Teledyne Princeton Instruments PI-MAX 3 User guide

www.princetoninstruments.com
PI-MAX®3 System Manual
4411-0129
Issue 2
August 20, 2019

No part of this publication may be reproduced by any means without the written permission of Teledyne Princeton Instruments.
Printed in the United States of America.
Pentium is a registered trademark of Intel Corporation.
Scientific Imaging ToolKit and SITK are trademarks of R Cubed Software Consultants, LLC.
PVCAM, IntelliCal, LightField, and PI-MAX3 are registered trademarks of Teledyne Digital Imaging US, Inc..
Windows and Windows Vista are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries.
The information in this publication is believed to be accurate as of the publication release date. However, Teledyne Princeton
Instruments does not assume any responsibility for any consequences including any damages resulting from the use thereof. The
information contained herein is subject to change without notice. Revision of this publication may be issued to incorporate such
change.
Copyright 2010-2019
All Rights Reserved
Teledyne Princeton Instruments
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Trenton, NJ 08619
TEL: [phone]
2PI-MAX
®3 System Manual Issue 2
Revision History
Issue Date List of Changes
Issue 2 August 20, 2019 Issue 2 of this document incorporates the following changes:
•Rebranded as Teledyne Princeton Instruments.
Issue 1.D September 21, 2015 Issue 1.D of this document incorporates the following changes:
•Added clarification information about Time Stamping;
•Updated TRIGGER IN connector description for input levels ±5.5 VDC.
Issue 1.C September 5, 2012 Issue 1.C of this document incorporates the following changes:
•Added information about 1024 x 256 orientation needing to be
flipped;
•Global update Sub-Nanosecond to Picosecond;
•Added IsoPlane Mounting information to Spectrograph Adapter
appendix;
•Added Controller Gain/Analog Gain topic.
Issue 1.B September 26, 2011 Issue 1.B of this document incorporates the following changes:
•Added LightField support;
•Added Sub-Nanosecond chapter;
•Added MCP Gating chapter;
•Inserted Flange-to-Spectrograph Quick Start;
•Removed Kinetics references;
•Updated Response Linearity specification.
Issue 1.A February 8, 2010 This is the initial release of this document.

Table of Contents
Attention! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Alarm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Unigen™ II Coating. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Chapter 1: About this Manual. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
1.1 Intended Audience . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
1.2 Related Documentation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
1.3 Document Organization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
1.3.1 Conventions Used In this Document. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
1.4 Safety Related Symbols Used in this Manual. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
1.5 PI-MAX3 Safety Information. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
1.5.1 Intensifier Modes and Safety . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
1.5.2 Audible Alarm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
1.5.3 High Intensity Light Damage. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
1.6 Precautions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Chapter 2: PI-MAX3 Camera System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
2.1 PI-MAX3 Camera . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
2.1.1 Mount Adapters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
2.1.2 Cooling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
2.1.3 GigE Ethernet Card . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
2.1.4 Extender Bracket Kit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
2.1.5 PI-MAX3 Rear-Panel Connectors and Indicators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
2.1.6 Power. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
2.2 Application Software . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
2.3 Optional Accessories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
2.3.1 Cables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
2.3.2 CoolCUBEII Coolant Circulator. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
2.3.3 Spectrograph . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
2.4 PI-MAX3 Camera and System Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
2.4.1 Camera . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
2.4.2 Cleaning Optical Surfaces: Unigen™II Coating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
2.4.3 Cleaning Optical Surfaces: Protective Window. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
2.4.4 Flushing and Refilling the CCD Chamber . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
2.4.5 Repairs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Chapter 3: PI-MAX3 Image Acquisition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33
3.1 Image Acquisition Process . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Chapter 4: Installation Overview. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .35
4.1 System Block Diagrams. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37

4PI-MAX
®3 System Manual Issue 2
Chapter 5: System Setup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
5.1 Unpack the System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
5.2 Examine Equipment and Verify Parts Inventory. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
5.3 Mount the PI-MAX3. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .41
5.3.1 Imaging Applications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .41
5.3.2 Spectroscopy Applications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
5.4 Install Application Software. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
5.4.1 Install WinX/32 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
5.4.2 Install LightField . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
5.5 Connect PI-MAX3 to CoolCUBEII. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
5.6 Connect PI-MAX3 to Dry Nitrogen Source. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
5.7 Configure Default System Parameters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
5.7.1 WinX/32 Applications (Version 2.5.25.X and Higher) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
5.7.2 LightField Applications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
Chapter 6: First Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .49
6.1 WinX/32 First Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
6.1.1 Required Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
6.1.2 Procedure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
6.2 LightField First Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
6.2.1 Required Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
6.2.2 Procedure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
Chapter 7: Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
7.1 Data Acquisition Sequence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
7.2 WinX/32 System On/Off Sequences . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64
7.3 Pre-Exposure Removal of Accumulated Charge. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64
7.3.1 Dark Charge. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64
7.3.2 Cleaning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65
7.4 Phosphor Decay Delay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .67
7.5 Temperature Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68
7.5.1 Cooling Method . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68
7.5.1.1 Air-cooling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69
7.5.1.2 Supplemental Circulating Coolant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69
7.5.2 Setting the Temperature . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70
7.6 Exposure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70
7.6.1 Exposure with an Image Intensifier. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70
7.6.2 Saturation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .71
7.7 Background Subtraction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .71
7.8 Readout of the Array. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .72
7.8.1 Interline CCD Readout . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .73
7.8.1.1 Non-Overlapped Mode Exposure and Readout . . . . . . . . . .74
7.8.1.2 Interline Readout Rate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .75
7.8.2 Full Frame CCD Readout. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .76
7.8.3 Binned Readout (Hardware Binning) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .78
7.8.3.1 CCD Type and Readout Port(s) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .79
7.9 Software Binning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85
7.10 Controller Gain {Analog Gain} . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86
7.11 Digitization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86
7.12 Logic Out Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .87
7.13 WinX/32 Experiment Setup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89
7.13.1 Experiment Setup ►Main Tab . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89
7.13.2 Experiment Setup ►Timing Tab . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90

