ORTEC Easy-MCS Instructions for use

ORTEC
®
Easy-MCS™
with the MCS-32 (A73-B32) Software for
Microsoft®Windows®7 and Windows XP®SP3
Hardware and Software User’s Manual
Software Version 2.2
Printed in U.S.A. ORTEC Part No. 931054 1213
Manual Revision C

Advanced Measurement Technology, Inc.
a/k/a/ ORTEC®, a subsidiary of AMETEK®, Inc.
WARRANTY
ORTEC* warrants that the items will be delivered free from defects in material or workmanship. ORTEC makes no other
warranties, express or implied, and specifically NO WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A
PARTICULAR PURPOSE.
ORTEC’s exclusive liability is limited to repairing or replacing at ORTEC’s option, items found by ORTEC to be defective
in workmanship or materials within one year from the date of delivery. ORTEC’s liabilityon any claimof any kind, including
negligence, loss, or damages arising out of, connected with, or from the performance or breach thereof, or from the
manufacture, sale, delivery, resale, repair, or use of any item or services covered by this agreement or purchase order, shall in
no case exceed the price allocable to the item or service furnished or any part thereof that gives rise to the claim. In the event
ORTEC fails to manufacture or deliver items called for in this agreement or purchase order, ORTEC’s exclusive liability and
buyer’s exclusive remedyshall be release of the buyer fromthe obligation to paythe purchase price. In no event shall ORTEC
be liable for special or consequential damages.
Quality Control
Before being approved for shipment, each ORTEC instrument must pass a stringent set of quality control tests designed to
expose any flaws in materials or workmanship. Permanent records of these tests are maintained for use in warranty repair and
as a source of statistical information for design improvements.
Repair Service
If it becomes necessary to return this instrument for repair, it is essential that Customer Services be contacted in advance of
its return sothat a Return Authorization Number can be assigned to the unit. Also, ORTEC must beinformed,either in writing,
by telephone [[phone]] or by facsimile transmission [[phone]], of the natureof the fault of the instrument being
returned and of the model, serial, and revision (“Rev” on rear panel) numbers. Failure to do so may cause unnecessary delays
in gettingthe unit repaired. The ORTEC standard procedure requires that instruments returned for repair pass the same quality
control tests that are used for new-production instruments. Instruments that are returned should be packed so that they will
withstandnormaltransithandlingandmustbeshippedPREPAIDviaAir Parcel PostorUnitedParcelServicetothedesignated
ORTEC repair center. The address label and the package should include the Return Authorization Number assigned.
Instruments being returned that are damaged in transit due to inadequate packing will be repaired at the sender's expense, and
it will be the sender's responsibility to make claim with the shipper. Instruments not in warranty should follow the same
procedure and ORTEC will provide a quotation.
Damage in Transit
Shipments should be examined immediately upon receipt for evidence of external or concealed damage. The carrier making
delivery should be notified immediately of any such damage, since the carrier is normally liable for damage in shipment.
Packing materials, waybills, and other such documentation should be preserved in order to establish claims. After such
notification to the carrier, please notify ORTEC of the circumstances so that assistance can be provided in making damage
claims and in providing replacement equipment, if necessary.
Copyright © 2013, Advanced Measurement Technology, Inc. All rights reserved.
*ORTEC®is a registered trademark of Advanced Measurement Technology, Inc. All other trademarks used herein are the
property of their respective owners.
NOTICE OF PROPRIETARY PROPERTY — This document and the information contained in it are the proprietary
property of AMETEK Inc., ORTEC Business Unit. It may not be copied or used in any manner nor may anyof the information
in or upon it be used for any purpose without the express written consent of an authorized agent of AMETEK Inc., ORTEC
Business Unit.

