PASCO CI-6504A User manual

Instruction Sheet
for the PASCO
Model CI-6504A
and CI-6604
LIGHT SENSOR AND
HIGH SENSITIVITY LIGHT SENSOR
012-06306D
© 1997 PASCO scientific
Introduction
The PASCO CI-6504A Light Sensor and CI-6604 High
Sensitivity Light Sensor are designed to be used with a
PASCO computer interface to make measurements of
relative light intensity.
Through the use of the gain options on the sensor box
and within ScienceWorkshop®, the Light Sensor has a
working range of up to seven orders of magnitude,
allowing application across a wide range of lighting
levels.
The CI-6504A is best suited for experiments performed
at ambient light levels. At the lower end of the range,
interference patterns of monochromatic light after it
passes through single or multiple slits can be measured;
at the higher end, measurements can be made of relative
light intensities of daylight. The range switch settings
(1X, 10X, and 100X) on the top of the sensor roughly
corresponds to maximum input light levels of 500, 50,
and 5 lux.
The CI-6604 can be used where experiments are
performed at low light levels. Interference patterns of
monochromatic light, after it passes through single or
multiple slits, can be measured and spectral lines from a
spectrometer may be detected. The range switch settings
(1X, 10X, and 100X) on the top of the sensor roughly
corresponds to maximum input levels of 5, 0.5, and 0.05
lux. At the highest gain setting (100X on the sensor and
10X in Science Workshop) the High Sensitivity Light
Sensor has a resolution of about 10 micro lux.
The Light Sensor may be used with or without the fiber
optics probe (available separately as PASCO part no.
003-01383). Greater sensitivity is achieved by measuring
light directly, without the probe attached.
The sensing element of the CI-6504A and CI-6604 Light
Sensors is a stable and electrically quiet Si PIN
photodiode. The photodiode is responsive across a wide
spectrum ranging from 320 nm through 1100 nm. The
response curve for the photodiode is shown in Figure 1.
HIGH SENSITIVITY
LIGHT SENSOR
CI-6604
10
1
100
GAIN
LIGHT
SENSOR
CI-6504A
10
1
100
GAIN
CI-6604
High Sensitivity
Light Sensor
aperture for photodiode
gain adjustment
DIN connector
CI-6504A
Light Sensor
interface cable
with 8-pin DIN
connectors
to computer
interface

012-06306D
2
Light Sensor and High Sensitivity Light Sensor
Figure 1. Spectral response curve of the photodiode
0
0.1
0.2
0.3
0.4
0.5
0.6
0.7
RELATIVE SENSITIVITY
WAVELENGTH (nm)
200 400 600 800 1000
Spectral Response
The Light Sensor can be plugged directly into any
PASCO computer interface box or can be connected to
the interface box using the supplied cable with DIN
connectors.
Equipment Included:
• Light Sensor
• 6-foot cable with 8-pin DIN connectors
Additional Equipment Required:
• Any PASCO computer interface
(300, 500, or 700 ScienceWorkshop®series for
Macintosh or Windows or the 6500 series interface
for DOS)
➤ Note: The manual has been written with the
assumption that the user has a basic familiarity with
Science Workshop and has access to the User’s
Guide for Science Workshop. Users can gain basic
skills with Science Workshop by working through
the tutorial within Science Workshop. Another
useful resource is the Quick Reference Card for
Science Workshop.
Setup Procedure
➀Connect the Light Sensor and any analog channel of
the interface box with the interface cable (Figure 2A),
or
insert the DIN plug of the Light Sensor into the jack
of any analog channel of the interface box (Figure
2B).
Figure 2. Connecting the Light Sensor and the computer
interface
B
Interface
500
12
GAIN= 1,10:ISOLATED
GAIN=
1,10:REF TO GND
GAIN=
1: REF TO GND
AsC
ON
ANALOG CHANNELS
Bn
DIGITAL CHANNELS
ScienceWorkshop
™
P
R
E
S
S
T
O
L
O
G
®
LIGHT
SENSOR
CI-6504A
10
1
100
GAIN
10
1
100
GAIN
LIGHT
SENSOR
CI-6504A
P
R
E
S
S
T
O
L
O
G
Interface
500
®
12
GAIN= 1,10:ISOLATED
GAIN=
1,10:REF TO GND
GAIN=
1: REF TO GND
AsC
ON
ANALOG CHANNELS
Bn
DIGITAL CHANNELS
ScienceWorkshop
™
A
➁If the fiber optics probe (PASCO part no.
003-01383) is to be used, attach it by slipping the
connector of the fiber optics probe over the input
connector on the Light Sensor (Figure 3). A quarter
twist clockwise locks the probe to the Light Sensor.
(To disconnect, press the connector towards the
sensor box, turn it counterclockwise one-quarter
turn, and pull away from the box.)
➂Open the Experiment Setup window in
Science Workshop. Click and drag the analog plug
icon to the analog channel icon that matches the
analog port you are using for the Light Sensor.
NOTE: Use care when handling the
fiber optics probe. The optical fibers
inside may be damaged if the cable is
bent sharply. Do not coil tighter than a 10 cm (4 in.)
diameter circle. Be sure not to damage the input end
of the probe; scratches may impair light
transmission.
10
1
100
GAIN
LIGHT
SENSOR
CI-6504A
Light sensor
Rotate ring
one-quarter
turn to secure
probe connector
Figure 3. Attaching the fiber optics probe to the Light
Sensor
Plug into
any analog
channel.
Plug into any
analog
channel.

