Technical Issues - FilmStar News 2011Other editions: 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012 January 10 FilmStar Database Capacity
February 9 Designing for FWD and REV Light Incidence A user recently asked whether it is possible to optimize coatings for both forward and reverse light incidence. A typical application is architectural windows. 1. In such cases the design must include a massive layer. In the Film Indices dialog AIR=1, SUB=1 and the substrate is defined as a massive layer. Search for 'Massive' in DESIGN's help to refresh your memory. Multiple massive layers with coatings on some or all surfaces are supported. 2. Reverse reflectance targets (% R Rev) are available in Optimization Targets, but they may be of limited use in architectural coatings which are better specified by integrated criteria. 3. The FilmStar Workbook provides means to evalulate and optimize designs according to complex multiple criteria. One might want to maximize CIE Y in transmittance while constraining reflected color. There may be thermal considerations such as absorptance, emittance. Our first task is to compute required values (%R, %T, CIE, etc.) with light incident from two directions. In the following, column B displays Side 1 (Fwd) reflectance while D shows Side 2 (Rev) reflectance. The number 17 in the Datatype cell $B$1 includes bit 0 (format) and bit 4 (suppress automatic data pasting when clicking on the Workbook window). Datamarker cell $A$3 defines the upper left corner of the data columns. These cells are discussed in DESIGN help under Defined Names.
The command in Macro cell $E$1 automatically executes during each iteration. As shown below, the macro rewrites spectral values (450-750 x 10 nm) and computes color coordinates.
4. It is possible to replace simple BASIC programs with a single line basexec command as follows: basexec Calculate|GetCie x!, y!, yy!|WbSetNum "$G$4", x!| WbSetNum "$G$5", y!|DesignReverse|Calculate|GetCie x!, y!, yy!| WbSetNum "$G$7", x!|WbSetNum "$G$8", y!|DesignReverse;
5. The Workbook might be the single most
powerful underutilized feature in FilmStar. Please contact FTG if you
require an online tutorial
or if you would like us to set up the Workbook and BASIC macro for you. This topic is covered in short course
Maximizing FilmStar. February 14 FilmStar Hidden Workbook The FilmStar Workbook can be opened as a hidden object in DESIGN and MEASURE. This powerful but obscure capability automates Workbook calculations. It is especially useful in MEASURE QA procedures because it helps eliminates the possibility of modifying measured data. The screen shot below illustrates QCBBAR.xls included in the standard FilmStar installation.
As shown below, the hidden Workbook is opened in DESIGN or MEASURE BASIC by WsOpenHidden. The complete path name is required. QCBBAR.xls expects data in the range 450-750 x 10 nm.
Why not calculate average and maximum in FilmStar BASIC? Typically these require For...Next loops in BASIC but only simple functions in the Workbook. Simplification is even more profound for calculations requiring multiple spectra, weighting functions, etc. Since Workbook models utilize a fixed number of data rows, care must be taken to ensure that the model matches the wavelength range. As a simpler but less flexible alternative, MEASURE BASIC Sub AveCalc returns min, max and average values independent of the number of data points. February 22 MEASURE Spectra Backup Recorder
Highlight one or more rows and press Delete to remove entries. File menu commands also remove entries. Entries are retained when MEASURE is closed. The Recorder dialog can be sized and positioned; attributes are saved. Spectra are stored in C:\Winfilm\SpcCache. In this example we measured HESA-GLAS (Notz Plastics AG) color filters with an Ocean Optics USB2000.
For QA procedures running under FilmStar
BASIC, Sub DataBackup(Optional Comment$) provides another way to add spectra
to the Recorder. This works even when Spectra... Auto Backup is
unchecked. Those concerned that Spectra Backup can wreak havoc with security
procedures can defeat the capability via the
FilmStar Administrator. March 7
File List Update FilmStar File List dialogs, enabled by checking Display and save file descriptions in File.. Configuration.. Preferences, have been updated with new Find and enhanced Sort capabilities. This is especially useful for long-time FilmStar users who continue to save designs and other files in 8.3 format.
A detailed discussion of the various FilmStar
file Open/Save options can be found here.
March 9
Office 2010 Compatibilty Major problem with the pre-installed 'Click-to-Run' version of Office 2010 We have tested Office 2010 and found a problem for FilmStar users who use Microsoft Office programs like Excel or Word via FilmStar BASIC. When runing FilmStar BASIC test program c:\Winfilm\Basic32\Calculate in Excel.bas with Excel 2010 for the first time you get an error due to a bad Object Library reference. You then need to click Edit.. References, remove the bad reference and add a reference to the new Excel 14.0 Object Library as shown below.
