SPC-160 TCSPC Series

Time Channel Width Down to 813 fs
Electrical Time Resolution 2.5 ps RMS (6.6 ps FWHM)
12.5 MHz Saturated Count Rate
Fast Parallel Counter Channel for FLIM Intensities
High-Speed Interface for Laser Scanning Microscopes
Free Instrument Software for Windows 10 / 11 (Realtime Calculation and Fitting of FCS Curves)
Parallel Operation of Up to 4 Modules
Available as Multi-Module Package e.g. SPC-162, SPC-163 and SPC-164
Available as PCI Express Version (SPC-160PCIe)

Description

The SPC-160 is a high-end performance time-correlated single photon counting (TCSPC) imaging and imaging multiscaler module with high-time resolution. The board can be used for traditional fluorescence lifetime measurements, single molecule spectroscopy, FCS and FCCS recording, FLIM, Mosaic FLIM, FLITS, and combined FLIM / PLIM applications. They can be also the basis of FLIM upgrades for various scanning microscopes. The board offers a PCI interface and can be easily installed in nearly all PCs. It is also available as a PCI express version (SPC-160PCIe).

General Information

The SPC-160/SPC-160PCIe boards have a large internal memory and a fast bus interface, combined with the largest set of functions and operation modes of all bh TCSPC modules. They have the fast discriminators of the SPC-150N. Moreover, they have an additional parallel photon counting channel in the FIFO Imaging (FLIM) mode. The 160 modules are thus able to record intensity images up to a detector peak count rate of about 100 MHz. Intensity information from the parallel counter channel and lifetime information from the TCSPC imaging channel are combined to obtain FLIM images that have a linear intensity scale up to extremely high-count rates. As the SPC-150N, the SPC-160/SPC-160PCIe modules can be used for traditional fluorescence lifetime experiments, diffuse optical tomography, stopped flow experiments, single molecule spectroscopy, FCS and FCCS recording, FLIM, multi-wavelength FLIM, Mosaic FLIM, and simultaneous FLIM / PLIM.

Measurement Software Included

The SPCM operating and measurement software is included with all SPC series modules. SPCM provides online calculation and display (2D, 3D) of data (decay curves, FLIM, FCCS) acquired in multiple operation modes. SPCM software undergoes active continuous development. SPCM receives frequent updates with new features and bug fixes. Read more…

FLIM and FCS Data Analysis

For advanced fluorescence lifetime imaging (FLIM) and single-curve data analysis, please use SPCImage.
For advanced fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS) and cross-correlation (FCCS) data analysis, please use Burst Analyzer.

Custom Programming Libraries (DLL, LabVIEW)

For automation and custom software integration, DLLs and LabVIEW drivers are available. Read more…

Specifications

Photon Channel
Principle	Constant Fraction Discriminator (CFD)
Discriminator Input Bandwidth	4 GHz
Time Resolution (FWHM/RMS, electr.)	6.6 ps / 2.5 ps
Variance in Time of IRF max.	< 1 ps over 50 s
Optimum Input Voltage Range	-30 mV to -500 mV
Min. Input Pulse Width	200 ps
Threshold	0 to -250 mV
Zero Cross Adjust	-100 mV to 100 mV
Synchronisation Channel
Principle	Constant Fraction Discriminator (CFD)
Discriminator Input Bandwidth	4 GHz
Optimum Input Voltage Range	-30 mV to -500 mV
Min. Input Pulse Width	200 ps
Threshold	0 to -250 mV
Frequency Range	0 to 150 MHz
Frequency Divider	1, 2, 4
Zero Cross Adjust	-100 mV to 100 mV
Time-to-Amplitude Converters / ADCs
Principle	Ramp Generator / Biased Amplifier
TAC Range	50 ns to 5 µs
Biased Amplifier Gain	1 to 15
Biased Amplifier Offset	0 % to 50 % of TAC Range
Time Range incl. Biased Amplifier	3.3 ns to 5 µs
Min. Time Channel Width	813 fs
ADC Principle	50 ns Flash ADC with Error Correction
Diff. Nonlinerarity	< 0.5 % RMS, typ. < 1 % peak-peak
Data Acquisition	Histogram Mode
Method	on-board multi-dim. histogramming process
Dead Time	80 ns, independent of computer speed
Saturated Count Rate	12.5 MHz
Useful Count Rate	6.25 MHz
Max. Counts / Time Channel	16 bits
Overflow Control	none, stop, repeat and correct
Collection Time	0.1 µs to 100,000 s
Diplay Interval Time	0.1 µs to 100,000 s
Repeat Time	0.1 µs to 100,000 s
Sequencing Recording	Programmable Hardware Sequencer, unlimited recording by Memory swapping, in curve mode and scan mode
Synchronisation with Scanning	Pixel, Line and Frame from Scanning Device
Routing	1 bit, TTL
Experiment Trigger	TTL
Data Acquisition	FIFO / Parameter-Tag Mode
Method	Time and wavelength tagging of individual photons and continuous writing to disk
Online Display	Decay functions, FCS, Cross-FCS, PCH MCS Traces
FCS Calculation	Multi-tau algorithm, online calculation and online fit
Number of counts of decay/ waveform recording	unlimited
Dead Time	80 ns
Saturated Count Rate, Peak	12.5 MHz
Sustained Count Rate (bus transfer limit)	typ. 4 MHz
Output Data Format (ADC / Macrotime / Routing)	12 / 12 / 4
FIFO Buffer Capacity (Photons)	2 * 10⁶
Macro Timer Resolution, Internal Clock	25 ns, 12 bit, overflows marked by MOTF entry in data stream
Input Macro Timer Resolution, Clock from Sync	10 ns to 100 ns, 12 bit, overflow marked by MOTF entry in data stream
Input Curve Control (external Routing)	4 bit, TTL
External Event Markers	4 bit, TTL
Count Enable Control	1 bit, TTL
Input Experiment Trigger	TTL
Data Acquisition	FIFO / Parameter-Tag Imaging Mode
Method	Buildup images from time- and wavelength tagged data
Online Display	up to 8 Images in different time and wavelength windows
Synchronisation with Scanner	via Frame Clock, Line Clock and Pixel Clock Pulses
Detector / Wavelength Channels	1 to 16
Image Resolution (64-bit SPCM Software)
No. of Time Channels	64	256	1024	4096	4096	4096
No. of Pixels, 1 Detector Channel	4096 x 4096	2048 x 2048	1024 x 1024	512 x 512	256 x 256	128 x 128
No. of Pixels, 16 Detector Channels	1024 x 1024	512 x 512	256 x 256	128 x 128	128 x 128	128 x 128
Operation Environment
PC System	Windows 8 / 10, > 8 GB RAM, 64 bit operating system recommended
PC Interface	PCI / PCIe
Power Consumption	approx. 12 W from +5 V, 0.7 W from +12 V
Dimensions	312 mm x 130 mm x 15 mm

Downloads

Documents

The bh TCSPC Handbook
10th edition, September 2023

View

Datasheets

Documents

SPCImage NG – Overview Brochure

Description

Specifications

Downloads

Documents

Datasheets

Documents

Applications

Application Notes

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