iii
TABLE OF CONTENTS
SafetyInstructionsandSymbols................................................ viii
CleaningInstructions......................................................... viii
1. INTRODUCTION .......................................................... 1
1.1. Easy-MCSFeatures ..................................................... 1
1.2. HostComputerandSoftwareRequirements .................................. 2
1.3. What is a Multichannel Scaler? ............................................ 2
1.4. A Closer Look at the Easy-MCS ........................................... 3
2. THEEASY-MCS ........................................................... 7
2.1. FrontPanel............................................................ 7
2.1.1. Inputs .......................................................... 7
2.1.2. Outputs ......................................................... 8
2.2. RearPanel ............................................................ 9
3. HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE INSTALLATION .............................. 11
3.1. Install the CONNECTIONS DriverUpdate.................................... 11
3.2. InstalltheMCS-32Software ............................................. 11
3.3. ConnecttheEasy-MCStotheComputer.................................... 11
3.4. RuntheMCSConfigurationProgramtoBuildtheListofAvailableMCSUnits.... 12
3.4.1. CustomizingtheMasterMCSList................................... 12
3.5. AttachingMoreThanOneEasy-MCStotheComputer ........................ 13
3.5.1. ConnectingtoandDisconnectingfromtheComputer ................... 13
4. GETTING STARTED — MCS-32 TUTORIAL .................................. 15
4.1. PreparingToAcquireData .............................................. 15
4.2. CollectingData ....................................................... 17
4.3. SavingandRetrievingYourData ......................................... 21
4.4. AbortingDataAcquisitioninMCS-32 ..................................... 23
5. DISPLAYFEATURES ..................................................... 25
5.1. ScreenFeatures ....................................................... 25
5.2. TwoSpectrumDisplays................................................. 27
5.3. TheToolbar .......................................................... 28
5.4. UsingtheMouse ...................................................... 29
5.4.1. MovingtheMarkerwiththeMouse ................................. 29
Installation — page 11
Tutorial — page 15

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5.4.2. Sizing and Moving the Full Display Window .......................... 29
5.4.3. TheExpandedView(Right-Mouse-Button)Menu ...................... 30
5.5. Buttons and Checkboxes ................................................ 30
5.6. TheSidebar .......................................................... 30
5.6.1. AcquisitionSection .............................................. 30
5.6.2. ViewSection.................................................... 31
5.7. About MCS-32 ........................................................ 32
6. MENU COMMANDS ...................................................... 33
6.1. File ................................................................. 35
6.1.1. RecallData... ................................................... 35
6.1.2. SaveDataAs... .................................................. 36
6.1.3. PrintData........................................................ 37
6.1.4. Report... ....................................................... 37
6.1.5. CompareData... ................................................. 40
6.1.6. Recall Settings.................................................... 41
6.1.7. SaveSettingsAs... ............................................... 41
6.1.8. ImportASCII..................................................... 42
6.1.9. Export ASCII... .................................................. 43
6.1.10. Exit .......................................................... 43
6.2. Acquire.............................................................. 43
6.2.1. Start........................................................... 43
6.2.2. Stop........................................................... 43
6.2.3. Clear .......................................................... 44
6.2.4. MCS > Buffer................................................... 44
6.2.5. PassControl...................................................... 44
6.2.6. Input Control... .................................................. 45
6.2.7. RampControl... ................................................. 46
6.2.8. Adjust Live Input... ............................................... 47
6.2.9. SCASweep... ................................................... 47
6.3. Calculate............................................................. 49
6.3.1. Settings... ...................................................... 49
6.3.2. Data Info....................................................... 50
6.3.3. Sum........................................................... 50
6.3.4. Smooth ........................................................ 51
6.3.5. Strip... ......................................................... 51
6.3.6. Subtract... ...................................................... 52
6.3.7. Normalize ...................................................... 52
6.3.8. Marker......................................................... 52
6.3.9. Peak Search..................................................... 53
6.3.10. Calibrate........................................................ 53

