Retiga-SRV User`s Manual
Contents
1. User Manual RETIGA SRV 24511794 Deep Cooled High Sensitivity IEEE 1394 FireWire Digital CCD Camera IRIIMAGINGI HIGH PERFORMANCE DIGITAL IMAGING made easy 03 0006A A Retiga SRV User s Manual Applicability This document applies to the Retiga SRV camera For the latest updates please visit WWW QIMAGING COM Notice of Copyright Copyright 1999 2005 Quantitative Imaging Corporation All rights reserved Unauthorized duplication of this document is prohibited Trademarks and Proprietary Names QImaging Retiga QICAM iGlo and QCapture are trademarks of Qlmaging Product names mentioned in this document may be trademarks or registered trademarks of Qlmaging or other hardware software or service providers and are used herein for identification purposes only M icrosoft and Windows are registered trademarks the U S and other countries of M icrosoft Corporation and are used herein for identification purposes only Apple and Macintosh are registered in the U S and other countries by Apple Computer Inc and are used herein for identification purposes only QImaging Corporation Address Information 4190 Still Creek Drive Suite 110 Willingdon Business Park Burnaby BC Canada V5C 669 604 708 5061 WWW QIM AGING COM QIimaging Technical Support Technical support is available to all registered users of Qlmaging products from 9am to 5pm Pacific Standard Time SUPPORT QI2. Trigger Mask If this mode is selected the signal will indicate the time at which another trigger signal will not be accepted by the camera This signal is also active high Signal Timing Trigger gt Expose Integration Time lt a SYNC A Readout Time Figure 17 External Trigger Signal Timing e The integration time corresponds to the length of time that the CCD has been programmed to be exposed to the image e The readout time corresponds to the time required to readout the CCD 21
3. See the user s manual for your computer for complete instructions on installing new PCI cards Restart your computer Windows should automatically install the appropriate software drivers for the card Step 2 Install Your Imaging Software Once the IEEE 1394 card is installed in your computer you are ready to install the FireWire drivers and imaging software See your Imaging Software User s Guide for complete installation instructions Step 3 Connect the Retiga SRV Once your imaging software is installed connect your camera There are three different types of connections 1 through Windows or Macintosh 6 pin PCI card 2 through windows or M acintosh laptop computer or 2 through M acintosh 9 pin connection For the Retiga SRV in order to operate the cooling the camera must have the external power connected However should the cooling not be required a single 9 pin to 6 pin connection will operate the camera sufficiently In most cases the FireWire cable provides the necessary power required by the Retiga SRV However if your camera is cooled you will need to provide additional power to the camera as shown in Figure 4 Connecting the Qimaging Camera Perform the following for connecting your camera Remove the FireW ire cable from the camera box and plug one end of the cable the 9 pin end into one of the camera s FireWire sockets either socket is fine Figure 2 Camera FireWire Sockets Plug the other end of
4. Sensitivity M ode L Temperature The Retiga SRV has cooling capability down to 303C changable in 1 degree increments When the temperature is set through software iGlo will show the temperature on the display as shown below Figure 7 Temperatur Indicator As the camera cools down the cooling indicator icon will change to that of Figure a Upon reaching the temperature requested the camera will regulate or lock at that temperature and the indicator will change to that of Figure b When cooling is turned off iGlo will show the off icon as shown in Figure c a b c Figure 8 Cooling Indicators 2 Binning iGlo also showsthe binning state of the Retiga SRV and will change instantaneously the moment the binning is changed in software Figure below indicates the binning state as shown by iGlo Figure 9 Binning Display 3 Exposure When the exposure is changed on Retiga SRV through software iGlo will instantenously show it also In Figure the exposure is shown to be 16 38ms and will also show seconds millseconds and microseconds when the camera is set to that exposure Figure 10 Exposure Display 4 Monochrome or Color When changing between color states iGlo will show if the camera is setto Monochrome mode Figure a or RGB mode Figure b RGB mode will be displayed on iGlo if Retiga SRV is a bayer camera or if it is a monochrome camera with an RGB filter attached for color imaging The icon
