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Trigger Port Instructions

General
The PCAM3 ISA-bus controller board contains a port with 8 open collector TTL outputs, a trigger input, and some other useful signals. The digital (TTL) trigger input is for synchronized exposures. Since the trigger input is directly connected to the exposure section of the camera controller, the actual start of exposure (shutter open) is within 100nS of the rising edge of the trigger signal.

Parallel-port cameras that support triggering require a different type of port, with a different pinout. See the Parallel-Port Camera Setup page for details.

The 16 pin header on the controller (named TRIG/PORT) can be connected to a 15 pin 'D' connector or other suitable connector via a header and ribbon cable to the back of the computer. Using a 15 pin 'D' connector interface, the pin list is as follows:

DB15 PinSignalFunction
1ATTL Output A
2BTTL Output B
3CTTL Output C
4DTTL Output D
5ETTL Output E
6FTTL Output F
7GTTL Output G
8HTTL Output H
9Trigger Input 
10+5V 
11Ground 
12Disable Shutter (if specified)
Pulling low closes shutter during exposure		 
13Flush Active (if specified)High whenever CCD is flushing,
either between images or during
row skipping for subframes.
14  
15Shutter Output (Digital)TTL Shutter Output

Connector Installation
The 15-pin connector/plate is connected to the header via a ribbon cable. To install, follow these steps:

  1. Turn the computer power OFF.
  2. Install the DB15/Plate end of the cable in an available card slot opening.
  3. Insert the header connector on the controller port marked "TRIG/PORT". Make sure that the red stripe on the ribbon cable is on the side marked '1' on the controller board (as indicated in the illustration).
  4. The port is now ready for use.

Trigger Operation In MaxIm DL CCD

Click the "CCD" button in the "Setup" tab of the MaxIm CCD window (see below).

Next, click the scroll arrow beside the "External Trigger" on/off selector box. Choose the "On" setting, then click "Ok."

When "External Trigger" is set to on, clicking the "Expose" button under the "Expose" tab of the MaxIm CCD window will set the camera to wait for a trigger. When the (user-supplied) trigger pulse is received, the exposure begins. Remember, when the "wait for trigger" command is sent to the camera, flushing stops and dark current begins to accumulate. Electro-luminescence (or "amplifier glow") will appear in the upper lefthand corner of the images when there is a lengthy (10 seconds or more) wait period. For best results, send the "wait for trigger" command only a few seconds prior to triggering the exposure.

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