FLIM Data Acquisition Card

Our compact, USB-powered data acquisition card is designed for fluorescence lifetime imaging and spectroscopy measurements. It is portable and its features embody FLIM LABS expertise and mission.

KEY SPECS

– Portable
– Plug-n-play
– Customizable (FPGA-based technology)
– Desktop-size-compact (101x139x28 mm)
– USB-powered
– Light weight (only 120 g)
– Point scanner imaging capabilities
– USB 3.0 SuperSpeed interface
– B2C or B2B selling options

Included in the package:

– FLIM Data Acquisition Card
– USB 3.0 SuperSpeed micro-B cable
– FLIM STUDIO acquisition and analysis software
– Basic Software API for data acquisition and reconstruction

Software

The FLIM Data Acquisition Card works as a passive plug-n-play device in conjunction with our software tools which you can find on the dedicated softwares page, just follow the links below:

Python Apps

Intensity Tracing
go to page

Spectroscopy
go to page

FCS
go to page

Imaging Software

FLIM Studio
go to page

FLIM Reader

coming soon

Main Techniques

MAIN TECH-SPECS

  • < 300 ps single-shot precision (σ/√2)
  • 48 ps minimum time bin resolution
  • 1.5 ns deadtime
  • 80MHz Max laser sync rate 
  • < 0.5% rms differential non-linearity
  • Transfer rate up to 100 M counts/s
  • Peak count rate per input channel up to 640 Mcounts/s
  • 11 SMA single-ended input for LVTTL 50 Ohm
  • 1 SMA Laser trigger in (sync in) for LVTTL 50 Ohm signals 
  • 1 SMA Laser trigger out (sync out) LVTTL 50 Ohm for modulating external pulsed laser sources
  • 13 USB-C LVDS input/output configurable

MAIN FEATURES

Our acquisition card is specifically designed for pursuing fluorescence lifetime imaging and spectroscopy measurements. It is conceived to introduce a new paradigm for fluorescence lifetime-based applications, where it can be used with minimal effort in any type of laboratory, from the bench to the optical table.

Compactness and portability

Dimension (101x139x28 mm) and lightweight (only 120 grams) allows for extreme portability. Furthermore, the USB-powered connection of our card enables its use in a portable setup or even outdoors.

Imaging and spectroscopy

Since the design of I/Os on our card is customizable, some of the channels can be configured for fluorescence sampling or imaging reconstruction signals such as pixel, line and frame clock. Moreover, channels can be used for synchronizing data acquisitions with other devices in use, such as acoustic-optics deflectors, piezo stages and other lab equipment in general.

Multichannel

With a total of 26 I/O channels:

11 SMA single-ended input for LVTTL 50 Ohm

1 SMA Laser trigger in (sync in) for LVTTL 50 Ohm signals 

1 SMA Laser trigger out (sync out) LVTTL 50 Ohm for modulating external pulsed laser sources

13 USB-C LVDS input/output configurable

Supported Laser Sync rates

Our FLIM Data Acquisition Card is engineered to seamlessly handle Laser Sync Inputs LVTTL signals at 2.5V 50Ohm. With the ability to accommodate laser repetition rates ranging from 10MHz to 80MHz, it caters to the demands of 99% of fluorescence lifetime analysis applications, be it in FLIM imaging or time-resolved single-point spectroscopy. Additionally, when operating in Sync Out mode, the card outputs a 2.5V 50Ohm square wave, with fixed repetition rates of 10, 20, 40, and 80MHz, ensuring precise laser synchronization for your experiments.

Optimized time-resolution vs. laser period

The time resolution that the FLIM Data card can yield over the laser period (time axis) is meticulously optimized for efficient real-time data transfer and processing. This optimization is automatically handled by our softwares, setting it at 48 ps for 80 MHz, 96 ps for 40 MHz, 192 ps for 20 MHz, and 384 ps for 10 MHz laser repetition rates. With such precision, our system guarantees accurate temporal resolution across diverse laser periodes.

Single-photon sampling

Single-photon sampling capabilities gives you access to plenty of information and allows you to perform a large variety of techniques such as Fluorescence Correlation Spectroscopy (FCS), Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET), Near Infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS).

Channel LEDs

A LED light is present on each channel and turns on whenever there is a signal on a specific port. This feature provides instant feedback to the user, who can be sure of the optimal data transfer to the card with no need of an oscilloscope.

