Specifications
Table Of Contents
- iXon Ultra
- SAFETY AND WARNINGS INFORMATION
- SAFETY AND WARNINGS SYMBOLS
- MANUAL HANDLING
- SHIPPING AND STORAGE PRECAUTIONS
- SECTION 1 - INTRODUCTION TO IXON ULTRA HARDWARE
- 1.1 - TECHNICAL SUPPORT
- 1.2 - DISCLAIMER
- 1.3 - TRADEMARKS AND PATENT INFORMATION
- 1.4 - COMPONENTS
- 1.4.1 - Camera description
- 1.4.2 - Camera Power Supply Unit
- 1.4.3 - SOFTWARE
- 1.5 - SPECIFICATIONS
- 1.6 - ACCESSORIES
- 1.7 - SAFETY PRECAUTIONS AND MAINTENANCE
- 1.7.1 - Care of the camera
- 1.7.2 - Regular checks
- 1.7.3 - Annual electrical safety checks
- 1.7.4 - Replacement parts
- 1.7.5 - Fuse replacement
- 1.7.6 - Working with electronics
- 1.7.7 - Condensation
- 1.7.8 - Dew Point graph
- 1.7.9 - EM Gain ageing
- 1.7.10 - Minimizing particulate contamination
- 2.1 - INSTALLING THE HARDWARE
- 2.1.1- PC requirements
- 2.2 - INSTALLING ANDOR SOLIS SOFTWARE - WINDOWS O/S(XP/VISTA/SEVEN)
- 2.3 - NEW HARDWARE WIZARD
- 2.5 - WATER PIPE CONNECTORS
- 2.6 - MOUNTING POSTS
- 2.7 - COOLING
- 2.8 - START-UP DIALOG
- 3.1 - EMCCD OPERATION
- 3.1.1 - Structure of an EMCCD
- 3.1.2 - EM Gain & Read Noise
- 3.1.3 - EM Gain ON vs EM Gain OFF
- 3.1.4 - Multiplicative Noise Factor and Photon Counting
- 3.1.5 - EM Gain dependence and stability
- 3.1.6 - RealGain: Real and Linear gain
- 3.1.7 - EM Gain Ageing: What causes it and how is it countered?
- 3.1.8 - Gain and signal restrictions
- 3.1.9 - EMCAL
- 3.2 - COOLING
- 3.2.1 - Cooling options
- 3.2.2 - Heat generated in the EMCCD
- 3.2.3 Heatsink “hot side“ temperature
- 3.2.4 - Fan settings
- 3.3 - SENSOR READOUT OPTIMIZATION
- 3.3.1 - Sensor Pre-amp options
- 3.3.2 - Variable Horizontal Readout Rate
- 3.3.3 - Variable Vertical Shift Speed
- 3.3.4 - Output amplifier selection
- 3.3.5 - Baseline Optimization
- 3.3.5.1 - Baseline Clamp
- 3.3.6 - Binning and Sub Image options
- 3.4 - ACQUISITION OPTIONS
- 3.4.1 - Capture Sequence in Frame Transfer (FT) Mode
- 3.4.1.1 - Points to consider when using FT Mode
- 3.4.2 - Capture Sequence in Non-Frame Transfer Mode (NFT) with an FT EMCCD
- 3.4.2.1 - Points to note about using an FT EMCCD as a standard EMCCD
- 3.4.3 - Capture Sequence for Fast Kinetics (FK) with an FT EMCCD
- 3.4.3.1 - Points to consider when using Fast Kinetics mode
- 3.4.4 - Keep Clean Cycles
- 3.5 - TRIGGERING OPTIONS
- 3.5.1 - Triggering options in Frame Transfer (FT) mode
- 3.5.1.1 - Internal Triggering (FT)
- 3.5.1.2 - External Triggering (FT)
- 3.5.1.3 - External Exposure (FT)
- 3.5.2 - Triggering options in Non-Frame Transfer (NFT) mode
- 3.5.2.1 - Internal (NFT)
- 3.5.2.2 - External & Fast External (NFT)
- 3.5.2.3 - External Exposure (NFT)
- 3.5.2.4 - Software trigger (NFT)
- 3.5.3 - Trigger options in Fast Kinetics (FK) mode
- 3.5.3.1 - Internal (FK)
- 3.5.3.2 - External (FK)
- 3.5.3.3 - External Start (FK)
- 3.6 - SHUTTERING
- 3.7 - COUNT CONVERT
- 3.8 - OPTACQUIRE
- 3.8.1 - OptAcquire modes
- 3.9 - PUSHING FRAME RATES WITH CROPPED SENSOR MODE
- 3.9.1 - Cropped Sensor Mode Frame Rates
- 3.10 - ADVANCED PHOTON COUNTING IN EMCCDs
- 3.10.1 - Photon Counting by Post-Process
- 3.11 - SPURIOUS NOISE FILTER
- 4.1 - EMCCD TECHNOLOGY
- 4.1.1 - What is an Electron Multiplying CCD?
