Micro*Color™/Macro*Color™
Contents
1. 4L 70 CABLE NOTES 1 ACTUATOR PROTRUDES 0 57 INCH IN CLEAR MODE AND 1 79 INCHES IN RGB MODE 2 TOTAL WEIGHT OF COUPLER IS 2LB 1107 DWG MA20273 Figure 7 0 65x C mount Microscope Coupler 22 Micro Color Macro Color Specifications amp Dimensions Macro Color 35 mm General Purpose Enclosure SECTION A A SCALE 1 1 A MINI DIN 8 CABLE e 2 250 m 075 1 400 465 040 A 1 125 6 i I 1 125 IN 1 400 2 750 wooo ee ie A DWG MA20358 Figure 8 Macro Color 35 mm Enclosure Mounting Adapters for Macro Color 35 mm General Purpose Enclosure 16 32 THRU TO HOLD 2 PL ot 0212 2 250 0 518 1 213 4 CS APLCS 82DEGHD ll 1 125 0 982 1 710 THRU 0037 000 DWG MI10843 Figure 9 Macro Color Adapter Plate Micro Color Macro Color Specifications amp Dimensions 23 Sy 058 E DETAIL B SCALE 3 1 e 029 a A 1 32 CLASS 2B THRU EN d 1 706 000 005 j 1 830 SECTION A A DWG MI10845 Figure 10 Dovetailed Inserts Female C mount 790 THRU 60 12. 55 C Computer interface USB 1 1 USB 1 1 USB 1 1 Power supply USB bus powered USB bus powered USB bus powered 1 See the section Red Green and Blue Color States for more detail 2 Optics response time depends on a number of factors including ambient temperature colder temperatures cause the liquid crystal material to become more viscous and slower to respond and the starting and ending color state See the section Optics Response Time for more detail 3 The Micro Color electronics controller module circuitry can interface with USB 2 0 hosts but will communicate at USB 1 1 data rates Red Green and Blue Color States These spectral curves represent typical Micro Color and Macro Color filters as of September 2006 and are subject to change These curves were taken using a NIST traceable visible wavelength spectrometer and CRi manufactured off the shelf filters Second generation Micro Color filters which succeeded the VariSpec RGB filters in 1997 were phased out in late 2002 and early 2003 The filters featured a Color Shaping Glass CSG component that helped to correct the overly red sensitive spectral response of most CCD equipped cameras produced at the time Some OEM customers who manufactured their own cameras with a similar CSG component purchased a bare Micro Color filter with no CSG component but with an AR coated cover slip Micro Color Macro Color Specifications amp Dimensions 19
3. the Internet or by any other means You may make only one 1 copy of the Software solely for backup purposes You may not decompile reverse engineer disassemble alter modify translate adapt decipher or determine the source code or create derivative works of the Software Ownership of Software CRi and or its suppliers own all right title and interest including all copyrights in and to the Software The Software contains confidential information and trade secrets of CRi You i acknowledge and agree not to contest CRi s rights in the Software i1 agree not to disclose to anyone or allow anyone access to the Software and iii agree not to disclose any confidential information of CRi regarding the Software or that is otherwise disclosed to you in connection with this Agreement Transfer Restrictions The Software is licensed only to you The Software may not be transferred to anyone without the prior written consent of CRi The terms and conditions of this Agreement shall bind any CRi authorized transferee of the Software You may not transfer assign rent lease lend sell grant a security interest in sublicense or otherwise dispose of the Software on a temporary or permanent basis except for a CRi authorized transfer as stated above Termination The license granted in Section 1 above is effective until terminated This Agreement is conditioned upon your continued compliance with the terms and conditions hereof and will