Issue 2 Table of Contents 5
7.14 LightField Experiment Setup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93
7.14.1 Common Acquisition Settings Expander . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93
7.14.2 Region of Interest Expander . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94
7.14.3 Trigger Expander . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95
7.14.4 SuperSYNCHRO Expander . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96
Chapter 8: WinX/32 and Gated Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .97
8.1 Precautionary Measures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98
8.1.1 Intensifier Modes and Safety . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98
8.1.2 Alarm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99
8.2 Timing Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .99
8.3 MCP Bracket Pulsing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100
8.3.1 Bracket Pulsing in LIF Measurements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101
8.3.2 Bracket Pulsing in Nanosecond Pump Probe Experiments . . . . . . . . . 101
8.3.3 Limitations of Bracket Pulse Gating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102
8.3.4 Impact of Bracket Pulsing on Delay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102
8.3.5 Setup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103
8.4 Additional Experiments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104
8.4.1 Swept Gate Experiment [Fixed Width; Variable Delay] . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105
8.4.1.1 Experiment is Master Clock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105
8.4.1.2 SyncMASTER1 as Master Clock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118
8.4.2 Swept Gate Experiment [Variable Width, Variable Delay] . . . . . . . . . . 119
8.4.3 Static Gate Experiment [Fixed Width, Fixed Delay] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120
8.4.4 Single Shot Experiment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120
Chapter 9: LightField and Gated Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .125
9.1 Precautionary Measures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 126
9.1.1 Intensifier Modes and Safety . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 126
9.1.2 Alarm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127
9.2 Timing Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127
9.3 MCP Bracket Pulsing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 128
9.3.1 Bracket Pulsing in LIF Measurements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129
9.3.2 Bracket Pulsing in Nanosecond Pump Probe Experiments. . . . . . . . . 129
9.3.3 Limitations of Bracket Pulse Gating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130
9.3.4 Impact of Bracket Pulsing on Delay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130
9.3.5 Setup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131
9.4 Additional Experiments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 132
9.4.1 Swept Gate Experiment [Fixed Width; Variable Delay] . . . . . . . . . . . . . 133
9.4.1.1 Experiment is Master Clock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 133
9.4.1.2 SyncMASTER1 as Master Clock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 141
9.4.2 Swept Gate Experiment [Variable Width, Variable Delay] . . . . . . . . . . 142
9.4.3 Static Gate Experiment [Fixed Width, Fixed Delay] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 143
9.4.4 Single Shot Experiment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 143
Chapter 10: Timing Generator Pulses and Sequences . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .147
10.1 Pulse Set. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 147
10.1.1 Supported Timing Generator Trigger Modes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 148
10.2 Single Sequence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 148
10.2.1 Supported Timing Generator Trigger Modes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 149
10.3 Time Stamping . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 149

6PI-MAX
®3 System Manual Issue 2
Chapter 11: WinX/32 and Dual Image Feature (DIF). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151
11.1 Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .151
11.2 Interline CCD Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151
11.3 Timing Modes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .152
11.4 Configure a Single Trigger DIF Experiment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .152
11.5 Configure a Dual Trigger DIF Experiment. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 158
11.6 Tips and Tricks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 164
Chapter 12: LightField and Dual Image Feature (DIF). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 165
12.1 Requirements. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .165
12.2 Interline CCD Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 166
12.3 Trigger Configuration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .167
12.3.1 Configure a Single Trigger DIF Experiment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 168
12.4 Configure a Dual Trigger DIF Experiment. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 171
12.5 Tips and Tricks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .173
Chapter 13: MCP Gating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 175
13.1 Setup and Operation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .175
13.2 Gain Variation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .175
13.3 Fluorescence Experiment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .175
13.4 Hardware Configuration for MCP Gated Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .176
Chapter 14: Picosecond Option . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 179
14.1 Activating Picosecond Operation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .179
14.2 Gain and Gate Width. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .179
14.3 MONITOR Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 180
14.4 Repetition Rate Issues . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 180
14.5 Timing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 180
14.6 Methods for Finding a Short Optical Pulse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .181
14.6.1 Example . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .181
Chapter 15: Tips and Tricks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 183
15.1 Overexposure Protection. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 183
15.2 Signal Delay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 183
15.2.1 Time Budgets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 184
15.2.2 Measuring Coincidence. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 184
15.2.3 Adjusting the Signal Delay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 185
15.2.4 Optimizing the Gate Width and Delay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 186
15.3 Lasers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 186
15.3.1 Free Running Lasers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 186
15.3.2 Triggered Lasers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .187
15.3.3 Jitter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .187
15.4 Inhibiting the Pulser During Readout . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .187
15.5 Lens Performance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 188
15.5.1 Throughput . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 188
15.5.2 Depth of Field . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 188
15.6 Baseline Signal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 189
15.7 Temperature Lock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 189
15.8 Intensifier Alarm. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 189

