THORLABS SP USB Series User manual

2008
Operation Manual
Thorlabs
SPx-USB
USB 2.0 Fiber Optical Spectrometer

Version:
Date: 1.0 08. Feb. 2008
© 2008 Thorlabs
© 2008 Thorlabs

Table of Contents
Foreword 3
Part I General Information 5
................................................................................................................................... 51 Safety
................................................................................................................................... 52 Introduction
................................................................................................................................... 53 Application software SPLICCO
................................................................................................................................... 64 Requirements
Part II Installation 8
................................................................................................................................... 81 Parts List
................................................................................................................................... 82 Getting started
................................................................................................................................... 83 USB requirements
................................................................................................................................... 84 Installing software
......................................................................................................................................................... 8The installation menu
......................................................................................................................................................... 9Installing VISA runtime engine
......................................................................................................................................................... 12Installing SPLICCO
......................................................................................................................................................... 15Driver Installation
Part III Operating Instruction 19
................................................................................................................................... 191 Start the GUI
................................................................................................................................... 192 Connecting a device
................................................................................................................................... 203 Device window
................................................................................................................................... 204 Integration time
................................................................................................................................... 215 Averaging
................................................................................................................................... 236 Smoothing
................................................................................................................................... 257 Flip and revert picture
................................................................................................................................... 268 Display mode
................................................................................................................................... 269 Calculations with references
................................................................................................................................... 2810 Peak finder
................................................................................................................................... 3011 Cursor control
................................................................................................................................... 3112 Saving data
................................................................................................................................... 3313 Loading data
................................................................................................................................... 3514 Zooming and panning
................................................................................................................................... 3615 Program navigation
................................................................................................................................... 3816 Color setup
................................................................................................................................... 3817 Trigger mode
................................................................................................................................... 4018 Wavelength calibration
................................................................................................................................... 4219 Persistence
................................................................................................................................... 4320 Gaussian Transformation
© 2008 Thorlabs

Part IV Virtual devices 45
................................................................................................................................... 451 What are virtual devices?
................................................................................................................................... 452 Configuration of virtual devices
................................................................................................................................... 463 The virtual devices description file
Part V Service and maintenance 49
................................................................................................................................... 491 Troubleshooting
Part VI Specifications 52
................................................................................................................................... 531 Dimensions
Part VII Certifications and compliances 55
Part VIII Appendix 57
................................................................................................................................... 571 Warranty
................................................................................................................................... 582 WEEE
......................................................................................................................................................... 58Waste treatment on your own responsibility
......................................................................................................................................................... 58Ecological background
................................................................................................................................... 593 Listings
......................................................................................................................................................... 59List of acronyms
......................................................................................................................................................... 59List of tables
......................................................................................................................................................... 59List of figures
......................................................................................................................................................... 61Addresses
Index 62
© 2008 Thorlabs

We aim to develop and produce the best solution for your application
in the field of optical measurement technique. To help us to come up
to your expectations and develop our products permanently we need
your ideas and suggestions. Therefore, please let us know about
possible criticism or ideas. We and our international partners are
looking forward to hearing from you.
Thorlabs GmbH
This part of the instruction manual contains information on how to use the
SPLICCO measurement system.
Attention
This manual contains "WARNINGS" and "ATTENTION" label in
this form, to indicate danger for persons or possible damage of
equipment.
Please read these advises carefully!
NOTE
This manual also contains "NOTES" and "HINTS" written in this form.
G G
© 2008 Thorlabs

General Information
Splicco
Part I

5General Information
© 2008 Thorlabs
1General Information
1.1 Safety
G
Attention
G
All statements regarding safety of operation and technical data in this
instruction manual will only apply when the unit is operated correctly
as it
was designed for
.
All modules must only be operated with proper shielded connection cables.
Only with written consent from
Thorlabs
may changes to single
components be carried out or components not supplied by
Thorlabs
be
used.
This precision device is only serviceable if properly packed into the
complete
original packaging including the plastic foam sleeves. If
necessary, ask for a replacement package.
1.2 Introduction
The SPx-USB is a family of spectrometers that is designed for general laboratory
use. Integrated routines allows averaging, smoothing, peak indexing, as well as
saving and recalling data sets.
The initial setup is simple to complete. Following installation of the software, the
SPx- USB is ready to use. Simply plug it into a USB 2.0 port and run the
application software SPLICCO. The remainder of this manual is devoted to the
setup procedure and features of the fiber spectrometer. A troubleshooting section
and detailed specifications of the various components are provided to further
assist.
1.3 Application software SPLICCO
SPLICCO is an acronym for "
sp
ectrometer and
li
ne
c
amera
co
ntrol". This
software can be used for aquiring direct, transmittance and absorbance
measurements in conjunction with Thorlabs line cameras and spectrometers.
After the installation the software is able to communicate with all Thorlabs LC1
line cameras and all SPx spectrometers. Additionally, there are two virtual
devices: a line camera and a spectrometer, to demonstrate the functionality of
SPLICCO.