4. 2 Introduction to Micro Color Macro Color Tunable RGB Filters Operator and Equipment Safety It is the responsibility of the purchaser to ensure that all persons who will operate the Micro Color Macro Color filter are aware of the following cautionary statements As with any scientific instrument there are important safety considerations which are highlighted throughout this User s Manual Cautionary Statements READ AND UNDERSTAND THIS USER S MANUAL BEFORE ATTEMPTING TO OPERATE TROUBLESHOOT OR MAINTAIN THE MICRO COLOR OR MACRO COLOR TUNABLE RGB FILTER READING THIS MANUAL FIRST MAKES IT EASIER AND SAFER TO OPERATE AND MAINTAIN THE FILTER Do not expose the optics module to prolonged heat above 40 C Do not drop the optics module or the electronics controller module Do not expose the optics module to intense light from laser focused arc or Hg lamp sources Do not operate the filter in places where it may be splashed with liquid The optics module may be cleaned using the procedure described in the troubleshooting section of this User s Manual Do not operate the filter in an environment with explosive or flammable gases Use only the supplied cables Some cables supplied with the system may have proprietary specifications Do not connect components supplied by CRi using unqualified cables or adapters Doing so could result in damage and voids the Warranty Use only a host computer that has a properly grounded power ou
5. Color Filters 11 e ImagePro Plus Media Cybernetics e JPLab BD Biosciences formerly Scanalytics Inc Metamorph Molecular Devices Corp formerly Universal Imaging Corp e Openlab Improvision e QCapture QImaging Corp e SimplePCI Compix Inc a Hamamatsu Company e Wasabi Hamamatsu Corp 12 Controlling Micro Color Macro Color Filters Chapter 3 Frequently Asked Questions amp Troubleshooting FAQs Why doesn t the filter or Color Status light change color Make sure the filter hardware components are properly assembled including the cables and adapters Examine the electrical pins on the electronics controller module and cables to make sure they are not bend or damaged Make sure that power is being provided to the electronics controller module through the USB port of the host computer or powered USB hub The Power On light should be lit green If you are using a legacy RS 232 filter and a third party USB serial adapter make sure that you have correctly installed the software drivers that are appropriate to the operating system Some customers have noted that adapters made by Keyspan http www keyspan com function especially well Other third party adapters may also work but CRi does not maintain a comprehensive list Also check that the power transformer is the correct model for the legacy Electronics Control Module Check the internal jumper block in legacy Electronics Control M
6. Third generation current Micro Color Macro Color filters which were introduced in December 2002 feature a near infrared NIR hot mirror component instead of the CSG Since most camera manufacturers now include a CSG component in their visible wavelength models it was decided to eliminate the CRi supplied CSG The hot mirror is necessary since many end users utilize illumination systems such as tungsten halogen lamps that output significant amounts of energy in the near infrared that may not be completely eliminated by many camera configurations The dark state command 4 is a spectrally uncharacterized state of about a 200 1 extinction Micro Color bare 70 60 50 40 Blue Green Red 30 20 Transmission 10 0 400 450 500 550 600 650 700 Wavelength nm Micro Color CSG a N oO o oO o Blue Green Red Transmission No BR a o o o o fi 400 450 500 550 600 650 700 Wavelength nm Micro Color 2 Hot Mirror N e Blue Green Red wo gt a o o o o o fi fi Transmission 20 o o 400 450 500 550 600 650 700 Wavelength nm 20 Micro Color Macro Color Specifications amp Dimensions Optics Response Time Several factors affect the time it takes to switch from one wavelength to anoth
7. esee 5 e Micro Color Macro Color Software Developer s Kit SDK installation CD 8 e Micro Color Macro Color User s Manual eeeeeeeeenees 8 CRi s Micro Color and Macro Color filters employ liquid crystal technology to switch rapidly between the red green and blue color states The RGB color states can be selected by computer control in any order and the exposure time for each color can be varied to provide an accurate color balance Three grayscale images one for each of the three color states are acquired in quick succession using a third party digital camera and software The images can then be Introduction to Micro Color Macro Color Tunable