- 4.1.2 - Does EMCCD technology eliminate Read Out Noise?
- 4.1.3 - How sensitive are EMCCDs?
- 4.1.4 - What applications are EMCCDs suitable for?
- 4.1.5 - What is Andor Technology's experience with EMCCDs?
- 4.2 - EMCCD SENSOR
- 4.3 - VACUUM HOUSING
- 4.3.1 - Thermoelectric cooler
- 4.4 – USB 2.0 INTERFACE
- 4.5 - OUTGASSING
- 4.6 - EXTERNAL I/O
- 4.7 - SIGNAL DIAGRAMS
- 4.8 - CAMERALINK
- SECTION 5: TROUBLESHOOTING
- 5.1 - UNIT DOES NOT SWITCH ON
- 5.2 - SUPPORT DEVICE NOT RECOGNISED WHEN PLUGGED INTO PC
- 5.3 - TEMPERATURE TRIP ALARM SOUNDS (CONTINUOUS TONE)
- 5.4 - CAMERA HIGH FIFO FILL ALARM
- 5.5 - USE OF MULTIPLE HIGH SPEED USB 2.0 I/O ON ONE CAMERA
- A.1 - GLOSSARY
- A.1.1 - Readout sequence of an EMCCD
- A.1.2 - Accumulation
- A.1.3 - Acquisition
- A.1.4 - A/D Conversion
- A.1.5 - Background
- A.1.6 - Binning
- A.1.7 - Counts
- A.1.8 - Dark Signal
- A.1.9 - Detection Limit
- A.1.10 - Exposure Time
- A.1.11 - Frame Transfer
- A.1.12 - NOISE
- A.1.12.1 - Pixel Noise
- A.1.12.1.1 - Readout Noise
- A.1.12.1.2 - Shot Noise
- A.1.12.1.2.A - Shot Noise from the Signal
- A.1.12.1.2.B - Shot Noise from the Dark Signal
- A.1.12.1.3 - Calculation of Total Pixel Noise
- A.1.12.2 - Fixed Pattern Noise
- A.1.13 - Quantum Efficiency/Spectral Response
- A.1.14 - Readout
- A.1.15 - Saturation
- A.1.16 - Scans (Keep Clean and Acquired)
- A.1.17 - Shift Register
- A.1.18 - Signal To Noise Ratio
- B - MECHANICAL DIMENSIONS
- C - DECLARATION OF CONFORMITY
- D - HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE WARRANTY SERVICE
- D.1 - SERVICE DESCRIPTION
- D.2 - Access to Service
- D.3 - Hardware Remediation
- D.4 - Software Remediation
- E - THE WASTE ELECTRONIC AND ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT REGULATIONS 2006 (WEEE)

Version 1.1 rev Jan 2013
Page 12
iXon Ultra
SAFETY AND WARNINGS INFORMATION
Safety and Warnings Information
PLEASE READ THIS INFORMATION FIRST
1. To ensure correct and safe operation of this product, please read this guide before use and keep it in a safe place
for future reference.
2. If the equipment is used in a manner not specied by Andor, the protection provided by the equipment may be
impaired.
3. Before using the system, please follow and adhere to all warnings, safety, manual handling and operating
instructions located either on the product or in this User Guide.
4. The Andor iXon Ultra camera is a precision scientic instrument containing fragile components. Always handle with
care.
5. Do not expose the product to extreme hot or cold temperatures.
6. Ensure that the ventilation slots in the camera case are free from blockages.
7. Do not expose the product to open ames.
8. Do not allow objects to fall on the product.
9. Do not expose the product to moisture, wet, or spill liquids on the product. Do not store or place liquids on the
product. If spillage occurs on the product, switch off power immediately and wipe off with dry, lint-free cloth. If any
ingress has occurred or is suspected, unplug mains cable, do not use, and contact Andor service.
10. The product contains components that are extremely sensitive to static electricity and radiated electromagnetic
elds, and therefore should not be used, or stored, close to EMI/RFI generators, electrostatic eld generators,
electromagnetic or radioactive devices, or other similar sources of high energy elds.
11. Operation of the system close to intense pulsed sources (e.g. plasma sources, arc welders, radio frequency
generators, X-ray instruments, and pulsed discharge optical sources) may compromise performance if shielding of
the Camera is inadequate.
12. Use only the power supply cord provided with the system for this unit. Should this not be correct for your
geographical area contact your local Andor representative.
13. Only the correctly specied mains supply must be used.
14. Make sure the electrical cord is located so that it will not be subject to damage.
15. There are no user-serviceable parts in the camera. Only authorised service personnel may service this equipment .
16. Users must be authorised and trained personnel only; otherwise this may result in personal injury, and/or equipment
damage and impaired system performance.