931054C / 1213 TABLE OF CONTENTS
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6.4. Services ............................................................. 55
6.4.1. Start JOB... ..................................................... 55
6.4.1.1. Editing.JOBFiles ........................................ 56
6.4.2. Library... ....................................................... 57
6.4.3. Sample Description... ............................................. 58
6.5. ROI................................................................. 58
6.5.1. RecallROI....................................................... 59
6.5.2. SaveROIAs... .................................................. 59
6.5.3. MarkROI ...................................................... 59
6.5.4. UnmarkROI .................................................... 59
6.5.5. Unmark AllROIs ................................................ 59
6.6. Display .............................................................. 60
6.6.1. MCS/Buffer .................................................... 60
6.6.2. Select MCS... ................................................... 60
6.6.3. TimeUnits ..................................................... 60
6.6.4. Shorter/Taller ................................................... 61
6.6.5. Automatic ...................................................... 61
6.6.6. Logarithmic .................................................... 61
6.6.7. Narrower/Wider ................................................. 61
6.6.8. Center ......................................................... 61
6.6.9. Preferences....................................................... 62
6.6.9.1. Points/Fill ROI/Fill All .................................... 62
6.6.9.2. WrapMode ............................................. 62
6.6.9.3. FullView ............................................... 62
6.6.9.4. Graticules............................................... 63
6.6.9.5. Toolbar................................................. 63
6.6.9.6. Colors... ................................................ 63
7. KEYBOARDFUNCTIONS.................................................. 65
7.1. Introduction .......................................................... 65
7.2. MarkerandDisplayFunctionKeys........................................ 65
7.2.1. Next/PreviousChannel............................................ 65
7.2.2. Next/PreviousROI ............................................... 68
7.2.3. HighlightChannelsLeft/Right ..................................... 68
7.2.4. Next/PreviousLibraryEntry ....................................... 68
7.2.5. First/LastChannel ............................................... 68
7.2.6. Jump1/64ScreenWidth .......................................... 68
7.2.7. InsertROI ...................................................... 69
7.2.8. UnmarkROI .................................................... 69
7.2.9. Taller/Shorter ................................................... 69
7.2.10. ShiftCompareSpectrum ......................................... 69

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7.2.11. Wider/Narrower ................................................ 69
7.2.12. ScreenCapture ................................................. 69
7.3. KeyboardNumberCombinations ......................................... 70
7.3.1. Start........................................................... 70
7.3.2. Stop........................................................... 70
7.3.3. Clear .......................................................... 70
7.3.4. MCS>Buffer................................................... 70
7.3.5. MCS/Buffer .................................................... 70
7.4. FunctionKeys ........................................................ 71
7.4.1. MCS/Buffer .................................................... 71
7.4.2. Taller/Shorter ................................................... 71
7.4.3. Narrower/Wider ................................................. 71
7.4.4. SelectMCS..................................................... 71
7.5. KeypadKeys ......................................................... 72
7.5.1. Log/Linear ..................................................... 72
7.5.2. Auto/Manual.................................................... 72
7.5.3. Center ......................................................... 72
7.5.4. Wider/Narrower ................................................. 72
8. JOBFILES ............................................................... 73
8.1. JOBProgrammingExample ............................................. 73
8.1.1. ImprovingtheJOB ............................................... 75
8.1.2. TheRUNCommand.............................................. 77
8.1.3. ControllingMCS-32fromOtherPrograms ............................ 77
8.2. JobCommands........................................................ 78
9. LIBRARYFILES.......................................................... 89
APPENDIXA. SPECIFICATIONS.............................................. 91
A.1. Performance.......................................................... 91
A.2. Inputs and Outputs .................................................... 92
A.3. ElectricalandMechanical............................................... 92
A.4. ComputerControlsandIndicators ........................................ 93
A.4.1. SidebarControls ................................................ 93
A.4.2. Input Control ................................................... 94
A.4.3. SCASweepControl.............................................. 95
A.4.4. PassControl.................................................... 95
A.4.5. RampControl................................................... 95
A.4.6. MCS-32Menus ................................................. 96
A.5. OptionalandRelatedEquipment ......................................... 97