RGB Filters 1 combined into a single high quality color image The whole vibration free process may occur within milliseconds and uses no beam splitters filter wheels or moving parts Filter transmittance is sensitive to polarization of the input beam and is increased by a factor of two if the input beam is polarized along the axis of the input polarizer Standard filter models contain an integral hot mirror for blocking unwanted near infrared NIR light The product family includes the following models e Micro Color with 0 65x Coupler Designed for use on microscopes with C mount camera ports Comes with a built in slider mechanism for moving the filter in and out of the light path The 0 65x demagnification coupler screws onto the standard C mount fixtures between
8. image acquisition software that can control the filter follow the instructions that came with the software Some programs require software extensions or plug ins to enable control of the filter Setting up a Micro Color Macro Color Filter 31 32 Setting up a Micro Color Macro Color Filter Appendix C Legacy Hardware and Software Considerations Optics and Electronics Controller Modules Previous generation Micro Color Macro Color filters utilized an RS 232 serial interface The rear panel of the electronics controller box featured an RJ 12 connector and 18VAC 50 60 Hz AC jack Power transformers were supplied for the country or region the filters were to be used in An RJ 12 straight through modular data cable is plugged into the RS 232 connector The other end is plugged into an RJ 12 to DB 9 adapter for the host computer s serial COM port COM port settings for legacy filters are identical to the COM port settings for current USB filters Bits per second 9600 Data bits 8 Parity None Stop bits 1 Flow control None Filters shipped before 1999 also came with a RJ 12 to DB 25 parallel adapter for use on a computer LPT port The Command Characters are the same as present model filters The form factor of the optics modules for legacy filters may differ from the mechanical drawings included in this publication Legacy Software Software available from CRi prior to the release of filters with USB control consisted of th
9. terminate automatically without notice from CRi if you fail to comply with any term or condition of the Agreement Furthermore CRi may terminate this Agreement at any time upon thirty 30 days notice Upon termination of this Agreement you shall immediately destroy all copies of the Software including all accompanying documentation and any other confidential and proprietary information you have received during or in connection with this Agreement CRi Software End User License Agreement 37 Limited Warranty CRi warrants that the media on which the Software is provided will be free from defects in materials and faulty workmanship under normal use for a period of ninety 90 days from the date of delivery Your exclusive remedy under this Section 6 shall be at CRi s option a refund of the price paid for the Software or replacement of the media on which the Software was provided so long as that media has been returned to CRi under a CRi issued return authorization CRi shall have no responsibility to replace media damaged by accident abuse or misapplication No Other Warranties EXCEPT FOR THE LIMITED WARRANTY STATED IMMEDIATELY ABOVE THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED AS IS WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND AND CRI EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ANY AND ALL IMPLIED WARRANTIES INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION ANY WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR NONINFRINGEMENT OF THIRD PARTY RIGHTS CRI DOES NOT REPRESENT OR WARRANT THAT THE R
