Thorlabs Beam Profiler Application - Readme
Use this software to operate Thorlabs BC100 / BC200 Series Camera Beam Profiler
and Thorlabs BP209 Slit Beam Profiler Instruments.

Note:
This software comes with additional software packages:
	- NI VISA runtime engine 2017 (http://www.ni.com/visa)
	- CVI runtime engine 2017

License:
This software is copyright Ó 2007-2024, Thorlabs GmbH. 
For license details please see file License.rtf.
Qt is licensed under the LGPL. Please see file LGPL-2.1.txt

Supported platforms:
This software was verified with the following platforms:
	- Windows 8.1 (32-bit version)
	- Windows 8.1 x64 Edition (64-bit version)
	- Windows 10 (32-bit version)
	- Windows 10 x64 Edition (64-bit version)
	- Windows 11

Changelog:

Feb-12-2025	Version 9.2
	Features:
	- Added Beam Compatibility mode to the TLBP2 instrument driver, which introduces the same coordinate system as in Thorlabs Beam to the instrument driver
	- The calculation results for the BP209 have been made consistent with the profile data
	- Added a new section to the BC2's internal memory to store editable parameters 
	Changes:
	- Removed support for BP10x Slit Scanning Beam Profilers
	- Changed internal data handling for profile positions
	- The TLBP2 instrument driver is used for scan rate correction in Thorlabs Beam
	- Updated C, C#, and LabVIEW™ examples for the TLPB2 instrument driver
	- Continuous saving - the update rate is linked to the update rate of the calculation results
	- Changing the BP209 scanning mode clears the plot data
	- The sign is displayed for the centroid differences in the beam overlapping window
	Bug Fixes:
	- Fixed crash when importing large RAW files
	- Improved editing of the calculation area
	- Lens parameters are updated, when the wavelength is changed

Feb-19-2024	Version 9.1
	Changes:
	- Added new device driver for the M2MSD device
	- Added new version of the FTDI driver for the linear stages
	Bug Fixes:
	- Fixed connection to LTSxxxC stages
	- Fixed saving of 2D profile images
	- Fixed preview image in calculation area setting for BC207 camera beam profilers and 8x8 and 16x16 binning
	- Attenuation value is not updated in saved data and the status bar (Fixed)
	- Ambient light correction always assumes the highest exposure time (Fixed)
	- An invalid ROI can be created by using the ROI preview image (Fixed)
	- Extended valid range for user power correction offset
	- Added the ThorFrameServer to the installer for the TSP01

Aug-11-2023	Version 9.0
	- Added support for BC210C Camera Beam Profiler
	- The calculation of the vergence angle in the Manual Vergence Measurement is made consistent to the calculation of the M² and divergence measurement. Its result is now the full angle instead of the half angle. 
	- Fixed missing data in x and y profile export for camera beam profilers
	- Added binning options 8x8 and 16x16 for BC2 camera beam profilers
	- Improved the binning calculation
	- Improved auto exposure for BC2 camera beam profilers
	- Floating average is disabled during a M2 or divergence measurement
	- Added exposure time estimation for M2 measurements
	- Added support for LTSxxx stages and BBD30x controllers
	- FTDI driver for APT stages updated to version 3.2.10
	- TSI camera driver updated to version 2.1.0
	- TLBC2 instrument driver uses the same gain convention as the Thorlabs Beam application
	- Fixed Python sample and wrapper

Mar-09-2022	Version 8.2
	- BP2 Windows USB driver updated to version 1.3

Jan-07-2022	Version 8.1
	- Fixed BC207 LabVIEW™ driver and added a sample
	- Fixed status bar for scanning slit beam profilers
	- Updated translations
	- Fixed calculation of original waist position
	- Fixed version check of automatic software updater
	
Oct-07-2021	Version 8.0
	- Added support for BC207 Camera Beam Profiler
	- Added calculation of original waist parameters for the M² measurement
	- Reworked presentation of M² and divergence results
	- M² and divergence data exports use a new format
	- Fixed automatic switching of the 4-Sigma Beam Widths X' & Y' axes
	- Changed wording of M² beam width methods
	- M2 measurements using the 4-Sigma beam Width X&Y (Lab system) definition can get ISO compliant
	- Added calculation parameter Relative Astigmatism to M² results
	- Added Live Adjustment function for optimizing beam quality and collimation of laser systems
	- Added Plot Diameters window
	- Increased responsiveness of the Settings Panel
	- ROI settings moved from Calculation Parameter to Camera beam Profiler Parameter
	- Improved Floating Average of BP209 scanning slit beam profilers
	- Automatic gain of BP209 power measurement improved
	- Fixed application crash when the Calculation Area is set to User Ellipse and the angle is set to 90°
	- Added additional parameters as Network Variables
	- Application can be started with active Network Variables
	- BC106 LabVIEW™ driver supports all calculation area settings of Thorlabs Beam
	- Added additional functions to BC106 LabVIEW™ driver 
	- Power stays constant when altering angle of elliptical calculation area in the BC106 LabVIEW™ driver
	- Added Python wrapper for BP209

Mar-04-2021	V7.1.4871.269
	- Support of the Thorlabs DDS100 stage
	- elliptical calculation area provided by the BC1 driver
	- peak density calculated in W/area
	- Thorlabs TSP01B temperature sensor supported

Nov-14-2017	V7.0.4133.305
	- Manuals are updated
	- In the TLBC1 instrument driver the rotation angle configuration of the cut profile is fixed.

