Ocean Insight NIRQuest Series User manual

NIRQuest
Scientific-grade Spectrometer
Installation and Operation Manual
For Products: NIRQuest512, NIRQuest512-1.9, NIRQuest512-2.2, NIRQuest512-2.5, NIRQuest256-2.1

Table of Contents
About This Manual ................................................... iv
Warnings & Cautions................................................................................. iv
Warranty..................................................................................................... vi
Certifications and Compliance................................................................. vi
Introduction............................................................... 1
Product Description ...................................................................................1
Features ......................................................................................................2
Interface Options........................................................................................3
Items Included with Shipment...................................................................3
Installation ................................................................ 4
USB Mode ...................................................................................................4
Serial Port Mode.........................................................................................5
Configuring the NIRQuest Spectrometer..................................................5
OceanView Acquisition Controls...............................................................5
External Triggering Options.......................................................................8
Changing the Slit ........................................................................................8
Calibrating the Wavelength of the NIRQuest............................................8
Troubleshooting ........................................................9
NIRQuest Spectrometer Connected to Computer Prior to Application
Software......................................................................................................9
Specifications..........................................................11
30-Pin Accessory Connector Pinout .......................................................15
NIRQuest 15-Pin Accessory Cable Pinout..............................................18
NIRQuest512-2.5 Sensitivity....................................19
Copyright © 2020 Ocean Insight
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying,
recording, or otherwise, without written permission from Ocean Insight.
This manual is sold as part of an order and subject to the condition that it shall not, by way of trade or otherwise, be lent, re-sold, hired out or otherwise circulated without
the prior consent of Ocean Insight, Inc. in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published.
Trademarks
All products and services herein are the trademarks, service marks, registered trademarks or registered service marks of their respective owners.
Limit of Liability
Every effort has been made to make this manual as complete and as accurate as possible, but no warranty or fitness is implied. The information provided is on an “as is”
basis. Ocean Insight shall have neither liability nor responsibility to any person or entity with respect to any loss or damages arising from the information contained in this
manual.

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About This Manual
Warnings & Cautions
This device may cause radio interference or may disrupt the operation of nearby equipment. It may be necessary to
take mitigation measures such as re-orienting, relocating or shielding the location.
Cautions
Caution: Do not let contaminants get into the bench. Keep the protective cap on the slit aperture when not connected to an
accessory, probe or fiber.
Caution: Only change the slit aperture in a clean environment where contaminants including dust cannot enter the bench during
the procedure.
Caution: Substitution of a component or accessory different from that supplied may result in measurement error, equipment
damage, increased emissions or decreased immunity.
Caution: Repairs should be undertaken only by personnel trained or authorized by Ocean Insight. The device does not contain any
user serviceable parts.
Caution: Do not immerse the device in any fluid, place fluids on top of or attempt to clean with liquid detergents or cleaning
agents. This may cause an electrical hazard. Do not use if accidental wetting occurs.

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Caution: Do not remove any covers. Doing so may increase the risk of electrical shock or compromise the integrity of the optical
components.
Caution: Do not gas sterilize or autoclave this device.
Caution: Consult local codes and ordinances for proper disposal of equipment and other consumable goods.
Caution: The device and/or accessories may not operate correctly if used or stored outside the relevant temperature and
humidity ranges described in the Technical Specifications.
Caution: Do not use if device is dropped and/or damaged. Have an authorized service representative check the device before
using again.
Caution: Be sure to install any software BEFORE connecting the spectrometer to your PC or host system. The software installs
the drivers required for spectrometer installation. If you do not install the software first, the system may not properly
recognize the spectrometer.
Caution: To ensure reliable operation, it is recommended that the power supply be attached prior to inserting the USB connector.
Caution: The user of this spectrometer shall have the sole responsibility for any malfunction which results from improper use,
faulty maintenance, improper repair, damage or alteration by anyone other than Ocean Insight or their authorized
service personnel.

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Warranty
For the most current warranty information, please visit OceanInsight.com.
Certifications and Compliance
This is an FCC Class A product. In a domestic environment, this product may cause radio
interference in which case the user may be required to take adequate measures.
Warning
FCC Compliance
This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class A digital device, pursuant to
Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful
interference when the equipment is operated in a commercial environment. This equipment generates uses and
can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the instruction manual,
may cause harmful interference to radio communications. Operation of this equipment in a residential area is
likely to cause harmful interference in which the user will be required to correct the interference at his own
expense.

