Acquiring Point and Area Scans

Point and Area scans in AugerMap 2 are different from other acquisition type, in that the actual data acquisition is performed by your AugerScan software. However, the position and type of raster is determined by AugerMap, hence you initialize the acquisition using your AugerMap software. After data is acquired, you can still use AugerMap to track the point or area acquisition by using the reference on one of your image acquisitions.

Acquisition Options

By default, if you use your scanning control to place your electron beam in “point mode”, the beam will rest in the center of the TV image. While this is useful most of the time, you may often want to take an AugerScan acquisition (survey, multiplex, or depth profile) at a particular point, or to acquire data over a specific area (while rastering at high speed to reduce noise). Additionally, you may want to acquire a group of points/areas at once. This is not only helpful to save time, but to acquire depth profile data at multiple locations (which must be automated since sputtering is destructive).

Single Point Acquisitions

With a single-point acquisition, you define the point of interest, and acquire the data using AugerScan. If you are happy with the results, you save the acquisition in AugerScan. AugerMap will then keep track of the reference to the point, along with the filename.

Single Area Acquisition

Single area acquisitions are similar to single-point acquisitions, except that you instead define a rectangular area within which you wish to raster during acquisition. During the AugerScan acquisition, the beam will quickly raster over the area, meaning your resulting data will be averaged over the defined area. Like single-point acquisitions, if you are happy with the results, you save the acquisition in AugerScan. AugerMap will then keep track of the reference to the area, along with the filename.

Multiple Point/Area Acquisitions

While you can acquire as many single-point/area acquisitions on a map as you want, there is a special case whereby you may wish to acquire the same type of acquisition at each point/area defined on a map. This comes in handy especially for depth profiles, where you cannot necessarily sputter at one point while taking a profile, then move to the next. This special case is a multiple-point/area acquisition. With multiple-point/area acquisitions, you define a set of points and/or areas on a map, and acquire them at once. When AugerScan acquires the data, it creates multiple sets of the same acquisition type in a file, one for each point/area. For example, if you define three points and start a multiple point acquisition, and setup a multiplex in AugerScan, you will acquire three of the same multiplexes, one for each point. These multiplexes will all be stored in the same AugerScan file when you save the results. AugerMap will then keep track of the reference to these points/areas, along with the filename.

Mixing Single and Multiple Point/Area Acquisitions

You cannot mix single and multiple point/area acquisitions in the same map file, even if you define them on different images. If you perform a multiple point/area acquisition, it will acquire all points/areas defined. You can easily overcome this limitation, however by saving the file with the multiple point/areas under one name, then deleting them, defining the single point/areas, and saving under a different name.

Defining Points and Areas

You can define points and areas using any image (except a composite). Note that the points and areas are not tied to the image they are defined on - they are part of the entire map file, and show up on any images that contains their location.

To Define a Point

Select the image you wish to use to find the location for the point. Then, select Point/Area from the Acquisition menu. The cursor will change to a set of cross-hairs. Click on the location you want the point defined at.

To Define an Area

Select the image you wish to use to find the location for the area. Then, select Point/Area from the Acquisition menu. The cursor will change to a set of cross-hairs. Click on the location you want for one of the corners of the area, but do not release the mouse button. Drag the mouse to the opposite corner of the area, and release.

After defining a point or area, you’ll be presented with the Edit Point/Area Acquisition dialog. From here, you can either acquire the point/area now, or add it so that it can be acquired later. If you are going to be acquiring a multiple-point area acquisition, you’ll need to add all of them first before acquiring.

Acquiring a Single Point/Area

If you have just defined a point/area and are viewing the Edit Point/Area Acquisition dialog, you may wish to first enter a Comment before acquiring. When you are ready to acquire, click the Acquire button. For a point or area you have defined but not yet acquired, either double-click anywhere on the point/area (or its comment). Or, you can select the point, and choose Point/Area from the Acquisition menu.

Once you click Acquire, your AugerScan software will automatically run (if it is not already). From here, you can choose any acquisition type.

When the acquisition is done, you will automatically be prompted to save it in AugerScan. If you do not save the file now, it will not be flagged as acquired in AugerMap, even if you save it later.

You can always cancel the acquisition normally from AugerScan if you wish to do so.

Acquiring a Multiple-Point/Area

To initiate a multiple-point/area acquisition, you must first have defined all the points/areas you wish to acquire. Once you have defined your last point, click the Acquire All button. If you have already defined all the points/areas, and are not yet viewing the Edit Point/Area Acquisition dialog, you may select any point and choose Point/Area from the Acquisition menu, or double-click on any point or area.

Once you click Acquire All, your AugerScan software will automatically run (if it is not already). From here, you can choose any acquisition type. You only need to define and run one acquisition – the AugerScan software will automatically create separate copies for each point/area.

When the acquisition is done, you will automatically be prompted to save it in AugerScan. If you do not save the file now, it will not be flagged as acquired in AugerMap, even if you save it later. Note that for multiple-point/area acquisitions, there is still only one file, with a separate copy of the acquisition for each point/area. Therefore if you acquired a survey for three points, your file will contain three surveys.

Adding Comments to a Point/Area

You can add a comment to any point/area by typing something in the Comment field in the Edit Point/Area Acquisition dialog. After you complete the acquisition, this comment will also appear in the AugerScan file as an additional identifier for the point/area acquired. This can especially come in handy for multiple-point/area acquisitions.

Note that for this reason, it’s important to enter your comment before acquiring! Although you can always add/change a comment after acquisition, any changes will only affect the comment as seen in AugerMap. The comment in the AugerScan file cannot be modified.

Viewing Points/Areas After Acquisition

Even though point/area acquisitions are stored in AugerScan files, you can call those files up directly from AugerMap. For a single-point/area, simply double-click the point/area (or select the area and click Point/Area in the Acquisition menu). If the point/area has been acquired, the filename will appear in the Edit Point/Area Acquisition dialog box. Simply click the View button to view the acquisition. AugerScan will automatically run (if it is not already), and the appropriate file will be opened.

Alternately, you may view a point/area acquisition by double-clicking it (or selecting it and hitting Enter) in the Project Window.

To view a multiple-point/area acquisition, follow the instructions above. However, in this case you may click on any point or area.

Changing the Point/Area Filename After Acquisition

If, after acquiring point/area data, you move or rename the AugerScan acquisition file, you may want to update the reference to that file in AugerMap. To do so, simply double-click the point/area (or select the area and click Point/Area in the Acquisition menu) to bring up the Edit Point/Area Acquisition dialog. If the point/area has been acquired, the filename will appear in the Edit Point/Area Acquisition dialog box. Click the Change button. From the File dialog, select the filename/location that this point/area is now assigned to.

To change the filename of a multiple-point/area acquisition, follow the instructions above. However, in this case you may click on any point or area.