Issue 2 Table of Contents 7
Chapter 16: Troubleshooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .191
16.1 Alarm Sounds Repetitively . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 192
16.2 Alarm Sounds Sporadically . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 192
16.3 Baseline Signal Suddenly Changes by > 1000 ADU . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 192
16.4 Camera Is Not Responding. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 192
16.5 Camera Stops Working . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 193
16.6 Cooling Troubleshooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 193
16.6.1 Temperature Lock Cannot be Achieved or Maintained . . . . . . . . . . . . 193
16.6.2 Gradual Deterioration of Cooling Capability . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 194
16.7 Data Loss or Serial Violation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 194
16.8 Error Occurs at Computer Power Up . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 194
16.9 Ethernet Network is Not Accessible . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 194
16.9.1 WinX/32 Applications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 194
16.9.2 LightField Applications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 195
16.10 Excessive Readout Noise . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 196
Appendix A: Technical Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .197
A.1 Camera Specifications. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 197
A.1.1 AUX I/O Connector Pinout . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 201
A.1.2 Power Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 204
A.1.3 Environmental Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 204
A.1.4 Ventilation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 205
A.2 Internal Pulser . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .205
A.3 Intensifier Quantum Efficiency . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 206
A.4 CoolCUBEII Circulator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 207
A.5 Minimum Host Computer Requirements. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 208
Appendix B: Outline Drawings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 209
B.1 PI-MAX3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 209
B.2 PI-MAX3 Power Supply . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 212
B.3 CoolCUBEII Circulator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 213
Appendix C: WinSpec/32 and LightField Cross References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .215
C.1 WinSpec/32-to-LightField Terminology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 215
C.2 LightField to WinSpec/32 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 217
Appendix D: Extender Bracket Kit. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .219
Appendix E: Mounting and Focusing C- and F-Mount Lenses . . . . . . . . . . . . . .221
E.1 Lens Mounting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 221
E.1.1 Mounting Orientation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 222
E.2 Len Focusing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .222
Appendix F: C-, F-, and Spectroscopy- Mount Adapters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 223
F.1 Accessory Kits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .223
F.1.1 PI-MAX3 18 mm Tube. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 223
F.1.2 PI-MAX3 25 mm Tube. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 223
F.2 Adapter Kits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 224
F.3 PI-MAX3 to Teledyne Acton Research Spectrograph Quick Start Guides . . . . . 224
F.4 Standard C-, F-, and Spectroscopy-Mount Adapters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 224
F.5 Spectroscopy-Mount for NVUV Cameras . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 225
F.6 Optical Distance from Mounting Face to Image Plane . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 226

8PI-MAX
®3 System Manual Issue 2
Appendix G: Spectrograph Adapters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 227
G.1 Spectrograph-Detector Focus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 227
G.1.1 Teledyne Acton Research Series Spectrograph . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 227
G.1.2 IsoPlane SCT-320 Spectrograph . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 229
G.2 PI-MAX3 (3.60” 3-Hole Slotted Flange) to Teledyne Acton Research
Series Spectrograph. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .231
G.2.1 Required Tools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .231
G.2.2 Procedure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .231
G.3 PI-MAX3 to Teledyne Acton Research (C-Mount Adapter) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 233
G.4 PI-MAX3 to IsoPlane SCT-320 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 235
Appendix H: Glossary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 237
Warranty and Service. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .245
Limited Warranty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 245
Basic Limited One (1) Year Warranty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 245
Limited One (1) Year Warranty on Refurbished or Discontinued Products . 245
XP Vacuum Chamber Limited Lifetime Warranty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 245
Sealed Chamber Integrity Limited 12 Month Warranty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 246
Vacuum Integrity Limited 12 Month Warranty. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 246
Image Intensifier Detector Limited One Year Warranty. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 246
X-Ray Detector Limited One Year Warranty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 246
Software Limited Warranty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 246
Owner's Manual and Troubleshooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 247
Your Responsibility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 247
Contact Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 248
List of Figures
Figure 2-1: Typical PI-MAX3 System Components . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21
Figure 2-2: Typical PI-MAX3 Camera . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22
Figure 2-3: PI-MAX3 Rear-Panel Connectors. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Figure 2-4: PI-MAX3 Power Supply Connectors and Indicators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27
Figure 3-1: Primary Components of an Intensifier-CCD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33
Figure 4-1: Block Diagram: PI-MAX3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37
Figure 5-1: Typical WinView/32 Setup Dialog: Select Installation Type . . . . . . . . 43
Figure 5-2: Typical LightField Installation Wizard Dialog . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
Figure 5-3: Typical CoolCUBEII Coolant Circulator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Figure 5-4: Typical Camera Detection Wizard – Welcome Dialog. . . . . . . . . . . . . .47
Figure 6-1: Typical WinX/32 Setup ►Pulsers Dialog . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .51
Figure 6-2: Typical WinX/32 SuperSYNCHRO ►Trigger In Tab Dialog. . . . . . . . . .52
Figure 6-3: Typical WinX/32 SuperSYNCHRO ►Gating Tab Dialog . . . . . . . . . . . .52
Figure 6-4: Typical WinX/32 Repetitive Gating Setup Dialog . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .53
Figure 6-5: Typical WinX/32 Experiment Setup ►Main Tab Dialog. . . . . . . . . . . . 54
Figure 6-6: Typical WinX/32 Experiment Setup ►ADC Tab Dialog . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
Figure 6-7: Typical WinX/32 Experiment Setup ►ROI Setup Tab Dialog . . . . . . . .55
Figure 6-8: Typical WinX/32 First Light Acquired Image . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
Figure 6-9: Typical WinX/32 First Light Acquired Image, Reversed/Flipped. . . . . 56
Figure 6-10: Typical LightField Available Devices Area . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
Figure 6-11: Typical LightField Experiment Devices Area with PI-MAX3. . . . . . . . . 60
Figure 6-12: Typical LightField Online Corrections ►Orientation Indicator . . . . . .61
Figure 6-13: Typical LightField Experiment Workspace ►View Tab . . . . . . . . . . . . .61
Figure 6-14: Typical LightField View Tab with Image . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62