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The authority to operate this equipment is conditioned by the requirement that no
modifications will be made to the equipment unless the changes or modifications are expressly
approved by the manufacturer.
Warning
The WEEE symbol on the product indicates that the product must not be disposed of with normal household
waste. Instead, such marked waste equipment must be disposed of by arranging to return to a designated
collection point for the recycling of waste electrical and electronic equipment. Separating and recycling this
waste equipment at the time of disposal will help to conserve natural resources and ensure that the
equipment is recycled in a manner that protects human health and the environment
WEEE Compliance
This device has been tested and complies with the following standards:
CAN ICES-003, class A
EN 55011:2009/A1:2010 Group 1 Class A
EN 61326-1:2013 Basic Level

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ISO Certification
Ocean Insight, the industry leader in miniature photonics, has been certified for ISO 9001:2015 certification
applicable to the design and manufacture of electro-optical equipment.

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Introduction
Product Description
A high-performance optical bench, low-noise electronics and various grating options make NIRQuest Spectrometers the best choice
for modular NIR spectroscopy. This small footprint, near infrared spectrometer is available in several different models that cover
various wavelength ranges between 900 nm and 2500 nm and as with most Ocean Insight designs can be customized for your
specific application with various grating, slit and mirror options.
An optional internal shutter is available on custom-configured spectrometers (INTERNAL-SHUTTER-LRG-BENCH). This makes it
easier to take dark measurements and when you need fast integration times with the best possible signal. This optional feature is
also recommended for probe-based or emissive measurements where it is difficult to introduce a shutter into the optical path. The
shutter can be added to an existing NIRQuest for an extra charge.
Replaceable slits are offered for added convenience.
Breakout Box
Ocean Insight also offers the Breakout Box (HR4-BREAKOUT), a passive module that separates the signals from their 30-pin port
to an array of standard connectors and headers, enabling easy access to a variety of features found in Ocean Insight’s NIRQuest
Spectrometer. In addition to the accessory connector, the breakout box features a circuit board based on a neutral breadboard
pattern that allows custom circuitry to be prototyped on the board itself.
NOTE
High Gain Mode is not recommended for NIRQuest512-2.2 and NIRQuest512-2.5 spectrometers but can be used. An additional
30 minute warm up time is necessary to stabilize the detector response.

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Features
•High signal-to-noise ratio: 15,000:1 to 7500:1, depending on model. Combined with high dynamic range this means that you
can achieve the highest accuracy and precision.
•Deep Thermoelectric cooling (TEC) cooling down from 35°C to 50°C below ambient. This means lower dark current and
improved signal to noise.
•High Resolution: 2nm - 12nm (slit and detector dependent) to suit your application.
•Small and lightweight: 182 x 110 x 47 mm and 1.2 kg.
•Fast data transfer via USB and optional RS-232. GPIO pins support I2C peripherals.
•Integration times from 1 ms to 120 seconds (depending on spectrometer model)
•Embedded microcontroller allows programmatic control of all operating parameters and standalone operation
•USB 2.0 480Mbps
•Communication standards for digital accessories (I2C)
•Onboard Pulse Generator
•3 programmable strobe signals for triggering other devices
•Software control of nearly all pulse parameters
•Onboard GPIO
•10 user-programmable digital I/Os
•EEPROM storage for
•Wavelength Calibration Coefficients
•Linearity Correction Coefficients
•Absolute Irradiance Calibration (optional)
•30-pin connector for interfacing to external products
•Kensington® security slot
•Optional shutter for dark measurements requiring a fast integration time and good throughput –Specify when ordering

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Interface Options
The NIRQuest Spectrometer has USB and serial port connectors (with the use of an adapter), enabling you to connect the
spectrometer to a desktop or notebook computer via a USB port or serial port. However, you must create custom software if using
the serial port. OceanView software is available if you are connecting via the USB port.
Computer
Interface
Operating System
Requirements
Cable Needed
Description of Cable
USB Port
For the most current
software, visit
OceanInsight.com*
USB-CBL-1
(included)
Cable connects from USB port on NIRQuest Spectrometer to USB port on
desktop or notebook PC
Serial Port
Any 32 or 64-bit
Windows operating
system
HR4-BREAKOUT
(not included)
Adapter block that enables connection from serial port on NIRQuest to
serial port on desktop or notebook PC; comes with 5 VDC power supply
(required when connecting to serial port)
*OceanView may run with previous operating systems but Ocean Insight does not actively support these installations.
Items Included with Shipment
❑NIRQuest Spectrometer
❑+ 5VDC power supply
❑15-Pin Accessory Cable (see NIRQuest 15-Pin Accessory Cable Printout)
❑USB Cable
❑Wavelength Calibration Data Sheet –Each spectrometer is shipped with a Wavelength Calibration Data Sheet that contains
information unique to your spectrometer.
NOTE
Please save the Wavelength Calibration Data Sheet for future reference.