DIY (Do-It-Yourself) philosophy

The card is conceived for a DIY-approach to biophotonics techniques. The unique features and specifications of FLIM LABS card can give users access to both traditional and still unexplored fields, being almost any setup compatible with our card.

Continuous wave lasers setup

Our FLIM acquisition card can be coupled with continuous-wave laser sources as it is able to sample both the single-photon microtime (time delay of the photon in respect to the closest laser pulse) and its macrotime (time of arrival of the photon in respect of the overall experiment acquisition time).

MAIN FEATURES

Our acquisition card is specifically designed for pursuing fluorescence lifetime imaging and spectroscopy measurements. It is conceived to introduce a new paradigm for fluorescence lifetime-based applications, where it can be used with minimal effort in  any type of laboratory, from the bench to the optical table.

Compactness and portability

Dimension (101,3x139x28 mm) and lightweight (only 120 grams) allows for extreme portability. Furthermore, the USB-powered connection of our card enables its use in a portable setup or even outdoors.

Imaging and spectroscopy

Since the design of I/Os on our card is customizable, some of the channels can be configured for fluorescence sampling or imaging reconstruction signals such as pixel, line and frame clock. Moreover, channels can be used for synchronizing data acquisitions with other devices in use, such as acoustic-optics deflectors, piezo stages and other lab equipment in general.

Multichannel

With a total of 26 I/O channels:

11 SMA single-ended input for LVTTL 50 Ohm

1 SMA Laser trigger in (sync in) for LVTTL 50 Ohm signals 

1 SMA Laser trigger out (sync out) LVTTL 50 Ohm for modulating external pulsed laser sources

13 USB-C LVDS input/output configurable

Supported Laser Sync rates

Our FLIM Data Acquisition Card is engineered to seamlessly handle Laser Sync Inputs LVTTL signals at 2.5V 50Ohm. With the ability to accommodate laser repetition rates ranging from 10MHz to 80MHz, it caters to the demands of 99% of fluorescence lifetime analysis applications, be it in FLIM imaging or time-resolved single-point spectroscopy. Additionally, when operating in Sync Out mode, the card outputs a 2.5V 50Ohm square wave, with fixed repetition rates of 10, 20, 40, and 80MHz, ensuring precise laser synchronization for your experiments.

Optimized time-resolution vs. laser period

The time resolution that the FLIM Data card can yield over the laser period (time axis) is meticulously optimized for efficient real-time data transfer and processing. This optimization is automatically handled by our softwares, setting it at 48 ps for 80 MHz, 96 ps for 40 MHz, 192 ps for 20 MHz, and 384 ps for 10 MHz laser repetition rates. With such precision, our system guarantees accurate temporal resolution across diverse laser periodes.

Single-photon sampling

Single-photon sampling capabilities gives you access to plenty of information and allows you to perform a large variety of techniques such as Fluorescence Correlation Spectroscopy (FCS), Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET), Near Infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS).

Channel LEDs

A LED light is present on each channel and turns on whenever there is a signal on a specific port. This feature provides instant feedback to the user, who can be sure of the optimal data transfer to the card with no need of an oscilloscope.

DIY (Do-It-Yourself) philosophy

The card is conceived for a DIY-approach to biophotonics techniques. The unique features and specifications of FLIM LABS card can give users access to both traditional and still unexplored fields, being almost any setup compatible with our card.

Continuous wave lasers setup

Our FLIM acquisition card can be coupled with continuous-wave laser sources as it is able to sample both the single-photon microtime (time delay of the photon in respect to the closest laser pulse) and its macrotime (time of arrival of the photon in respect of the overall experiment acquisition time).

Key Tech Specs

Single photon time tagging with <300 ps (σ/√2) single-shot precision. 48 ps time bin resolution when operating with a 80MHz laser repetition rate. 1.5 ns deadtime. USB 3.0 SuperSpeed interface allows a prolonged data transfer rate up to 100 M counts/s and can cope with bursts up to 640 M counts/s. Our module can deal with any type of FLIM or fluorescence lifetime measurement/application/experiment.

Interface and connection type

Our card has SMA connectors for a LVTTL 50 Ohm interface, with orientation independent USB type-C ports working in a parallel and independent way, for communicating over a proprietary FLIM LABS protocol with FLIM LABS fiber-coupled SPAD detectors and picosecond-pulsed laser modules. USB type-C allows for user-friendly and low-cost interfacing. USB cables will also be color-coded depending on the port-usage type.