Issue 2 List of Figures 9
Figure 7-1: Block Diagram: Signal Path in Standard PI-MAX3 System . . . . . . . . . . 63
Figure 7-2: Timing Diagram: Internal Trigger Mode, Clean Cycles . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65
Figure 7-3: Typical WinX/32 Hardware Setup Dialog: Phosphor Decay Delay . . . 68
Figure 7-4: Typical LightField Common Acquisition Settings ►Advanced ►
Phosphor Decay Delay Dialog . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68
Figure 7-5: Typical Interline CCD Readout . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73
Figure 7-6: Non-Overlapped Mode Exposure and Readout . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74
Figure 7-7: Full Frame Readout . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76
Figure 7-8: Dual Port Readout: 2 x 2 Binning, Interline CCD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79
Figure 7-9: Typical LightField ROI Expander: Dual Port Readout, 2 x 2
Binning, Interline CCD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80
Figure 7-10: Single Port Readout: 2 x 2 Binning, Full Frame CCD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80
Figure 7-11: Typical WinX/32 Experiment Setup ►ROI Setup Tab Dialog . . . . . . . 81
Figure 7-12: LightField: Edit Regions of Interest Dialog . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82
Figure 7-13: Single Port Readout: 2 x 2 Binning, Partial Frame, Interline CCD . . . . 83
Figure 7-14: LightField Region Of Interest Expander: Dual Port Readout,
5 x 3 Binning, Interline CCD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84
Figure 7-15: Typical WinX/32 Hardware Setup ►Hardware ►Controller/
Camera Tab Dialog . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87
Figure 7-16: Timing Diagram: Logic Out Control, Key Control Signals . . . . . . . . . . 87
Figure 7-17: Typical WinX/32 Experiment Setup ►Main Tab Dialog . . . . . . . . . . . . 89
Figure 7-18: Typical WinX/32 Experiment Setup ►Timing Tab Dialog . . . . . . . . . . 90
Figure 7-19: Flowcharts: Fast Mode versus Safe Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92
Figure 7-20: Typical LightField Common Acquisitions Settings Expander. . . . . . . . 93
Figure 7-21: Typical LightField Region of Interest Expander . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94
Figure 7-22: Typical LightField Trigger Expander: Internal Trigger Source . . . . . . . 95
Figure 7-23: Typical LightField Trigger Expander: External Trigger Source. . . . . . . 95
Figure 7-24: Typical LightField SuperSYNCHRO Timing Expander . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96
Figure 8-1: Timing: Bracket Pulsing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100
Figure 8-2: Timing Diagram: PI-MAX3 MCP Bracket Pulsing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103
Figure 8-3: Typical PI-MAX3 Experiments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104
Figure 8-4: Block Diagram: Swept Gate Experiment [Fixed Width,
Variable Delay]. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105
Figure 8-5: Timing Diagram: Swept Gate Experiment [Fixed Width,
Variable Delay]. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106
Figure 8-6: Typical Hardware Setup: Controller/Camera Tab . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106
Figure 8-7: Typical Define Spectrograph Dialog. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107
Figure 8-8: Typical Install/Remove Spectrographs Dialog . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108
Figure 8-9: Typical Define Spectrograph Dialog: Main Tab [Acton SP300i] . . . . 108
Figure 8-10: Typical Move Spectrograph Dialog. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109
Figure 8-11: Typical Experiment Setup Dialog: Main Tab . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109
Figure 8-12: Typical Experiment Setup Dialog: Timing Tab . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110
Figure 8-13: Typical Experiment Setup Dialog: ADC Tab . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110
Figure 8-14: Typical Experiment Setup Dialog: ROI Setup Tab . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111
Figure 8-15: Typical SuperSYNCHRO Dialog: Trigger In Tab . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111
Figure 8-16: Typical SuperSYNCHRO Dialog: Trigger In Tab . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112
Figure 8-17: Typical SuperSYNCHRO Dialog: Gating Tab. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113
Figure 8-18: Typical Sequential Gating Setup Dialog. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113
Figure 8-19: Typical Width/Delay Sequence Dialog. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114
Figure 8-20: Typical SuperSYNCHRO Dialog: Trigger Out Tab . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 115
Figure 8-21: Typical Experiment Setup Dialog: Timing Tab . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116
Figure 8-22: Typical Experiment Setup Dialog: Main Tab . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117
Figure 8-23: Typical 3D Experiment Results . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118
Figure 8-24: Block Diagram: PI-MAX3 SyncMASTER1 as Master Clock . . . . . . . . . 118