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Installation
You must install the spectroscopy application prior to connecting the NIRQuest Spectrometer to the PC. The spectroscopy
application installs the drivers required for spectrometer installation. If you do not install the software first, the system will not
properly recognize the NIRQuest Spectrometer.
If you have already connected the NIRQuest Spectrometer to the PC prior to installing the software, consult Troubleshooting for
information on correcting a corrupt NIRQuest Spectrometer installation.
USB Mode
To connect the NIRQuest Spectrometer to a PC via the USB port, the PC must be running the Windows operating system.
1. Install the spectroscopy application on the destination computer, and then reboot the system.
2. Plug the +5VDC wall adapter into an electrical outlet, then connect the power cord to the 2.5 mm power jack (older versions
may have a 1.3 mm power jack) on the rear of the NIRQuest Spectrometer.
3. Locate the USB cable that came with the NIRQuest Spectrometer.
4. Insert the square end of the cable into the rear of the NIRQuest Spectrometer, and then insert the rectangular end into the USB
port of the computer.
If the software was installed prior to connecting the NIRQuest Spectrometer, the Add New Hardware Wizard appears and installs the
NIRQuest Spectrometer drivers. If the drivers do not successfully install, or if you connected the NIRQuest Spectrometer to the
computer before installing the software, consult Troubleshooting.
CAUTION
Ensure that TEC power is always applied (using OceanView software) before USB power.

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Serial Port Mode
To use the serial port capacity of the NIRQuest Spectrometer, the PC must be running a 32 or 64-bit version of the Windows
operating system.
1. Plug the +5VDC wall adapter into an electrical outlet, then connect the power cord to the 2.5 mm power jack (older versions
may have a 1.3 mm power jack) on the rear of the NIRQuest Spectrometer.
2. Connect one end of the serial cable to the RS-232 connector on the rear of the NIRQuest Spectrometer, and then connect the
other end to a serial port on the PC.
3. Note the serial port number (also called COM Port) on the PC to which the NIRQuest Spectrometer is connected (some PCs
may not have numbered ports).
Configuring the NIRQuest Spectrometer
If you have followed the previous steps for connecting NIRQuest in
USB mode and started OceanView, the spectrometer is already
acquiring data. Even with no light in the spectrometer, there should be
a dynamic trace displayed in the bottom of the graph. If you allow light
into the spectrometer, the graph trace should rise with increasing light
intensity. This means the software and hardware are correctly
installed.
Note the spectrometer that you have installed is listed in the Data
Sources pane.
OceanView Acquisition Controls
In OceanView, the Acquisition Parameter Controls allow you to set the
desired parameters for the NIRQuest.

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TE Cooler
1. Right-click on the NIRQuest in the Schematic View.
2. Select New Acquisition | Thermo-Electric Cooling.

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Optional Shutter
1. In the Acquisition Group window, click on the Add/Remove Controls tab.
2. Select GPIO. The GPIO controls appear on the Main Controls tab.
3. Check the Out box for Index 4. This makes the GPIO an output.
4. Check the Value box for Index 4 to close the shutter. You can now take
your dark measurement.
5. Uncheck the Value box to open the shutter.
NOTES
Make sure the ALT checkbox for the GPIO (index 4) is not selected, which would prevent the shutter from triggering.
The activation time of the internal shutter is 11ms.

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External Triggering Options
You can trigger the NIRQuest Spectrometer using the External Software Triggering option through the 30-pin accessory connector on
the spectrometer. Only the External Software Trigger mode is available with the NIRQuest Spectrometer.
Changing the Slit
NIRQuest spectrometers have an interchangeable slit feature which allows you to move rapidly between different measurement
types without changing your spectrometer.
For instructions on how to change the slit on your spectrometer, visit OceanInsight.com.
Ocean Insight recommends that a calibration be performed after changing the slit on a spectrometer as it will optimize the
performance of the device.
Calibrating the Wavelength of the NIRQuest
Each spectrometer is calibrated before it leaves Ocean Insight, however the wavelength for all spectrometers will drift slightly as a
function of time and environmental conditions.
For instructions on how to calibrate the NIR Quest, visit OceanInsight.com.