Color coded connections

With the aim of having a user-friendly hardware setup we introduced color-coded interface connections. The color and line style on the case matches the cable color associated to a specific connection type and scope:

Red: Lasers

Green: Fluorescence

Cyan: Synchronization/imaging signals

Case design

The ‘winged’ case design allows for the acquisition card to be bolted down to metric or imperial optical benches or to be secured or strapped to any kind of mechanical support.

B2C B2B Bespoke design

Since our technology is field-programmable gate array (FPGA)-based and we engineer and develop all our products from scratch, our design can be customized. If you needed more channels or a different interface connection or even another form factor, we could easily adjust the card specifications based on your needs.

Key Tech Specs

Single photon time tagging with <300 ps (σ/√2) single-shot precision. 48 ps time bin resolution when operating with a 80MHz laser repetition rate. 1.5 ns deadtime. USB 3.0 SuperSpeed interface allows a prolonged data transfer rate up to 100 M counts/s and can cope with bursts up to 640 M counts/s. Our module can deal with any type of FLIM or fluorescence lifetime measurement/application/experiment.

Interface and connection type

Our card has SMA connectors for a LVTTL 50 Ohm interface, with orientation independent USB type-C ports working in a parallel and independent way, for communicating over a proprietary FLIM LABS protocol with FLIM LABS fiber-coupled SPAD detectors and picosecond-pulsed laser modules. USB type-C allows for user-friendly and low-cost interfacing. USB cables will also be color-coded depending on the port-usage type.

Color coded connections

With the aim of having a user-friendly hardware setup we introduced color-coded interface connections. The color and line style on the case matches the cable color associated to a specific connection type and scope:

Red: Lasers

Green: Fluorescence

Cyan: Synchronization/imaging signals

B2C B2B Bespoke design

Since our technology is field-programmable gate array (FPGA)-based and we engineer and develop all our products from scratch, our design can be customized. If you needed more channels or a different interface connection or even another form factor, we could easily adjust the card specifications based on your needs.

Case design

The ‘winged’ case design allows for the acquisition card to be bolted down to metric or imperial optical benches or to be secured or strapped to any kind of mechanical support.

FULL SPECS

Minimum Resolvable Fluorescence Lifetime50ps
TechnologyField-programmable gate array (FPGA)
Total number of channels11 SMA single-ended input for LVTTL 50 Ohm
1 SMA Laser trigger in (sync in) for LVTTL 50 Ohm signals
1 SMA Laser trigger out (sync out) LVTTL 50 Ohm for modulating external pulsed laser sources

13 USB-C LVDS input/output configurable for detection channels as well as Laser sync in or sync out
(FLIM LABS proprietary interface)
Channels interfaceLVTTL 50 Ohm over the SMA connectors (5 V max input signal damage level)
LVDS over the USB-type C ports (FLIM LABS proprietary interface)
Working principleSingle-photon time tagging
Input pulse width> 1.5ns
Time bin width (time resolution)48ps for 80 MHz
96ps for 40 MHz
192ps for 20 MHz
384ps for 10 MHz
Timing precision (σ/√2)
and Jitter RMS		100ps and 30ps when operating at 80MHz or 40MHz with Channel 1 or Channel 2 active, either via SMA or USB connections

300ps and 80ps when operating below 40MHz or using channels other than Channel 1 or Channel 2 (even at 80MHz or 40MHz)
Dead time1.5ns
Differential non-linearity< 0.5% RMS
Acquisition lengthnot limited by hardware
Supported laser sync ratesSync in: from 10 MHz up to 80MHz
Sync out: 10, 20, 40, 80 MHz
Peak count rate per input channel640 Mcounts/s
Total sustained count rate, sum over all input channels100 Mcounts/s
Minimum pixel dwell time1µs
Minimum period for external ref signal1µs
PC interfaceUSB 3.0 SuperSpeed micro-B
PC requirementsmin. 2 GHz CPU clock, min. 6 GB memory
Operating systemMS Windows
Power supplyUSB powered
Dimensions101.3x139x28 mm
Weight120 g

For more information
about the product,
for asking us a quote
or a demo unit,
write us.

We will answer you
as soon as possible.

    For more information
    about the product,
    for asking us a quote
    or a demo unit,
    write us.

    We will answer you
    as soon as possible.