An event typically registers on more than one pixel of an SIS CCD. The pattern of excited pixels can suggest whether the event was an actual photon or not.
In FAINT mode, the nine pixels surrounding an event are telemetered to the ground. In BRIGHT mode only a single PHA value and a grade describing the pattern of excited pixels are sent. BRIGHT2 mode files are created only on the ground. BRIGHT2 mode is like BRIGHT mode except that the extra information from FAINT is used to correct for things like dark frame error and echo effect.
The BRIGHT mode conversion is done with zerodef set to 1 in order to minimize the effect of RDD. (see fhelp faintdfe with ftools ver 3.5 or higher )
As a byproduct, the dark frame error information is extracted and stored in the dfe files which are later saved as trend products. The dark frame error information is also later stored in the filter (mkf) files.
FTOOLS called: