reads 32 user data (32 bit values) from the MCA parameter memory.  
1. Parameter  
Result array  
Number n  
integer value  
0 ... 63  
0 ...  
User_data[n], ...  
long or float value  
Return Code  
see MMCA_RESET command  
Contents of the MMCA User Date memory:21  
Byte Offset 022  
U235:  
Enrichment Constant 1  
WinSPEC:  
WinSCAN:  
Index for the analysis program  
Scan method and scan parameter  
Byte Offset 4  
U235:  
WinSPEC-A:  
WinSCAN:  
Enrichment Constant 2  
Repeat mode options  
Gridlines offset and period  
Byte Offset 8  
Byte Offset 12  
Byte Offset 16  
U235:  
WinSPEC-A:  
Enrichment Constant 3  
Repeat mode options  
U235:  
WinSPEC-A:  
Enrichment Constant 4  
Repeat mode options  
MCA Application Mode: U235, LENG, SPEC, MCS, RATE, UF6, WMCA , WMCS , WSPC, WSCN, WUF6,  
W235, MCAE  
Byte Offset 20  
Byte Offset 22  
Byte Offset 24  
Byte Offset 28  
Byte Offset 30  
Byte Offset 32  
Byte Offset 34  
Byte Offset 36  
Byte Offset 38  
...  
HV Inhibit Mode: 0, 1, 2, -123  
HV Preset value: 0 ... 3000  
Power Switches  
Stab. Preset: auto/Channel  
Stab. on/off  
Repeat Mode : 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 ,100 (100 means software repeat mode), (Bit 15: 0=inactive, 1=active)  
El. Repeats (Software mode)  
HV Inhibit Mode: 0, 1, 2, -124  
HV Preset value: 0 ... 3000  
-
Byte Offset 48  
Byte Offset 52  
Byte Offset 56  
Byte Offset 60  
Energy Calibration: Channel 1 or Null  
Energy Calibration: Channel 2 or Null  
Energy Calibration: Energy 1 or actual Slope  
Energy Calibration: Energy 2 or actual Offset  
21 Each program should set and test at least the MCA application mode (Byte offset 16). Developer of new applications for the  
MCA166-USB should publish the shorthand expression of their application.  
22 The bytes 0 ... 15 are used differently by the single applications  
23 Actual values (are used for automatic restart in applications for unattended measurements)  
24 Values can be used as preset values after the MCA powered on  
48  
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Byte Offset 64  
Byte Offset 66  
Byte Offset 68  
...  
1. ROI pair (ROI End)25  
1. ROI pair (ROI Begin)  
2.  
...  
Byte Offset 120  
Byte Offset 124  
Byte Offset 12826  
15.  
16. ROI pair  
U235/UF6:  
Inspection description  
WinMCS:16 ROI pairs of the MCA spectrum ( similar the other ROIs )  
25 In applications with MCS spectrum the ROIs of the MCS spectrum are saved here. In WinMCS the ROIs of the MCA spectrum  
are saved behind it.  
26 The bytes 128 ... 255 are used differently by the single applications  
49  
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MCA166-USB  
Name  
MMCA_QUERY_POWER  
The command reads the MMCA power state.  
-
Description  
Parameter  
Result array  
Byte Offset 4  
Byte Offset 8  
Byte Offset 12  
Byte Offset 16  
Byte Offset 20  
Byte Offset 24  
Byte Offset 28  
Byte Offset 32  
Byte Offset 36  
Byte Offset 40  
Byte Offset 44  
Byte Offset 48  
Battery current [mA]  
HV primary current [mA]  
+12 primary current [mA]  
-12 primary current [mA]  
+24 primary current [mA]  
-24 primary current [mA]  
Battery voltage [mV]  
HV [V]27  
long value  
long value  
long value  
long value  
long value  
long value  
long value  
long value  
long value  
HV state  
Current high voltage [V]  
Power Switches  
long value  
long value  
0X80  
0X40 +24V ON  
0X20 -12V ON  
0X10 +12V ON  
0X02 HV ON  
-24V ON  
Byte Offset 52  
...  
Charger current [mA]  
Byte Offset 64  
Byte Offset 68  
Byte Offset 72  
Byte Offset 76  
Byte Offset 80  
Byte Offset 84  
Byte Offset 88  
Byte Offset 92  
Byte Offset 116  
...  
Battery current [mA] at stop  
HV primary current [mA] at stop  
+12 primary current [mA] at stop  
-12 primary current [mA] at stop  
+24 primary current [mA] at stop  
-24 primary current [mA] at stop  
Battery voltage [mV] at stop  
HV [V]28 at stop  
long value  
long value  
long value  
long value  
long value  
long value  
long value  
long value  
long value  
Charger current [mA] at stop  
Byte Offset 128  
Return Code  
mca_state29  
integer value  
see MMCA_RESET command  
27 multiply value with 1.2 V  
28 multiply value with 1.2 V  
29 see MMCA_QUERY_SYSTEM_DATA  
50  
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Name  
MMCA_QUERY_STATE  
Description  
Parameter  
Results array  
Byte Offset 2  
The command reads the MMCA state.  
