Multichannel Systems nanoZ manual - Manual (Page 33)

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Return values: raw_waveform – device-specific, raw waveform which is produced
on the basis of user-supplied waveform, taking into account device calibration.
achieved_current – values of electroplating current, in amperes, which are based
on the raw_waveform values returned by this function.
Remarks: This function converts the user-specified electroplating currents into
raw values that are output by the nanoZ's 8-bit DAC during waveform generation.
An attempt is made to produce a current waveform that is as close as possible to
that requested, taking into account the device calibration.
The application can modify the raw waveform prior to uploading it into nanoZ, for
example, to implement dithering, a technique which in some cases can overcome
inaccuracies due to the 8-bit DAC quantization (see
startplatingdc ).
As there is a low pass filter after the waveform-generation DAC, fast changes in
electroplating current will be dampened.
startplating
Starts electroplating with arbitrary waveform.
Usage: nanoz(‘startplating’, handle, raw_waveform, interpol);
Arguments: handle – handle to an opened device returned by the open function;
raw_waveform – waveform of electroplating current to be generated, in device-
specific units, which can be obtained from the preparewaveform function;
interpol – interpolation factor to be used during waveform generation.
Return value: none.
Remarks: This function uploads the user-specified waveform into the nanoZ's
memory and starts the electroplating mode. During electroplating the voltage
across the target electrode is constantly monitored. To prevent a possible buffer
overrun the user application must periodically call the getplatingdata function to
fetch the results of this monitoring.
The exact moment when electroplating actually starts is not predictable.
Depending on the waveform length, uploading the waveform may take some time
and delay the start of electroplating. When the electroplating duration must be
exactly controlled the application should determine the exposure time from the
number of samples returned by the getplatingdata function and stop plating when
the prescribed number of samples has been acquired.