Author Archives: Joe Caterinicchio

microCMA Software Update – New Features for Auger Multiplexes

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This past year there have been a number of new features added to CMapp – the application software for the microCMA. Most of these provide you with improved (and safer) control of your microCMA hardware. For example, there’s is now a “Dynamic Mode” feature that assists in automatically conditioning the multiplier.

The most significant addition to the CMapp software is the Multiplex Survey Region View.

Earlier versions of CMapp – like its AugerScan cousin – displayed Multiplex data in two ways – either individual survey region windows, or a bar graph representing the peak-to-peak or atomic concentration (a.c.) data.

The most recent version of CMapp (0.4) has an additional view, which displays the survey region data in one graph of kinetic energy vs. counts or concentration. It’s now much easier to visualize all of the survey data in one window. Additionally, the graph updates in real-time while acquiring, much like a single survey.

CMapp Mutiplex By Energy
Multiplex Region View (legend ordered by energy)

This latest feature was actually added to CMapp in a recent previous version, but we’ve updated it to provide the option to order data legend and atomic concentration table by energy, alphabetically, by descending atomic concentration, or by the order the regions were added to the acquisition.

CMapp Mutiplex By Energy
Multiplex Region View (legend ordered by atomic concentration)

You can change the order of regions in the legend (and in the optional atomic concentration annotation) in the View menu – choose the Options command, Graph tab:

CMapp View Options - Graph
CMapp View Options Dialog – Multiplex Legend Options

You can find more information about RBD’s microCMA and download the latest version of CMapp here.

We’ll be soon be updating our YouTube channel with more microCMA tutorial videos to help you get the most out of your compact Auger analyzer and CMapp software.

9103 USB Picoammeter Filter Settings – Part 1

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The 9103 Picoammeter uses a continuously sampling A/D when measuring current. These samples are then averaged using an low-pass infinite impulse response (IIR) filter.

Filter Settings

When using the 9103 to sample current, you have control over the filter response and the degree of smoothing (both in Actuel in when programming the unit). The filter setting will make little difference for most constant signals, but for dynamic and periodic signals, the filter can be set to attenuate noise, or to provide detail and catch peaks.

A filter coefficient that is user-programmable determines the amount of smoothing the filter will apply. The higher the value, the more smoothing of the signal.

The filter can be set to 0, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, and 64. A value of 0 is essentially the same as bypassing the filter. A value of 64 is the greatest amount of filtering. For most cases, values of 4, 8, and 16 will work best. Higher values may produce more accurate results for stable signals, but it will take longer for measurements to stabilize.

Example

In the examples below, a 1 Hz sine wave is sampled at a 25 mS rate, yielding 40 discrete data points per cycle. Each data point is comprised of multiple filtered A/D readings.

The filter settings used in the examples are 2, 4, 8, 16, and 32.

filter setting 2
Filter Setting 2
filter setting 4
Filter Setting 4
filter setting 8
Filter Setting 8
filter setting 16
Filter Setting 16
filter setting 32
Filter Setting 32

There’s quite a bit of noise present when using low filter values of 2 and 4, while values of 16 and 32 reduce the noise but also attenuate the signal somewhat. For this application, a value of 8 produces the most accurate result.

Conclusion

In general, any low-pass filter will of course mask high-frequency data. While the 9103 is not typically used to measure periodic signals, the filter’s effect on your application may be significant. When in doubt, start with the filter set to 8 for some noise reduction without significant smoothing or signal attenuation.

In Part 2 we’ll discuss use of the additional first-level filter implemented in the high-speed model of the 9103.

9103 USB Picoammeter Winter 2020 News

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Last year, RBD introduced an updated 9103 USB Picoammeter, with 3 new models:

  • High-speed: 500 reads / second compared to 40 for the Standard Model
  • High-voltage: an isolated signal input with the ability to float the 9103 Picoammeter to ±5000 VDC.
  • High-speed / High Voltage: One model combining both features.

This year we’ll be working on adding new features to our Actuel application software and providing more comprehensive support and programming documentation.

Actuel 1.6 is Released

Actuel Version 1.6
Actuel Version 1.6


The latest version of Actuel (1.6) is now available, as is an updated User Guide. The guide has new information on setting up and programming the 9103 for high-speed communications. Both can be found here.

This release replaces the Beta release and has full support for high-speed sampling and data recording and graphing.

9103 TechSpot Article Series

This year, we’ll be running a series of articles here on the TechSpot blog with more information on the new 9103 models and features, as well as detailed configuration, application, and programming advice.

Some of the topics we’ll be covering include:

  • Programming the 9103 for high-speed data collection
  • Using the high-voltage reference
  • Proper use of the input ground
  • Troubleshooting 9103 communications

Keep your eye on here on TechSpot for these and other articles covering all of RBD’s products, and please consider subscribing.