I. Readout possibilities of Aer'ODE

Specific Absorbance = (Abs - BGD) / t

Where :

• Abs : Dosimeter Absorbance measured at given wavelength
• BGD : Dosimeter background
• t : Dosimeter thickness

• Mode 1 : Only dosimeter absorbance (Abs) is measured, t is the mean dosimeter thickness and BGD is set to zero.
• Mode 2 : Only dosimeter absorbance (Abs) is measured, BGD is the mean dosimeter background and t the mean dosimeter thickness.
• Mode 3 : Dosimeter absorbance (Abs) and individual dosimeter thickness (t) are measured with BGD the mean dosimeter background.
• Mode 4 : Dosimeter absorbance (Abs) and individual dosimeter background (BGD) are measured with t the mean dosimeter thickness.
• Mode 5 : Dosimeter absorbance (Abs), individual dosimeter background (BGD) and thickness (t) are measured.

II. Single dosimeter readout control modes

Four modes are available for single dosimeter readout control :

•   1. Tab control mode
•   2. Beep-Beep mode
•   3. Bip-Bop mode
•   4. Robot control mode

1. Tab control mode

The Tab control mode means that the TAB key must be used after each operation (Sample N°, absorbance measurement and thickness measurement) in order to move the cursor or to do the calculations.

2. Beep-Beep control mode

This is a semi-automatic readout of the dosimeters.

Follow this description for the beep-beep control mode :

• Type the name of the first dosimeter sample N° (for example 0001). A message appears in the bottom of the sheet where the actual absorbance is indicated too :
  
  
  

• Put the sample in the spectrometer to measure the absorbance, wait for the beep which occurs when the measurement is done. The absorbance value is automatically written in the absorbance cell of the table. A second message appears in the bottom of the sheet where the actual thickness is indicated.
  
  
  

• Take off the sample and put it under the thickness gauge. Wait for another beep which occurs when the measurement is done. The thickness value is automatically written in the thickness cell and the corresponding dose and uncertainty is calculated.
  The sample N° of the next dosimeter is automatically increased (see the section 4 : Dosimeter sample N° properties).

• Put the next dosimeter in the spectrometer and go ahead.

3. Bip-bop control mode

This is a semi-automatic readout of the dosimeters where Absorbance and Thickness are both measured in one handling and dosimeter positioning. In this mode the first measurement is a thickness standard block which thickness has to be indicated in the specific field : Standard T : in µm

In Bip-bop control mode, the progression into the table is done automatically during the measurement without using any key. The software controls the stability of the measurements (Absorbance and thickness) and displays the values in the table. A beep sound alerts the user that the current measurement is over.

• Type the name of the first dosimeter sample N° (for example 0001). A message appears in the bottom of the sheet where the actual absorbance is indicated too :
  
  

• Put the sample in the spectrometer dosimeter holder, wait for the beep which occurs when both Absorbance and thickness measurements are done. The measured values are automatically written in the corresponding cells of the table and the corresponding dose and uncertainty is calculated.
  The sample N° of the next dosimeter is automatically increased (see the section 4 : Dosimeter sample N° properties).
  

• Put the next dosimeter in the spectrometer and go ahead.
  

At any time during the measurement (for sample N° modification, measure again a dosimeter, erase a data line, …) the possibility to switch to another control mode is given to the user by ESC key, a simple click on the SAVE button, or a double click on the sample N° which has to be modified.

4. Robot control mode

This is an automatic readout of the dosimeters.

a. Dosimeter preparation

• Harwell dosimeters (Red, Amber, Gammachrome) must be placed in the readout order inside the wheel holes of the robot. The holes are identified from 0 to 99.
  Attention must be paid to the measurement sequence. The first dosimeter must be a thickness reference block which will calibrate the thickness measurement for the readout batch. After position of the dosimeter, place the cover on the dosimeters.

b. Measurement procedure

• In robot control mode, the progression into the table is done automatically during the measurement without using any key. The software controls the stability of the measurements (Absorbance and thickness) and displays the values in the table.
  
  
  Follow this description for the robot control mode :
  
  * · Type the name of the dosimeters sample N° (See Section 4 : dosimeters sample N° properties) in the order of the presentation in the wheel.
  
  * Type F1 key to start the measurement.
  
  
  For each dosimeter (after the reference thickness block), absorbance and thickness value are written in the dedicated cell. Corresponding doses and uncertainties are calculated.
  At any time during the measurement (for sample N° modification, measure again a dosimeter, erase a data line, …) the possibility is given to the user to pause the measurement by ESC key, a simple click on the SAVE button, or a double click on the sample N° which has to be modified.

III. Preparation of a new file

This part explains the general properties and how to progress in a single dose measurement sheet. The particular functions are treated in the specific corresponding section.

User Log-in to access a specific sheet :
User Name : Name of the current user. (Validation in the displayed screen)

• Sheet – ID : Identifier of the file saved in the database (Default display)
  
  
• Operator : Name of the current user. (Validation in the displayed screen)
  
  
• Entry : Alphanumeric information about the measurement sheet (is used as a request data in the data base)
  
  
• Calibration ID : Select by Enter key the dosimeter system calibration ID
  
  
  
  
  Please  confirm  your  choice  with  Yes  or not  with  No
  The corresponding dosimeter batch, wavelength, low and high dose limits, background, Ref. UCTY, calibration fitting mode, calibration coefficients, and measure thickness are displayed on the screen.
  