-
MCA acquire mode  
MCA preset  
MCA_MODE  
MODE_MCA, MODE_MCS  
MCA_PRESETS  
PRESET_NONE  
PRESET_REAL  
PRESET_LIVE  
PRESET_INT  
PRESET_AREA  
Byte Offset 4  
Byte Offset 8  
Byte Offset 12  
Byte Offset 14  
Byte Offset 16  
Byte Offset 18  
Byte Offset 20  
Byte Offset 24  
Byte Offset 28  
Byte Offset 32  
Byte Offset 36  
Byte Offset 38  
Byte Offset 40  
Byte Offset 42  
Byte Offset 44  
Byte Offset 46  
Byte Offset 48  
Byte Offset 50  
Byte Offset 52  
Byte Offset 54  
Byte Offset 56  
Byte Offset 58  
Byte Offset 60  
Preset value  
long  
Elapsed preset  
long  
Repeat value  
integer value  
integer value  
integer value  
integer value  
long  
Elapsed sweeps  
MCS time per channel [0.01 sec]  
Elapsed time per channel [0.01 sec]  
Real time [sec]  
Counts per seconds  
Dead time [msec]  
Busy time [msec]  
MCA channels  
long  
long  
long  
integer value  
integer value  
integer value  
integer value  
integer value  
integer value  
integer value  
integer value  
integer value  
integer value  
integer value  
integer value  
integer value  
128, ... , 4096  
2 .. 60  
Threshold  
LLD  
0 ...  
ULD  
ROI begin (preset integral/area)  
ROI end (preset integral/area)  
Amplifier coarse gain  
Amplifier fine gain  
Slow discriminator value  
Fast discriminator value  
High voltage  
2, ... , 1000  
5000 ... 15000  
0 ... 2499 mV  
0 ... 2499 mV  
0 ... 3000 V  
High voltage polarity  
Power switches  
0 positive  
1 negative  
0X80  
-24V ON  
0X40 +24V ON  
0X20 -12V ON  
0X10 +12V ON  
0X02 HV ON  
Byte Offset 62  
Byte Offset 64  
Byte Offset 66  
Byte Offset 68  
Byte Offset 70  
PZC value  
Time offset for PZC and DTC low30  
integer value  
integer value  
integer value  
0 ... 2499 mV  
0 ... 15  
Time offset for PZC and DTC high  
0 ... 15  
Stabilisation state or channel  
Stabilisation result  
integer value  
MCA_STAB_RESULT STAB_STARTED, STAB_ACTIVE,  
30 value multiplied with 0.4µsec  
51  
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MCA166-USB  
Name  
MMCA_QUERY_STATE  
STAB_IDLE, STAB_ERROR  
Byte Offset 72  
Byte Offset 74  
Byte Offset 76  
Stab. ROI begin  
Stab. ROI end  
ADC input  
integer value  
integer value  
MCA_INPUT_ADC  
ADC_AMPLIFIER,  
ADC_ DIRECT_POS,  
ADC_DIRECT_NEG  
Byte Offset 78  
ADC input polarity  
MCA_INPUT_POL  
INPUT_POLARITY_POSITIVE,  
INPUT_POLARITY_NEGATIVE  
Byte Offset 80  
Byte Offset 82  
Byte Offset 84  
DTC  
integer value  
PUR state  
MCS input  
MCA_PUR  
OFF, ON  
MCA_INPUT_MCS  
MCS_INPUT_TTL,  
MCS_INPUT_RATE,  
MCS_INPUT_DISCR  
Byte Offset 86  
Byte Offset 88  
Byte Offset 90  
Byte Offset 92  
Byte Offset 94  
Byte Offset 96  
Byte Offset 98  
Byte Offset 100  
Byte Offset 104  
Byte Offset 106  
Byte Offset 108  
Byte Offset 110  
Byte Offset 112  
Byte Offset 114  
Byte Offset 116  
Byte Offset 120  
Byte Offset 122  
Byte Offset 124  
Byte Offset 128  
Return Code  
MMCA number  
integer value  
integer value  
integer value  
integer value  
integer value  
integer value  
integer value  
long  
MMCA hardware version  
MMCA firmware version  
MCS Channels  
Last power state  
Battery capacity [%]  
0
Start time  
TDF  
integer value  
integer value  
integer value  
integer value  
integer value  
Integer value  
long  
Last command flag  
Last command parameter 1  
Last command parameter 2  
Last command parameter 3  
Buffer state31  
Internal DAC value  
Differential dead time [0/00]  
HV inhibit mode  
integer value  
integer value  
integer value  
HV inhibit state  
MMCA state32  
see MMCA_RESET command  
31 see MMCA_QUERY_SPECTRA  
32 see MMCA_QUERY_SYSTEM_DATA  
52  
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Name  
MMCA_QUERY_SYSTEM_DATA  
The command reads the MMCA system data.  
-
Description  
Parameter  
Results array  
Byte Offset 2  
Byte Offset 8  
Byte Offset 10  
Byte Offset 16  
Byte Offset 18  
Byte Offset 24  
Byte Offset 26  
Byte Offset 32  
Byte Offset 36  
Byte Offset 40  
Byte Offset 44  
Byte Offset 48  
Byte Offset 52  
Byte Offset 56  
Byte Offset 60  
Byte Offset 64  
Byte Offset 66  
Byte Offset 72  
Byte Offset 74  
Byte Offset 80  
Byte Offset 84  
Byte Offset 88  
Byte Offset 92  
Byte Offset 96  
Byte Offset 100  
Byte Offset 104  
Byte Offset 106  
Byte Offset 108  
Byte Offset 110  
Byte Offset 112  
Byte Offset 114  
0
integer  
48 Bit integer  
integer  
48 Bit integer  
integer  
48 Bit integer  
integer  
48 Bit integer  
long  
Peak detect counter  
0
Fast detect counter  
0
Peak detect counter at time-1  
0
Fast detect counter at time-1  
Busy Time [ms] at time-1  
MMCA on Time [s]  
long  
Real Time [s] of previous sweep  
Dead Time [ms] of previous sweep  
Start time of previous sweep  
0
long  
long  
long  
long  
Elapsed sweeps  
long  
Busy time [ms] of previous sweep  
0
long  
integer  
48  
Peak detect counter of previous sweep  
0
integer  
48  
Fast detect counter of previous sweep  
Counter of stabilisation steps  
Current stabilisation offset  
Maximal negative stabilisation offset  
Maximal positive stabilisation offset  
Counter of received commands  
Counter receive errors  
0
long  
integer  
integer  
integer  
long  
long  
integer  
integer value  
integer value  
integer value  
integer value  
Integer value  
Last command flag  
Last command parameter 1  
Last command parameter 2  
Last command parameter 3  
Buffer state33  
33 see MMCA_QUERY_SPECTRA  
53  
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MCA166-USB  
Byte Offset 116  
Byte Offset 120  
Byte Offset 122  
Byte Offset 123  
Byte Offset 124  
Byte Offset 128  
Stabilisation area preset  
Stabilisation time preset  
Low shaping time34  
High shaping time35  
0
long  
integer value  
byte value  
byte value  
integer value  
MMCA state  
STATE_POWER_ON,  
STATE_READY,  
STATE_RUN,  
STATE_SUSPEND,  
STATE_FINISH,  
STATE_ERROR,  
STATE_FAIL  
Return Code  
see MMCA_RESET command  
Name  
MMCA_QUERY_IMAGE36  
Description  
1. Parameter  
2. Parameter  
3. Parameter  
Result array  
Byte Offset 1  
...  
The command read the MMCA spectrum image (120x256).  
No. of 1. Channel  
Compress factor  
Vertical full scale  
Channel image N  
Channel image N+1  
0 ...  
1 ... 32  
byte value  
byte value  
Byte Offset 127  
Return Code  
Channel image N+127  
byte value  
see MMCA_RESET command  
34 The value must be multiplied with 0.1 µsec  
35 The value must be multiplied with 0.1 µsec  
36 This command should only be used to display the spectrum in a 120 x 256 pixel window.  
54  
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Name  
MMCA_QUERY_SPECTRA  
The command read the MMCA spectrum data.  
No. of 1. Channel and read out control37  
Compress factor (1 ... 32)  
Description  
1. Parameter  
2. Parameter  
Result array  
Byte Offset 4  
...  
integer value  
long value  
long value  
long value  
Channel contents N  
Channel contents N+1  
Byte Offset 124  
Byte Offset 128  
Return Code  
Channel contents N+31  
Buffer state38  
long value  
integer value  
see MMCA_RESET command  
Name  
MMCA_QUERY_ENRICHMENT  
Description  
1. Parameter  
2. Parameter  
3. Parameter  
4. Parameter  
Result array  
Byte Offset 4  
Byte Offset 8  
Byte Offset 12  
Return Code  
The command reads the begin and end of the 2 ROIs  
Peak begin  
integer value  
integer value  
integer value  
integer value  
long value  
LLD<= begin < end  
Peak end  
begin < end <= ULD, (end-begin) < 250  
LLD<= begin < end  
Background begin  
Background end  
Begin peak ROI  
End peak ROI  
begin < end <= ULD, (end-begin) < 250  
long value  
Begin background ROI long value  
End background ROI long value  
see MMCA_RESET command  
37 Read out control Bit[15:12], Channel number: Bit[11:0]  
Bit[15:12] = 0x00  
Bit[15:12] = 0x01  
Bit[15:12] = 0x02  
Bit[15:12] = 0x03  
Bit[15:12] = 0x07  
Read spectrum  
Read MCS amplitude spectrum  
Read spectrum buffer and unlock buffer  
Read spectrum buffer and lock buffer  
Read MCS amplitude spectrum buffer and lock buffer  
38 Read out buffer state  
Bit[15] = 1  
Bit[14] = 1  
Buffer filled  
Buffer overrun  
55  
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MCA166-USB  
Name  
MMCA_QUERY_UF6_INFO  
Description  
Parameter  
Result array  
Byte Offset 4  
Byte Offset 8  
Byte Offset 12  
Byte Offset 16  
Byte Offset 20  
...  
The command reads current dead time, real time the integral, begin and end of the UF6 ROIs  
-
Real time  
long value  
long value  
long value  
long value  
long value  
long value  
long value  
long value  
Dead time [msec]  
Integral ROI 1  
Integral ROI 2  
Integral ROI 3  
Begin ROI 1  
...  
Byte Offset 40  
Return Code  
End ROI 3  
see MMCA_RESET command  
Name  
MMCA_QUERY_UF6_ROIS  
Description  
Parameter  
The command reads the begin and end of the 3 ROIs  
-
Result array  
Byte Offset 4  
Byte Offset 8  
Byte Offset 12  
Byte Offset 16  
Byte Offset 20  
Return Code  
Begin ROI 1  
long value  
End ROI 1  
long value  
long value  
long value  
long value  
long value  
Begin ROI 2  
End ROI 2  
Begin ROI 3  
End ROI 3  
see MMCA_RESET command  
Name  
MMCA_QUERY_CENTROID  
Description  
1. Parameter  
2. Parameter  
Result  
The command reads peak centroid of the specified ROI  
Peak ROI begin  
Peak ROI end  
Peak centroid  
integer value  
integer value  
float value  
LLD<= begin < end  
begin < end <= ULD, (end-begin) < 250  
Return Code  
see MMCA_RESET command  
Name  
MMCA_QUERY_ON_LINE  
Description  
Parameter  
Results  
The command checks the communication between the MCA and the PC.  