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APPENDIX B. MCS-32 COMMAND LINE STARTUP ............................. 99
B.1. CommandLineOptions ................................................ 99
APPENDIXC. FILEFORMATS .............................................. 101
C.1. .MCSSpectralDataFiles .............................................. 101
C.2. .ROIFiles .......................................................... 103
APPENDIX D. FIRMWARE COMMANDS AND RESPONSES ..................... 105
D.1. CommandFormat .................................................... 105
D.2. ErrorCodes ......................................................... 105
D.3. Dollar Response Records .............................................. 107
D.4. CommandCatalog.................................................... 107
INDEX.................................................................... 121

viii
DANGER Opening the cover of this instrument is likely to expose dangerous voltages.
Disconnect the instrument from all voltage sources while it is being opened.
WARNING Using this instrument in a manner not specified by the manufacturer may impair
the protection provided by the instrument.
CAUTION To keep moisture out of the instrument during external cleaning, use only
enough liquid to dampen the cloth or applicator.
Safety Instructions and Symbols
This manual contains up to three levels of safety instructions that must be observed in order to
avoid personal injury and/or damage to equipment or other property. These are:
DANGER Indicates a hazard that could result in death or serious bodily harm if the safety
instruction is not observed.
WARNING Indicates a hazard that could result in bodily harm if the safety instruction is not
observed.
CAUTION Indicates a hazard that could result in property damage if the safety instruction is
not observed.
Please read all safety instructions carefully and make sure you understand them fully before
attempting to use this product.
Cleaning Instructions
Cleaning Instructions
To clean the instrument exterior:
!Remove loose dust on the outside of the instrument with a lint-free cloth.
!Remove remaining dirt with a lint-free cloth dampened in a general-purpose detergent and
water solution.
!Do not use abrasive cleaners.

ix
The convention used in this manual to represent actual keys
pressed is to enclose the key label within angle brackets; for
example, <F1>. For keycombinations, the key labels are joined
by a + within the angle brackets; for example, <Alt + 2>.
NOTE!
Weassumethroughoutthismanualthatyouarethoroughlyfamiliar
with Microsoft Windows usage and terminology.

x

1
1. INTRODUCTION
The ORTEC®Easy-MCS™ converts your computer into a powerful multichannel scaler (MCS)
or multiple-stop-time spectrometer. With dwell times from 100 ns to 1300 s, a memory length of
65,536 channels, and input counting rates up to 150 MHz, the Easy-MCS has the flexibility to
handle a wide variety of counting and timing applications, including:
!Time-resolved single-photon counting
!Phosphorescence lifetime spectrometry
!Atmospheric and satellite LIDAR
!Laser-induced chemical reactions
!Scanning mass spectrometers
!Time-of-flight spectrometry
!Scanning X-ray diffractometers
!Mössbauer experiments
The Easy-MCS connects to your computer via a high-speed USB 2.0 interface, and one com-
puter can control up to eight units.
The accompanying MCS-32 software allows you to manipulate all controls and spectral data
from your computer or across a network. Multiple Easy-MCS units can be run at the same time
with corresponding multiple instances of the MCS-32 program.
1.1. Easy-MCS Features
Hardware
!Small-footprint instrument connects to the host computer via high-speed USB.
!Dwell time selectable from 100 ns to 1,300 seconds per channel.
!Number of channels per scan selectable from 4 to 65,536.
!Accepts counting rates up to 150 MHz at the fast analog input.
!1-MHz single-channel analyzer input with computer-controlled upper- and lower-level
discriminators independently adjustable from 0 to +10 V.
!Computer adjustable discriminator thresholds on the fast analog input and the external
channel advance input.
!Zero dead time between channels: absolutely no lost counts and no double counting at
channel boundaries.
!No end-of-pass dead time.
!Sum mode for signal averaging; Replace mode for single-scan data; Replace-then-Sum
mode to circumvent reset dead time between acquisitions.
!Up to 1,073,741,823 counts per channel in single or multiple passes.
!Automatic termination of data acquisition after a preset number of passes (up to
4 billion).