Nov-03-2017	V7.0.4129.303
	- Manuals are updated

Aug-10-2017	V 7.0.4114.298
	- Customer base level intensity threshold
	- Sequential saving for all data during M² measurement

July-19-2016	V6.2
	- Global setting for the time interval between measurements
	- BP2 firmware update removed
	- All windows show the same calculation results
	- The legend selections in the beam stability window are reconstructed with the restart
	- Chinese and German translations are reactivated
	- Calculation result window:
		- displays every result in a single line
		- the calculation results can individually be hidden by a drop down list
		- the font size of the calculation result values are scaled with the row height
	- Saving and loading of Main Window position works now for any monitor configuration
	- X', Y' and Azimuth angle added to Calculation Results and Tuning Views for BC devices.
	- Bessel curve is shown in X and Y profile windows
	- Knife Edge data can be exported
	- Smallest enclosing circle calculation added to the beam stability window
	
May-05-2015	V6.1.3647.47
	-New settings window
	-Individual workspaces can be saved
	-M2 windows with new Alignment Wizard
	-Baseline level is taken into account for Beam Diameter (4-Sigma)

Dec- 23-2014	V6.0.24.3242
	- Averaging works also in trigger mode
	- Chinese translation updated
	- Extended the test protocols of M2 and divergence measurements
	- Wavelength range of BC106-UV is read out correctly from the device

Sept-09-2014	V6.0.2.2847
	- Network variables have the serial number of the Beam Profiler prepended
	- Range check in the BC1 trigger functions
	- Trigger functions added to BC1 driver
	- Calculation area expanded in BC1 driver
	- User defined clip level for divergence measurement

May-23-2014	V6.0
	- M2 window with a new layout
	- Auto connect of all instruments
	- Alignment feature added to the M2 window
	- New Icons
	- VISA 5.2 upgraded to VISA 5.4 in the installer package
	- DDSM100 stage supported for the M2 measurement

Feb-17-2014	V5.1
	- sequential saving for the raw data export
	- native BC1 driver to operate the device in C/C++, LabView and .Net
	- automatic elliptical calculation area
	- ISO auto calculation area for BC instruments
	- supports BP209-IR2 instruments
	- Firmware update of the BC106 from 13.12 to 13.20 or from 13.13 to 13.21

Jan-21-2013	V5.0
	All windows:
	-button to hide the toolbar and oll other graphic items from the window to maximize the diagram
	-menu entries in the menu "view" to show and hide all toolbars and GUI elements from all windows.

	Plot window:
	-Bessel Fit button in the profile window
	-Bessel Fit in the calculation result window

	Time plot windows:
	-Save data from time plot diagrams
	-Start time of measurement in time plots diagrams
	-x axis with time and not count of seconds
	-Clear the data of all windows with a clear button from the toolbar of the time plot windows

	Beam Stability window:
	-indikator of the measurement time
	-green curves of the mean of the 100 latest measurements
	-save the data from the beam stability diagram
	-clear all data of all windows with a button from the toolbar of the beam stability window
	-settings moved to a settings dialog which can be opened via a button from the toolbar
	-settings expanded with the plot method and the plot interval

	Environment Measurement:
	-new window "envorironment data" created which plots the temperature and centroid over time
	-connected temperature sensors are listed in the calculation results
	-the settings of the temperature sensor are shown in tabs in the device settings dialog
	-temperature unit added to application settings
	-show/hide the temperature from the calculation results window

	Symbolbar:
	-button added to reset the application settings to default values
	-new symbol bar with the three alignment windows
	-thorlabs logo inserted with link to thorlabs website

	Software Updater:
	-with the start of the application a dialog appears if a newer version on the tholabs website has been detected.
	-dialog "Check for updates" in the menu "help" openes this dialog manually.

	Three new alignment windows:
	-manual vergence measurement
	-tuning view
	-beam overlapping

	Application settings:
	-center the calculation area to centroid position
	-for multi slit beam profiler: real rolling averaging

	Multi Slit Beam Profiler supported.

	Firmware version of the instrument added to device settings dialog

Feb-23-2011	V4.0
	- Integration of Slit Beam Profiler
	- Exchange of DirectX with OpenGL
	- Non modal settings dialogs
	- Redesign of diagrams
	- Sequential saving of diagrams and data

Jun-14-2010	V3.0
	- M² measurement
	- Signed installation packet and application
	- Image export in grayscale

Jan-29-2010	V2.2
	- Current date and time in the symbol bar
	- Quick access tool bar 
	- Cursor in the X-Y-profiles can be hidden
	- Unit of power calibration expanded with mW
	- Calculation results are grouped 
	- Symbol toolbar is separated in window, datetime and main symbol toolbar.

Jan-08-2010	V2.1
	- Increasing or decreasing the ROI by 20% in 2D Projection Window
	- Maximum deviation of centroid with indicators in 2D Projection window
	- Different reference points of beam poisition stability
	- German help file
	- Window with live stream without calculations
	- User defined path to log file

Nov-16-2009	V2.0
	- Measurement over time
	- Advanced Calculation Results
	- Performance improved
	- Pass / Fail Analyse
	- Distance Measurement
	- Laguages English, German and Chinese

Mar-05-2009	V1.2
	- C++ sample improved
	- Manual updated

Mar-04-2009	V1.1
	C++ sample added

Feb-13-2009	V1.0
	Initial release.