5. edo ebbe Reddit bd idet I5 Resolving Problems with camera 15 Unresolved Problems Contacting QImaging Support 2 16 GLOSSARY QU POR RARO eae 17 19 APPENDIX External Trigger Port 19 ii CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION The QImaging Retiga SRV CCD digital camera has been specially engineered for low light high speed high sensitivity applications A three stage Peltier device and an all metal hermetic vacuum sealed CCD chamber provides state of the art cooling to 303C the camera s software selectable regulated cooling enables precise control in single degree increments The Retiga SRV features a 1 4 megapixel CCD 12 bit digital output and an IEEE 1394 interface for enhanced connectivity and noise shielding performance Additionally the camera comes with iGlo Technology which features an Organic Light Emitting Diode OLED display that provides users with key information about camera settings in a convenient ergonomic way Power Requirements The Retiga SRV can be powered through a single IEEE 1394 FireWire 6 pin to 9 pin cable when the cooling is off When the cooling is on the Retiga SRV must be connected to the included external power supply Power Supply Specifications Input Power 30Watts 12 24VDC Host Requirements For Windows PCs e Pentium CPU running at 300M Hz 256 MB RAM 512MB RAM
6. is connected to your computer and is turned on GREEN The green LED is the exposure integration indicator It will stay illuminated for the duration of the exposure of the CCD and turn off when not exposing BLUE The blue LED is the cooling indicator It will flash while cooling down to the set temperature When the temperature is locked and regulated the blue LED will stay illuminated It will turn off when cooling is turned off through software Capturing Images with the Retiga SRV Consult your imaging application s user s manual for more details CHAPTER 4 ADVANCED CAMERA CONTROLS The Retiga SRV offers many advanced features This section provides information on how to make the most of your Qlmaging camera Cooling Capability The Retiga SRV offers the user the option of selecting the cooling temperature in one 1 degree increments The maximum cooling of the Retiga SRV is 303C iGlo OLED iGlo is the innovative combination of QImaging s digital camera technology and an Organic Light Emitting Diode OLED display providing camera setting information in an ergonomic way No need to open your dialog box to record the settings of the camera you can just look at the display Figure 6 iGlo Technology As shown above in Figure iGlo displays seven 7 camera settings for easy visibility and verification They are 1 Temperature 2 Binning 3 Exposure 4 Monochrome or Color 5 Readout Speed 6 Bit Depth 7
7. preferred e Video card with 8 MB video memory capable of 32 bit color output Windows 2000 or Windows XP Professional If the PC is not equipped with a FireWire card the included card must be installed For Mac OS Computers e PowerPC based M acintosh with an OHCI compliant IEEE 1394 port G4 G5 and iM ac models e iMac models may not provide enough power to cooled cameras Qlmaging s IEEE 1394 HUB may be required to power the camera Contact QImaging for ordering information e Mac OS X 10 2 x and higher 256 MB RAM All the G4 G5 and iM ac models are equipped with a FireWire The included IEEE 1394 PCI is not required for Mac OS computers IEEE 1394 FireWire Interface The Retiga SRV can be powered and controlled through an IEEE 1394 FireWire digital interface To realise the full bemefits of the Retiga SRV a single FireWire connection from the camera to the computer combined with the external power connection will allow full control of the camera and rapid image data transfer from the camera to the computer Cables A 4 5 meter FireWire interface cable is included with the camera One end of this cable connects to either of the available FireW ire ports at the back of the camera 9 pin connection the other end of the cable plugs into your computer s 6 pin FireWire port Some computers have 4 pin FireW ire ports These ports may be used if they are OHCI compliant but you will need to purchase a 4 p
8. the cable into a FireW ire port on your computer Computer Figure 3 Desktop Computer FireWire Connection In order to obtain the cooling specification of the camera the supplied external power adapter needs to be connected to the camera as shown in Figure 4 below 110 240 VAC power supply Camera Figure 4 FireWire and External Power Supply Connection If you have a laptop computer you can use the built in FireWire port or a PCMCIA card However should you connect to a latpop computer you will still be required to connect the supplied external power supply to the camera in order to power it see Figure 4 Optional powering of the PCMCIA card will not be required in this configuration CHAPTER 3 CAMERA BASICS The Retiga SRV s image capture capabilities are controlled entirely by your imaging software This chapter provides basic instructions for working with the camera itself Turning the Camera On and Off To turn the Retiga SRV on press the power switch The Retiga SRV lights will flash and the white power light will remain on provided that you have the appropriate configuration of Step 3 in the Introduction section Refer to this step for all system configurations ensuring that the FireWire cable s are connected as specified If power is supplied the WHITE LED will turn on To turn the Retiga SRV off press the power switch again This will turn your camera off The WHITE LED will turn off Fig