012-06306D Light Sensor and High Sensitivity Light Sensor
3
1
4
3
5
2
67
8
10
1
100
GAIN
1
4
3
5
2
1
0
1
0
GAIN
Figure 5. Mounting connector and alignment hole
Figure 4. Setting the gain on the Light Sensor
1/4–20 threaded
connector
alignment hole
LI
GHT
NSO
R
CI-6504A
10
1
100
GAIN
➃Select Light Sensor from the drop-down menu.
➄Open a display window, such as the Digits display, by
dragging and dropping the appropriate display icon on
the Light Sensor icon.
➅Select the appropriate gain setting on the sensor box
for the light levels to be measured (Figure 4). The
correct gain setting is the one for which the intensity
levels on the display vary appropriately for measuring
the relative light intensity changes in your experiment.
Calibration and Sensitivity Adjustment in
Science Workshop
➀To open the Light Sensor's calibration window,
double-click on the Light Sensor icon in the
Experiment Setup window.
➁If the Light Sensor is in analog channel A or B, you
can adjust the sensitivity (gain) in ScienceWorkshop
by selecting the appropriate level from the drop-down
menu. If the Light Sensor is producing voltage above
1 V, set the sensitivity to Low (1x). If the Light
Sensor is producing voltages between +1 V and 0 V,
select Med (10x). With the ScienceWorkshop 700
interface, set the sensitivity to High (100x) if the
voltage is very low (between +0.1 V and 0 V). Refer
to the User's Guide for ScienceWorkshop for more
details concerning adjusting the sensitivity setting.
➤ Note: Gain for channel C cannot be adjusted in
Science Workshop. Use Channels A or B if
necessary to adjust gain in Science Workshop.
Adjust the gain
for the light
conditions.
➂Use the calibration window in Science Workshop to
calibrate the Light Sensor. The sensor may be
calibrated in relative units such as percent of sensor
voltage output. If a standard is used, the Light Sensor
output may also be referenced to absolute units such
as lux. Refer to the User's Guide for Science
Workshop for more details concerning calibration.
Mounting on an Experimental Apparatus
➀Use the 1/4-20 threaded connector located on the
bottom of the sensor box to secure the Light Sensor to
an experimental apparatus (Figure 5). The alignment
hole fits over an alignment pin included on some
PASCO apparatuses.
DIN Connector Specifications for CI-6504A
1: analog output
(+), 0 to 5 V
2: analog output (-),
signalground
3: (no connection)
4: + 5 V DC power
5: power ground
DIN Connector Specifications for CI-6604
1: analog output (+), 0 to 5 V
2: analog output (-),
signalground
3: (no connection)
4: + 5 V DC power
5: power ground
6: +12 VDC power
7: -12 VDC power
8: (no connection)

012-06306D
4
Light Sensor and High Sensitivity Light Sensor
Equipment Return
Should the product have to be returned to PASCO
scientific for any reason, notify PASCO scientific by
letter, phone, or fax BEFORE returning the product.
Upon notification, the return authorization and shipping
instructions will be promptly issued.
➤➤
➤➤
➤ NOTE: NO EQUIPMENT WILL BE
ACCEPTED FOR RETURN WITHOUT AN
AUTHORIZATION FROM PASCO.
When returning equipment for repair, pack the units
properly. Carriers will not accept responsibility for
damage caused by improper packing. To be certain the
unit will not be damaged in shipment, observe the
following rules:
➀The packing carton must be strong enough for the
item shipped.
➁Make certain there are at least two inches of packing
material between any point on the apparatus and the
walls of the carton.
➂Make certain that the packing material can not shift in
the box or become compressed, allowing the
instrument to come in contact with the edge of the
packing carton.
Address: PASCO scientific
10101 Foothills Blvd.
P.O. Box 619011
Roseville, CA 95747-7100
Phone: [phone]
FAX: [phone]
email: [email protected]
web: www.pasco.com
Copyright Notice
The PASCO scientific 012-06306C instruction sheet is
copyrighted and all rights reserved. However, permission
is granted to non-profit educational institutions for
reproduction of any part of the Light Sensor instruction
sheet providing the reproductions are used only for their
laboratories and are not sold for profit. Reproduction
under any other circumstances, without the written
consent of PASCO scientific, is prohibited.
Limited Warranty
PASCO scientific warrants the product to be free from
defects in materials and workmanship for a period of one
year from the date of shipment to the customer. PASCO
will repair or replace, at its option, any part of the product
which is deemed to be defective in material or
workmanship. The warranty does not cover damage to the
product caused by abuse or improper use. Determination
of whether a product failure is the result of a
manufacturing defect or improper use by the customer
shall be made solely by PASCO scientific. Responsibility
for the return of equipment for warranty repair belongs to
the customer. Equipment must be properly packed to
prevent damage and shipped postage or freight prepaid.
(Damage caused by improper packing of the equipment
for return shipment will not be covered by the warranty.)
Shipping costs for returning the equipment after repair
will be paid by PASCO scientific.
Copyright, Warranty, and Equipment Return
Please—Feel free to duplicate this manual
subject to the copyright restrictions below.
The exclamation point within an
equilateral triangle is intended to alert
the user of the presence of important
operating and maintenance (servicing)
instructions in the literature
accompanying the device.