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Troubleshooting
NIRQuest Spectrometer Connected to Computer Prior to Application Software
Windows Operating Systems
If you connected your NIRQuest Spectrometer to the computer prior to installing your Ocean Insight software application, you may
encounter installation issues that you must correct before your Ocean Insight device will operate properly.
Remove the Unknown Device from Windows Device Manager
1. Open Windows Device Manager. Consult the Windows operating instructions for your computer for directions, if needed.
2. Locate the Other Devices option and expand the Other Devices selection by clicking on the "+" sign to the immediate left.
3. Locate the unknown device (marked with a large question mark). Right-click on the Unknown Device listing and select the
Uninstall or Remove option.
4. Click the OK button to continue. A warning box appears confirming the removal of the Unknown Device. Click the OK button to
confirm the device removal.
5. Disconnect the NIRQuest Spectrometer from your computer.
6. Replug the spectrometer into your computer. The system should now be able to locate and install the correct drivers for the
USB device.
Apple Mac OSX Operating Systems
Since there are no device files for the NIRQuest Spectrometer in a Mac operating system, you should not encounter any problems if
you installed the spectrometer before the spectrometer operating software.
NOTES
Improperly installed USB devices can also appear under the Universal Serial Bus Controller option. Be sure to check this location
if you cannot locate the unknown device.

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Linux Operating Systems
For Linux operating systems, all you need to do is install the spectrometer operating software, then unplug and replug in the
spectrometer. Technically, the driver files for Linux simply give nonprivileged users permission to use newly connected hardware.
There isn’t any long-term harm to plugging in the device before installing the software.

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Specifications
NIRQuest512
NIRQuest512-1.9
NIRQuest512-2.2
NIRQuest512-2.5
NIRQuest256-2.1
PHYSICAL
Dimensions (mm):
182 x 110 x 47
Weight (kg):
1.18 (w/o power supply)
DETECTOR
Detector range:
850-1700 nm
1000-1900 nm
900-2200 nm
900-2550 nm
900-2100 nm
Useable range1:
900-1700 nm
1000-1900 nm
900-2200 nm
900-2500 nm
900-2050 nm
Pixels:
512
256
Pixel size:
25 µm x 500 µm
900-2200 nm
50 µm x 250 µm
Saturation charge:
30 pC (~188 Me- electrons)
Defective pixels:
0 pixels
<20 pixels
<12 pixels
OPTICAL BENCH
Design:
f/4, symmetrical crossed Czerny-Turner
Optional Shutter
activation time:
11 ms

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NIRQuest512
NIRQuest512-1.9
NIRQuest512-2.2
NIRQuest512-2.5
NIRQuest256-2.1
Entrance aperture
standard (custom):
25 µm (10 µm, 50 µm, 100 µm and 200 µm [or no slit])
Grating options
(standard):
Grating NIR3, 150
l/mm, 900-1700
nm
Grating NIR3, 100
l/mm, 150 l/mm,
900-1700 nm
Grating NIR2, 100
l/mm, 900-2050
nm
Grating NIR1, 75 l/mm,
1075-2500 nm
Grating NIR2, 100
l/mm, 900-2050 nm
Grating options
(custom):
NIR10, NIR11, NIR13 and NIR14
NIR2, NIR3, NIR10, NIR11, and NIR13
Longpass filter2:
OF1-RG830
longpass NIR
filter (optional)
OF1-CGA1000
longpass NIR filter
(standard)
OF1-RG830 longpass NIR filter (optional)
2nd Order filter2:
N/A
Standard
Fiber optic
connector:
SMA 905 to 0.22 numerical aperture single-strand optical fiber
SPECTROSCOPIC
Wavelength range:
900-1700 nm
w/Grating NIR3
1100-1900nm
w/Grating NIR3
900-2200nm
w/Grating NIR2
900-2500nm
w/Grating NIR1
900-20500nm
w/Grating NIR2
Optical resolution
(FWHM)3:
~3.1 nm w/25 µm slit
~5 nm w/25 µm slit
~6.3 nm w/25 µm slit
~7.6 nm w/25 µm slit
Signal-to-noise ratio
at full signal4:
>15000:1 @ 100
ms integration
>8000:1 @ 100 ms
integration;
10000:1 @ 100 ms integration
>13000:1 @ 1000 ms integration
A/D resolution:
16-bit
Dark noise:
6 RMS counts @ 100 ms
16 RMS counts @ 10
6 RMS counts @ 100