10. the optics module so in some situations you will only use the optics module Figure 1 1 Micro Color 0 65x Coupler 2 Olympus Slider 3 Zeiss Slider 4 Macro Color Optics Module and 5 Electronics Controller Module Micro Color Macro Color Optics Module The optics module is connected to the electronics controller module with a mini DIN 8 pin cable Micro Color and Macro Color optics modules come in different form factors depending on the particular application Figure 1 shows the different models Note that light passing through the optics module will become linearly polarized Caution DO NOT connect a computer function generator or other signal source to this 4 connector as the liquid crystal elements may be destroyed Doing so voids the warranty The optics module is designed to be driven by the electronics con troller module ONLY Avoid disconnecting the cable while the electronics con troller module is plugged into a host computer that is powered up or while connected to a powered USB hub Micro Color Electronics Controller Module The electronics controller module contains the circuitry and firmware necessary to control the optics module using a USB 1 1 interface Power is also provided via the same USB interface The front panel of the electronics controller module contains two indicator lights on the right side Introd
11. tool if you are writing your own software or if you simply want to manually tune the filter Operational Notes e Unplugging the VariSpec filter from the physical USB connection will not harm it under normal circumstances e The filter has a transition time at room temperature of approximately 2 ms from Red to Green from Green to Blue or from Red to Blue Going from Blue to Red Blue to Green or Green to Red involves a longer transition time of about 30 ms Selecting a faster interval between selected wavelengths will result in the filter being placed into unknown and uncharacterized transitional states Transition time is affected by the ambient temperature higher temperatures allow the liquid crystal LC to become less viscous and faster to respond to electrical current Nevertheless always stay within the recommended operating temperature and maximum input flux 500 mW cm to prevent damage to the LC Longer or extended cables may prevent the filter from functioning properly due to excessive signal loss Although the cables are shielded the presence of strong electromagnetic fields may also adversely affect filter tuning Older Model Serial RS 232 Interface Filters e You may utilize the software and SDK so long as you remember that you must manually select the COM port in the Configuration window in the CycleTool software Legacy RS 232 interface models require a third party USB to serial adapter and proper operating system dr
12. your microscope and C mount 2 3 inch or 1 2 inch format CCD camera e Micro Color Microscope Sliders Designed to fit into the infinity space i e between the objective and the tube lens of certain Olympus and Zeiss microscopes See Appendix A Micro Color Macro Color Specifications amp Dimensions for more information e Macro Color Designed to accommodate the wide variety of CCD cameras and lens adapters used in standard or macro digital photography The Macro Color filter features a large 35 mm active area Micro Color and Macro Color tunable RGB filters feature a self powered Universal Serial Bus USB interface to host computers The controller accepts simple serial commands or signals from a TTL Sync source Important Features Micro Color Macro Color filters enable e High resolution color images from a monochrome CCD camera with no moving parts no vibration and no added noise e Better spatial resolution and color accuracy than conventional painted pixel CCD or CMOS cameras Lower cost than triple CCD cameras and no mis registration issues Applications Micro Color and Macro Color filters offer excellent imaging quality making them ideal for use with high resolution CCDs or CMOS sensors in biomedical imaging applications Additionally they can be used in applications including Remote Sensing e Machine vision QA QC e Historical document imaging e Color characterization of a variety of materials
13. 2 AR SECTION B B 2 SCALE 2 1 2X 1 706 002 vi r 185 B A 3 i p o FJ e en an 90 i B DETAIL A 098 062 THD RELIEF SCALE 4 1 _ 61 000X32 UNC2B C MOUNT THD 1 830 DWG MI10844 Figure 11 Dovetailed Inserts Male C mount 24 Micro Color Macro Color Specifications amp Dimensions EN m 2X 5 1 706 002 m 185 is L E i i 90 0 45 0 04 MIN THD RELIEF S N m 1 i jo j i L 370 036 i i 094 5 42mm X 75 L 063 THD RELIEF T MOUNT THD PETALA 1 830 DWG MI10846 Figure 12 Dovetailed Inserts Male T mount _ 160 2 087 72 M52x0 75 M42x0 75 Ha SECTION A A 157 244 DWG MI10408 Figure 13 52 mm Camera Lens Thread Adapter Micro Color Macro Color Specifications amp Dimensions 25 FEMALE F MOUNT 2 750 2 362 Tm pe 125 r 2 250 58 m DWG MK50072 Figure 14 Nikon Female F mount Adapter Assembly Electronics Controller Module DWG PAI1108COMP Figure 15 Micro Color Controll