9. the integration period Vice versa for Pulse Low mode This mode does not allow the simultaneous readout and exposure operation of the camera Strobe Mode allows the user the combination of pulse mode with simultaneous readout and exposure This is very advanced mode of operation of the camera such that the second pulse must finish after the readout of the first The time between pulses is very critical for this operation Connecting External Sources to the Camera Before you can begin to externally trigger your camera you need to connect the necessary trigger signal source to the camera To do this you need to ensure that you have a 6 pin miniature circular din cable and ensure that the pinouts are set correctly from your trigger source Refer to Appendix A for further details on pin assignments and a diagram of the mini din connector There are several ways that you can provide an external pulse to the camera one of them being via the QImaging External Trigger Board which is available through QImaging and another common device is a function generator To trigger the camera you need to provide a 5V TTL pulse though the pin stated in Appendix A To ensure that you will use the external triggering mechanism correctly it is important to ensure that the following questions have been answered when devising or architecting your system design Has a system design been developed that incorporates the necessary elements such as aTimi
10. to external parts of your system offering advanced capabilities To use this feature effectively it is important to understand the operation and configuration of your camera The External Trigger Port of the Retiga SRV is a 6 pin miniature circular DIN connector This port accepts digital logic signals that are used to control the camera s integration The External Trigger Port is optically isolated from the camera s electronics For this reason the user must provide power to the External Trigger Port See Appendix A for a pinout and schematic diagram of the External Trigger Port 11 In externally triggered modes of operation the user inputs a pulse on the External Trigger Port that controls the camera s integration in one of two ways depending on the triggering mode Triggering Modes When using External Triggering there are three different types of triggering modes Edge High Low Pulse High Low and Strobe High Low Edge mode allows the camera to start integrating on the rising or falling edge of the trigger pulse with the integration time controlled internally by the camera Using this method allows you to externally trigger the camera as fast as possible and allows you to take advantage of the simultaneous readout and exposure function Pulse Mode allows the user to control the integration period where the time is dictated by the duration of the pulse If Pulse High mode is used then the time the pulse is high is the time of
11. MAGING COM 604 708 3068 WWW QIMAGING COM SUPPORT CONTACT CONTENTS i INTRODUCTION 1 Power Reguireiments ies SM 1 EIOSUR i CERES i aTe BS iore ta o o 1 IEEE 1394 FireWire Interface 0222 0 0 00000000001000000000000 enne nnne 2 Grid mM Ln 2 Imaging Software for Your Camera 1 5 sees sente ete 2 INSTALLATION ao aera 4 Step 1 Install the 1394 PCI card Windows Users Only eese 4 Step 2 Install Your Imaging Software ed oo pd 5 Step 3 Connect the REM saa SR 5 7 Turning Camera On and Off 7 Connecting the Retiga SRV to your Optics 7 Understanding the LED Indicators 8 Capturing Images with the Retiga SRV s cssstspcisscesscahesdsesgadacseqsanaieaccdeassedeansssoeaacavastces 8 ADVANCED CAMERA CONTROLS ite cases tras aed geet 9 9 iGlo iato oisi be d Uis i be a ee pe UP ela QUU Ue RR Que 9 Triggering the Re ga SRV 2 4 es eee neon sata ne rendono 11 Gain and Offset Controls 13 CARING FOR YOUR GAMERA a eE ER E 14 TROUBLES HOO
