Photonwares PeakSeeker User manual

Benchtop Raman Spectrometer
PeakSeeker User Manual
Version 2.0
1/3/2021
Document Number: UM20210103.002

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Table of Contents
1. Laser Safety and Precautions................................................................................. 4
2. Software and Drivers installation........................................................................... 5
2.1 Software Installation..........................................................................................5
2.2 Spectrometer Driver Installation........................................................................8
2.3 System Main board Driver Installation ............................................................ 14
3. User interface and operation ................................................................................ 22
3.1 Quick Guide.................................................................................................... 22
3.2 Power up the instrument................................................................................. 22
3.3 Operate RSIQ Software.................................................................................. 24
3.3.1 Start the software...................................................................................... 24
3.3.2 Main Screen ............................................................................................. 24
3.3.3 Settings Tab ............................................................................................. 26
3.3.4 Spectral Data............................................................................................ 28
3.3.5 Spectrum Display...................................................................................... 29
4. Advanced Operations............................................................................................ 30
4.1 Options ........................................................................................................... 30
4.1.1 Settings Panel .......................................................................................... 30
4.1.2 Calibration ................................................................................................ 31
4.2 How to Perform Calibration............................................................................. 32
4.3 Laser Power Calibration.................................................................................. 35
4.4 Library............................................................................................................. 37
4.4.1 Create new library..................................................................................... 37
4.4.2 Select library............................................................................................. 38
4.4.3 Edit library................................................................................................. 40
4.4.4 Identify a spectrum ................................................................................... 40
5. Sample Measurements.......................................................................................... 43
6. Trouble Shooting................................................................................................... 45
6.1 FAQ ................................................................................................................ 46

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1. Laser Safety and Precautions
The PeakSeeker™ and PeakSeeker Pro™ series of instruments complies with DHHS Radiation
Performance Standards 21 CFR (J) for Class IIIB Laser products. It contains a laser light source that
emits visible and/or invisible laser radiation at a power level which can be user adjusted from 5 mW –300
mW. The upper end of this range is approximately 100 times the power output of a typical laser pointer.
The user must be aware of the dangers associated with equipment of this type and must be experienced
in practices and processes associated with handling such products.
We recommend the following safety precautions while operating the laser. This is only a
recommended list and by no means comprehensive:
1. Post warnings in the area where the instrument is to be used.
2. Allow access only to authorized personnel.
3. Do not look directly in the path of the beam.
4. Always wear safety goggles (provided with the instrument) while using the system.
Safety Notice
All Raman Systems are equipped with an electronic shutter which prevents laser emission when
measurements are not being made. During a sample scan, the red LED on the panel will
illuminate, indicating laser excitation of the sample under measurement.
WARNING!
An illuminated RED LED on the instrument panel indicates active laser emission!
Sample burning
It must be noted that dark materials will absorb the laser energy much more efficiently than
transparent materials. Such materials will therefore heat up more quickly and may become more
sensitive to thermal damage and possibly incite ignition or detonation.
Moreover, very high laser power focused on a very small spot (100 μm diameter is typical) implies
very high power density which can cause the sample damage.
Disclaimer:
Photonwares Inc. assumes that the user of the instrument has read and is familiar with all precautions that
need to be exercised, while operating an instrument with a class IIIB laser. Photonwares is not responsible
for any damage caused to personnel, equipment, or samples arising from incorrect use of the laser or the
instrument.

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2. Software and Drivers installation
This section is to introduce the first-time installation or a reinstallation of RSIQ software on the
new computer. The PeakSeeker and PeakSeeker Pro instruments are normally supplied with
dedicated notebook computers preloaded with RSIQ software. You could skip this section if you
already purchased the Raman Spectrometer with laptop. The installation procedure applies to
installation on user supplied computers. Software is provided on a USB flash drive with each
instrument when delivered.
❖The manual is based on using Windows 10 (64 bit) as the operating system.
❖The RSIQ software needs .NET framework version 4 or newer.
2.1 Software Installation
1. Power on the computer only, DO NOT connect the Raman instrument to computer.
2. Insert the USB flash drive into the computer and open the drive folder. The installation file is in
the folder Setup. There is a copy of the installation files on the laptop’s folder D:\Setup, too.
Figure 2.1 Installation Folder
3. Double click the “RSIQ_Setup” file, the installation will start as a setup wizard. Click “Next>”:

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Figure 2.2 RSIQ Setup Wizard
4. The wizard asks to select the file folder location to install the software, click ‘Browse’ to change
the default folder or click “Next>”:
Figure 2.3 Installation folder
5. Confirm the installation and click “Next>”. If you want to change the selection, click “<Back”:

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Figure 2.4 Confirm
6. After the installation is finished. Click “Close” to exit.
Figure 2.5 Installation complete
7. After the installation is finished the software will create a shortcut on the desktop.

