Photon Systems Instruments SpectraPen SP 110 Manual

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Manual Version: 2022/01
© PSI (Photon Systems Instruments), spol. s r.o.
www.psi.cz
This document and its parts can be copied or provided to a third party only with the express permission of PSI.
The contents of this manual have been verified to correspond to the specifications of the device. However, deviations cannot be ruled out.
Therefore, a complete correspondence between the manual and the real device cannot be guaranteed. The information in this manual is
regularly checked, and corrections may be made in subsequent versions.
The visualizations shown in this manual are only illustrative.
This manual is an integral part of the purchase and delivery of equipment and its accessories and both Parties must abide by it.

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TABLE OF CONTENT
1Information before using SpectraPen device .................................................................................................... 4
2General Description ......................................................................................................................................... 5
2.1 Technical Specification..............................................................................................................................................6
3Device Description ........................................................................................................................................... 7
3.1 List of equipment and customer information............................................................................................................8
3.2 Care and maintenance..............................................................................................................................................8
4Device operating instruction ............................................................................................................................ 9
5PC communication ......................................................................................................................................... 14
5.1 USB connection.......................................................................................................................................................14
5.2 Driver installation ...................................................................................................................................................14
6SpectraPen software...................................................................................................................................... 17
6.1 Software installation...............................................................................................................................................17
6.2 Software menu .......................................................................................................................................................19
6.3 Data transfer and visualization...............................................................................................................................20
6.4 Online control .........................................................................................................................................................24
6.5 Firmware update ....................................................................................................................................................25
7GPS module ................................................................................................................................................... 26
7.1 GPS/SpectraPen operation .....................................................................................................................................26
8Warranty terms and conditions...................................................................................................................... 28
9Troubleshooting and Customer Support......................................................................................................... 28
10 Appendix ....................................................................................................................................................... 29
10.1 Programming custom index in SpectraPen .............................................................................................................29
10.1.1 Function description...............................................................................................................................................30

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1INFORMATION BEFORE USING SPECTRAPEN DEVICE
Read this manual carefully before operating the device. If you are not sure about something in the manual, contact the manufacturer for
clarification.
By accepting the device, the customer agrees to follow the instructions in this guide.
Always follow corresponding manuals while working with the SpetraPen device or doing the maintenance.
It is forbidden to interfere with the hardware or software of the SpetraPen device in any way without previous agreement with the
manufacturer.
The following table presents basic highlight symbols used in this manual:
Symbol
Description
Important information, read carefully.
Complementary and additional information.
Tab. 1 Used symbols.

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2GENERAL DESCRIPTION
SpectraPen SP 110 is a handheld portable spectroradiometer that is ideal as a general-purpose instrument for research and for
agricultural applications. SpectraPen is especially useful for rapid measurements of solar irradiance and monitoring of spectral light
quality. External light source and sample holder enable to use SpectraPen also for measurements of absorption, reflectance,
transmittance, emission, color and fluorescence of various samples.
Li-Ion rechargeable battery, splash-proof case and integrated GPS module make SpectraPen an ideal tool for environmental, agricultural
and ecological applications such as monitoring of artificial lighting used in horticulture industry or light source testing. Spectrum of
measured light source is instantly displayed on the SpectraPen touch screen. All recorded data are automatically stored into the device
internal memory. The SpectraPen also includes a comprehensive software package comprising full system control, data acquisition and
data processing.
SpectraPen measures:
Scope –rough light spectrum
Transmittance –calculated using the following formula
T= I/I0
Where: I0is reference light intensity
I is measured light intensity
Absorbance –calculated using the following formula
A=log (I0/I)
Where: I0is reference light intensity
I is measured light intensity
Users defined formulas in SpectraPen software
SpectraPen versions:
SP 110 UVIS
Wavelength range from 340 to 790 nm
SP 110 NIR
Wavelength range from 640 to 1050 nm

