CalStar™ Software
Database Management and Calibration Development Made Easy
With CalStar software, your Unity Scientific SpectraStar becomes even more powerful. This state-of-the-art software is an intuitive Windows™ based program. Its logical data structure allows for sets of data to be reviewed and combined with ease. Sets of spectral data are stored in project files. The project file contains all spectra and calibrations related to a product or products. Individual sets of spectral data can be easily combined to form a calibration set. Spectra can be moved easily between project files. This method of data organization results in a more organized data structure as compared to conventional file-oriented programs. A graphical interface allows for quick and easy viewing of spectral data. Spectral graphs, calibration graphs, and text data can be exported to other Windows™ programs for use in building reports and presentations.
Users of the Bran+Luebbe Sesame™ software can directly import Sesame project files (.spf) into CalStar. The CalStar software accepts both scanning monochromator data from the SpectraStar™ and filter data from older Bran+Luebbe™ InfraAlyzer™, Perten and DICKEY-john systems. Data can be imported to and exported from CalStar using JCAMP (.dx, .jdx), binary (.dat), GRAMS™ (.spc), and Unscrambler™ formats. Data can also be imported from FOSS (ISI) files through the use of a separate utility program provided by Unity Scientific.
For those customers who wish to develop their own calibrations, the CalStar™ software provides an easy tool for calibration development and database management and can be used to develop both quantitative and qualitative calibrations. For quantitative calibrations, CalStar supports MLR (multiple linear regression), PLS (Partial Least Squares Regression), and PCR (Principle Component Regression) chemometric models. Customers get ultimate flexibility by choosing the calibration method that works best for their operation. For qualitative calibrations, CalStar supports both a library ID model for raw material analysis and a cluster model for discriminating between closely related materials.
CalStar includes standard math treatments such as absorbance, smoothing, 1st and 2nd derivatives (fixed and configurable), normalization, SNV, and more for developing accurate, stable calibrations. Math treatments can also be customized for even greater flexibility.
CalStar provides outlier diagnostics with various selection criteria on T, H, D, and S statistics to eliminate bad samples and simplify the calibration process. CalStar also provides an off-line prediction tool for a full series of spectra and generates method validation reports.
Benefits:
• Intuitive Windows™-based program
• Easy calibration development
• Easy database management
• Simple creation of calibration sets
• Ability to store data sets in project files
• Move spectra easily between project files
• Import and export data
• Develop both quantitative and qualitative calibrations
• Supports MLR, PLS, PCR chemometric models
TransStar™ Software
Calibration Data Transfer Made Easy
The patented TransStar software allows databases from monochromator based systems to be easily transferred to the Unity SpectraStar system. TransStar™ uses a unique spectral matching algorithm to move databases to SpectraStar™. Once a database has been transferred to SpectraStar, additional data can be continually added to make the calibration even more robust. With only a small number of transfer samples measured on both systems, the database transfer can be completed within a few minutes.
With TransStar, it is not necessary to go through all of the costly, time consuming steps of recreating an entire database from scratch. In just a few minutes, a database that took years to create can be transferred easily to the new SpectraStar. TransStar is the only software available that allows a customer the ability to transfer his own database - then permits additional data to be added after the transfer to expand the calibrations. Calibrations and databases can be transferred to SpectraStar™ from any brand NIR system using the TransStar™ software.
Benefits:
• Intuitive Windows™-based program
• Easy calibration development
• Easy database management
• Simple creation of calibration sets
• Ability to store data sets in project files
• Move spectra easily between project files
• Import and export data
• Develop both quantitative and qualitative calibrations
• Supports MLR, PLS, PCR chemometric models
UniStar™ software
Internet NIR Calibration Database Expansion System
Unity Scientific has developed an easy to use, Internet-based system of customer care for NIR analytical instruments. The name of this product is UniStar. Instrument performance, calibrations, and networks of instruments can all be maintained through the UniStar™ software, a next generation software package that simplifies the NIR support process.
The UniStar software is a next generation software package designed for maintaining instrument performance, calibrations, and networks of instruments. UniStar is an easy to use, web based program that can be installed on either a Unity or customer server. UniStar makes it easy to maintain single instruments in a plant or networks of instruments across multiple locations.
UniStar provides both a diagnostic tool to evaluate instrument performance over time (CheckStar) and an automatic calibration database expansion system (EvalStar) to optimize performance of calibrations. Verifying that the instrument is working properly and optimizing calibration performance insures that the highest level of accuracy is achieved.
UniStar is an internet based program that can reside on either a Unity or customer server.
Customers gain access to UniStar through user names and passwords, set up through a project manager who is located at a central site.
UniStar will work with both the Unity SpectraStar and other NIR brand instruments. UniStar will also support a mixture of SpectraStar and other brand instruments to provide total support for networks or various instruments.
CheckStar
CheckStar is designed to insure that all instruments are operating optimally through analysis of a new type of check cell. The check cell is manufactured from a stable polymer that will not change over time or become invalidated if dropped. The check cell material contains measurable peaks within the NIR spectrum that that are similar to those found in food, agricultural, and industrial products.
At a user defined interval, the check cell is analyzed on the instrument to insure that the system is working optimally. Periodically, the check cell spectrum is submitted to the UniStar server. CheckStar will then automatically evaluate the instrument’s photometric response, wavelength accuracy, and repeatability against a master spectrum from the instrument that was stored at the factory. A pass / fail report is generated and sent to both the user and the project manager. CheckStar also provides for an instrument standardization procedure that will insure that all predictions among both Unity and other brand instruments are alike.
EvalStar
EvalStar is designed to insure calibration accuracy over time. EvalStar is an automatic calibration development tool that takes the guess work out of calibration maintenance. The program is easy to use and can be run by operators or all skill levels. A calibration database, provided by Unity, the customer, or a third party is posted to the UniStar server. A set of 10 to 30 samples are run on the SpectraStar and submitted with wet chemistry values to the UniStar server. EvalStar automatically adds these samples to the calibration database and develops a new calibration, which is optimized to utilize the proper number of factors and the best math treatments. The calibration is then sent to the user where it can be loaded on the SpectraStar or other brand NIR for routine use.
Conclusion
UniStar makes maintaining instruments easy. CheckStar insures that all instruments are operating properly through analysis of a check cell while EvalStar automatically updates the instrument calibrations. These features work to provide the highest level of accuracy and instrument performance. UniStar supports both the Unity SpectraStar and other brand NIR instruments, making it easy to maintain single instruments in a plant or networks of instruments across multiple locations.
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