Eclipse - Control and Analysis Software for S5XLB and LB5500 Systems

Features

• Windows®-based, true 32-bit application
• Real-time data acquisition with count and system status view
• Compatible with previous generation of systems
• Integrated QC with statistical capabilities
• One-button operation
• Remote diagnostics
• Automatic calibrations for Plateau, Efficiency, Background and Crosstalk
• Rapid step-by-step procedure building
• Integrated data reporting with custom report generator
• ODBC-compliant database
• Selectable count modes:
  
  • Alpha only
  • Alpha/Beta simultaneous
  • Alpha then beta
• Multi-system operation

Description

An Integrated Counting Solution Designed the Way Samples are Counted

Eclipse is the multitasking, Windowsbased software application which provides analysis and control of CANBERRA Alpha/Beta counting systems. Eclipse and the Series 5 XLB together provide capabilities and features that no other manufacturer’s alpha/ beta counting system can offer. For larger samples, the Series 5 LB5500 interfaces with Eclipse in a form factor that will accept samples up to five inches in diameter. Eclipse is designed for the way samples are counted in laboratories, thereby making analysis of alpha and beta samples faster and easier. Since Eclipse has been validated and verified under CANBERRA’s ISO 9001 standards – you can depend on verifiable and defensible results. All of this can be achieved with one software application using CANBERRA counting instruments and Eclipse.

Real-Time Data Acquisition to Real-Time Analysis

Gone are the days of counting a batch of samples and then calculating the results off-line. Now you can see the final activity results on-screen for each sample as it is counted. With Eclipse, the operator has a complete view of sample acquisition data and system status data simultaneously. System parameters and settings are updated in real time, providing the maximum flexibility and information presentation of any counter available.

Important sample information does not have to wait until the batch is complete. Symbolic icons provide functions at the push of a button. Eclipse incorporates some of the most advanced software features available. Auto-save automatically saves current sample count data and vital status information. The operator can be assured that data loss due to power failure is minimized.

Unified System Operation

CANBERRA alpha/beta counting systems represent the world standard in counting. Eclipse is designed to operate new CANBERRA systems such as the Series 5 XLB. Previous generations of counting systems can also operate under Eclipse. Eclipse knows how to communicate with different hardware so a new Series 5 XLB can be easily connected to existing systems using a single PC. Eclipse can operate up to four systems from a single PC. A single application means there is only one software package to learn. Training time is minimized and, more importantly, errors due to differences in operation software cannot occur.

Time spent entering redundant information or setting up a count procedure each time a batch of samples is counted is time that could be used to increase productivity. Eclipse is designed to be programmed and count samples the way samples are prepared in the laboratory, thereby improving efficiency.

An unlimited number of counting procedures can be defined within the software. For application-specific or routine sample analysis, procedures are setup quickly and easily with the Procedure Manager. The Sample Manager allows data to be entered once, or routine samples can be entered as a template for later batches. The Sequence Manager enables users to bundle multiple batches and procedures together for simplified operation.

Help, Icons and Menus

Eclipse incorporates a comprehensive Help system. From the large easy-to-understand icons to the context-sensitive help, the novice or the advanced operator feels comfortable behind the controls of Eclipse.

Selectable Count Modes

Only the Series 5 and Eclipse deliver the capability to select the count mode to give you the best results. In addition to the traditional Alpha Only and Alpha/Beta Simultaneous modes, there is the Alphathen- Beta mode to positively qualify alpha activity. Alpha-then-Beta count mode provides an automatic method to qualify samples for positive alpha activity. When using the Alpha-then-Beta mode there is no beta crosstalk to correct, so the alpha activity has inherently better counting statistics. The application of this count mode can be important for nuclear power operations. High levels of beta activity can result in higher than expected beta-to-alpha crosstalk. This can lead to false positive alpha activity. The Alpha-then-Beta count mode confirms or disqualifies the presence of alpha activity in the sample. With the Alpha-then-Beta count mode, samples can be automatically counted using the alpha calibration voltage then the beta calibration voltage. Alpha activity is a direct observation, and the beta activity is calculated by the difference between each count mode.

Attenuation Correction

Not all samples are alike. The physical interaction of different energetic alpha and beta particles can produce different mass attenuation relationships. Eclipse offers the flexibility to choose from several different methods to approximate the count loss as a function of residual mass on the planchet. Eclipse allows the operator to view before selecting the best fit attenuation curve. The curve-fitting models include:

• Inverse Linear
• Inverse Quadratic
• Exponential
• Linear

Total Quality Assurance

System quality control is an integral feature of Eclipse. Increasing demands on instrument and laboratorymethod quality control add to the requirements of the analytical laboratory. At a glance, a series of instrument performance data can be displayed in real-time while samples are counting using the tabbed window count view. Statistical quality control provides the operator with all of the basic information related to system parameters.

The powerful database charting engine of Eclipse develops QC charts quickly for background and efficiency. QC charts can be customized to display sigma, action and warning limits. Out-of-range data is visually identified. The operator can select the date range and type of data to chart.

The QA package of Eclipse provides statistical capabilities to evaluate system data for distribution and symmetry about the mean. Range data can be selected to show point-to-point variations and data trends.

Custom Report Generator

The standard reporting system of Eclipse provides all of the necessary report formats for sample data. System calibration information including plateau, background and counting efficiency as a graphical plot, and raw count data formats are standard. Many report formats carry continuing calibration and review signature information to satisfy data validation requirements.

Automatic System Calibrations

Generating the system’s optimum operating voltage has never been easier. Eclipse provides the operator with real-time display of the calibration plateau. Using the split window view, the count data and the voltage plot can be viewed. The optimum slope is continually updated with each new data point.

Eclipse takes the guess work out of calibrations by displaying the calibration voltage on the fly. For maximum flexibility, the operator can accept the system-calculated value or choose to override with manual data entry.