10 PI-MAX®3 System Manual Issue 2
Figure 8-25: Timing Diagram: PI-MAX3 SyncMASTER1 as Master Clock. . . . . . . . .119
Figure 8-26: Typical Repetitive Gating Setup Dialog. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120
Figure 8-27: Block Diagram: Single Shot . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .121
Figure 8-28: Typical Cleans and Skips Default Values. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .121
Figure 8-29: Typical Experiment Setup Dialog: Main Tab, Gain Configuration . . .122
Figure 8-30: Repetitive Gating Setup: 100 ns Width, 10 ns Delay. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .122
Figure 8-31: Single Shot Result: Fluorescence Spot, 100 ns Width,
10 ns Delay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .123
Figure 8-32: Single Shot Result: Fluorescence Spot, 100 ns Width,
10 ns Delay, Binned Vertically . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .123
Figure 9-1: Timing: Bracket Pulsing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 128
Figure 9-2: Timing Diagram: PI-MAX3 MCP Bracket Pulsing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .131
Figure 9-3: Typical PI-MAX3 Experiments. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .132
Figure 9-4: Block Diagram: Swept Gate Experiment [Fixed Width,
Variable Delay] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .133
Figure 9-5: Timing Diagram: Swept Gate Experiment [Fixed Width,
Variable Delay] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 134
Figure 9-6: Typical Sensor Cleaning Fly-out Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 134
Figure 9-7: Typical Spectrometer Expanders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .135
Figure 9-8: Typical Region of Interest Expander: Full Sensor Selected . . . . . . . . 136
Figure 9-9: Typical Common Acquisition Settings Expander . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136
Figure 9-10: Typical Analog to Digital Conversion Expander . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .137
Figure 9-11: Typical Trigger Expander: Internal Trigger Source Selected . . . . . . .137
Figure 9-12: Typical Region of Interest Expander: Full Sensor Binned . . . . . . . . . 138
Figure 9-13: Typical Trigger Expander: External Trigger Source . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 138
Figure 9-14: Typical SuperSYNCHRO Timing Expander . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 139
Figure 9-15: Typical SuperSYNCHRO Timing with SyncMASTER On . . . . . . . . . . . 140
Figure 9-16: Typical Experiment Results with Frame Cross-Section Active . . . . . .141
Figure 9-17: Block Diagram: PI-MAX3 SyncMASTER1 as Master Clock . . . . . . . . . .141
Figure 9-18: Timing Diagram: PI-MAX3 SyncMASTER1 as Master Clock. . . . . . . . 142
Figure 9-19: Typical SuperSYNCHRO Timing Expander: Repetitive Gating . . . . . 143
Figure 9-20: Block Diagram: Single Shot. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 144
Figure 9-21: Typical Cleans and Skips Default Values. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 144
Figure 9-22: Typical Common Acquisition Settings Expander: Configure
Gain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145
Figure 9-23: Repetitive Gating Setup: 100 ns Width, 25 ns Delay. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145
Figure 9-24: Single Shot Result: Fluorescence Spot, 100 ns Width,
25 ns Delay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 146
Figure 9-25: Single Shot Result: Fluorescence Spot, 100 ns Width,
25 ns Delay, Binned Vertically . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 146
Figure 10-1: Typical Pulse Set . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .147
Figure 10-2: Timing Diagram: Trigger per Pulse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 148
Figure 10-3: Single Sequence with Three Repetitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 148
Figure 10-4: Timing Diagram: Sequence with 3 Repetitions and
Trigger per Pulse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 149
Figure 11-1: Typical System Block Diagram: DIF Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .152
Figure 11-2: Timing Diagram: DIF Operation, Single Trigger . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .152
Figure 11-3: Typical Hardware Setup ►Controller/Camera Tab . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .153
Figure 11-4: Typical Experiment Setup… ►Main Tab . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 154
Figure 11-5: Typical Experiment Setup… ►Timing Tab . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 154
Figure 11-6: Typical Pulsers Dialog . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .155
Figure 11-7: Typical SuperSYNCHRO Dialog . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .155
Figure 11-8: Typical DIF Gating Setup Dialog. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .156
Figure 11-9: Typical SuperSYNCHRO Dialog: Trigger In Tab . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .156

Issue 2 List of Figures 11
Figure 11-10: Typical SuperSYNCHRO Dialog: Trigger Out Tab . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 157
Figure 11-11: Typical System Block Diagram: DIF Operation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 158
Figure 11-12: Timing Diagram: DIF Operation, Dual Trigger . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 158
Figure 11-13: Typical Hardware Setup ►Controller/Camera Tab . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 159
Figure 11-14: Typical Experiment Setup… ►Main Tab . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 160
Figure 11-15: Typical Experiment Setup… ►Timing Tab . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 160
Figure 11-16: Typical Pulsers Dialog . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 161
Figure 11-17: Typical SuperSYNCHRO Dialog. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 161
Figure 11-18: Typical DIF Gating Setup Dialog: Dual Trigger . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 162
Figure 11-19: Typical SuperSYNCHRO Dialog: Trigger In Tab . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 162
Figure 11-20: Typical SuperSYNCHRO Dialog: Trigger Out Tab . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 163
Figure 12-1: Typical Readout Expander . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 165
Figure 12-2: Typical Common Acquisition Settings Expander . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 166
Figure 12-3: Typical Trigger Expander . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 167
Figure 12-4: Typical SuperSYNCHRO Timing Expander: DIF . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 168
Figure 12-5: Typical System Block Diagram: DIF Operation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 168
Figure 12-6: Timing Diagram: DIF Operation, Single Trigger . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 169
Figure 12-7: Typical System Block Diagram: DIF Operation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 171
Figure 12-8: Timing Diagram: DIF Operation, Dual Trigger . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 171
Figure 13-1: Hardware Block Diagram: MCP Gated Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 176
Figure 13-2: Timing Diagram: MCP Gated Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 177
Figure 16-1: Typical WinX/32 eBUS Driver Installation Tool Dialog . . . . . . . . . . . . 195
Figure 16-2: Typical LightField eBUS Driver Installation Tool Dialog . . . . . . . . . . . 195
Figure A-1: Typical Phosphor Emission Spectra . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 199
Figure A-2: Typical AUX I/O Cable. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 201
Figure A-3: AUX I/O Connector Pinout. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 202
Figure A-4: QE Curve: Gen II Intensifier . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 206
Figure A-5: QE Curve: Gen III Filmless Intensifier . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 206
Figure B-1: Outline Drawing: PI-MAX3 with C-Mount Adapter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 209
Figure B-2: Outline Drawing: PI-MAX3 with F-Mount Adapter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 210
Figure B-3: Outline Drawing: PI-MAX3 with Spectroscopy-Mount Adapter . . . . 211
Figure B-4: Outline Drawing: PI-MAX3 Power Supply . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 212
Figure B-5: Outline Drawing: CoolCUBEII Circulator. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 213
Figure D-1: Extender Bracket Kit Mounted to PI-MAX3. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 219
Figure E-1: F-mount (Nikon) Lens Adapter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 221
Figure F-1: Screwdriver with Reversible Flat and Phillips Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 223
Figure F-2: PI-MAX3 Mount Adapters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 225
Figure F-3: O-ring Positions for PI-MAX3 NVUV Cameras . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 225
Figure G-1: Required Tools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 231
Figure G-2: PI-MAX3 to Teledyne Acton Research with C-Mount Adapter . . . . . 233
Figure G-3: PI-MAX3 to IsoPlane SCT-320. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 235