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2.1 TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION
Spectral range
340 nm - 790 nm (SP 110 UVIS)
640 nm - 1050 nm (SP 110 NIR)
Spectral response half width
9 nm (SP 110 UVIS)
8 nm (SP 110 NIR)
Wavelength reproducibility
+/- 0.5 nm
Spectral Straylight
-30 dB
Integration time
From 5 ms to 10 s
Number of pixels
256
Dynamic range
High gain: 1:4300
Low gain: 1:13000
Optical entrance
SMA905 to 0.22 numerical aperture single-stand optical fiber
Internal memory capacity
Up to 16 Mbit
Internal data logging
Up to 4,000 measurements
Data transfer
USB cable
PC software
SpectraPen 1.1 (Windows 7 and higher)
Battery type
Li-Ion rechargeable battery
Battery capacity
2600 mAh
Max. charging current
0.5 A
Charging
Via USB port - PC, power bank, USB charger, etc.
Battery life
48 hours typical with full operation
Low battery indicator
Display
Touchscreen 240 x 320 pixel; 65535 colors
Built in GPS module
Ultra-high sensitivity down to -165dBm
High accuracy of <1.5 m in 50% of trials
Size
150 x 75 x 40 mm
Weight
300 g
Operating conditions
Temperature: 0 to +55 °C
Relative humidity: 0 to 95 % (non-condensing)
Storage conditions
Temperature: -10 to +60 °C
Relative humidity: 0 to 95 % (non-condensing)
Warranty
1 year parts and labor

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3DEVICE DESCRIPTION
Fig. 1 Device description.

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3.1 LIST OF EQUIPMENT AND CUSTOMER INFORMATION
Standard version of the SpectraPen device package consists:
•SpectraPen SP 110
•Carrying Case
•Textile Strap for Comfortable Wearing
•SpectraPen Operating Manual (on a USB flash disc)
•SpectraPen software and driver (on a USB flash disc)
•USB cable
•Stylus
•Other Accessories or Optional Features (according to your specific order)
For data download via USB connection, the USB driver needs to be installed on the PC. It can be found on the
installation disk (USB driver folder).
If any item is missing, please, contact the manufacturer. Also check the carton for any visible external damage. If
any damage is found, notify the carrier and the manufacturer immediately. The carton and all packing materials
should be retained for inspection by the carrier or insurer.
For customer support, please write to: [email protected]
3.2 CARE AND MAINTENANCE
SpectraPen device
•Never submerge the device in water!
•The device should not come in contact with any organic solvents, strong acids or bases.
•Keep the optical sensor cover clean and dry. If cleaning is needed, use soft, non-abrasive tissue.
•Do not use sharp objects for touch screen operation.
It is recommended to re-calibrate the device by the manufacturer every 2 years.
Li-ion battery
•Avoid fully discharging of the battery.
•Do not keep the battery at full charge for long periods of time. Allow for it to discharge.
•High temperatures shortens battery life.
•If the battery can no longer be charged, please contact PSI for replacement battery and installation instructions.

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4DEVICE OPERATING INSTRUCTION
Switch on the device by pressing the Power button and follow next steps to perform the measurements. In case the device battery is
not charged connect the SpectraPen to the PC or to USB adaptor (not included) via the USB cable and charge the battery.
Main display (Fig. 2)
•Get spectrum - measure and save the spectrum to the device internal
memory.
•Integration time - move the slider to set measuring time
Measure (Fig. 3)
•Scope –rough spectrum data
•Absorbance –calculated data
•Transmittance –calculated data
For absorbance and transmittance calculation a
reference needs to be obtained first. Measure light
source without the sample in the optical path as a
reference.
Fig. 2 Main display.
Fig. 3 Measure menu.

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Device (Fig. 4)
•Preview –if checked, spectrophotometer continuously measures and displays
current data, data is stored only after Get Spectrum button is pressed.
•High Gain –if checked, high sensitivity mode is enabled.
•Auto Sensitivity –if checked, integration time and gain is set automatically to
reach optimal signal/noise ratio.
•Get Dark Current –check to get dark current. After that, dark current is
automatically subtracted from measured data.
•Get Reference –check to get reference spectrum without the sample in the optical
path. A reference needs to be obtained for absorbance or transmittance
measurements.
Data
•Browse (Fig. 5)–displays data browse dialog box. The user can browse the list of stored data, select the set of data files and view
the light spectra in Scope, Absorbance or Transmittance mode. Color classification of each data file helps the user to discriminate
between individual measurements.
•Erase –use this to erase internal data memory
•Memory info (Fig. 6) –displays info on currently used memory
Fig. 4 Device menu.
Fig. 5 Browse data.