-
-
Return Code  
see MMCA_RESET command  
56  
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Name  
MMCA_QUERY_VOLTAGE_CURRENT  
Description  
The command reads the voltages and currents from the MMCA.  
-
Parameter  
Results array  
Byte Offset 4  
Byte Offset 8  
Byte Offset 12  
Byte Offset 16  
Byte Offset 20  
Byte Offset 24  
Byte Offset 28  
Byte Offset 32  
Byte Offset 36  
Return Code  
Charger current [mA]  
long  
long  
long  
long  
long  
long  
long  
long  
long  
long  
HV primary current [mA]  
Battery current [mA]  
Battery voltage [mV]  
HV reference voltage [V]  
HV control voltage [V]  
+12V primary current [mA]  
+24V primary current [mA]  
-24V primary current [mA]  
-12V primary current [mA]  
see MMCA_RESET command  
A3.3 MS-Windows DLL for the communication with several MCA166-USB  
This Dynamic Link Library allows the communication with several MCA166-USB. It can manage the serial communication ports  
COM1 to COM20.  
Die Dynamic Link Library exists as a 16-bit variant (mca_comx.dll) and as a 32-bit variant (mca32cmx.dll). The DLL must reside in  
the system directory of Windows or in the same directory as the calling application. In order to include the DLL in your program, you  
have to use the in Visual Basic the file MCA32CMX.BAS (valid only for Win32 applications) or in C/C++ the files MCA_COMX.H and  
MCA_COMX.LIB or MCA32CXM.LIB. All functions and structures are declared in these files.  
The use of the function is analogous to the functions of the DLLs for the comunication with one MCA166-USB (see chapter A3.1).  
However, following differences exist: The return value of the function COMM_INIT is an index of the communication port. You have  
to pass this index to each function as first parameter so that you can distinguish the communication ports.  
The return value indicates the result of the data transfer. It can be one of the following values:  
ERROR_OK  
= 0 successful data transfer  
= 1 communication port is not initialized  
= 3 faulty data transfer  
= 4 invalid parameter  
= 5 forbidden index  
ERROR_INTERFACE  
ERROR_COMMUNICATION  
ERROR_INVALID_PARAM  
ERROR_FORBIDDEN_INDEX  
57  
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MCA166-USB  
APPENDIX 4 - Description of the MCA166-USB firmware functions  
MCA Reset Command:  
Command name  
Description  
CMD_INIT  
All MCA Parameters will be reset to their initial state and the spectra are cleared. The measurement  
is aborted, but the states of the preamplifier power and the value of the high voltage are unchanged!  
Command syntax  
Format  
integer  
integer  
integer  
long  
0
integer  
end flag  
B9  
Parameter  
preamble  
command  
0
Byte String (HEX)  
Used setup value  
Affected setup value  
MCA state  
A5  
5A  
41  
00  
00  
00  
00  
00  
00  
00  
9B  
None  
All  
STATE_READY  
MCA Acquire Commands:  
Command name  
CMD_START  
Depending on the value of the first parameter(cf) the command clears the spectrum and the time or  
not and then the measurement will be started. If the first parameter is not equal zero, the spectrum  
and the time where cleared and the second parameter(st) is stored as start time.39  
Description  
Command syntax  
Format  
integer  
integer  
integer  
long  
st  
integer  
end flag  
B9  
Parameter  
preamble  
command  
cf  
cf  
Byte String (HEX)  
A5  
5A  
42  
00  
00  
stl  
..  
..  
sth  
9B  
Used setup value  
Affected setup value  
MCA state  
All  
start time  
STATE_RUN  
Command name  
Description  
CMD_STOP  
The measurement is stopped immediately. There is no synchronisation with the internal clock or  
dwell time.  
Command syntax  
Format  
integer  
integer  
integer  
long  
0
integer  
end flag  
B9  
Parameter  
preamble  
command  
0
Byte String (HEX)  
Used setup value  
Affected setup value  
MCA state  
A5  
5A  
43  
00  
00  
00  
00  
00  
00  
00  
9B  
None  
None  
STATE_STOP  
39 See Appendix 3  
58  
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MCA Mode Command:  
Command name  
Description  
CMD_SET_MODE  
Depending on the value of the first parameter (mod):  
MODE_MCA  
MODE_MCS  
= 0  
= 1  
the command set MMCA to the required mode by activating the previous specified setup parameter.  
The command will be ignored and responded with a error messages, if a measurement is still  
running.  
Command syntax  
Format  
integer  
integer  
integer  
mod  
long  
0
integer  
end flag  
B9  
Parameter  
preamble  
command  
Byte String (HEX)  
Used setup value  
Affected setup value  
MCA state  
A5  
5A  
45  
00  
mod  
00  
00  
00  
00  
00  
9B  
coarse_gain, fine_gain, mca_input_pol, mca_input_adc  
mca_mode, stab_state  
STATE_READY  
MCA Clear Command:  
Command name  
Description  
CMD_CLEAR  
A running measurement is stopped immediately. Depending on the value of the first parameter  
(clear):  
CLEAR_MEMORY = 0  
CLEAR_TIME  
CLEAR_ROI  
CLEAR_ALL  
= 1  
= 2  
= 3  
the command clears the spectrum, the time information, the ROI limits exclusively or all together.  