12 PI-MAX®3 System Manual Issue 2
List of Tables
Revision History . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2
Table 1-1: Related Documentation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15
Table 1-2: Terminology Conventions Used . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Table 2-1: PI-MAX3 Rear-Panel Connectors and Indicators. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25
Table 2-2: PI-MAX3 Power Supply Connectors and Indicators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27
Table 2-3: Standard PI-MAX3 Camera System Cables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Table 4-1: PI-MAX3 Installation Actions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .35
Table 7-1: Readout Rates: Kodak 1024 x 1024 Array, 16 MHz Dual Port Mode. . . .76
Table 7-2: Readout Rates: e2v CCD30-11 1024 × 256 Array at 2 MHz . . . . . . . . . . .78
Table 8-1: Timing Mode, Shutter Control, and Ext. Trigger Input when Using the
Internal Timing Generator100
Table 8-2: Sample Single Shot Experiment Time Budget . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120
Table 9-1: Timing Mode, Shutter Control, and Ext. Trigger Input when Using the
Internal Timing Generator128
Table 9-2: Sample Single Shot Experiment Time Budget . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 143
Table 14-1: Typical PI-MAX3: 1024i Picosecond Operation Data: Sustained
Operation180
Table 16-1: List of Recommended Troubleshooting Procedures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .191
Table A-1: CCD Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .197
Table A-2: AUX I/O Cable Leads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 201
Table A-3: AUX I/O Connector Pinout and Signal Description . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 202
Table C-1: WinSpec/32-to-LightField Cross Reference. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .215
Table C-2: LightField-to-WinSpec/32 Cross Reference. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .217
Table F-1: Adapter Kit Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 224
Table G-1: Required Hardware: PI-MAX3 to Teledyne Acton Research with C-Mount
Adapter233
Table G-2: Required Hardware: PI-MAX3 to IsoPlane SCT-320. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 235

13
Attention!
WARNING!
Intensified CCD detectors, such as the PI-MAX®3, when biased
on, can be irreparably damaged if continuously exposed to
light levels higher than twice the A/D saturation level. Thus it is
critical that you not establish conditions that could result in
damage to the intensifier.
Although intensified detectors are less prone to damage from
background light when operated gated, they are at significant
risk to damage from high-intensity light sources like a laser.
High intensity sources can damage the intensifier before the
protection circuits have time to respond or even cause spot
damage without the protection circuits acting at all.
If a sustained alarm indication occurs when the controller is
turned on, either completely cover the intensifier to reduce
light to halt the overload condition, or reduce the laboratory
illumination further until safe operating conditions are
established.
Alarm
To reduce the risk of detector damage, the PI-MAX3 detector is equipped with an audible
alarm in the detector head that is activated when the intensity of light falling on the image
intensifier exceeds a preset threshold.
NOTE:
It is normal for this alarm to sound briefly when the system is
turned on.
While the alarm is sounding, the photocathode is disabled. Immediately switch the I.I.T.
switch on the back of the PI-MAX3 to the off position. Cover the detector window and
switch the I.I.T. switch to on only after the illumination level has been lowered.
If the alarm sounds continuously even after the illumination level is adequately low, shut
the system down and contact Teledyne Princeton Instruments Customer Service for
guidance. Refer to Contact Information on page 248 for more information.
CAUTION!
!
Discontinue operation and contact Teledyne Princeton
Instruments Customer Service at once if sporadic or
continuous unwarranted alarms occur. They may indicate
intensifier damage or another situation that requires
immediate attention.

14 PI-MAX®3 System Manual Issue 2
Unigen™ II Coating
For greater sensitivity, the PI-MAX3 camera with Unigen II coating comes without a
protective window over the intensifier. Do not scratch the image intensifier's coated
surface.
To remove any lint or dust, use very clean dry nitrogen with < 5 PSI pressure.
If you have any questions please contact your sales contact or Teledyne Princeton
Instruments Customer Service. Refer to Contact Information on page 248 for more
information.

