Using Multiple Spectrometers

2.3. Using Multiple Spectrometers#

TII Spectrometry supports the simultaneous control of multiple supported spectrometers . This can be useful in the following scenarios:

  • to combine spectrometers monitoring a single source with adjacent spectral ranges to expand spectral coverage. This used in the application example The Solar Spectrum

  • to use multiple spectrometers (with identical or different spectral coverage) to monitor several processes simultaneously

VIS + 2x MIR VIS + 2x MIR
VIS + NIR + MIR (Combined Spectrum) VIS + NIR + MIR (Combined Spectrum)
VIS + NIR + MIR (Split) VIS + NIR + MIR (Split)
2x VIS + NIR + MIR (Time-lapse) 2x VIS + NIR + MIR (Time-lapse)

Fig. 2.20 Using multiple spectrometers in TII Spectrometry#

Examples for these applications are displayed in Figure 2.20. There are no limitations on the number or type of spectrometers that can be controlled simultaneously in TII Spectrometry.

See also

See Table 1.1 for supported devices on different platforms and Section 2.2 for caveats applying to individual device classes.

2.3.1. Device Manager#

../_images/record_device_devicemanager.png

Fig. 2.21 The Device Manager#

To connect to multiple spectrometers, use the Device Manager (Figure 2.21), which can be accessed using File ‣ Connect ‣ Device Manager. The Device Manager window will display all supported and connected devices. To connect:

  • enable the checkbox for the devices you would like to connect to

  • click OK

2.3.2. Use & Display Options#

Connected devices will be displayed on the top bar of the main window. Here:

  • you can set the exposure time and averaging number for each device device individually

  • use the checkbox to activate or (temporarily) deactivate one or more devices.

Two display options are available:

  • the Combined view. Here, spectra from different devices are combined and displayed on the same spectral axis. This is useful when using multiple spectrometers to expand spectral coverage.

  • the Split view. Spectra are displayed in separated graphs.

    See also

    Figure 2.20 shows examples for these two display modes.

  • The Measure menu gives access to Time-lapse Recordings, which allows software-synchronized time-lapse acquisitions using multiple spectrometers. In the Time-Lapse window, you can switch between Combined and Split display using the View menu.

  • The Spectrometer menu gives access to spectrometer settings for each connected device, e.g Intensity Calibration

  • the spectrometer menu now contains the Stitch command. This allows adjusting the wavelength range covered by each spectrometer by setting a switchover wavelength, i.e. the wavelength at which switching from one to the next spectrometer occurs (see Figure 2.22 for an example)

No stitching (dark) No stitching (dark)
Stitching (dark) Stitching (dark)
No stitching (illuminated) No stitching (illuminated)
Stitching (illuminated) Stitching (illuminated)

Fig. 2.22 Stitching (left) vs no stitching (right)#