Startup and Shutdown Procedure for

Startup and Shutdown of ADSC Q-210 and Q-270 CCD Detectors

The ADSC Quantum-210 and Quantum-270 detectors , commercial instruments from Area Detector Systems Co., are 4-module detectors, with total active areas of 210 mm x 210 mm (containing 4096 x 4096 51-micron pixels) and 270 mm x 270 mm (4168 x 4168 65-micron pixels), respectively.

Introduction

The ADSC Quantum detector has computer controlled temperature settings. The detector is controlled from a program icon labeled "OPERATE Detector" on the screen of each of the PC's in the detector control rack . It is a shortcut to an executable such as:

D:\pv_sw\bin_441\det_module_plus.exe (directory varies for different detectors)

Starting or stopping this program does not affect temperature settings, except in the case of a software "ramp" in progress as described below. This program is always running during routine operation of the detector.

The detector control program "OPERATE Detector" (det_module_plus.exe) is "accessed" in one of two ways:

via the ADX software on the data collection workstation;

via the Windows GUI called "Quantum Console".

These two methods of access are exclusive of one another; only one should be running at a time. "Quantum Console" is a desktop icon on each PC and is a link to (for example):

D:\pv_sw\bin_441\quantum_console.exe

Two (at A1) or four (at F1 and F2) computers and one monitor are mounted on the CCD control rack, located in the hutch at A1, just outside it at F1 and F2. The display at the bottom of the rack (at A1) or at the back of the keyboard tray (F1 and F2) shows which computer is using the monitor.
At A1: To change from computer 1 to computer 2, press the small CHANNEL button under the display once. To change from computer 2 to 1, press the button several times, to step from 2 up to 8 and then back to 1.
At F1 and F2: Change to any of the 4 computers by pushing the corresponding illuminated button. The currently selected computer is indicated by a light on the button.

System Startup

For each PC, power it on, wait for boot to complete, and log in (Ctrl-Alt-Del) as Administrator (there is no password).

Set the PixelVision Controller power switch ON.

Set the Chiller power switch (AC Power) ON.

Push the yellow Start button on the "firewall" box and hold it down for 5 seconds or so to let the system start.

Make sure that the water "set point" is at +12^o C. Allow the water to reach the +12^o C set point (wait a further 10 minutes if the detector has been off for a while).

Double click the "OPERATE Detector" icon on each PC, switching the display between them as described above. The det_module_plus.exe program should start up, giving a black window with a screenful of initialization messages. If the program does not start, or gives an error message, see troubleshooting instructions.

Double click the "Quantum Console" icon on any one PC.

Press "Connect to Detector Process".

Press "Enable Temperature Control"

Press "Control Detector Temperature"

Note: It is useful to do this rather slowly, with 5 seconds or so between "Press" steps above.

The 4 modules should read "Ready at Final Temperature" in the module status window of the GUI, with the temperature somewhere above 10^o C.

Enter "0" in the Set/Ramp temperature box to the right on the GUI and press the "Set Temperature" button. It should confirm this move in the module status windows and within a minute begin to show a temperature ramp towards zero degrees. After the modules get close to zero, there will be a five minute stabilization period.

After the status shows "Stable at Final Temperature" for 0^o C, press the "Ramp to Cold Operating Temperature" button. This will ramp the temperature down to -45^o C, which will take about an hour.

When the module status shows ready at final temperature at -45^o C, press the "Finish Temperature Control" button.

Press "Enable Detector Control" button.

Press "Finish Detector Test" or run single or multiple image tests. The module status will print out the average value in each of 4 quadrants of each of the modules during the image tests. The average values should be between 1400 and 2000. Very high or low values indicate the detector power up sequence was not properly done.

System Shutdown

Make sure that the ADX software (on the data collection workstation) is shut down.

Run "Quantum Console" on one of the PCs in the hutch.

Push the "Warm detector to +10^o C" button. After about an hour and half, the detector will be "Ready at Final Temperature" at +10^o C.

Power off the system by shutting the controller power off. This will also shut off the Chiller (AC Power).

Miscellaneous Notes

It may be better when the detector has been power cycled to "Finish Temperature Control" as soon as the system has been stabilized at zero degrees and then "Enable Detector Test". This way, any problems with power up can be sorted out before going to cold (-45^o C) temperature. After you complete the detector test, just exit the GUI, restart it and return to "Operate Temperature Control".

You can set or ramp the system to any temperature between +10^o C and -45^o C degrees. Please use the "RAMP Temperature" to make any big moves in temperature below 0^o C degrees.

Please use "SET Temperature" to set the detector to zero degrees from "warm", or +10^o C degrees or higher.

Using the "ABORT Temperature Move" button will cause the program to:

stop any software Temperature Ramping in effect;

define the temperature as "Stable" and "Ready at Final Temperature" regardless of its actual state.

Please be careful with this button with respect to the NEXT temperature move you make. It will not actually set or change the current temperature, but you should wait a decent interval before making the next temperature move, as appropriate.

If you set the temperature incorrectly, say, set it to -20^o C when you were at zero degrees and decide this is too much, you may "SET Temperature" again at any time. You could, say, set it to -5^o C or -10^oC and then wait for stabilization to occur.

Area Detector Systems Co

April, 2007