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Options
Settings–this function is used to set various variable for the light measurements and for the device operation
•Graph (Fig. 7) –displays options for setting the wavelength range and graph
features
oZoom enable –enables the zoom feature. With the stylus select an area
(in the right-down direction) of the displayed graph which you want to
zoom in. Reverse these steps if you want to return to the original
display.
oMarker enable –enables display of the numeric coordinates of the
point touched on the graphical display (in the right hand corner).
oAutoscale - enables the auto scale of the y-axis. The Y axis is
automatically adjusted according to measured values.
oSmoothing –enables noise reduction of the graphical display by
Smoothing the noise in the spectrum at the expense of spectral
resolution.
oWavelength range –defines the range of wavelengths. Desired
wavelength range can be adjusted by selecting the wavelength and by
using the arrows up and down.
Fig. 6 Memory info.
Fig. 7 Settings - graph.

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•Time (Fig. 8)- displays actual time and date (all data files are stored by time and date signature). To change time and/or date
specifications touch on one of the values and adjust it using the arrows.
•LCD (Fig. 9)–is used to adjust LCD display control settings.
oBacklight intensity –move slider to adjust back light intensity in percentage
oBacklight time-out –move slider to adjust backlight time-out between 5 and 60 s (time of inactivity required before
backlight will dim out to save battery life).
Fig. 8 Settings - Time.
Fig. 9 Settings - LCD.

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•Device (Fig. 10)
oGPS –activates the GPS built-in module. The GPS coordinates cannot be displayed on the device display, but they are
exported together with data and visualized in SpectraPen software on the computer after download.
oAverage –Average function is used for adjusting the number of scans for each reading. Averaging of more scans results
in a higher signal-to-noise ratio but increases the time required for each reading that appears on the screen. Move slider
to set the number of measurement to be acquired for averaged values.
Help
•About…-information about the device, hardware and software version.
Fig. 10 Settings - Device.

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5PC COMMUNICATION
5.1 USB CONNECTION
SpectraPen comes with the USB cable that is required for charging of the Li-ion battery and can also be used for data transfer to the PC
after completion of measurements. To connect the USB cable with the SpectraPen device follow the picture instructions below. Please
note that a lock in system is used to secure the USB cable to the SpectraPen and extreme caution has to be used when setting up this
connection to avoid damage to the cable pins.
When connecting the USB cable take extra caution to prevent damage to the cable connector pins. Ensure correct
orientation of the cable as shown in the pictures below so the circled portion of the plug and the cable in photo
A and B are perfectly lined up prior to pushing them together. Once this connection is achieved the cable may be
secured in position by turning the metal cover of the cable and locking the cable in position.
To connect SpetraPen with your computer please follow steps below in Fig. 11:
Fig. 11 How to connect SpectraPen with PC.
A) connector on the SpectraPen device. B) Portion of the USB cable with pins. C –E) Position the cable horizontally and line up the green
circled parts of the cable and the connector, plug in the inlet and screw the securing screw. F) Correct connection of the USB cable and
Pen device.
5.2 DRIVER INSTALLATION
For successful USB connection of the SpectraPen to the PC computer the USB driver and the SpectraPen software, included on the USB
disk, need to be first installed on the PC. Without the driver installed the SpectraPen device will not be recognized by the computer and
the connection to the software will be not possible.
•Press Start and Select Control Panels (Fig. 12)

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•Navigate through System and security, System to Device manager (Fig. 13)
•Connect the SpectraPen to the PC. You should see that PSI USB Device appears in the list. Right click on it and select Update
Driver Software…(Fig. 14)
•Click Browse my computer for driver software and select Driver folder on the SpectraPen installation disk. Allow the installation
even if the warning message appears (Fig. 15)
Fig. 12 Control panel.
Fig. 13 System window.
Fig. 14 PSI USB device.