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!The start of the scan can trigger the experiment, or the experiment can trigger the start of
the scan.
!Includes a ramp output with computer-adjustable sawtooth and triangular waveforms.
Software
!Complete with MCS-32 operating, display, and analysis software for Windows 7 and
XP SP3.
!All functions are computer-controlled.
!SCA Sweep mode for recording pulse-height spectra and selecting accurate SCA
windows.
!Spectra and instrument settings can be saved on disk and recalled for further processing.
!Software features include smooth, sum, strip, compare, and normalize spectra; peak-
search, report, and user-defined job streams.
!Horizontal scale calibration by least squares fitting to user-defined units.
!A11-B32 Programmer's Toolkit available separately for ActiveX®programming under
National Instruments LabVIEW®, and Microsoft Visual Basic or Visual C++.
NOTE The MCS-32 software does not support our legacy ACE®-MCS or MCS-PLUS®.
1.2. Host Computer and Software Requirements
The Easy-MCS is completely computer-controlled and can be operated with any suitable version
of the MCS-32 software, communicating via CONNECTIONS v7.1 or higher. The Easy-MCS con-
nects via a USB port and can be used on any computer running runs on any computer running
under Windows 7 and XP SP3.
1.3. What is a Multichannel Scaler?
An MCS records the counting rate of events as a function of time. When a scan is started, the
MCS begins counting input events in the first channel of its digital memory. At the end of the
preselected dwell time, the MCS advances to the next channel of memory to count the events.
This dwell and advance process is repeated until the MCS has scanned through all the channels
in its memory. A display of the contents of the memory shows the counting rate of the input
events versus time. In repetitive measurements, where the start of the scan can be synchronized
with the start of the events, multiple scans can be summed to diminish the statistical scatter in
the recorded pattern.
The MCS can also function as a multiple-stop-time spectrometer. In a typical LIDAR applica-
tion, the MCS scan is started when a laser emits a brief flash of light. The light photons are
reflected back to the detector located near the laser as they encounter objects at various distances
in the line of sight. The resulting “stop” pulses generated in the detector are counted as input
events by the MCS. Thus, a spectrum of the number of photons versus their round-trip flight

931054C / 1213 1. INTRODUCTION
3
times is recorded in the MCS memory. By design, the MCS can accept multiple stop pulses in
each scan. The channel numbers in memory can be calibrated to read in terms of round-trip flight
time, or in distance to the reflecting object. Summing the spectra from multiple laser flashes
improves the signal-to-noise ratio.
1.4. A Closer Look at the Easy-MCS
An Abundant Choice of Time Ranges
The Easy-MCS employs a crystal-controlled clock with 100 ppm accuracy and high-speed
digital electronics to achieve a wide range of accurate operating parameters. With the dwell
time per channel selectable from 100 ns to 1300 seconds, and a scan length variable from
4 to 65,536 channels, time scans can be selected ranging from 400 ns to 2.7 years.
No Dead Time Between Channels, and Zero End-of-Pass Dead Time
Easy-MCS employs sophisticated digital circuits to eliminate the dead time between chan-
nels that is typically encountered in lower-performance MCSs. The result is absolutely no
loss of counts and no double counting as the MCS advances from one time channel to the
next. Fast digital processing also ensures that there is no end-of-pass dead time before
starting a new scan.
Versatile Counting Inputs
Two different types of counting inputs make the Easy-MCS adaptable to virtually any source
of signals. The fast analog signal input (IN) accommodates both analog and digital signals
with pulse widths >3.5 ns and counting rates up to 150 MHz. The input discriminator thresh-
old is computer adjustable from !1.6 V to +3 V in steps of 1.5 mV. This facilitates the pre-
ferential selection of larger pulses for counting and the rejection of noise. Triggering can be
selected for either positive or negative slope to match pulses of either polarity.
For counting rates up to 1 MHz with positive analog signals, Easy-MCS offers the pulse-
amplitude selectivity of the SCA (single-channel-analyzer) input. This input features two
computer-controlled discriminators whose thresholds can be set anywhere between 0 V and
+10 V with 12-bit resolution. Easy-MCS counts only the analog pulses that rise above the
lower-level threshold without exceeding the upper-level threshold. This input is ideal for
analog signals with amplitudes proportional to a measurement parameter, such as the number
of photons in a pulse. Pulse widths from 0.5 μs to 100 μs can be readily accommodated.
SCA Sweep Mode
The SCA Sweep mode makes the setting of the SCA thresholds quick, easy, and accurate. In
this mode the window width between the lower and upper SCA thresholds is held constant
(at 1/512 of 10 V) while the computer repeatedly sweeps the position of the window from
0 V to +10 V in 512 equal steps. In synchronism, the MCS repeatedly scans from channel