Conversely, Excel workbook c:\Winfilm\Excel 97\Run DESIGN.xls ran fine after re-establishing the reference to FtgDesign1 in VBA Tools.. References. (In this case there is no problem with the Click-to-Run version.) Finally, anyone who has developed Excel Workbooks using OCX controls or 32-bit DLL's must install the 32-bit version of Microsoft Office 2010. Click here for further information.
Unsure how this all works but suspect that
FilmStar-Office compatibility might be useful? Contact FTG Software for an
online demonstration. April 1
Multiple Instances (Sessions) FilmStar programs allow multiple instances (sessions). While working on a design you might need quick information about a second design. Rather than close DESIGN, open it again to create a second instance. What has been added today is an Instance counter as indicated in the program title by '(2)'.
There are a few cases where multiple MEASURE
instances might lead to trouble, such as versions utilizing ActiveX EXE
libraries (i.e. Mpe950.exe). Two features are disabled in second and
subsequent instances: Design Recorder (DESIGN), Auto Backup (MEASURE). May 16
MEASURE Enhancements 1. MEASURE/Scantraq 2.51.1150 include new FSPlot (SQPlot) refinements. Select Line Type = RGB (D65) to plot curves in RGB color. This requires that the scan range be 380-780 x5 or x1.
Note that legend line thickness matches plot line thickness. This option (also in DESIGN) is enabled in Setup...Legends by checking Simple line. When unchecked the default thick expanded line is drawn. As requested by a user characteriizing dyes, multiple peaks can be automatically labeled. Threshold and Wavelength Range settings help eliminate spurious peaks. Check Copy to copy peak values to the Windows clipboard. in Excel format. This dialog is found in FSPlot Setup...Peaks. To calculate and display peaks, it is also necessary to check View...Peaks.
The plot below shows typical results.
2. MEASURE/Scantraq users will now find that the full scan range is displayed during data acquisition, even if the final range is smaller. In the above the scan range is 380-780 nm, giving a temporary range 300-800 nm while scanning before displaying the final graph range 450-650 nm. 3. When using Mpe983.exe to run Ocean Optics or similar server-based instruments, a macro is typically assigned to the <Scan> button. This resulted in a hangup when a second macro called Sub Scan. This subtle issue has been addressed, but users might also prefer alternatives: 1. Directly call the server (not calling Sub Scan) 2. Manually click <Scan> followed by a macro (attached to a button) processing the spectrum, 3. Include processing in the Sample Scan macro tied to the <Scan> button. It all depends on work flow; for example, option 2 makes it possible to view the spectrum before processing.
To summarize the problem, assuming that the <Scan> button is assigned to a macro (as shown above), running the following BASIC code could hang MEASURE. This has been fixed.
4. Scan Method files (*.scw) saved with 2.51.1150 are not
compatible with older versions. May 23
Coating Run-Time in MONITOR
In addition, a new Chamber tab provides means to add pumping and cooling time:
July 5
Including Date/Time in a FilmStar Report A user automating QA procedures asked how to include the date in a FilmStar report. Our recommended procedure involved two Report Generator commands: BasRun (run a BASIC program) and BasText (insert text). The BASIC program shown below assigns date/time to string variable BasText(0).
In the Report Template <<BasText 0>> retrieves and prints the value of BasText(0). Note that the BasRun command must precede the BasText command since the value must be assigned before it can be utilized. (BasText need not be on the same line.)
Finally we see the desired result in the Report Generator:
Realizing that the procedure could be
simplified by including BASIC code directly in the Report Template,
Should Windows date and time settings be unsuitable, FilmStar BASIC provides several customization functions. Replacing Cstr(Now) with the following gives 01-Jul-2011. Format$(Day(Now),"00")&"-"& MonthName(Month(Now),True)&"-"&Cstr(Year(Now)) October 4 Immersed Beam Splitter In his paper Design of a nonpolarizing beam splitter...(Appl Optics 31, 5345-5349, 1992) Mordechai Gilo used SUB (1.131H 1.33M 1.594L 1.33M)5 SUB [SUB 1.52, L 1.38, M 1.63, H 2.3, W0 550 nm, Angle 45°] as the starting design for an all-dielectric nonpolarizing beam splitter in the range 520-580 nm. Gilo optimized the design with FilmCalc software, a previous DOS version of FilmStar. Increasing the repeat factor from 5 to 25 we obtained a 99 layer beam splitter in the range 420-650 nm.
October 12
User-Defined Functions
User-defined functions have been available as
optimization targets since DESIGN 2.30.1000 (2003). Revision 2.61.2200 adds
the ability to evaluate such functions. Both the FSPlot Module and
Interactor are supported. A further improvement offers better utilization
of the optional description field.
