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Comprehensive Programming Interfaces We recognize it is crucially important that the apt™ Server makes available all required parameters and operating modes through its programming interfaces.We have taken every available system setting and control command (both high leveland low level in nature) and exposed them to support the vast range of integratedsoftware applications that can be built around the apt™ system. Hundreds ofsoftware commands and settings exist to ensure full flexibility and adaptability when automating the operation of our controllers. In many cases, when a more “intuitive” high level command is not available, the lower level apt™ functions can be 'glued' together to create new “higher level” functions without suffering project delaysthrough missing functionality. Multithreading Events - “Oiling The Alignment Process” When developing custom applications on a PC, it is important to ensure that the alignment process itself can execute without disruption (to maintain required alignment time for example). Additionally, a well written client application will alsoprovide feedback to the user via its GUI and allow operator intervention atany time, should an error condition or other event occur. In many cases an end application will also be required to interact with other system hardwaresuch as device characterization and acquisition systems, laser sources, roboticunits and environment control units. Thesystem engineer is faced with supporting all of the above within a single application while also overcoming theconsequent issues of software latencyfrom the end user’s perspective (e.g. due to “polling of equipment”). To address these fundamental applicationissues we have built full multithreadingand event “firing” capability into theapt™ Server. Multithreading is deployed to completely isolate operation of the apt™ hardware from that of the custom application. In this way, an end client application can engage in intensive processing (such as data acquisition or number crunching) without affecting the simultaneousoperation of the apt™ controllers. Additionally we have ensured that thegraphical instrument panels are themselves executed in a separate processing thread. This unique approach taken in the apt™ Server ensures that the graphical panels remain “alive” and fully responsive even when the end application is 'busy' on some intensive processing activity. Always being ableto access apt™ controller settings via their GUI panels in this way is extremelyuseful when trying to optimise software routines, even if an alignment sequence is running. Event firing is the software mechanism by which an apt™ ActiveX

Motion Control

Tools of the trade - Vol 18 - 36188 apt™ Software Controls Suite…page 2 of 3

Translation StagesMotorized Multiple Development Environment Support - Your Choice One of the first questions often posed by a system developer is that of language compatibility. We accept that our customers will want to use a wide variety of software development languages and tools when architecting their solutions, and it is for this very reason we have engineered the apt™ Server to be ActiveX
Mirror Mounts Rotation Stages3 Axis Flexure Stages & Accessories 4, 5 & 6-Axis Stages Drive Electronics& Auto-Alignment ® compliant (in the form of acollection of ActiveX
® Controls). ActiveX
® is alanguage independent interfacing technology supported by a large number of Windows basedsoftware development environments. Using ourapt™ controllers, it is possible to create custom alignment applications with environments such as LabView™, Visual Basic, Visual C++, Borland C++, HP VEE, Matlab and even Microsoft Officevia VBA (Visual Basic for Applications). Certain.NET environments (e.g. VB.NET, C#.NET) will also support ActiveX
Actuators & Adjusters ® through Microsoft“interop” technology. Rapid Application Development - Drag and Drop One of the key benefits using the apt™ ActiveX
® ® Control can inform the client application of some event or occurrence. In the apt™ system this is used to good effect to signal end of motor moves and other lengthy operations. By responding to these events a custom end application does not needto sit and poll for lengthy operations thereby improving the overall systemperformance. Controls is the speed with which the associated motion control functionality can be incorporated into a custom alignment application. TakingVisual Basic for example, a fully functional “userready” apt™ motor control instrument panel can be incorporated into an end application literally within one minute with a single“drag and drop” operation, a single serial number setting and a single line of code. Unlike many other motion control software libraries available, the apt™ system provides complete prewritten GUI’s for use in your custom applications. Consequently a large amount of development time is saved by eliminating the need to write code to provide essential end user interface capability. These instrument panels can also be used during software development or when commissioning and configuring the system, to alter essential settings. In the finished application it is also very easy to hide these full parameter access graphical panels from the end user in order to prevent inadvertent changes to alignment parameters. Sales: 973-579-7227
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