12. changes with the change in mode in software Figure 11 Image Format Icons 10 5 Readout Speed Retiga SRV can be set to various readout speeds for better read noise performance When changing the readout speed through software iGlo will show the speed through the readout indicator Examples of readout speed indicators are shown in Figure Figure 12 Readout Speed Icons 6 Bit Depth The Retiga SRV allows for two image capture formats 8 bit or 12 bit images Selecting the image capture mode in your software will automatically update iGlo with one of the icons shown in Figure a Figure 13 Bit Depth Icons 7 Sensitivity Mode Retiga SRV supports two light modes 1 High Speed mode for all types of imaging including brightfield dark field and fluorescence offering high frame rates whilst keeping the anti blooming protection and 2 High Sensitivity mode enhances the quantum efficiency above 600nm by reducing the frame rate and turning off anti blooming protection When using High Sensivitiy M ode it is recommended that you only use it when taking extended exposures with very minimal light iGlo will display which mode you are in whether it be High Speed M ode Figure a or High Sensitivity mode Figure b a b Figure 14 High Sensitivity Icons Triggering the Retiga SRV Extenally Externally triggering the Retiga SRV provides a sophisticated method of imaging and synchronizing your camera
13. fset are calibrated values that maximize the dynamic range The electrical gain and offset can be controlled in software by the CCD Gain and Offset controls 13 CHAPTER 5 CARING FOR YOUR CAMERA The Retiga SRV camera requires no regular maintenance except occasional external cleaning of the CCD window the glass window between the camera sensor and the microscope or lens To clean the CCD window CAUTION The camera s CCD sensor and circuits are sensitive to static discharge Ensure you are using a static strap or are completely grounded at all times to release any static energy before you clean the CCD window e Use clean forced air available at stores that sell cameras and computer cleaning supplies to dust the CCD window If the image still appears dirty gently wipe the face of the CCD window with a small amount of optical grade isopropyl alchohol and lens paper Apply forced air again to remove any loose particles To clean the iGlo OLED Display CAUTION The camera s OLED display is very sensitive to corrosive materials and it is recommended to follow the instructions below very carefully to avoid damage to the display Use clean forced air available at stores that sell cameras and computer cleaning supplies to dust the CCD window CAUTION Do not use acetone Acetone will corrode the OLED Display If the image still appears dirty gently wipe the face of the CCD window wi
14. ges using Qlmaging cameras CHAPTER 2 INSTALLATION IMPORTANT Follow these steps in order to complete the installation DO NOT CONNECT the camera until the camera driver is installed 1 Windows PC users only Install the IEEE 1394 PCI card only if necessary 2 Imaging Software Install the software and drivers that your new QlImaging camera needs to capture images 3 Retiga SRV Connect the camera to your computer using the included IEEE 1394 cable DO NOT CONNECT the camera until you have a functioning FireWire port in your computer and the camera driver is installed Step L Install the 1394 PCI card Windows Users Only This step is for Windows PC users only If you are installing the Retiga SRV on a Mac OS computer please skip to Step 2 Check your computer for an existing FireWire port The Retiga SRV connectsto your Windows PC via a FireWire port If you already have a FireWire port you do not have to install the IEEE 1394 PCI card Check the connectors at the back of your PC for a port that matches the FireWire port of the connection shown in Figure 1 Computer Figure 1 9 pin to 6 pin FireWire IEEE 1394 Port connection If your PC does not have a functioning FireW ire port you must install the IEEE 1394 PCI card that came with your camera If necessary install the included IEEE 1394 PCI card e Shut down your computer Open the case and install the included IEEE 1394 card into an empty PCI slot
15. in to 9 pin FireWire cable from your local computer store or a 4 pin to 6 pin adapter from QImaging When connecting the Retiga SRV to any FireW ire port you will need to use an external power supply What is the difference between 4 pin 6 pin and 9 pin FireWire ports FireW ire cables are available in three varieties 4 pin 6 pin and 9 pin 9 pin and 6 pin FireWire cables are capable of providing both power and a communication interface between the camera and computer while 4 pin cables provide only a communication interface Some laptop computers have 6 pin FireWire jacks that do not provide power If your computer has such a port you will have to power your Retiga SRV by attaching the included external power supply to the system Imaging Software for Your Camera Industry Standard Imaging Applications The Retiga SRV works with industry standard Windows and Mac OS imaging software Please go to the following URL for an up to date listing of third party software companies that support QImaging cameras HTTP WWW QIM AGING COM PARTNERS QCapture Suite Software The Retiga SRV operates on both Windows and M ac OS based systems QCapture Suite Software for both systems is available at WWW QIM AGING COM The easy to use QCapture software gives you complete control over the camera s settings and image capture functions QCapture Suite also includes a TWAIN compliant interface that allows many Windows image editing applications to acquire ima