Command syntax  
Format  
integer  
integer  
integer  
long  
0
integer  
end flag  
B9  
Parameter  
preamble  
command  
clear  
Byte String (HEX)  
Used setup value  
Affected setup value  
MCA state  
A5  
5A  
44  
00  
clear 00  
00  
00  
00  
00  
9B  
None  
real time, dead time, ROI begin, ROI end  
STATE_READY  
59  
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MCA166-USB  
MCA Measurement Setup Commands:  
Command name  
Description  
CMD_SET_ADC_RES_DISCR  
The command set the ADC resolution(res: 128, 256 … 4096), the LLD(Low level discriminator) and  
the ULD(Upper level discriminator) to the values of its three parameter.  
The command will be ignored and responded with a error messages, if one ore more parameter are  
invalid or a measurement is still running.  
Command syntax  
Format  
integer  
integer  
integer  
res  
long  
integer  
Parameter  
preamble  
command  
LLD, ULD  
end flag  
Byte String (HEX)  
A5  
5A  
46  
00  
resl  
resh  
LLDl LLDh ULDl ULDh B9  
9B  
Used setup value  
Affected setup value  
MCA state  
None  
channels, lld, uld, stab_state  
STATE_READY  
Command name  
Description  
CMD_SET_PRESETS  
The command sets the choice(pre)  
PRESET_NONE = 0  
PRESET_REAL = 1  
PRESET_LIVE  
PRESET_INT  
= 2  
= 3  
PRESET_AREA = 4  
and value(val) of the preset. The parameter val must be lower then 65536 for PRESET_REAL and  
PRESET_LIVE! If a measurement is running, only val can be changed.  
Command syntax  
Format  
integer  
integer  
integer  
pre  
long  
val  
integer  
end flag  
B9  
Parameter  
preamble  
command  
Byte String (HEX)  
A5  
5A  
48  
00  
prel  
preh  
vall  
...  
...  
valh  
9B  
Used setup value  
Affected setup value  
MCA state  
None  
presets, preset_value  
STATE_READY  
Command name  
Description  
CMD_SET_ROI  
The command sets the begin and end of the ROI for the preset integral and area.(LLD <= begin <  
end and LLD < end <= ULD)  
Command syntax  
Format  
integer  
integer  
integer  
beg  
long  
end  
integer  
end flag  
B9  
Parameter  
preamble  
command  
Byte String (HEX)  
A5  
5A  
49  
00  
begl  
begh endl  
endh 00  
00  
9B  
Used setup value  
Affected setup value  
MCA state  
LLD, ULD  
roi_begin, roi_end  
STATE_READY  
60  
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Command name  
Description  
CMD_SET_REPEAT  
The command sets the number(rep: 0 ... 65535) of sweeps for repetitive measurement.  
Command syntax  
Format  
integer  
integer  
integer  
rep  
long  
0
integer  
end flag  
B9  
Parameter  
preamble  
command  
Byte String (HEX)  
A5  
5A  
4A  
00  
repl  
reph 00  
00  
00  
00  
9B  
9B  
9B  
Used setup value  
Affected setup value  
MCA state  
None  
Repeat  
STATE_READY  
Command name  
Description  
CMD_SET_MCS_CHANNEL  
The command set the number of channels(ch: 128 ... 4096) for MCS mode  
Command syntax  
Format  
integer  
integer  
integer  
ch  
long  
0
integer  
end flag  
B9  
Parameter  
preamble  
command  
Byte String (HEX)  
A5  
5A  
63  
00  
chl  
chh  
00  
00  
00  
00  
Used setup value  
Affected setup value  
MCA state  
None  
mcs_channels  
STATE_READY  
Command name  
Description  
CMD_SET_TIME_PER_CHANNEL  
The command sets the dwell time(tpc: 1 ... 65535) per channel for the MCS mode40.  
Command syntax  
Format  
integer  
integer  
integer  
tpc  
long  
0
integer  
end flag  
B9  
Parameter  
preamble  
command  
Byte String (HEX)  
A5  
5A  
4B  
00  
tpcl  
tpch  
00  
00  
00  
00  
Used setup value  
Affected setup value  
MCA state  
None  
time_per_channel  
STATE_READY  
40 It is the real time per channel multiplied with 10  
61  
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MCA166-USB  
MCA Hardware Setup Commands:  
Command name  
Description  
CMD_SET_GAIN  
The command sets the amplifier coarse(cg) and fine gain(fg).  
cg:  
fg:  
2, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, 500 or 1000  
5000 ... 15000 (for cg = 1000 fg: 5000 ... 10000)  
Command syntax  
Format  
integer  
integer  
integer  
cg  
long  
fg  
integer  
end flag  
B9  
Parameter  
preamble  
command  
Byte String (HEX)  
A5  
5A  
4C  
00  
cgl  
cgh  
fgl  
fgh  
00  
00  
9B  
Used setup value  
Affected setup value  
MCA state  
None  
coarse_gain, fine_gain  
STATE_READY  
Command name  
Description  
CMD_SET_INPUT_POLARITY  
The command sets the input polarity for the internal amplifier.  