15
Chapter 1: About this Manual
Thank you for purchasing a PI-MAX3 camera system from Teledyne Princeton
Instruments. Since 1981 Teledyne Princeton Instruments has been the legendary name
behind the most revolutionary spectroscopy and imaging products for cutting edge
research.
Please read the manual carefully before operating the camera. This will help you
optimize the many features of this camera to suit your research needs.
If you have any questions about the information contained in this manual, contact the
Teledyne Princeton Instruments customer service department. Refer to Contact
Information on page 248 for complete contact information.
1.1 Intended Audience
This manual is intended to be used by scientists and other personnel responsible for the
installation, setup, configuration, and acquisition of imaging data collected using an
PI-MAX3 system.
This document provides all information necessary to safely install, configure, and
operate the PI-MAX3, beginning with the system’s initial installation.
1.2 Related Documentation
Table 1-1 provides a list of related documentation and user manuals that may be useful
when working with the PI-MAX3 camera system. To guarantee up-to-date information,
always refer to the current release of each document listed.
Teledyne Princeton Instruments maintains updated documentation and user manuals
on their FTP site. Visit the Teledyne Princeton Instruments FTP Site to verify that the
most recent user manual is available and being referenced:
ftp://ftp.piacton.com/Public/Manuals/Princeton Instruments
ftp://ftp.piacton.com/Public/Manuals/Acton
Table 1-1: Related Documentation
Document Number Document Title
4411-0046 WinView/32 Imaging Software User Manual
4411-0048 WinSpec/32 Spectroscopy Software User Manual
4411-0103 WinXTest Software User Manual
– LightField 6 Online Help
–PI-MAX3 Camera System Data Sheet

16 PI-MAX®3 System Manual Issue 2
1.3 Document Organization
This manual includes the following chapters and appendices:
•Chapter 1, About this Manual
This chapter provides information about the organization of this document, as
well as related documents, safety information, and conventions used
throughout the manual.
•Chapter 2, PI-MAX3 Camera System
This chapter provides an introduction to, and overview information about,
Teledyne Princeton Instruments’ PI-MAX3 camera system.
•Chapter 3, PI-MAX3 Image Acquisition
This chapter provides a high-level overview of how PI-MAX3 acquires, transfers,
and processes image data.
•Chapter 4, Installation Overview
This chapter cross-references system setup actions with the relevant manuals
and/or manual pages. It also contains system block diagrams.
•Chapter 5, System Setup
This chapter provides detailed information about installing and setting up the
PI-MAX3 for both spectroscopy and imaging.
•Chapter 6, First Light
This chapter provides abbreviated directions for getting your PI-MAX3 into
operation as soon as possible.
•Chapter 7, Operation
This chapter provides information about experiment setup, temperature
control, background subtraction, array readout, binning, and digitization.
•Chapter 8, WinX/32 and Gated Operation
This chapter discusses issues specific using WinX/32 and operating the PI-MAX3
system in gate mode.
•Chapter 9, LightField and Gated Operation
This chapter discusses issues specific using LightField and operating the
PI-MAX3 system in gate mode.
•Chapter 10, Timing Generator Pulses and Sequences
This chapter discusses and illustrates the trigger modes available when
operating the system in gate mode.
•Chapter 11, WinX/32 and Dual Image Feature (DIF)
This chapter discusses using WinX/32 with the mode specifically designed for
capturing a pair of gated images in rapid succession.
•Chapter 12, LightField and Dual Image Feature (DIF)
This chapter discusses using LightField with the mode specifically designed for
capturing a pair of gated images in rapid succession.
•Chapter 13, MCP Gating
This chapter discusses how to configure a PI-MAX3 that has an installed MCP
Gating board.
•Chapter 14, Picosecond Option
This chapter discusses how to configure a PI-MAX3 that has an installed
picosecond board.
•Chapter 15, Tips and Tricks
This chapter discusses a number of issues that can have a bearing on getting
good experimental results.

Chapter 1 About this Manual 17
•Chapter 16, Troubleshooting
This chapter provides recommended troubleshooting procedures.
•Appendix A, Technical Specifications
This appendix provides system-level technical specifications.
•Appendix B, Outline Drawings
This appendix provides outline drawings for the PI-MAX3 camera, the PI-MAX3
power supply, and the CoolCUBEII coolant circulator.
•Appendix C, WinSpec/32 and LightField Cross References
This appendix provides two alphabetically sorted tables that cross-reference
terms used by WinX/32 and LightField.
•Appendix D, Extender Bracket Kit
This appendix explains how to use this kit to mount the PI-MAX3 to any
laboratory table with either 25 mm or 1 inch hole spacing.
•Appendix E, Mounting and Focusing C- and F-Mount Lenses
This appendix discusses the focusing of an F-mount adapter, as well as the
focusing of F-mount and C-mount lenses.
•Appendix F, C-, F-, and Spectroscopy- Mount Adapters
This appendix describes how to change the adapter on the front of the PI-MAX3
to another type if you have multiple adapters.
•Appendix G, Spectrograph Adapters
This appendix provides mounting instructions for the spectroscopy-mount
adapter and for the spectrograph adapters available for PI-MAX3 cameras with
spectroscopy-mounts.
•Appendix H, Glossary
This appendix provides definitions of commonly used words and terms related
to intensified camera characteristics and usage.
•Warranty and Service
This section provides warranty information for the PI-MAX3. Contact
information is also provided.
1.3.1 Conventions Used In this Document
WinX/32 is a generic term for WinSpec/32, WinView/32, and WinXTest/32 application
software. Often WinX/32 and LightField use different terms for the same functions or
parameters. When a topic pertains to both WinX/32 and LightField, curly brackets {} are
used to denote a LightField term or location.
Refer to Table 1-2 for the conventions utilized throughout this document.
Table 1-2: Terminology Conventions Used
Topic Convention Used
WinX/32-Specific Topic WinX/32 Term/Location
LightField-Specific Topic LightField Term/Location
WinX/32 and LightField Shared Topic WinX/32 Term/Location {LightField Term/Location}