14. 2 filter 13 M maximum optical input specification 19 N NIR hot mirror specification 19 O operating temperature specification 19 optics module 5 optics response time specification 19 P power on light 6 power supply specification 19 S Safety cautionary statements 3 operator and equipment 3 technical assistance contact 3 setting up the filter 27 software developer s kit 8 components 9 installing 28 software license agreement 37 Specifications mechanical dimensions 21 operating 19 storage temperature specification 19 T third party software 11 thread adapter 52 mm 7 troubleshooting 15 U USB drivers installing 28 user s manual about 3 WwW working aperture specification 19 Index 43 44 Index Warranty CRi warrants its Micro Color and Macro Color filters for a period of one 1 year from date of shipment against defects in material and or workmanship provided its installation application and maintenance are within specifications Normal wearing parts are excluded This warranty covers only items manufactured by CRi CRi will correct by repair or replacement at its option and its expense any proved defects in items of its manufacture subject to above provided immediate written notice of such defects is given A valid Return Materials Authorization RMA must be obtained by contacting CRi before items may be returned to the factory Repair or replacement will be provided F O B Freight O
15. 388 Email techsupport cri inc com CX Micro Color Macro Color and VariSpec are trademarks of Cambridge Research amp Instrumentation Incorporated Adobe and Acrobat are trademarks of Adobe Systems Incorporated Apple and Mac are registered trademarks of Apple Computer Incorporated HyperTerminal is a trademark of Hilgraeve Incorporated LabVIEW is a trademark of National Instruments Corporation Linux is the registered trademark of Linus Torvalds in the U S and other countries Microsoft and Windows are trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and other countries All other trademarks mentioned in this publication are the properties of their respective owners 2006 Cambridge Research amp Instrumentation Inc All rights reserved Document Part No MD15328 Rev A October 2006 CRi 35 B Cabot Road Woburn MA 01801 USA Toll Free US 1 800 383 7924 P 1 781 935 9099 F 1 781 935 3388 sales cri inc com www cri inc com
16. ESULTS OR THE USE OF THE SOFTWARE WILL BE CORRECT ACCURATE OR RELIABLE OR THAT THE SOFTWARE WILL OPERATE UNINTERRUPTED OR ERROR FREE OR THAT DEFECTS IN THE SOFTWARE WILL BE CORRECTED YOU ASSUME ALL RISK ASSOCIATED WITH THE USE RESULTS AND PERFORMANCE OF THE SOFTWARE Limitation of Liability INNO EVENT SHALL CRI ITS AFFILIATES OR SUPPLIERS OR THEIR RESPECTIVE EMPLOYEES OFFICERS OR AGENTS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF THE USE OR INABILITY TO USE THE SOFTWARE INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION INCIDENTAL SPECIAL CONSEQUENTIAL PUNITIVE EXEMPLARY INDIRECT OR DIRECT DAMAGES INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION DAMAGES FOR LOSS OF PROFITS LOSS OF DATA RE RUN TIME INACCURATE INPUT WORK DELAYS BUSINESS INTERRUPTION OR ANY OTHER COMMERCIAL DAMAGES OR LOSSES WHETHER IN AN ACTION IN CONTRACT TORT INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE AND STRICT LIABILITY OR OTHERWISE AND EVEN IF CRI HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES AND REGARDLESS OF WHETHER ANY REMEDY FAILS OF ITS ESSENTIAL PURPOSE U S Government End Users The Software qualifies as commercial computer software for purposes of the Federal Acquisition Regulations FAR 52 227 19 and the Department of Defense Supplement to the FAR DFARS 52 227 7013 If the Software is acquired by a civilian government agency it is furnished with only the minimum Restricted Rights provided by FAR 52 227 19 If the Software is acquired by a military agency it is furnished with only the minim