ip = 0  
ip = 1  
positive input signals  
negative input signals  
Command syntax  
Format  
integer  
integer  
integer  
long  
0
integer  
end flag  
B9  
Parameter  
preamble  
command  
ip  
ip  
Byte String (HEX)  
Used setup value  
Affected setup value  
MCA state  
A5  
5A  
56  
00  
00  
00  
00  
00  
00  
9B  
None  
mca_input_pol  
STATE_READY  
Command name  
Description  
CMD_SET_MCA_INPUT  
The command sets the ADC input to amplifier or to direct.  
ip = 0  
ip = 3  
ip = 4  
input amplifier  
input direct (0 ... +3V, PUR OFF)  
input direct (0 ... -3V, PUR OFF)  
Command syntax  
Format  
integer  
integer  
integer  
long  
0
integer  
end flag  
B9  
Parameter  
preamble  
command  
ip  
ip  
Byte String (HEX)  
Used setup value  
Affected setup value  
MCA state  
A5  
5A  
54  
00  
00  
00  
00  
00  
00  
9B  
None  
mca_input_adc  
STATE_READY  
62  
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Command name  
Description  
CMD_SET_MCS_INPUT  
The command sets the input for the Multi-Channel Scaler.  
ip = 0  
ip = 1  
ip = 2  
external TTL signals  
internal count rate signal  
counts only pulses with amplitude between LLD and ULD threshold  
Command syntax  
Format  
integer  
integer  
integer  
long  
0
integer  
end flag  
B9  
Parameter  
preamble  
command  
ip  
ip  
Byte String (HEX)  
Used setup value  
Affected setup value  
MCA state  
A5  
5A  
55  
00  
00  
00  
00  
00  
00  
9B  
None  
mca_input_mcs  
STATE_READY  
Command name  
Description  
CMD_SET_THRESHOLD  
This command set the analogue threshold value (thr: 2 …60).  
Command syntax  
Format  
integer  
integer  
integer  
thr  
long  
0
integer  
end flag  
B9  
Parameter  
preamble  
command  
Byte String (HEX)  
Used setup value  
Affected setup value  
MCA state  
A5  
5A  
47  
00  
thr  
00  
00  
00  
00  
00  
9B  
None  
Threshold  
STATE_READY  
Command name  
Description  
CMD_SET_SHAPING_TIME  
The command sets the amplifier shaping time(dtc).  
dtc = 1 shaping time low (1 µsec)  
dtc = 3 shaping time high (2 or 3 µsec)41  
Command syntax  
Format  
integer  
integer  
integer  
dtc  
long  
0
integer  
end flag  
B9  
Parameter  
preamble  
command  
Byte String (HEX)  
Used setup value  
Affected setup value  
MCA state  
A5  
5A  
52  
00  
dtc  
00  
00  
00  
00  
00  
9B  
None  
Dtc  
STATE_READY  
41 The values may be different for some MCA166-USB configurations.  
63  
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MCA166-USB  
Command name  
Description  
CMD_SET_PUR  
The command sets the pile up rejection.  
pur = 0 turns PUR off  
pur 0 turns PUR on  
Command syntax  
Format  
integer  
integer  
integer  
pur  
long  
0
integer  
end flag  
B9  
Parameter  
preamble  
command  
Byte String (HEX)  
Used setup value  
Affected setup value  
MCA state  
A5  
5A  
53  
00  
pur  
00  
00  
00  
00  
00  
00  
00  
9B  
9B  
9B  
None  
mca_pur  
STATE_READY  
Command name  
Description  
CMD_SET_FAST  
This command set the fast discriminator threshold (0 ... 2499, default 400).  
Command syntax  
Format  
integer  
integer  
integer  
fast  
long  
0
integer  
end flag  
B9  
Parameter  
Preamble  
command  
Byte String (HEX)  
Used setup value  
Affected setup value  
MCA state  
A5  
5A  
50  
00  
fast  
00  
00  
00  
00  
None  
Fast threshold  
STATE_READY  
Command name  
Description  
CMD_SET_SLOW  
This command set the slow discriminator threshold (0 ... 2499, default 400).  
Command syntax  
Format  
integer  
integer  
integer  
slow  
long  
0
integer  
end flag  
B9  
Parameter  
Preamble  
command  
Byte String (HEX)  
Used setup value  
Affected setup value  
MCA state  
A5  
5A  
51  
00  
slow 00  
00  
00  
00  
None  
Slow threshold  
STATE_READY  
64  
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Command name  
Description  
CMD_SET_PZC  
The command performs the Pole Zero Cancellation.  
pv: 0 ... 2499  
pm = 0  
PZC control voltage  
set PCZ only  
pm > 0  
set PZC and measure PZC offset  
Command syntax  
Format  
integer  
integer  
command  
58 00  
integer  
pm  
long  
integer  
end flag  
B9  
Parameter  
preamble  
Pv  
pvl  
Byte String (HEX)  
A5  
5A  
pml  
pmh  
pvh  
00  
00  
9B  
Used setup value  
Affected setup value  
Results  
None  
pzc_value  
If pm > 0 the function returns with the number of counts and the - PZC offset.  
