![](https://www.becker-hickl.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/SPC-160-DSC05511-l-1024x671.jpg)
- 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 |
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Principle |
Constant Fraction Discriminator (CFD) |
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Discriminator Input Bandwidth |
4 GHz |
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Time Resolution (FWHM/RMS, electr.) |
6.6 ps / 2.5 ps |
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Variance in Time of IRF max. |
< 1 ps over 50 s |
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Optimum Input Voltage Range |
-30 mV to -500 mV |
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Min. Input Pulse Width |
200 ps |
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Threshold |
0 to -250 mV |
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Zero Cross Adjust |
-100 mV to 100 mV |
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Synchronisation Channel |
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Principle |
Constant Fraction Discriminator (CFD) |
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Discriminator Input Bandwidth |
4 GHz |
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Optimum Input Voltage Range |
-30 mV to -500 mV |
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Min. Input Pulse Width |
200 ps |
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Threshold |
0 to -250 mV |
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Frequency Range |
0 to 150 MHz |
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Frequency Divider |
1, 2, 4 |
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Zero Cross Adjust |
-100 mV to 100 mV |
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Time-to-Amplitude Converters / ADCs |
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Principle |
Ramp Generator / Biased Amplifier |
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TAC Range |
50 ns to 5 µs |
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Biased Amplifier Gain |
1 to 15 |
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Biased Amplifier Offset |
0 % to 50 % of TAC Range |
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Time Range incl. Biased Amplifier |
3.3 ns to 5 µs |
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Min. Time Channel Width |
813 fs |
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ADC Principle |
50 ns Flash ADC with Error Correction |
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Diff. Nonlinerarity |
< 0.5 % RMS, typ. < 1 % peak-peak |
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Data Acquisition |
Histogram Mode |
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Method |
on-board multi-dim. histogramming process |
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Dead Time |
80 ns, independent of computer speed |
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Saturated Count Rate |
12.5 MHz |
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Useful Count Rate |
6.25 MHz |
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Max. Counts / Time Channel |
16 bits |
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Overflow Control |
none, stop, repeat and correct |
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Collection Time |
0.1 µs to 100,000 s |
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Diplay Interval Time |
0.1 µs to 100,000 s |
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Repeat Time |
0.1 µs to 100,000 s |
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Sequencing Recording |
Programmable Hardware Sequencer, unlimited recording by Memory swapping, in curve mode and scan mode |
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Synchronisation with Scanning |
Pixel, Line and Frame from Scanning Device |
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Routing |
1 bit, TTL |
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Experiment Trigger |
TTL |
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Data Acquisition |
FIFO / Parameter-Tag Mode |
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Method |
Time and wavelength tagging of individual photons and continuous writing to disk |
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Online Display |
Decay functions, FCS, Cross-FCS, PCH MCS Traces |
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FCS Calculation |
Multi-tau algorithm, online calculation and online fit |
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Number of counts of decay/ waveform recording |
unlimited |
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Dead Time |
80 ns |
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Saturated Count Rate, Peak |
12.5 MHz |
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Sustained Count Rate (bus transfer limit) |
typ. 4 MHz |
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Output Data Format (ADC / Macrotime / Routing) |
12 / 12 / 4 |
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FIFO Buffer Capacity (Photons) |
2 * 106 |
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Macro Timer Resolution, Internal Clock |
25 ns, 12 bit, overflows marked by MOTF entry in data stream |
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Input Macro Timer Resolution, Clock from Sync |
10 ns to 100 ns, 12 bit, overflow marked by MOTF entry in data stream |
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Input Curve Control (external Routing) |
4 bit, TTL |
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External Event Markers |
4 bit, TTL |
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Count Enable Control |
1 bit, TTL |
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Input Experiment Trigger |
TTL |
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Data Acquisition |
FIFO / Parameter-Tag Imaging Mode |
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Method |
Buildup images from time- and wavelength tagged data |
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Online Display |
up to 8 Images in different time and wavelength windows |
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Synchronisation with Scanner |
via Frame Clock, Line Clock and Pixel Clock Pulses |
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Detector / Wavelength Channels |
1 to 16 |
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Image Resolution (64-bit SPCM Software) |
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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 |
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PC System |
Windows 8 / 10, > 8 GB RAM, 64 bit operating system recommended |
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PC Interface |
PCI / PCIe |
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Power Consumption |
approx. 12 W from +5 V, 0.7 W from +12 V |
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Dimensions |
312 mm x 130 mm x 15 mm |