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Chapter 6 Advanced Topics 77
77
Kinetics Mode
In the past, Kinetics Mode was a purchased option for WinView/32. Kinetics Mode
is now included in the standard LightField and WinX applications.
Introduction
Kinetics mode uses the CCD to expose and store a limited number of images in rapid
succession. The time it takes to shift each line (or row) on the CCD is as short as a few
hundred nanoseconds to few microseconds, depending on the CCD. Therefore the time
between images can be as short as a few microseconds. Kinetics mode allows full
frame CCDs to take time-resolved images/spectra. Optical or mechanical masking of
the array is required.
Note: In WinX, if the Kinetics option has been installed in the PIXIS, this readout mode
will be made available when you select the appropriate camera type on the Hardware
Setup dialog.
Below is a simplified illustration of kinetics mode. Returning to our 4 × 6 CCD example,
in this case 2/3 of the array is masked, either mechanically or optically. The shutter opens
to expose a 4 × 2 region. While the shutter remains open, charge is quickly shifted just
under the mask, and the exposure is repeated. After a third image is collected the shutter
is closed and the CCD is read out. Since the CCD can be read out slowly, very high
dynamic range is achieved. Shifting and readout are shown in Figure 38.
Figure 38. Kinetics Readout