STATE_READY  
MCA state  
Command name  
Description  
CMD_SET_PZC_TIME_OFFSET  
The command sets the time offset for Pole Zero Cancellation.  
t1: 0 ... 31  
t2: 0 ... 31  
Time offset for low shaping time  
Time offset for high shaping time  
Command syntax  
Format  
integer  
integer  
command  
60 00  
integer  
long  
integer  
end flag  
B9  
Parameter  
preamble  
t1  
t1  
t2  
t2  
Byte String (HEX)  
Used setup value  
Affected setup value  
MCA state  
A5  
5A  
00  
00  
00  
00  
9B  
None  
pzc_dtc_1_offset, pzc_dtc_3_offset  
STATE_READY  
65  
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MCA166-USB  
MCA Stabilisation Commands:  
Command name  
Description  
CMD_SET_STABILISATION  
The command sets the peak stabilisation.  
fl:  
0
turns stabilisation off  
turns stabilisation on  
stabilisation to channel fl  
1
rb+3<fl<re-3  
rb:  
re:  
Peak ROI begin (LLD<= begin < end)  
Peak ROI end (begin < end <= ULD, (end-begin) < 250)  
Command syntax  
Format  
integer  
integer  
integer  
long  
rb  
integer  
end flag  
B9  
Parameter  
preamble  
command  
fl  
re  
Byte String (HEX)  
A5  
5A  
4D  
00  
fll  
flh  
rbl  
rbh  
rel  
reh  
9B  
Used setup value  
Affected setup value  
MCA state  
channels, lld, uld  
stab_state, stab_roi_begin, stab_roi_end  
STATE_READY  
Command name  
Description  
CMD_SET_STAB_PARAM  
The command sets the stabilisation parameters.  
st:  
sa:  
time interval (default 10)  
area (default 25000)  
Command syntax  
Format  
integer  
integer  
integer  
long  
sa  
integer  
end flag  
B9  
Parameter  
Preamble  
command  
st  
Byte String (HEX)  
A5  
-
5A  
67  
00  
stl  
sth  
sal  
sal  
sal  
sah  
9B  
Used setup value  
Affected setup value  
MCA state  
stab_time, stab_area  
STATE_READY  
66  
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MCA Detector Power Commands:  
Command name  
Description  
CMD_SET_PREAMPLIFIER_POWER  
The command sets the preamplifier power(pp).  
0X80  
0X40  
0X20  
0X10  
0XF0  
0X00  
-24V  
+24V  
-12V  
+12V  
all on  
all off  
on  
on  
on  
on  
Command syntax  
Format  
integer  
integer  
integer  
pp  
long  
0
integer  
end flag  
B9  
Parameter  
preamble  
command  
Byte String (HEX)  
Used setup value  
Affected setup value  
MCA state  
A5  
5A  
4E  
00  
pp  
00  
00  
00  
00  
00  
9B  
None  
preamplifier_power  
STATE_READY  
Command name  
Description  
CMD_SET_BIAS  
The command sets the detector high voltage42and controls the HV-inhibit-input.  
hv:  
0 ... 3000  
i = 0  
i = 1  
i =-1  
Inhibit off  
”Canberra- or DFG-mode”, HV shut down if inhibit input < 0.5V  
”Ortec-mode”, HV shut down if inhibit input = +5V  
Command syntax  
Format  
integer  
integer  
integer  
hv  
long  
integer  
end flag  
B9  
Parameter  
preamble  
command  
I
Byte String (HEX)  
A5  
5A  
4F  
00  
hvl  
hvh  
il  
ih  
00  
00  
9B  
Used setup value  
Affected setup value  
MCA state  
None  
detector_bias, stab_state  
STATE_READY  
42 The high voltages will ramp up or down by the MCA166-USB.  
67  
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MCA166-USB  
MCA Data Setup Commands:  
Command name  
Description  
CMD_SET_TDF  
The command sets the TDF parameter.  
tdf:  
TDF(100 ... 3000, default 800)  
Command syntax  
Format  
integer  
integer  
integer  
tdf  
long  
0
integer  
end flag  
B9  
Parameter  
preamble  
command  
Byte String (HEX)  
A5  
5A  
61  
00  
tdfl  
tdfh  
0
0
0
0
9B  
Used setup value  
Affected setup value  
MCA state  
None  
tdf  
STATE_READY  
Command name  
Description  
CMD_SET_UF6_ROI  
The command sets the begin and the end of a ROI used by the other UF6 commands.  
r:  
ROI number  
b:  
e:  
LLD<= b < e  
b < e <= ULD, (e-b) < 500  
Command syntax  
Format  
integer  
integer  
integer  
integer  
integer  
integer  
end flag  
B9  
Parameter  
Preamble  
command  
r
r
b
e
Byte String (HEX)  
A5  
5A  
64  
00  
00  
bl  
bh  
el  
eh  
9B  
Used setup value  
Affected setup value  
MCA state  
LLD, ULD  
roi_begin[n], roi_end[n]  
STATE_READY  
Command name  
Description  
CMD_SET_USER_DATA  
The command stores a 32 bit value(f) in the MCA parameter memory(64 entries).  
e: 0 ... 63  
p: 0 ...  
parameter number  
long or float parameter  
Command syntax  
Format  
integer  
integer  
command  
57 00  
integer  
long or float  
P
integer  
end flag  
B9  
Parameter  
preamble  
e
e
Byte String (HEX)  
A5  
5A  
00  
pl  
pl  
ph  
ph  
9B  
Used setup value  
Affected setup value  
MCA state  
None  
None  
STATE_READY  
68  
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MCA Query Commands:  
Command name  
Description  
CMD_QUERY_POWER  
The command reads the power state.  
Command syntax  
Format  
integer  
integer  
integer  
long  
0
integer  
end flag  
B9  
Parameter  
preamble  
command  
0
Byte String (HEX)  
Results  
A5  
5A  
59  
00  
00  
00  
00  
00  
00  
00  
9B  
see MMCA_QUERY_POWER function in DLL description.  
