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Don't miss Excel
extends optical coating software capabilities in
Laser Focus World. You have Excel, so why not do more with
it?
Click here to read the article on-line;
click here to
download freely available
Excel workbook examples (Reference 1 in the article). |
FilmStartm is a powerful and easy-to-use suite of Windows
programs
for designing, manufacturing, and measuring optical
coatings.
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DESIGN
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Designs and optimizes
optical thin film coatings. A
Free Version is available. |
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INDEX
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Maintains dispersive index
files and functions
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MONITOR |
Optional...converts designs
to manual or automatic optical monitor settings |
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CRYSTAL
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Optional...uploads designs
to Inficon deposition controllers |
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MEASURE
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Optional...controls and
acquires data from spectrophotometers. This program is
also marketed to chemists and spectroscopists as
Scantraq. |
FilmStar Development System
While many users just operate
FilmStar from its friendly menus and dialog boxes,
FilmStar includes powerful and flexible built-in programmable modules.
These modules work together. For example, a report generated by BASIC and printed in
the report generator can include workbook calculations. There are numerous benefits:
- Entire coating design catalogs can be printed automatically.
- Macros can be run during optimization. As an example, it is possible to design
CIE color coatings where the specification includes two illuminants incident from opposite
directions.
- Users can select measured data files with industry-standard SQL commands and
automatically run programs to examine spectral yields over a period of time.
- Users can evaluate and optimize spectral functions not originally in the
program.
- Engineers with moderate programming skills can set up one-button processes for coating
technicians. This is especially crucial in quality-control.
Supplementing its built-in programmability, FilmStar is highly integrated with other
Windows applications via DDE (dynamic data exchange) and 32-bit Automation
(ActiveX). Many data
types can be imported and exported. DESIGN and MEASURE can receive commands from
Excel,
Labview and other applications. |
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An
optional feature in all programs is the FilmStar
Administrator. This makes it possible to protect designs and spectral
data as well as assure auditors that quality assurance procedures are being followed.
As shown here, the MEASURE FilmStar Administrator can set a
computer so that technicians can't change scan settings or other critical
parameters. Copies of DESIGN installed in coating areas can be locked
against unwanted design changes.
A four page printable summary of
FilmStar features can be obtained by
clicking here. |
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