Ames Photonics prides itself on the wide range of proven, reliable software available to support its range of linear detectors. Our software is best-in-class, offering unmatched power and flexibility.
All of our detectors come bundled with our SpectraArraySL software for data acquisition and analysis on a single-user system. The software incorporates many proprietary features, including for example, the display of all active spectra on the screen at the same time. LabVIEW drivers are also available.
The revolutionary new SpectraNet multiple user/single institution software provides total flexibility of control of any number of detectors. It can be set up on any number of PCs in the one institution, and supports remote control over a LAN. For OEMs who wish to develop their own control and analysis software the OEM developers kit is available.
For advanced mathematical analysis of spectral data we offer SpectraSolve, while for custom system control, development (such as the integration of drivers for other instruments with the Ames detector drivers), custom analysis and reporting, we have released SpectraScript.
In all such advanced, custom system development situations, users must buy both SpectraSolve and SpectraScript together. SpectraScript requires SpectraSolve as a prerequisite. Ames Photonics have developed special application scripts as plug-ins for SpectraScript. The Fast Kinetics Module was developed for acquiring spectra at up to 150 per second directly into RAM and SpectraChart, for selecting regions of the spectrum of interest and monitoring their intensity in time, as though using a chart recorder. There is essentially no limit to the complexity of the systems that can be controlled and the ways the data can be analyzed and presented via SpectraSolve and SpectraScript, and without any of the overheads of Labview. Experienced programmers much prefer the SpectraSolve/SpectraScript environment.
Single user licenses for single set-ups with one PC
These software packages are the fastest and easiest way to get started with Ames Photonics detectors. One can operate one detector with a standard interface, or 2 to 8 identical detectors with the SAM series of simultaneous acquisition multiple detector head interfaces. For standard spectroscopic and data acquisition applications, Spectra-Array SL (single license) or SpectraNet (multiple user/remote) are the best choices and always useful programs to be able to test the detector in a real application prior to system integration. For advanced experiments requiring custom experimental control and advanced custom analysis, the SpectraSolve/SpectraScript programs are recommended as powerful and cost effective platforms. The original SpectraArray software has been obsoleted and future support cannot be guaranteed for this program. It will only be available in special cases to users who have existing detectors prior to July 2006. (SpectraArray SL and SpectraNet have completely superceded the original SpectraArray.)
OEM users and Purchasers of OEM Development Kit or Labview Drivers (for Labview 7.1 or later versions)
Customers who want to develop their own software platforms can order an OEM Development Kit license or a Labview Drivers license and develop their own programs using the examples and functions provided. Users developing custom control programs are advised to also have SpectraArray SL as well as either of these two programs. Being able to test the detector head and become familiar with its performance before embarking on developing a custom program can save much development time. Only users who have purchased the OEM Development Kit or Labview Drivers licenses are licensed to buy additional detector heads on their own without SpectraArray SL, SpectraNet or SpectraSolve/SpectraScript.
Multiple detector heads with SAM series simultaneous acquisition modules supporting up to 8 detector heads
Users who already have a single detector head system with single user software and who wish to upgrade to synchronized, simultaneous acquisition from multiple detectors can do so by ordering a SAM series interface. They are also permitted to buy additional detector heads (to a total of 4 or 8 per system, depending on the SAM interface capability) to operate under the same single user program.