16. l pixels in the camera s CCD into a single super pixel For example 2x2 bin means that 2 pixels in the horizontal direction and 2 pixels in the vertical direction are combined to form one super pixel C Mount A standard threaded lens mount used to attach a camera to a microscope or a separate lens to a camera CCD Charge Coupled Device abbr CCD Gain The amount of analog signal amplification The gain is factory optimized for the camera s maximum dynamic range Charge Coupled Device The light sensitive silicon chip near the optical interface of the camera that converts light intensities into electrical signals These are typically made up of many pixel elements whose intensities are interpreted by imaging software to display an image on the screen Dynamic Range The ratio of the saturation level of the CCD to the readout noise of the CCD camera system Dynamic range is a measure of the ability of the camera to capture both bright and dark features in a single image In general the higher the camera s dynamic range the more information per pixel it can capture Exposure The amount of time that light reaches the image sensor Field of View The area visible through the camera s optics FireWire 17 See IEEE 1394 IEEE 1394 High bandwidth 40 megabytes second 1394a 80 megabytes second 1394b interface for connecting digital imaging storage and other devices to host computers Image Intensifie
17. ng Diagram Flow of Events e g a simple state diagram necessary components e g microscope flash lamp shutter etc e a software solution for extracting and or processing your images 12 e External Triggering source e g Qlmaging Trigger board function generator etc e Have you Determined the type of triggering mode you require for you application e Are you sure the settings in the camera have been set correctly For instance are your monitoring the SYNCB output and if so have you set the correct output mode for your system The above list should be used as a guide and should be consulted before contacting QImaging Technical Support Trigger Mode Trigger Source Exposure Control Continual Internal to Camera Internal to Camera Edge Hi Lo External Trigger Port Internal to Camera Pulse Hi Lo External Trigger Port Length of User Pulse Strobe Hi Lo External Trigger Port Length of User Pulse Software QCAM API Trigger Event Internal to Camera Table 1 Trigger Sources and Integration Modes Gain and Offset Controls The Retiga SRV s electrical gain and offset controls allow the user to map an image s intensities of interest to the camera s digital range This mapping is performed in the analog domain and thus avoids the quantization errors incurred when the mapping is performed in the digital domain M ost users wish to operate the camera in a mode that maximizes dynamic range The factory default electrical gain and of
18. r An electro optical vacuum tube which intensifies or amplifies on low light level images Integration The active collection of photons as done by an image sensor Iris A diaphragm in the lens that opens or closes to set the aperture the amount of light that passes through the lens to the CCD ms millisecond abbr unit of measure for exposure time ns nanosecond abbr unit of measure for exposure time Offset The offset value adjusts the CCD blacklevel relative to the analog to digital converter zero It is factory optimized for the camera s maximum dynamic range Pixel The smallest spatial element of a digital image S second abbr unit of measure for exposure time us microsecond abbr unit of measure for exposure time 18 APPENDICES APPENDIX A External Trigger Port The external trigger port at the rear of the camera is a 6 pin miniature circular DIN receptacle 749265 1 The mating connector is Singatron Enterprises part number 62000 6P available from Digikey www digikey com Figure 15 External Trigger Port Connector The pinout for the connector is as follows Pin Number Signal Name Signal Description Source 5 VDC Power for Optocoupler trigger Trigger input Active Low Trigger Input s 7 Table 2 Pin out of the External Trigger Port Connec