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Figure 2.6 Desktop Shortcut
2.2 Spectrometer Driver Installation
Please operate the computer only, DO NOT connect the spectrometer to the computer.
1. Double click the ‘Drivers’ folder under the ‘Setup’ path
Figure 2.7 Driver Folder
2. Go to ‘Spectrometer Driver’ folder, the spectrometer needs both 32bit and 64bit drivers installed
on the computer.

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Figure 2.8 Spectrometer Driver Folder
3. Double click to start the installation. It supports a lot of languages, English is recommended.
Figure 2.9 Language Selection
4. Follow the hint on the screen to finish the installation

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Figure 2.10 Setup Wizard
5. Choose ‘Redistributable version’ and click ‘Next>’
Figure 2.11 Version Selection
6. Use the default installation directory and click ‘Next>’
Figure 2.12 Installation Path
7. Use the default setting and click ‘Next>’

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Figure 2.13 VCREDIST
8. For Windows 10 and future OS, please choose the default WinUSB drivers. EzUSB works for old
OS like windows XP or vista. Click ‘Next>’ to finish installation
Figure 2.14 Driver selection
9. The installation is in processing

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Figure 2.15 Installing
10. For Window 10 system, because the .Net Framework is 4.0 by default but the driver needs the
3.5 version, click ‘Download and install this feature’. Otherwise, the system may not work
properly.
Figure 2.16 .Net Framework installation
11. Wait for the installation

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Figure 2.17 .Net Framework installation
12. Successfully installed the .Net Framework
Figure 2.18 .Net Framework installed
13. Click finish to complete the installation

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Figure 2.19 Driver installed
2.3 System Main board Driver Installation
Now connect the spectrometer with the provided USB cable to finish the installation of main board driver.
************************************************************************************************************************
The spectrometer is equipped with a class 3b laser, please always wear a safety goggle when
turning on the system power.
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1. Plug in the 12V DC power supply.
2. Turn on the power switch.
3. Check the green LED on the front panel, if it turns on then the spectrometer is powered on. The
green LED will only be turn on when the system is powered on and the USB cable is plugged into
the computer. The system will never work if there is no USB cable plugged into a computer.
4. The Window system may automatically install the drivers from windows update server and show
messages like this:

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Figure 2.20 Main Board Driver
5. To verify the driver is installed correctly, please go to desktop and right click on ‘This PC’ and
click ‘Properties’
Figure 2.21 Find Device Manager
6. Click ‘Device Manager’ to check the installed drivers:

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Figure 2.22 Find Device Manager
7. In this case, the spectrometer’s driver installed correctly. But there is a yellow ‘!’ in front of
‘FT232R USB UART’, that is the driver needed to control the laser
Figure 2.23 Check Installed Drivers
8. Right click on ‘FT232R USB UART’, select ‘Update driver’

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Figure 2.24 Update driver
9. Click ‘Browse my computer for drivers’
Figure 2.25 Choose the installation method
10. Click ‘Browse’ to select the driver location:

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Figure 2.26 Choose the driver location
11. The default driver path is ‘D:\Setup\2.Main board Driver’
Figure 2.27 Driver location
12. Click ‘Next’ to finish the installation

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Figure 2.28 Set the driver location
13. Click ‘Close’ to complete the installation
Figure 2.29 Finish the installation
14. Go to ‘Device Manager’ to check the hardware list, it shows another yellow ‘!’ in front of ‘USB
Serial Port’ this time.

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Figure 2.30 Check the hardware list
15. Repeat steps 8~14 to install the driver. Finally, it will show the USB serial port is successfully
updated.
Figure 2.31 Finish the installation
16. Go to ‘Device Manager’ to double check all the drivers are installed correctly