6Splicco
© 2008 Thorlabs
1.4 Requirements
Hardware Requirements:
CPU:
1GHz or higher
RAM:
256MB
Graphic card with at least 32MB memory
Hard disc with at least 100MB free storage space
free USB2.0 port
USB cable according the USB 2.0 specification
Software compatibility:
Windows 2000/XP/Vista
VISA runtime (version 4.1.0 or higher)

Installation
Splicco
Part II

8Splicco
© 2008 Thorlabs
2Installation
2.1 Parts List
Below is a list of all components shipped with the SPx-USB:
Qty.
Description
1
SPx-USB - USB 2.0 Fiber Optical Spectrometer
1
SPx-USB - User Manual
1
CD-ROM with SPx-USB Software SPLICCO
1
USB 2.0 A-B Cable, 2 Meters
1
Optical Fiber, SMA to SMA, 50µm / 0.22NA, 1 Meter
2.2 Getting started
The SPx-USB must
NOT
be connected to your PC while the software is being
installed.
Once the software has been installed, connect the host connector of the USB
cable to the USB 2.0 port (or USB 1.1 port) on your PC and the device connector
of the USB cable to the SPx-USB and run the application program SPLICCO.
2.3 USB requirements
To achieve the maximum performance benefit from your LC1-USB, you must
have a dedicated USB 2.0 port available on your PC (a built in USB 2.0 port is
recommended). A USB 1.1 port may be used with a degraded level of
performance.
2.4 Installing software
2.4.1 The installation menu
Before installing SPLICCO, please make sure that no Thorlabs LC1-USB or SPx-
USB devices are connected.
After you inserted the SPLICCO installation CD an
autorun menu will appear. If autorun is disabled on your system you have to
browse the installation CD and run "CD-Drive:\Autorun\Autorun.exe".

9Installation
© 2008 Thorlabs
Figure 1
Autorun menu
Note:
Please be aware that you need a VISA engine installed on your system to
operate SPLICCO.
2.4.2 Installing VISA runtime engine
A VISA runtime 4.1.0 or higher has to be installed on your system to operate
SPLICCO.
You may install the National Instruments
©®
VISA runtime engine provided on the
installation CD. You may also download the latest NI-VISA runtime engine from
the National Instruments
©®
web site (
www.ni.com/visa
).
In case you want to use the VISA engine provided on the installation CD select
"NI-VISA
™
Engine". An installation wizard will be started. If you are running
Windows VISTA
©®
you might be promted to change to the "elevated mode".
Please ask your administrator for help when you do not have administrator
privileges.
Press "Next" to continue.

10 Splicco
© 2008 Thorlabs
Figure 2
VISA installation start screen
Now you have to specifiy a installation path. Press "Next" to continue.
Figure 3
Selection of the installation path
Select "I accept the License Agreement(s)" if you do so and press "Next".

11Installation
© 2008 Thorlabs
Figure 4
License agreement
In the next window you have to select the features to install. To operate SPLICCO
you need at least the USB feature. Confirm with "Next" to start installation.
Figure 5
Selection of VISA features
After all files are copied and the installation was successful you m
ight be
prompted to reboot your machine. Click "Finish" to finalize the installation.

12 Splicco
© 2008 Thorlabs
Figure 6
Finalize installation
2.4.3 Installing SPLICCO
Select "SPLICCO - Application software" from the installation menu to start the
installation wizard.
If you are running Windows VISTA
©®
you might be promted
to change to the "elevated mode", as shown in figure 7. Please ask your
administrator for help when you do not have administrator privileges.
Figure 7
Request for Administrator priviliges

13Installation
© 2008 Thorlabs
After the SPLICCO installation wizard finished inititalization, you will be prompted
to specify the installation path. Confirm with "Next" when you selected the
installation path of your choice.
Figure 8
Selecting the installation paths
Please read the end user agreement carefully and choose "I accept the License
Agreement(s)" if you do so and press "Next".
Figure 9
The end user agreement

14 Splicco
© 2008 Thorlabs
In the following window the next installation steps are shown. Click the "Next"
button to begin installation or click the "Back" button to change the installation
settings.
Figure 10
Installation summary
After installation was successful you will see a window containing some
information about changelog and other notes. Press "Next" to finish installation.
Figure 11
Additional notes

15Installation
© 2008 Thorlabs
Now the device drivers will be copied into the system folders. This might take a
few moments and a command prompt window will pop up. In case you are
running
Windows VISTA
©®
you will be asked two times to authorize the
installation of the device drivers. Choose "Install this driver software anyway" as
shown in figure 12.
Figure 12
Install driver software
2.4.4 Driver Installation
The necessary USB drivers for the LC1-USB or SPx-USB devices are
automatically copied to the system folder during the installation of SPLICCO.
Attention:
The following procedure will only be necessary for Windows
XP/2000
©®
.
Please be sure that a VISA runtime engine is installed on your system, otherwise
the device cannot be installed.
Connect a device: a yellow popup in the left bottom corner appears, displaying
the name of the device.
Figure 13
New device was found
On the first connection of a device the "Found New Hardware Wizard" will start to
install the new device. Depending on the configuration of your system you maybe
asked if you want to connect to "Windows Update to search for software" shown
in figure 12. Please select "No, not this time" and click "Next" to continue.

16 Splicco
© 2008 Thorlabs
Figure 14
The Found New Hardware Wizard
Select "Install the software automatically" and click "Next" to continue.
Figure 15
Choosing the installation mode
Now select the driver named "spx-usb.inf" in case you connected a SP1-
USB/SP2-USB device. For a LC1-USB device select the "lc1-usb.inf" driver. Click
"Next" to continue.
Attention:
Do not use the "oemX.inf" drivers.

17Installation
© 2008 Thorlabs
Figure 16
Selection of the correct driver
Finalize the installation by clicking "Finish". Now the device is installed and can be
used by SPLICCO.
Figure 17
Finishing the New Found Hardware Wizard

Operating Instruction
Splicco
Part III