Software.htm

Residual gas Analysers

SOFTWARE

Quadrupole Operating Software.

The new 'Windows' software for the Larimax mass spectrometers has been designed to be 'user friendly' quick to operate and very simple to learn and use.
Main Display Modes Bar-Graph Mode In Bar graph mode a region of the mass spectrum is measured at integral values of mass number and the resulting partial pressures are plotted against mass number in a bar-graph format. The first mass and scan width of the display can be quickley changed by the adjustment of scroll bars and the instrument gain range can be quickly changed from the gain display panel
DATE/TIME is updated at the start of each scan, and stored if a spectra save is implemented.		TOTAL ON/OFF Select ON and Total Pressure will be read and updated at the end of each scan
PRESSURE SCALE Choice of mBar/Torr/Pascal
GAIN PANEL UP/DOWN buttons increment the gain AUTO button selects auto gain		FIRST MASS & SCAN WIDTH Scroll bars. A simple and quick way to set the start and finish masses of the scan

Split Screen Library Search Mode In Split screen mode the graphics area is divided into 2 parts. The lower part contains the normal online spectra. The Upper part displays the library spectra and search panel. The library contains common residuals and semiconductor gases.
	Search Panel. Allows user input of search mass and search type with display of search results and compound names. Buttons enable scanning of found spectra.
	Stored Library Spectra displayed on upper half of screen
	Normal online Bar Graph Spectra displayed on lower half of screen
	First Mass and Scan Width controls are common to both displays to maintain mass alignment

Channel Mode The Channel and Trend modes are identically operationally but differ in the way that recorded data is presented. In both cases the mass spectrometer makes measurements of partial pressure at up to 16 mass numbers using previously defined gain ranges and detectors.
Channel Table. One Column for each channel peak, and 5 rows for peak data. To change the data in either of the first 4 rows simply click on the data that you wish to change. The box will become highlighted and a control will appear on the Change Data panel above. Now adjust the control to change the data.		UP/Down buttons to change the number of channels being Scanned and displayed. Any number between 1 and 16 can be selected.
Information/Message Display box.		Mass number being read by mass spectrometer

Trend mode shows the same peak information as channel mode except the peak heights are plotted against time. Therefore all controls including the Channel Grid Table will remain the same in both modes.

Trend and Leak Detect		Analogue Display

This display option allows the partial pressures of upto 16 masses to be plotted against time. The plot interval can be selected and each mass is depicted as a different coloured line. The leak detect mode is a single channel version with the default mass 4 selected for helium.		This is mainly used for checking on the analyser condition. It allows the peak shape and resolution of the analyser to be monitored and also simplifies the checking of mass alignment.

AUTO-RUN.
If Auto-Run has been selected the display will change to a table format. Filaments will switch on automatically. There will be a short delay whilst the filaments out-gas total pressure will be measured and then the instrument will start scanning over the first 100 amu. At the end of a scan the software will select the 8 largest peaks in the spectrum and display these in order on the table. The mass, gas and percentage for each gas will be indicated. The software will continue to monitor these major peaks, and comments will appear giving vacuum diagnosis, conditions, vacuum problems and how the vacuum conditions are changing. This auto-Run facility is mainly for the system user, who uses the RGA as a diagnostic tool and problem solver. All by the pressing of a single button.
At the bottom of this display are 3 buttons. One which closes this operating mode and returns the user to the main display modes, the second allows the whole process to start again and the third button takes the user direct to leak detect mode.

TOP TOOL BAR. (Drop down Menus) Software control.

File menue
SAVE SETTINGS. Saves all the current user settings into a text file. These include first mass Scan width, gain, channel peak information, detector, etc.

LOAD SETTINGS. Loads all the last saved setting information. This is also automatically loaded during boot-up of the software, so the instruments returns to the same condition, and settings as it was when switched off.

SAVE USER SETTINGS. Saves all the current user settings into a Named text file. Any number can be saved. Useful for different operators, or different configurations of the Software.

LOAD USER SETTINGS. Loads all the last saved setting information from a Named user settings file.

SAVE SPECTRA. Saves the current spectra at the end of scan into a text file along with all instrument parameters and date /time information.

RETRIEVE SPECTRA. Retrieves spectra from file. The software reconstructs and displays the spectra and all instrument settings at the time the spectra was saved.

DATALOG. Saves Channel/Trend Spectra data for up to 16 peaks into a text file. This data can be printed, displayed or transferred to a spreadsheet for further processing.

PRINT. Prints hard copy of the current displayed spectra in graphical form.

EXIT. Automatic shut down of instrument and software.

Display Mode menue
Selects one of the 5 main operating modes. Bar Graph, Analogue, Channel, Trend and Leak Detect.

System menue.
Selection of set up menus for changing serial port settings and engineers panels for testing hardware and configuring the software to the hardware in use.

Options menue.
Allows leak mass to be changed, mass calibration, and High Pressure mode to be selected.

Scan menue.
Selects different fast scanning options, and single shot/normal scan mode.

Background Subtract.
Menu options to allow the background spectra to be stored and the later subtracted from the current spectra after gas has been admitted to the system.

Library Mode.
Allows Split Screen Mode to be selected with a search facility to display Library spectra above the current spectra. (Bar-Graph Mode only).

Help.
Provides online help with descriptions of the main software features and controls.

BOTTOM TOOL BAR Mass Spectrometer Control.

Status.
Displays current status of the filament and emission, and will display any warning messages should the filament fail.

Filament Control Panel.
Allows filaments to be selected ON/OFF with single button operation.

Detector Control Panel.
FARADAY button. Selects Faraday plate ion detector mode.

S.E.M. Button. Switches on the high voltage to the Secondary electron multiplier. (Dual detector instruments only).

CAL. Button. Automatically calibrates the electron multiplier to a pre-set gain. A Calibration panel indicates progress and gain achieved at completion.

Scan Control Panel.
START button. Starts the instrument mass scan. Either from the first mass, first channel, or last stop position.
STOP button. Stops the current scan in its present mass/channel position.
RESET button. Resets the mass scan to first mass or channel 1, in either start or stop mode.

Precision Code.
UP/DOWN buttons. Gives selection of 8 precision codes. Higher code number increases the number of peak readings, integrations, and therefore gives more accurate and reproducible results.

Peak Width.
Up/Down buttons. Changes the amount of the peak that is scanned. 0% represents a single plotting point. 100% corresponds to 16 plotting points.

Contact Information

Telephone: +44 (0)1805 625 205
FAX: +44 (0)1805 625 205

Postal address: Anglo Scientific Instruments,; 3, Devon Units, Hatchmoor Industrial Estate,
Torrington, Devon. EX38 7HP. UK.
Electronic mail: All enquires: angloscientific@live.co.uk or sales@a-s-i.demon.co.uk

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