17. L synchronization pulse generated by cameras shutters and other equipment The trigger occurs on the downward edge of the syncronization pulse e USB e is a Type B peripheral connector for direct interface to a host computer s USB Type A port or a powered USB hub using a USB Type A to USB Type B cable 6 Introduction to Micro Color Macro Color Tunable RGB Filters USB Peripheral Type A to Type B Cable A USB Type A to Type B cable connects the electronics controller module to the host computer or a powered USB hub Macro Color Adapter Plate optional accessory Adapter plates may be attached to the front or back of the Macro Color optics module to allow the use of circular dovetail inserts for common mechanical interfaces Macro Color Dovetailed Inserts optional accessory Dovetailed inserts with either male or female C mount threads or a male T mount thread can be placed into the round hole in the Macro Color adapter plate and held in place with setscrews 52 mm Camera Lens Thread Adapter optional accessory The 52 mm Camera Lens Thread Adapter allows you to convert a male T mount thread to a common 52 mm size This enables you to attach the filter to the front of a camera lens If the front of your camera lens is a different diameter you can purchase stepping rings from camera stores or photographic supply companies to go from the 52 mm thread to nearly any other thread size For example a 62 mm to 52 mm step down r
18. Micro Color Macro Color Tunable RGB Filters for Digital Imaging User s Manual amp oe October 2006 No image artifacts High resolution Solid state no from pixel color images from moving parts interpolation your grayscale USB control CCD Notice The information in this document is subject to change without notice and should not be construed as a commitment by Cambridge Research amp Instrumentation Inc CRi CRi assumes no responsibility for any errors that may appear in this document This manual is believed to be complete and accurate at the time of publication In no event shall CRi be liable for incidental or consequential damages in connection with or arising from use of this manual For more information contact Cambridge Research amp Instrumentation Inc CRi 35 B Cabot Road Woburn MA 01801 USA Toll Free US 1 800 383 792 4 Phone 1 781 935 9099 Fax 1 781 935 3388 Email techsupport cri inc com or sales cri inc com Web site http www cri inc com Document Part No MD15328 Rev A October 2006 CRi 35 B Cabot Road Woburn MA 01801 USA Toll Free US 1 800 383 7924 P 1 781 935 9099 F 1 781 935 3388 sales cri inc com www cri inc com Micro Color Macro Color Tunable RGB Filters for Digital Imaging CRI 35 B Cabot Road Woburn MA 01801 USA Toll Free US 1 800 383 7924 P 1 781 935 9099 F 1 781 935 3388 sales cri inc com www cri inc com CRi 35 B C
19. abot Road Woburn MA 01801 USA Toll Free US 1 800 383 7924 P 1 781 935 9099 F 1 781 935 3388 sales cri inc com www cri inc com Contents Chapter 1 Introduction to Micro Color Macro Color Tunable RGB Filters 1 Introduction Lot per sta e EA E a E EA EE aed eselanasseodasnsoutensdoneunesheduseetadadaoedasseseseals 1 Important Features d en e ORI NEE E E anaE ESNA VERRE OS NEESS EKNER setae NENON NA NESNE AASEN EE 2 Applications i Ea EKRE ANE ever neue 2 Operator and Equipment Safety aienea aptae E AEN A EN AOAC AERE nnns 3 Cautionary Statements sesiet oiea ori eere e o Rege AEE Eee E PRU Pe EE EEE RE A EE EEEE E EEAO 3 For Technical Assist nce EE 3 About This Manual 00 ccccccecescesccscssssssesseceececeeaceaceecesaeaecaeescescessecsecuaeasenesseceaeeaecaeeeeeeesessecuecaaeeaseaeeeeeeeseaeeaeeaeeas 3 Design Change Disclaimer iiie ie ou oa t testindea o tie est ipbesten Pesos nies esee b este etu Res eU us 4 Reproduction Disclamer inneren nn ee E Ek PINE EE EEEE dene 4 CE Testing and Certification sissies arni a E R vedendo asp deba Fee pru Tae Ege aet Un eed 4 Micro Color Macro Color Hardware Components ener ener nennen enne 5 Micro Color Macro Color Optics Module cccccseescesscesceeseeeseceseseceeeeecseecsseesecseceaeesseceaeseeseneseeesaeenaeens 5 Micro Color Electronics Controller Module esses enne ener nnns 2 USB Peripheral Type A to Type B Cable
