Episodic data capture mode allows users to monitor and analyze spectral data changes over time, providing insights into dynamic processes and temporal variations, essential for identifying trends, detecting anomalies, and making informed decisions.
Episodic Data Capture
- In the Acquire tab, click on the capture dropdown option and select Episodic, then click Capture
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- A window will appear as follow:
- Save As: Specifies the path and file name for saving the episodic data.
- Graph Type: Allows selection of the graph type to be saved, with options displayed based on your current application mode.
- Episodic Mode:
- Spectrums: Standard episodic mode, like loop capture, saving every scan of the entire spectrum into the file.
- Time Course Derivatives: Allows you to monitor the intensity at a specific wavelength. With this option selected, you will be prompted to enter the wavelength you wish to monitor.
- Burst: This feature is only available for zAP1 spectrometers, allowing high-speed consecutive spectral capture where 128 spectra can be collected one after the other at the configured integration time, recommended for integration times shorter than 30ms.
- Format (For Spectrums and Time Course Derivatives mode only):
- Episodic Count: Sets the number of episodes to capture.
- Episodic Interval (Sec): Defines the time delay interval, in seconds, between each capture.
- Select and fill out this window based on your preference, then click Start to begin episodic data capture. Note: After the Start button is clicked, it will FIRST perform a data capture, and THEN wait for the set interval delay to be complete before starting the next capture. That is, the next episode will start after (integration time × number of scans to average) + interval delay. The graph window will update after EACH capture is completed in the Spectrums and Time Course Derivatives modes. In Burst mode, the graph will not update until 128 spectra have been captured.
- After all captures are complete, a notification will be displayed, and the data will be saved to the file(s).
Display Entire Episodic Capture Series
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- To open a stored .EPX file, click on the ‘Open File’ button at the top left of the Acquire tab.
- In the file browser, select the dropdown next to the ‘File name’ field on the right.
- In that dropdown, choose ‘*’ to view all file types, then select the .EPX file you wish to open.
- Now, you will see all the spectra displayed on the graph.
- Note: You won’t be able to open the Time Course Derivatives file through the software, but you can import this file into Excel.