18 PI-MAX®3 System Manual Issue 2
1.4 Safety Related Symbols Used in this Manual
CAUTION!
!
A Caution provides detailed information about actions
and/or hazards that may result in damage to the equipment
being used, including but not limited to the possible loss of
data.
WARNING!
A Warning provides detailed information about actions
and/or hazards that may result in personal injury or death to
individuals operating the equipment.
WARNING! RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK!
The use of this symbol on equipment indicates that one or
more nearby items pose an electric shock hazard and
should be regarded as potentially dangerous. This same
symbol appears in the manual adjacent to the text that
discusses the hardware item(s) in question.
1.5 PI-MAX3 Safety Information
Before turning on the power supply, the ground prong of the power cord plug must be
properly connected to the ground connector of the wall outlet. The wall outlet must
have a third prong, or must be properly connected to an adapter that complies with
these safety requirements.
WARNINGS!
1. If the PI-MAX3 camera system is used in a manner not
specified by Teledyne Princeton Instruments, the
protection provided by the equipment may be impaired.
2. The PI-MAX3 has internal power supplies that generate
hazardous (and potentially lethal) voltages. It contains
no user-serviceable parts. Do not attempt to operate it
with the covers removed.
3. If the equipment or the wall outlet is damaged, the
protective grounding could be disconnected. Do not
use damaged equipment until its safety has been
verified by authorized personnel. Disconnecting the
protective earth terminal, inside or outside the
apparatus, or any tampering with its operation is also
prohibited.
Inspect the supplied power cord. If it is not compatible with the power socket, replace
the cord with one that has suitable connectors on both ends.
WARNING!
Replacement power cords or power plugs must have the
same polarity and power rating as that of the original ones
to avoid hazard due to electrical shock.

Chapter 1 About this Manual 19
1.5.1 Intensifier Modes and Safety
•WinX/32 Applications
The Experiment Setup Main screen in WinX/32 applications allows you to select
one of two intensifier modes:
—Gate Mode;
In Gate Mode, the photocathode is biased on only for the time that each
gate pulse is applied. As a result, the tolerance to room light is higher in
gated operation, but the risk of damaging overload from intense light
sources such as lasers remains. In fact, intense light sources in gated
experiments can cause spot damage that would be undetected by the alarm
circuit.
—Safe Mode
In Safe Mode, the photocathode is continuously biased OFF and the
intensifier is as safe as it can be.
•LightField
In LightField, you can enable or disable the intensifier on the Common
Acquisition Settings expander. When the intensifier is enabled, the camera can
be gated; when disabled, the photocathode is continuously biased OFF and the
intensifier is as safe as it can be.
NOTE:
In order for gating to occur, the I.I.T. switch on the back of
the PI-MAX3 must also be in the ON position.
1.5.2 Audible Alarm
NOTE:
It is normal for the alarm to sound briefly when the system is
turned on.
To reduce the risk of camera damage, the PI-MAX3 camera is equipped with an audible
alarm in the camera, activated when the intensity of light falling on the image intensifier
exceeds a preset threshold. While the alarm is sounding, the photocathode is disabled.
Immediately switch the I.I.T. switch on the back of the PI-MAX3 to the OFF position.
Cover the detector window and only switch the I.I.T. switch to ON after the illumination
level has been lowered. If the alarm sounds continuously even when the illumination
level is adequately low, shut the system down and contact the factory for guidance.
CAUTION!
!
Discontinue operation and contact the factory at once if
sporadic or continuous unwarranted alarms occur. They
may indicate intensifier damage or another situation that
requires immediate attention.

20 PI-MAX®3 System Manual Issue 2
1.5.3 High Intensity Light Damage
WARNING!
Intensified CCD cameras such as the PI-MAX3, when biased
on, can be irreparably damaged if continuously exposed to
light levels higher than twice the A/D saturation level. Thus
it is critical that you not establish conditions that could
result in damage to the intensifier. Although intensified
cameras are less prone to damage from background light
when operated gated, they are at significant risk to damage
from high-intensity light sources like a laser. High intensity
sources can damage the intensifier before the protection
circuits have time to respond, or even cause spot damage
without the protection circuits acting at all. If a sustained
alarm indication occurs when the camera is turned on,
immediately switch the I.I.T. switch on the back of the
PI-MAX3 to the off position. Cover the detector window and
only switch the I.I.T. switch to on after the illumination level
has been lowered.
If the alarm sounds continuously even when the illumination level is adequately low,
shut the system down and contact the factory for guidance.
1.6 Precautions
To prevent permanently damaging the PI-MAX3 system, observe the following
precautions at all times.
CAUTION!
!
1. Always switch off and unplug the PI-MAX3 power supply
before changing your system configuration in any way.
2. Whenever you turn the PI-MAX3 power supply, be sure to
leave it OFF for at least 30 seconds before switching it
back ON. If you switch it ON too soon, a fault logic state is
established that causes the overload alarm to sound
continuously.
3. The CCD array is very sensitive to static electricity.
Touching the CCD can destroy it. Operations requiring
contact with the device can only be performed at the
factory.
4. Never operate the camera cooled without proper
evacuation or backfill. This could damage the CCD! Do not
open the purge valve.
5. Never connect or disconnect any cable while the PI-MAX3
system is powered on. Reconnecting a charged cable may
damage the CCD.
6. Never prevent the free flow of air through the equipment
by blocking the air vents.