User-defined functions are accessed by clicking the
User Defined button in either the Setup Parameters (new) or
Optimization Targets dialog. Variables are RFP (refl P pol), TRP (trns P
pol), RFS (refl S pol), TRS (trns S pol), RPP (refl phase P pol), TPP (trns
phase P pol), RPS (refl phase S pol), TPS (trns phase S pol). Reflectance
and transmittance are in percent; phase is in degrees.
Click a Test button to activate the Calculator and
enter a new formula or test the current one.
Syntax and other errors are indicated as shown below.
After entering or editing a formula the Calculator offers the option of
updating the corresponding row's Formula column.
Once defined, new functions appear in the Setup
Parameters Plot list box as shown below.
The same functions appear in the Optimization Targets
Type column and in the Generate Targets dialog.
In the seven layer design illustrated below, the goal
was to achieve 20% TS/(TP+TS) in the range 450-600 nm at an angle of 45°.
Note that polarization settings, such as those in the Pol column
above, do not apply to user-defined functions.
Note: Section updated 14 Nov 2011 October 31
Measure Enhancements 1. MEASURE 2.51.1300 adds a T^2 mode
supporting variable angle transmission accessories such as those
manufactured by
Harrick.
In this accessory two identical witness
samples are mounted at opposing angles so as not to displace the sample
beam. The transmittance is the square root of the measured value. The
Reference measurement is performed with an empty accessory. This mode
requires two identical witness samples and does not apply to the case
where one optic
is coated and the other uncoated. 2. Scan Macros (Setup menu) make it
possible to run BASIC programs before and/or after Baseline, Reference, and
Sample scans. Potential uses include prompts to check the sample
compartment scanning, copying data to Excel, etc. This is an excellent solution for partial automation and an
easy way to add 'what to do
next' instructions in any Windows supported language.
Macros are specified by file name.
Alternatively, as shown, code can be entered directly. This is recommended
for simple macros (224 characters max) with only a main subroutine. Sub
Main and End Sub are automatically inserted, and the pipe character
"|" can be used for line separation. Scan macros do not work in Mpe983 server modes. Server modes for Ocean
Optics, StellarNet, FTIR and other instruments already utilize BASIC macros;
additional macros would only complicate matters. Scan Macros are stored with
Scan Method and work in Test mode. A note about full vs. partial
automation: In full automation the entire measurement sequence is under
FilmStar BASIC control; manual program operation is locked out. Full
automation is initiated by a Tools menu macro command (or macro button) and
supports complex sequences involving multiple scans. Partial automation is
initiated by the Scan button and is intended for single scans. November 17
Optimizing Phase Shift, Switching Axes A user requested assistance with a
design containing both Ø T (phase in transmission) and %T targets. This
raised a number of issues, some subtle, addressed below. 1. It is indeed possible to optimize
phase and transmittance targets simultaneously. In the target dialog the
ability to sort targets by Type (Edit.. Sort) is handy. When
reviewing and editing, try clicking Edit.. Merge Cells to hide rows
with adjacent identical values. This can help identify erroneous entries. 2. During optimization DESIGN must
be set to plot phase. The reason is clear in the following graphs.
Differences ~360° become differences ~0° when appropriate axes are selected.
Assuming targets of 0° phase difference, the merit at the left is 4.1E+6
while the merit at the right is 2.3E+2.
3. Switching between phase and %T modes
is simplified by saving and opening Graph Axes independently of designs and
targets. This is readily accomplished in historic FILM Mode where five
component files define a coating design. In FILM Archive Mode a design is
defined by a single file, but components can still be opened and saved. A
stop-by-step approach is given below.
4. Phase and transmittance can be plotted simultaneously in the Interactor. In the Interactor Options box select Mode = Design and Type = Double plot. Here Vert Axis = Automatic.
November 22 Message Boxes Message boxes are small dialogs with OK/Cancel, Yes/No and similar buttons. FTG programs now include enhanced choices in File.. Configuration.. Preferences. (DESIGN 2.61.2231, MEASURE 2.51.1311)
Message boxes follow the appearance settings shown below. Message boxes can be centered in the screen or in the active dialog window. Dialog centering is especially recommended for wide screen monitors.
FTG message boxes are dialog-centered and can be set topmost. Topmost messages are visible even when covered by another program. This is useful in automation. During a long MEASURE scan a technician might browse the Internet or play a computer game, thereby covering MEASURE messages. If topmost is set, the message box remains visible. To get FilmStar/Scantraq BASIC messages to be dialog-centered
To set topmost message box behavior in BASIC
Code for a self-closing message box with no button:
Code for a message box that closes in 10 seconds if <OK> not clicked:
What's the technical difference between Windows and FTG styles? Windows boxes are built into the operating system while FTG boxes are custom dialogs. Windows buttons are in local languages while FTG buttons are in English. Our own (default) preference is Windows...dialog center. |
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