Becker & Hickl deliver a wide range of experiment-control devices for TCSPC and TCSPC FLIM systems. DCC and DCU Detector controllers provide power supply to detectors and coolers and on/off control to picosecond diode lasers, DDG pulse generators provide multiplexing and PLIM control signals to lasers and AOMs, GVD scan controllers control galvanometer and piezo scanners, and the N32 delay box provides precision control of the temporal position of TCSPC synchronization signals. All devices are integrated in bh SPCM TCSPC / FLIM data acquisition software.
The bh DCC-100PCIe modules are used to control detectors and lasers in conjunction with bh photon counters. The DCC provides power supply to two detectors and controls their gain via the PMT operating voltages. In conjunction with bh detectors or bh preamplifiers, it provides overload shutdown of the detectors.
Control of Detectors and Lasers of TCSPC systems
Overload Protection of Detectors
PCIe Version
+12 V, +5 V and -5 V Power Supply for Preamps and Detectors
Operation of Thermoelectric Coolers
High-Voltage Control for Hamamatsu R3809U MCP PMT
High Current Digital Outputs for Shutter and Filter Control
The DDG-210 pulse generator card is used to multiplex lasers in complex TCSPC systems, and to ON / OFF modulate lasers for combined FLIM / PLIM in bh FLIM systems. The card can be operated both by its own control software and via a control panel integrated in the bh SPCM software.
The GVD-120 card generates the x and y deflection signals for galvanometer scanners and piezo scan stages. The x-y signals are generated by the hardware of the GVD module, the software is only used to load different waveforms or scan parameters in the scan controller. The waveforms are therefore independent of the computer speed and of software reaction times. The DCS-120 uses a cycloid trajectory for the fly-back of the scanner. This minimises mechanical resonances and thus allows the scanner to be operated at high scan rates. The GVD-120 also generates the scan synchronisation pulses for bh TCSPC modules, and the beam blanking, multiplexing, and intensity control signals for two bh BDL-SMN, or BDS-SM ps diode lasers.
Scan Controller for Galvanometer and Piezo Scanners
Scan Waveforms Generated Purely by Hardware
No Software Interaction Required During Scan
Differential Output Voltage X+/X-, Y+/Y-
Standard Output Voltage Range +/- 2.5 V
Maximum Output Voltage Range +/- 10 V
Linear-Ramp or Sinusoidal Scan Modes
Fast-Preview Mode
Single-Point Mode
Variable Scan Speed and Scan Amplitude
Fast Scan due to Cycloid Flyback Characteristics
Pixel Times Down to 0.6 Microseconds
The Delat-Box-32N is a USB-controlled delay switch box for the Sync signal to the SPC modules. The box allows the user to adjust the temporal relationship of the detector signals and the laser reference pulses. 32 delay steps are available, the step width is 500 ps. The box is also able to select signals from two different sources. The advantage of using the DB-32N is that delay and the Sync source for different system configurations are kept in the setup files of the SPCM data acquisition software. Thus, the correct delay for a particular instrument configuration is set automatically when a setup is recalled from the ‘Predefined Setup’ panel.
Delay from 0 to 31.5 ns in 0.5 ns Steps
Transmits any Signal Waveform
Signal Bandwidth 1 GHz
No Noise, No Jitter
No External Power Supply Needed
Setting Persist When Box is Disconnected from USB
Easy Adjust of TCSPC SYNC Path Length
Control Integrated in bh SPCM TCSPC Operating Software