20. c 0 35 B Cabot Road Woburn MA 01801 0 Toll Free 1 888 372 1242 0 Fax 781 935 3388 E mail sales cri inc com 0 Website www cri inc com Koehler Alignment 35 36 Koehler Alignment Appendix E CRi Software End User License Agreement The following is an agreement the Agreement between you and Cambridge Research amp Instrumentation Inc 35 B Cabot Road Woburn MA 01801 CRi for software known as the Micro Color Software Developer s Kit SDK and its accompanying documentation collectively the Software By installing and or using the Software you agree to the following terms and conditions If you do not agree to all of the terms and conditions in this Agreement you may not install or use the Software Single Use License The Software is licensed to you and not sold Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement CRi hereby grants to you a restricted nonexclusive nontransferable nonassignable nonsublicensable and revocable license to use for your internal purposes only the executable code version of the Software and the accompanying documentation in hard copy or electronic format CRI RESERVES ALL RIGHTS NOT EXPRESSLY GRANTED BY THIS AGREEMENT Specific Restrictions You may use the Software only on a single computer at a time You may not use the Software on more than one computer or computer terminal at the same time nor allow access to the Software from one computer to another over a network
21. e following e Capture An obsolete standalone program compiled using the ImagePro Plus SDK This program was written to run on the Windows 95 and NT platforms Capture for ImagePro Plus 4 0 An obsolete plug in for ImagePro Plus 4 0 This plug in was written to run on the Windows 95 and NT platforms Contact your local authorized distributor or CRi if you have legacy hardware and or software and wish to upgrade or purchase new software or hardware Legacy Hardware and Software Considerations 33 34 Legacy Hardware and Software Considerations Appendix D Koehler Alignment The following is a reproduction of a card that provides instructions for aligning your microscope for Koehler illumination Aligning your microscope using this technique provides the best possible images using brightfield DIC or polarization microscopy Contact CRi if you would like to receive this laminated card by mail Q r Align Your Microscope For Kl KOEHLER ILLUMINATION Professor August Koehler developed a method in 1893 now commonly referred to as Koehler illumination to precisely control the light path and the illuminating beam upon a microscope specimen You can get the best possible image from brightfield DIC phase contrast or polarization microscopy by using Koehler illumination Sep OOS po c 9 intensity of illumination toa comfortable level ual I ii 7 a Field of View d Condenser i d Diaphragm CRI In
22. ent has to be closed When this happens you can enter the Windows hardware Device manager to check the assigned COM port numbers want to clean the glass surface of the Micro Color Macro Color optics module from fingerprints and other debris How do clean it Use a compressed air can to clean surface dust off the glass surfaces Hold the can upright so that no freezing temperature liquid comes out If the glass surface has fingerprints or other residue use isopropyl alcohol or commercial lens cleaner You may also try distilled water or spectroscopic grade methanol Minimize the use of commercial glass cleaners containing ammonia since the anti reflective AR coatings may be damaged over time Use gloves and apply the cleaning solution to lint less lens tissue Drag wipe over the surface and discard the tissue Repeat 1f necessary Do not press down on or rub the glass surface since the AR coatings may be damaged 16 Frequently Asked Questions amp Troubleshooting There is some vignetting when I use the Micro Color 0 65x coupler on my microscope Why is that The Micro Color 0 65x coupler was designed for use with 2 3 inch and 1 2 inch imaging sensors the most popular sizes If your sensor is larger than 2 3 inch you may see some vignetting since the image will be smaller than the sensor on the focal plane If you are using the correct size imaging sensor but are using a demagnifying camera tube you may also see vignetti
