Microcontroller-based front-end electronics for simultaneous measurements of dynamic light scattering and natural fluorescence

摘要

A digital control unit for use with a new integrated instrument for dynamic light scattering and natural fluorescence measurements is presented. This unit, based on a microcontroller (Microchip PIC16F877), process signals from an optical head and controls instrument functions. The microcontroller internal counters are used to perform real-time photon counting measurement by processing the TTL signals obtained from the photode-tectors. The new system provides reliable and simultaneous DLS and AF measurements from the same ocular volume located from the cornea to the retina.