19. t Appear Sharp If the image does not seem sharp check the format of the lens or the coupler being used on the microscope An incorrect coupler on the microscope will not provide the correct field of view and will reduce the light available to the sensor If you experience an unsharp image contact your microscope dealer to assist you in finding the most appropriate coupler 15 Unresolved Problems Contacting Qlmaging Support If you are still unable to resolve your problem contact Qlmaging Support for assistance in one of four ways Visit HTTP WWW QIM AGING COM SUPPORT FAQ for a list of all frequently asked questions Your issue may be resolved in one of these faqs Visit HTTP WWW QIM AGING COM SUPPORT CONTACT and fill out a support form online with the details of your problem E mail SUPPORT QIMAGING COM with complete details of your problem including Error M essage and Code if possible camera model computer hardware configuration and operating system Call 1 604 708 5061 Try to be in front of your computer when you call 16 GLOSSARY Binning Binning is a method of increasing camera speed and sensitivity to boost low signals Binning causes the acquired image to be brighter and smaller but the resolution will be lower as a result Because the image is smaller the image transfer time is reduced significantly When you select a binning setting in your imaging software the camera combines data from severa
20. th a small amount of optical grade isopropyl alchohol and lens paper Apply forced air again to remove any loose particles gt CHAPTER 6 TROUBLESHOOTING Resolving Problems with the camera The White LED is not lit Check all the cable connections Flip the switch at the back of the camera e If your white LED is still not lit then your camera may not be receiving the required power If you have a 1394 Power Supply or the included external power supply connect the camera as listed in Step 3 of the Introduction Section Image occasionally goes bright on one side or stays dark on one side Turn off the overhead lights in the room Fluorescent lights may interact with the camera to create fluctuating image brightness Hazy image or poor contrast f you are using the camera on a microscope check the magnification of the microscope coupler Consult your microscope manufacturer to find the type of coupler that works optimally with the Retiga SRV camera s sensor Point the camera at something in the far distance Loosen the set screw of the C mount ring there are three one on the side and two on the top Adjust the C mount ring until the image is in focus Then tighten the set screw so that the C mount ring does not move This effect may also be caused by excessive infrared IR illumination Verify that your camera or optical system is blocking the IR Contact Qlmaging to order an IR filter Images That Do No
21. tor 5VDC pin 1 and GROUND pin 4 amp pin 6 must be connected in order for SYNC A SYNC B or TRIGGER to be live 19 VL90 1dOH uzez 654 uzez 354 190 325 99A dasn 3ON3H3H3H Nid 8NO 1 3 vONAS 43991841 internal to camera igger circui Figure 16 Schematic of External Tr 20 Input Signals In order to use the External Trigger Port correctly and ensure external triggering operation for your camera you need to supply at least 4 input signals through the mini din receptacle Pin 1 always needs to be powered at a 5V potential with Pins 4 and 6 always connected to ground The input signal to begin triggering the camera is through Pin 2 and should be a 5V TTL pulse Output Signals There are two output signals provided on the Retiga SRV SYNC A and SYNC B SYNC A This signal indicates the readout time of the camera and this signal is active high A user could monitor this signal as a means of knowing when to trigger the next frame SYNC B This signal has two modes of operation which can be selected in software Refer to the QCAM SDK API documentation for further information on setting these parameters Expose Mode If this modes is selected the signal will indicate the exposure pulse of the camera This signal is active high and may be used to synchronize an external shuttering device
22. ure 5 Power Switch on the Retiga SRV Connecting the Retiga SRV to your Optics The Retiga SRV connects directly to widely available C mount optics which are standard on most microscopes and lenses To attach the camera to a microscope Carefully thread the camera onto the microscope s C mount adapter rotating the camera until it is mounted securely Use the microscope controls to adjust focus To attach a C mount lens to the camera Carefully thread the C mount lens onto the camera s lens ring rotating the lens in a clockwise direction until it is mounted securely Use the lens controls to adjust focus To attach F mount optics If you have a monochrome camera and you have purchased the optional color filter then carefully thread the color filter to the C mount ring on the camera The opposite end of the color filter is a female F mount connector Carefully connect your F mount optics to the open connector of the color filter until it is mounted securely Use your optics controls to adjust focus NOTE If you did not purchase a color filter then you will need to purchase a C to F mount adapter to allow the connection of F mount optics Your camera does not need to be monochrome in this situation Understanding the LED Indicators The LED indicators at the back of the camera give you important information about what your camera is doing WHITE The white LED is the power indicator This LED should always be lit when the camera
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