Easy-MCS™ Multichannel Scaler and MCS-32 (A73-B32) Software 931054C / 1213
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0 to 511 while counting the SCA output. The result is a display of the pulse-amplitude spec-
trum present at the SCA input. The mouse can be used to mark the lower and upper limits of
a spectral feature in this display for selective counting in a subsequent MCS mode. Once
these limits are marked, clicking the mouse on the Set SCA button in the display locks the
lower and upper thresholds of the SCA into the exact settings that bracket the feature.
Improved Precision by Signal Averaging
For any selected dwell time and memory length, the data collected in each scan can either
replace the data stored in memory, or can be added to the data in memory. The latter mode is
useful for reducing statistical scatter. Effectively, it improves the signal-to-noise ratio by
signal averaging. For random noise (noise that is not correlated with the Start trigger or the
dwell-time clock), the signal-to-noise ratio improves in proportion to the square root of the
number of scans added together. Selection of a “preset pass count” programs the instrument
to collect data for the desired number of scans (or passes) and then automatically stop data
acquisition. Once data acquisition commences, the computer is free to run other software
programs. To permit repetitive data addition to high precision, the preset pass count can be
set to any value from 1 to 4,294,967,295, with a memory capacity of 1,073,741,823 counts
per channel.
Versatile Scan Synchronization
Easy-MCS offers two methods for synchronizing the scans with the start of the events to be
counted. Either the start of a scan in the Easy-MCS can provide the trigger for the events
(internal trigger mode), or an external trigger for the events can start the scan (external
trigger mode).
!Internal Trigger Mode The Start Output signal is 160 ns wide, positive TTL, produced
in synchronization with the start of a scan. This output can be used to trigger the external
events. For example, this signal can trigger a laser, whose output light pulse is used to
excite phosphorescence in a sample. The decaying counting rate of photons emitted by
the sample after each laser pulse is counted by the Easy-MCS.
For measurements requiring analog control of a parameter (e.g., Mössbauer experiments),
Easy-MCS provides a Ramp Output voltage proportional to the channel number in the
scan. The ramp can be operated with either a sawtooth pattern or a triangular waveform.
In the sawtooth mode, the ramp voltage varies linearly from the beginning voltage to the
ending voltage as the scan progresses. At the end of the scan the voltage abruptly
changes back to the beginning voltage. With the triangular pattern, the ramp voltage
changes linearly from the beginning voltage to the mid-point voltage during the first half
of the scan. During the second half of the scan, it makes another linear transition from the
mid-point voltage to the ending voltage. All three voltages (Begin, Mid, and End) are
adjustable via the computer from 0 to +10 V in 65,536 steps. For precise repeatability,

931054C / 1213 1. INTRODUCTION
5
the ramp profile is stored as a digital image in half the memory. This limits the memory
length available for counting events to 32,768 channels when the ramp is active.
!External Trigger Mode In the external trigger mode, a positive TTL logic pulse
delivered to the Start Input will initiate the scan in the Easy-MCS. The scan can proceed
based on the internal dwell-time clock in the Easy-MCS, or the channel advance can be
implemented by supplying pulses to the Channel Advance Input.
Using the internal dwell time, the scan starts on the first edge of the internal 50-MHz
clock following the rising edge of the Start Input pulse. When the external channel
advance is used, the scan starts as the rising edge of the first channel advance input pulse
crosses its discriminator threshold, subsequent to the rising edge of the Start Input. The
external channel advance input includes a computer-controlled discriminator threshold
selectable from –1.6 V to +3 V in 1.5-mV steps. This discriminator permits adaptation to
a variety of signal sources at the external channel advance input. The minimum interval
between external channel advance pulses is 100 ns.
Quick Access to Multiple Spectra
The MCS-32 software allows you to view either the spectrum being acquired in the Easy-
MCS memory (MCS mode) or you can transfer the contents of the MCS memory to the
MCS-32 software’s buffer window (buffer mode). The full power to display and manipulate
can be applied to the spectra in either of these memories. Spectra can also be saved as disk
files for later recall (into the buffer window) and processing.
Full and Expanded Displays Reveal Quantitative Details
Two views of the selected spectrum are displayed. The box in the upper, right-hand corner
always shows the full spectrum. A region selected and marked on this small display is
expanded in the larger display for better resolution of details. Using the mouse, you can
move a marker through the spectrum to a feature of interest. Simultaneously, the computer
displays the horizontal coordinate for the channel designated by the marker position, and the
number of counts recorded in that channel. By default, the horizontal coordinate is displayed
as the channel number in the external dwell-time mode. In the internal dwell-time mode, the
default horizontal coordinate corresponds to the selected dwell time. The horizontal scale can
be easily calibrated in user-defined units through least-squares fitting to a linear, quadratic,
or cubic function. In that case, the marker position reads out in the calibrated units. Once the
system is calibrated, you can quickly toggle back and forth between the default and
calibrated units.
The marker also serves to paint regions of interest (ROIs) on the spectrum. Commands under
the Calculate menu then trigger the computer to display the centroid of the ROI, the gross
(total) counts in the ROI, and the net counts above background in the region.

