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SOFTWARE
DesignLinkversion 1.3 SX/MX
DesignLink is a program that allows easy communication
between a personal computer and the Inficon IC/5 thin
film deposition controller. With DesignLink it is possible
to program the IC/5 and start a coating process with
a single mouse click. Customizable buttons transfer
a user-specified coating process from a Microsoft Excel®
spreadsheet to the Inficon IC/5 deposition controller.
Deposition can be monitored using the coating control
functions which log important process information, produce
dynamic graphs, and provide automated remote control
of the Inficon IC/5.
Utilities exist for processing data received from multiple
deposition sensors as well as for uploading and downloading
all settings from the Inficon IC/5 to and from an Excel®
spreadsheet. Now all your coating designs may be stored
in Excel® spreadsheets for easy reference. Spreadsheets
may be any design; DesignLink looks for specific column
headings within the first 20 columns and rows. Design
and calibrations of the spreadsheets are easily updated
through a local network.
The Start Up screen is designed to provide easy general
access to DesignLink functions. Quickload buttons allow
fast and reliable downloading of complex processes from
a user-modifiable Microsoft Excel® spreadsheet to
the IC/5. Each button is easily linked to an Excel®
design file. Button programming is accessible with a
supervisor password. A production mode allows only button
one to be active.
All Inficon IC/5 settings can be remotely modified
using an interface with an Excel® spreadsheet using
the IC/5 system upload/download utility. Pre-formatted
spreadsheets are provided with categorized data fields
for easy access to IC/5 logic, material, sensor and
other parameters. A log keeps track of rejected or incorrect
values during transfers to notify the user of any programming
errors. A password entered on the Start Up screen enables
access to all of the IC/5 settings, while limited access
can be attained without a password.
The Coating Control screen allows remote control of
the IC/5 and acts as a coating run monitor. The deposition
rate and output power are displayed in a dynamic graphing
window, and other process factors, such as current thickness,
rate deviation and IC/5 state are updated at regular
intervals. All parameters displayed on the screen can
be logged and saved to a text file. The Layer Report
shows thickness information for each layer after completion.
The program waits a user-specified amount of time after
deposition is complete to request a final thickness
from the IC/5 in order to include residual evaporant
into the final measurement.
The Multiple Crystal Layer Log is one of two plotting
utilities designed to monitor variation among multiple
deposition sensors. One graph can show the difference
in thickness registered by each sensor as it compares
to a user-defined primary sensor. Another graph normalizes
sensor data twice in order to show how material depletion
changes the deposition plume over the course of a single
layer. Options exist for auto printing of these plots
after each layer as well as for custom scaling and resolution. |