Command name  
Description  
CMD_QUERY_STATE  
The command reads the state.  
Command syntax  
Format  
integer  
integer  
integer  
long  
0
integer  
end flag  
B9  
Parameter  
preamble  
command  
0
Byte String (HEX)  
Results  
A5  
5A  
5A  
00  
00  
00  
00  
00  
00  
00  
9B  
see MMCA_QUERY_STATE function in DLL description.  
Command name  
Description  
CMD_QUERY_SPECTRA  
The command reads the spectrum data.  
n: No. of 1. channel and buffer control (Bit 15 ... 12)  
c: Compress factor (1 ... 32)  
Command syntax  
Format  
integer  
integer  
integer  
long  
C
integer  
end flag  
B9  
Parameter  
preamble  
command  
n
Byte String (HEX)  
A5  
5A  
5B  
00  
nl  
nh  
cl  
ch  
00  
00  
9B  
Used setup value  
Results  
channels, lld, uld  
see MMCA_QUERY_SPECTRA function in DLL description.  
Command name  
Description  
CMD_QUERY_IMAGE  
The command read the MMCA spectrum image (120x256).  
n: No. of 1. Channel  
c: Compress factor (1 ... 32)  
v: Vertical full scale (see MCA_VFS in mca_comm.h)  
Command syntax  
Format  
integer  
integer  
integer  
integer  
integer  
integer  
end flag  
B9  
Parameter  
preamble  
command  
n
C
cl  
v
Byte String (HEX)  
A5  
5A  
5C  
00  
nl  
nh  
ch  
vh  
vh  
9B  
Used setup value  
Results  
channels, lld, uld  
see MMCA_QUERY_IMAGE function in DLL description.  
69  
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MCA166-USB  
Command name  
Description  
CMD_QUERY_USER_DATA  
The command reads a 32 bit value from the MCA parameter memory.  
e: 0 ... 63parameter number  
Command syntax  
Format  
integer  
integer  
integer  
long  
0
integer  
end flag  
B9  
Parameter  
preamble  
command  
e
e
Byte String (HEX)  
Used setup value  
Result  
A5  
5A  
5E  
00  
00  
00  
00  
00  
00  
9B  
9B  
9B  
None  
see MMCA_QUERY_USER_DATA function in DLL description.  
Command name  
Description  
CMD_SYSTEM_DATA  
The command reads the special MCA data.  
Command syntax  
Format  
integer  
integer  
integer  
00  
long  
End  
00  
integer  
end flag  
B9  
Parameter  
preamble  
command  
Byte String (HEX)  
Used setup value  
Result  
A5  
5A  
62  
00  
00  
00  
00  
00  
00  
see MMCA_QUERY_SYSTEM_DATA function in DLL description.  
Command name  
Description  
CMD_QUERY_CENTROID  
The command reads the centroid of a ROI (beg<end, LLD<=beg, end<=ULD, end-beg<250).  
Command syntax  
Format  
integer  
integer  
integer  
beg  
long  
End  
integer  
end flag  
B9  
Parameter  
preamble  
command  
Byte String (HEX)  
A5  
5A  
5F  
00  
begl  
begh endl  
endh 00  
00  
Used setup value  
Result  
channels, lld, uld  
see MMCA_QUERY_CENTROID function in DLL description.  
70  
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Command name  
Description  
CMD_QUERY_ENRICHMENT  
The command read the integral of two ROIs and the real and dead time.  
pb:  
bb:  
pl:  
Peak1 begin  
Peak2 begin  
Peak1 length (8 ... 250 channels)  
Peak2 length (8 ... 250 channels)  
bl:  
Command syntax  
Format  
integer  
Preamble  
A5  
integer  
integer  
long  
pbl  
integer  
end flag  
B9  
Parameter  
command  
Byte String (HEX)  
5A  
5D  
00  
pl  
bl  
pbd  
bbl  
bbh  
9B  
Used setup value  
Result  
-
see MMCA_QUERY_ENRICHMENT function in DLL description.  
Name  
MMCA_QUERY_UF6_INFO  
Description  
Command syntax  
Format  
The command reads current dead time, real time the integral, begin and end of the UF6 ROIs  
integer  
integer  
integer  
long  
0
integer  
end flag  
B9  
Parameter  
preamble  
command  
0
Byte String (HEX)  
Used setup value  
Result  
A5  
-
5A  
66  
00  
00  
00  
00  
00  
00  
00  
9B  
See MMCA_QUERY_UF6_INFO function in DLL description.  
Name  
CMD_QUERY_UF6_ROIS  
Description  
Command syntax  
Format  
The command reads begin and end of the UF6 ROIs  
integer  
integer  
integer  
long  
0
integer  
end flag  
B9  
Parameter  
Preamble  
command  
0
Byte String (HEX)  
Used setup value  
Result  
A5  
-
5A  
65  
00  
00  
00  
00  
00  
00  
00  
9B  
see MMCA_QUERY_UF6_ROIS function in DLL description.  
71  
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MCA166-USB  
APPENDIX 5 - Changing the MCA166-USB Firmware  
Attention:  
The order of changing the switches must be followed exactly,  
otherwise the µP will be destroyed!  
The programming voltage (+12V) shall only be applied when  
the working voltage (+5 V) is switched on !!  
Each MMCA must be programmed with it’s corresponding  
HEX-file (e.g. MMCA #6 with Mca6.hex).  
Programming the firmware can be done very easy by using the Firmware Wizard program.  
It is available from the Internet or from the supplied software CD.  
72  
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