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•Installation of the driver is now complete (Fig. 16)
In case this driver installation is not successful the driver may be downloaded directly from PSI websites
www.psi.cz.
Once the device is properly connected to the computer, the indicating icon appears
on the SpectraPen device display Fig. 17.
Fig. 15 Choose the driver from the USB disc.
Fig. 16 Complete installation.
Fig. 17 Icon on the SpectraPen device display
indicating the proper USB connection.

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6SPECTRAPEN SOFTWARE
6.1 SOFTWARE INSTALLATION
1. Copy the SpectraPen software provided on the USB
flash disk to your computer and launch the SpectraPen
program.
2. To connect and recognize the SpectraPen device in the
SpectraPen software, proceeds first with the
registration of the SpectraPen software (Fig. 18).
•Select: Help > Register
•Enter: your serial registration number (found in a
text file on the USB flash disk drive included with
the device).
•Select: OK
Please note that the serial (registration) number for the SpectraPen may be found in the file SN.txt, which is
included on the enclosed USB flash disk.
Please Note: it is not possible to download data from the SpectraPen device without software registration.
3. Connect the USB cable to the computer. Then switch on the SpectraPen by pressing the Power button for a couple of seconds.
4. Ensure the PC and the SpetraPen are properly paired (see chapter 5).
5. Connect SpectraPen device in SpectraPen software, Device > Connect (Fig. 19)
6. When the device is properly connected the left bottom corner of the SW window will display “SpectraPen” (Fig. 20). Otherwise
notification “Device: Not Connected” is displayed (Fig. 21).
Fig. 18 Software registration.
Fig. 19 SW connection.

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Fig. 20 SpectraPen connected.
Fig. 21 SpectraPen not connected.

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6.2 SOFTWARE MENU
MENU: File
Load Loads previously saved data files.
Save Saves data to hard disc.
Export Exports data in .txt format.
Export to JSON Exports data in JavaScript Object Notation.
Close Closes the current experiment.
Close All Closes all open experiments.
Exit Exits the program.
MENU: Device
Connect Detects and connects the device.
Update Firmware Used for firmware updates.*
Attach GPS File Used to download data from the GPS module of the old
version of the SpectraPen - SP 100.
Memory Erase Erases data from the SpectraPen memory.
Online Control Online control of SP device.
*For more information on firmware updating, see Chapter Firmware update of this Operation Manual.
MENU: Setup
Update Software Used for software updates.
Settings On/off –Auto memory erase after download.
Selection of separator for the csv file after its export
and following opening in Excel (TAB, SEMICOLON,
COMMA, SPACE).
MENU: Help
Registration Used for the SpectraPen software registration.
About Offers basic information about the program.

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6.3 DATA TRANSFER AND VISUALIZATION
1. After completion of measurement SpectraPen may be connected to PC for data download and further analysis.
2. Launch the SpectraPen software on the computer and Connect the device. Go to Device> Connect.
3. To transfer your data from the SpectraPen device to your PC use the Download function. Select icon on left side of screen or
go to File and select Load if you want to process data stored on PC.
4. All data stored currently in the SpectraPen device will be downloaded and shown in the main window view. The data are store
and displayed/listed with the time stamp of measurement.
Please note that if there are no data stored in the memory, the download function is not active.
5. Visualization modes: Scope mode window is always displayed as the default. To view calculated spectrum go to Absorbance or
Transmittance tab (Fig. 22).
6. All data that are downloaded are displayed in the Scope window after download from the SpectraPen. The user can select the
set of measurements to be displayed by marking and unmarking the data from the selection list (Fig. 22).
7. Right click on list of measured data enables edit data name, delete selected measurement or show and hide all measured data
in the graph–Select all measure and Clear all measure (Fig. 23).
Fig. 22 Scope spectra.