PEST 2.0 - SCAN - Varian Spectrometer Interface Program


This program will acquire data from a Varian century series spectrometer and store the data in a binary, ASCII, or group file. The program is operated by using the arrow keys or tab keys to select an item from a menu at the top of the screen, and pressing the Enter key to select that item. This manual is organized by menu layer and option.
2.0.1	The data screen
2.0.2	Using the menus
2.0.3	Selecting a page number
2.0.4	Function keys

These features are identical to those found in the Epr.exe program data screen 
and is described in section(s) .1.0.X.

2.0.5	Operation notes

THIS PROGRAM DOES NOT CONTROL ANY FUNCTION OF THE EPR SPECTROMETER.

This program acquires data passively from the spectrometer; it does not "drive" 
the field sweep of the spectrometer, control the sweep speed or width.  The only 
experimental information the computer automatically stores is the sweep time, 
the number of scans, the day's date, and the day's time.  Because of this, all 
functions of the Varian spectrometer platen are usable during the scan.  The 
scan may be interrupted, the rate changed, and the scan resumed.  In addition, 
an external sweep device may be used as long as that device either 1) sweeps 
the Varian platen, or 2) produces 1,000 independent TTL voltage steps which 
can be wired into the DT2801 external clock input. 

2.0.6	Interface notes

The Varian spectrometer scans "approximately 10000" field steps in a full 
sweep.  However, in our experience, the interval of these steps varied by such a 
degree as to sometimes 'bomb' the computer when two steps occurred too close 
together.  We therefore have converted to using the C1024 interface line which 
pulses approximately 1024 steps across the scan.  At each step, the program 
executes an analog to digital conversion of the DC EPR signal.  When either 
the right limit or the 1024th step occurs, the computer's scan ends.  The data is 
converted to exactly 1024 steps without changing the field scale.  The Varian 
J1007 burndy plug is used for the sweep start, field step, spectrometer release, 
and ground level lines.  Either the J1007 or the J307 coaxial can be the source 
of the DC EPR signal.  This signal ranges from roughly positive 0.5 Volts to 
negative 0.5 Volts across the platen with the signal channel 10X switch off; it 
ranges +/-5.0 V with the 10X switch on.  The signal does not clip at the limits 
of the platen.

2.0.7	Smooth signals

The default data acquisition setup assumes a moderately intense signal at a gain 
setting greater than 103.    If you have a strong signal with a lower gain, you 
may see the digital effects of the AD converter.  This will show up as un-
smooth signals.  To fix this problem, access the Control item of the Scan menu.  
Now raise the Gain of the AD converter and correspondingly raise the channel 
multiplier.  Be aware that as you raise the Gain of the AD converter, you lower 
the maximum allowable signal height.  To maintain a constant signal height, 
use these combinations:

	Gain	      Multiplier		  Max. detectable signal
	----------------------------------------------------------------
	0		2.0				+/- 10.0 V
	1		4.0				+/- 5.0  V
	2		8.0				+/- 2.5  V
	4		16.0				+/- 1.25 V


2.1.0	The main scan menu

File		Display		Layout		Plot		EXIT
[Scan]

These are the main menu options available to the user you.  In general the main 
menu options have the following functions:  The File, Display, Layout,  and 
Plot, functions are identical to those of the Epr.exe program.  See sections 1.1.x 
for details.  The scan functions are explained in more detail below.

2.2.0	Scan Functions


Initiates the start of the computer scan.  Switch the spectrometer into repeat 
mode and press the fast left button on the platen to start the scan.  The program 
will wait for the left limit of the Varian platen before actually acquiring data.  
The scan will continue until either the right limit of the platen is reached or 
1024 data points have been acquired.  You may pause the scan, change the scan 
rate, the gain, the offset, etc... during the scan.  Press F10 to stop the data 
acquisition.

Control
Change the computer interface specifications.  The default values conform to 
one magnetic field scan.

	Number of scans:	1 to 99

	Type of scan:		M, K, S
		Magnet		sweep of the magnetic field
		Kinetic		constant magnetic field
		Split		Acquire an additional signal with 
				the scan such as HPLC, Clark electrode, etc...
	
	Scan offset:		1 to 9, 5= center.  The display starting 
				point for the first data of the scan.

	Save every scan:	N= average scans,  Y= save each 
				scan to a separate disk file.

	Wait for prompt:	N= acquire each scan sequentially.  
				Y= wait for the user to confirm each scan.

	Save scans filename: 	1 to 8 character filename for saving each 
				scan separately.  Example:  test  produces 
				test.001, test.002, test.003, etc....

	Split scan identifier:  Text to identify the source of the 
				additional signal.

	Data offset:		Y-offset for the split scan.

	Relative gain:		Y-multiplier for the split data relative 
				to the EPR data.

	Delay time (s):		Time in seconds of the delay between the 
				EPR detection and the split scan detection. 	
				Computer acquisition is concurrent, this 
				value affects display only.

Interface
Parameters to control the Analog and Digital connection between the computer 
and spectrometer.  You will be prompted for a short list of inputs controlling 
the DT2801 data acquisition card.  The default conditions are for a straight 
connection with no additional impedances.  

	Gain code for A/D	1 to 4.
	The range of allowable voltages for each gain code is printed 
	on screen as a guide to which gain code to select. The A/D converter 
	will clip when the range is exceeded.  The platen has a range of 
	about -0.5 to +0.5 Volts.  HOWEVER the range output by the J1007 
	or J307 signal lines will exceed these values and is dependent 
	on whether the special x10 multiplier on the signal channel is 
	on or off.  The default is 1.

	1st   chan. multiplier	0.1 to 100.0
	2nd chan. multiplier 	0.1 to 100.0
	These inputs allows you to correct for the needed scale of your 
	data.  A/D conversions at gain code 1 produce values one half 
	as intense as at gain code 2, and so on.  The default is 2.0

	Signal channel start:	0 to 7
	This is the differential input connect for the EPR channel.  
	The second channel input is this value plus one.  
	The default is zero.

	Use external trigger?	Y or N
	A trigger is used to initiate the scan.  If disabled, the program 
	will begin acquiring data as soon as directed from the keyboard.  
	If enabled, a trigger must be connected to the trigger input of 
	the DT2801 board.

	Use external clock?	Y or N
	The clock times the experiment.  If external clock is selected, 
	a clock must be connected to the external clock input of the 
	DT2801 board.  The period of the internal clock is set by the 
	internal clock frequency.

	Internal clock time?	0.5 to 256 minutes.
	The total acquisition time needed when using an internal 
	clock.  This is the time for all data points to be collected.

	Number data steps?	128 - 4096.	
	The number of data steps expected by the program.  


Test
This entry will test the operation status of the DT2801.  If this selection 
repeatedly produces error messages or hangs the machine, there is an error with 
the DT2801, probably the selection of the base address.  The program is only 
configured to recognize the factory configuration base address of hexadecimal 
2EC.

Measure
Continuous display of the EPR signal level.  Press F10 to exit.

Parameters
This enables entry of record keeping parameters.  These values DO NOT 
control the operation of the spectrometer.  The scan time, time of day, date, and 
number of scans parameters are automatically generated by the program.  If the 
scan type (M,K,S) is set to S the display will change. The scan time value will 
have an effect on the display IF a split scan was acquired AND a delay time not 
equal to zero was entered.

Directory
Changes the current data directory and/or views the contents of the directory.

Save_scan
Saves the scan to disk as a binary data file.  You will be prompted for a file 
name.