Easy-MCS™ Multichannel Scaler and MCS-32 (A73-B32) Software 931054C / 1213
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More Analysis Options
Further software features allow you to compare two spectra, subtract or add two spectra, nor-
malize the vertical scale, subtract a flat background, or smooth statistical fluctuations. Also
available is a routine that automatically finds each peak in a spectrum and marks it with an
ROI. The centroids, gross counts, and net counts from all the ROIs in a spectrum can be
printed, either with or without library matching. If the computer has been asked for a match
to a user-defined library of peak locations, the library information will be printed along with
the matching ROI data. In addition to the standard .MCS file format, spectra can be imported
and exported as ASCII text.
Programmed Data Acquisition
Some measurements require changes in the data acquisition conditions as different spectra
are acquired. The Start JOB command gives you an easy way to define a stream of “job
commands” that varies the instrument settings and controls acquisition of multiple spectra.
The job stream can be simple or sophisticated. Once the job stream is defined and imple-
mented, data acquisition proceeds automatically under the job’s control. If you wish, you can
set up a job as an icon on your Windows desktop, and run it with one click of the mouse.
Other software programs can activate the Easy-MCS for a specific operation by calling the
MCS-32 software with a .JOB file name specified on the command line. Alternatively, the
CONNECTIONS Programmer’s Toolkit (A11-B32) can be purchased and used to program the
Easy-MCS at the command level. The use of ActiveX controls in A11-B32 makes program-
ming orders of magnitude easier with National Instruments LabVIEW, Microsoft Visual
Basic, or Microsoft Visual C++.
Inbit FullShot™ Screen Capture and Graphics Printing
The Easy-MCS package includes the Inbit FullShot Image Capture and Printing Utility. With
FullShot, you can capture a whole screen, a window, or a portion of a window and save it in
a variety of graphics file formats or send it directly to the printer. See the accompanying
FullShot user manual.

7
Fig. 1. The Easy-MCS.
2. THE EASY-MCS
Figure 1 shows the Easy-MCS front and rear panels.
2.1. Front Panel
2.1.1. Inputs
All inputs except the fast analog IN are supplied on the 25-pin D connector on the rear panel.
The MCS-PCI-OPT2 option offers convenient BNC connections to the D connector.
IN Fast analog signal input accepts analog or digital pulses up to ±5 V in amplitude on a rear-
panel BNC connector. Pulses are counted as they cross the discriminator threshold. Computer
selection of triggering on either positive or negative slope. Threshold is computer adjustable
from !1.6 V to +3 V in steps of 1.5 mV (minimum pulse amplitude 30 mV). Computer selection
of either 50-Ωor 1000-Ωinput impedance, dc-coupled. Minimum input pulse width is 3 ns at
the discriminator threshold. Maximum counting rate is 150 MHz.
SCA IN 1-MHz window discriminator (single-channel analyzer) accepts linear signals from
0 V to +12 V for counting. SCA input is dc-coupled with a 1000-Ωinput impedance. Minimum
input pulse width is 500 ns. The upper- and lower-level thresholds are independently adjustable
from 0 V to +10 V in 4096 steps via the computer. A signal that rises above the lower-level
threshold without exceeding the upper-level threshold will be counted as it falls below the
lower-level threshold.