  
• Batch : The batch of the calibrated dosimeter.
  For example : 7F6_382 for FWT, 220 for CTA, 3042 M for HARWELL, ….
  
  
• Low and high limits (in kGy): The minimum and the maximum dose you will be able to measure according to the calibration curve.
  
  
• Wavelength (nm) :The dosimeter readout wavelength for the type of dosimeter fixed previously.
  
  
• Ref. Mean BGD : Absorbance (Background) of the unirradiated dosimeters at the calibration date.
  
  
• Cur. Mean BGD : Absorbance (Background) of the non irradiated dosimeters at current readout date.
  If the mean value of the background is used, measure the absorbance of unirradiated dosimeters or the absorbance of a strip of unirradiated dosimeter (for example CTA or RISÖ dosimeters) then the mean value is imported in the background field. To measure the mean background value of a dosimeter type F1 key when cursor is in the Cur. Mean BGD item.
  
  
• Ref. UCTY % (k=2) : The uncertainty of the reference dose. It could be for example, the uncertainty of a calorimeters, or of the SSDL…..
  
  
• Mode of fitting :
  
  

  are the different available fitting modes.

  
  
  
• RMS of fitting : RMS displayed in this cell is the standard deviation of the residuals. It is used for the dose uncertainty calculation (k=2). (See annexe about RMS and uncertainty calculation).
  
  
• C5, C4, …, C0 : The coefficients of the polynomial calibration curve used for the calculation of the absorbed dose.
  
  
• Measure thickness : Yes or No according to the measurement mode. If NO, enter the mean thickness of dosimeters in µm.
  If the mean value of the thickness is used, and if you want to measure it, type F1 key when cursor is in the Mean T(µm) item.
  
  
• Control Mode : See section 2 for Tab, Beep-beep or Bip-bop measurement control

The default identifier of the dosimeter sample is 00001 in L1C1 cell of the table.

You can enter another name by the keyboard (Ex : AK0021). Use insert key to modify the last character or the whole dosimeter Sample N°.

The name of the next dosimeter will be automatically increased (step=1 by default Ex : AK0022). If you need a step of n, add n to the current sample N° and go ahead. The next number will be automatically increase by n.

Example : If the sample N° of the current dosimeter is AK0022, enter AK 0025 with the keyboard to get the step of 3. The next one will be AK0028, then AK0031, AK0034,… .
This operation works with numbers or letters (in alphabetic order).

Example : If the first and second identifier are AK0021 A and AK0021 B, then the third one will be AK0021 C, the fourth AK0021 D, and so on.
Averaging of several data is possible by using the same sample N° for all the dosimeters to be averaged. Insert the same sample N° for the first and second dosimeters to be averaged and it will be automatically copied for the next sample..

Allows the access to the sheets saved in the database (measurement, calibration, instruments tests, ….).


Saves the data in the database (DBase file (and Excel format if applicable)).


A click on the clear button erases the data. A second click erases the parameters of the heading.

Prints the sheet


Closes the sheet and comes back to the main menu


Selects the parameters, or the file


Opens or closes the list of all the files saved in the database


Displays a graph with the selected data or respectively a fitted curve through the selected points


Displays the current data sheet

VI. Data base functions symbols



creates a new item (user, equipment, data line, ….).

saves the item's parameters.

deletes the current item.

ordisplays the previous or the next item of the list.

or displays the first or the last item of the list.

deletes all the item's parameters

modifies an existing item

VII. Modification and deleting

When the cursor is on the sample N° cell of a data line, a message appears on the bottom of the sheet :



Modification of a data line in the table is possible by a double click on the sample N° cell. A message appears on the bottom of the sheet :



Type TAB key to do the measurement again.

Deleting of a data line in the table is possible by the right click when the dosimeters sample N° cell is selected.

VIII. Communication problems with instruments

When a communication problem with the Genesys 5 occurs, a message appears on the screen.

IX. Graphic possibilities

In any measurement or database routine, a graphic of selected data can be created

1.Graphic with data selected in the current data table

• With the mouse, select the data you want to make a graphic with.
  
• Click the Graphics or fitting button to display the graphic on the screen.

2. Graphic with data in a new table

Click the Graphics or fitting button and move the mouse to display a new empty table on the screen.

Select data as explained previously, and click in the first column of the new table. The selected data are automatically copied with its legend

New data can be entered in a column of the table with the keyboard. (Example : Product Factor)
These new information can be stored for a further use with the save X(Y) button.

Select the data in the new table and click the Graphics or fitting button.

Same operations can be done in the database with saved files.

N.B : The different functions which can be used in this sheet are available with the right button (Ex : Enlarge the grid, Copy, Clear selection,….).
When the grid is enlarged, you can make some operations on the selected data. To do that, selection show tool bar in the right click menu. A tool bar appears in the sheet. To use the different functions, see the explications in the window displayed in the up and in the right of the sheet.

X. Data saving and management

On operator's click on button, data is saved on a Dbase database and, if applicable, also saved in Excel format.

Directory of the Excel files can be set separately for each kind of measurement (calibration, single dose measurement, strip dose measurement, instrument checks, …).