Easy-MCS™ Multichannel Scaler and MCS-32 (A73-B32) Software 931054C / 1213
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START IN Accepts a TTL signal to start the scan on the next clock edge after the falling edge
of the transition from +2.5 V to 0 V is detected on the START IN. In the Internal Dwell mode
the next clock edge is obtained from the 50-MHz internal time base. For the External Dwell
mode, the next clock edge is obtained from the External Channel Advance Input. The START
IN edge is ignored during a scan or when disabled by the Start Enable Input. Input impedance is
1000 Ωto ground. Minimum pulse width is 10 ns.
STOP IN Accepts an external TTL input rising from 0 to +2.5 V to stop scanning at the end of
the current scan. Minimum pulse width is 10 ns. Input impedance is 5000 Ωto ground.
CHN ADV IN (Channel Advance Input) Accepts an analog or digital pulse to cause a chan-
nel advance when the signal crosses the threshold with a positive slope (provided External
Dwell has been selected in the MCS-32 software). Threshold is adjustable from !1.6 to +3 V
in 1.5 mV steps via the computer. Minimum dwell time is 100 ns. Minimum pulse width
is 10 ns. Minimum pulse amplitude is 30 mV. Input impedance is 1000 Ωto ground.
GATE IN Accepts a TTL input to prevent counting of the signals at the IN and SCA IN
connectors. When the GATE IN is <0.8 V, counting is inhibited. Counting is enabled when the
GATE IN level is >2 V, or when the GATE IN is not connected to signal source. Input
impedance is 1000 Ωto +5 V.
TTL (START ENABLE INPUT) Accepts a TTL input to enable/disable response to a START
IN trigger. When the START ENABLE INPUT is <0.8 V, triggering is inhibited. Triggering is
enabled when the START ENABLE INPUT level is >2 V, or when the START ENABLE
INPUT is not connected to a signal source. Input impedance is 5000 Ωto +5 V. START
ENABLE INPUT must be at the desired level when the rising edge of the START IN arrives.
2.1.2. Outputs
All outputs are supplied on the 25-pin D connector on the rear panel. The MCS-PCI-OPT2
option offers convenient BNC connections to the D connector.
START OUT This TTL ouput rises from <+0.4 V to >+2.4 V when a scan starts, and returns to
<+0.4 V after 160 ns. Useful for synchronizing external instruments with the start of the scan.
The output is short-circuit protected and can drive impedances $50 Ω.
CHN ADV OUT (Channel Advance Output) This TTL output rises from <+0.4 V to >+2.4 V
when the Easy-MCS advances from one channel to the next. The pulse width is approximately
20 ns. The output is short-circuit protected and can drive impedances $50 Ω.
SCA OUT A TTL output pulse for every SCA IN signal that occurs between the upper and
lower discriminator thresholds. The output rises from <+0.4 V to >+2.4 V as the SCA IN signal

931054C / 1213 2. THE EASY-MCS
9
falls through the lower discriminator threshold. The pulse width is nominally 250 ns. The output
is short-circuit protected and can drive impedances $50 Ω.
MIDPASS OUT This TTL output rises from <+0.4 V to >+2.4 V after half the channels in a
pass have been scanned. It returns to <+0.4 V at the end of the pass. If the number of channels in
a pass is odd, the MIDPASS OUT remains low for one more channel than it stays high. The
output is short-circuit protected and can drive impedances $50 Ω.
RAMP OUT Provides an analog voltage ramp from a digital-to-analog converter to drive
external devices. See Ramp Control for a description. The output voltage range is computer
adjustable from 0 V to +10 V with 16-bit resolution. Minimum voltage step size is approxi-
mately 0.15 mV for any range. Settling time is 2 μs. The output impedance is 100 Ω, short-
circuit protected.
2.2. Rear Panel
POWER INPUT The EASY-MCA uses an ac/dc adapter that connects to the instrument’s
+12 V DC connector.
USB High-speed USB connector connects to the computer.

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