23. er including the liquid crystal LC relaxation time from charge to no charge states under various ambient temperatures and the calculation time of the electronics controller box Under room temperature conditions 22 C the Red to Green and Green to Blue transition occurs within 2 ms and the Blue to Red transition occurs within 30 ms Programmers refer to the document maging with Micro Color RGB filters A Programmer 5 Guide included as part of the Software Developer s Kit SDK for more detail Mechanical Dimensions Optics Module Micro Color Olympus Slider Enclosure PIN MINI DIN CONNECTOR 5 MINI DIN 8 CONNECTOR 169 TO GLASS 866 4 03 I I n me a L V Y Olla iar d SECTION A A A A SCALE 1 1 L 107 TO GLASS Alo ue X DWG MI10912 Figure 5 Olympus Slider Enclosure Micro Color Macro Color Specifications amp Dimensions 21 Micro Color Zeiss Slider Enclosure Fa PIN MINI DIN CONNECTOR Q 9 TO GLASS I al AEZ 102 TO GLASS F SECTION A A SCALE 1 2 yL DWG MI10192 Figure 6 Zeiss Slider Enclosure Micro Color 0 65x C mount Microscope Coupler 2 800 1 232 7
24. er Box 26 Micro Color Macro Color Specifications amp Dimensions Appendix B Setting up a Micro Color Macro Color Filter Unpacking the Micro Color Macro Color Filter and Accessories Upon receiving your filter carefully unpack the components and compare the contents against the shipping list Be careful with the glass surfaces of the optics module since they have anti reflective AR coatings that might be scratched if not handled carefully Make sure that all the appropriate components are present The following should be included with most models e Optics module either a microscope slider C mount coupler or 35 mm general purpose model e Electronics controller module e USB interface cable Type A to Type B for connecting the electronics controller module to your host computer e CD ROM containing the Micro Color Macro Color USB driver and SDK installers e Additional adapters and mounts for the Macro Color optics module if ordered e User s Manual in printed form ea driver and SDK ea CD ROM RGB User s Manual USB Interface N Cable RGB Electronics 4 N Controller Module x RGB Optics Module Figure 16 Micro Color Macro Color Filter and Accessories Important Do not connect the electronics controller module to your host computer until A you have installed the appropriate USB drivers Setting up a Micro Color Macro Color Filter 27 Installing the USB Drivers and the Windows Compatible So
25. ess 11 Third Party SOAW are ae R A R een A E E R 11 Chapter 3 Frequently Asked Questions amp Troubleshooting 13 PAOS eanna a a a IINE INE eI 13 Troubleshooting rossen E R A E EEE AN EEE E 15 Appendix A Micro Color Macro Color Specifications amp Dimensions 19 Operating Specifications pne ee ie PIRE T n Ie uten doa re ddp ea te seco tree rate Terre obe cepa rede ERES 19 Red Green and Blue Color States esee nennen eren enennn nre essen nette e eset te enses tenete 19 Optics Response Time E eco aisha est etre oath end eet nennen eisen nr 21 Mechanical Dimensions Optics Module enne entere nennen enne nnns 21 Micro Color Olympus Slider Enclosure esses eene enne nnne nennen nnns 21 Micro Color Zeiss Slider Enclosure cecceccesecsseseeeseeseesecsecseeeseeseeseceeceaesaeeseseeseeceaecaesaeeaesereeseeaeceeeeeeneaes 22 Contents i Micro Color 0 65x C mount Microscope Coupler sese eene Macro Color 35 mm General Purpose Enclosure sese enne nennen nnns Mounting Adapters for Macro Color 35 mm General Purpose Enclosure cccccecccesseeseeteeeteceteeseeeseeeaees Electronics Controller Module ebenen ehem enne Appendix B Setting up a Micro Color Macro Color Filter Unpacking the Micro Color Macro Color Filter and Accessories ccesccesscesseesceeseceaeceseceseseeesaeecsaeeseeneenaes Installing the USB Drivers and the Windows Compatible Software De
26. esses ener nnne nnns T Macro Color Adapter Plate optional accessory sss ener 7 Macro Color Dovetailed Inserts optional accessory esses enne 7 52 mm Camera Lens Thread Adapter optional acCeSSOTY cccccssesssestecseceeceeeeeeeecseecseceseeeeeenseensecnseensenaes 7 Micro Color Macro Color Software Developer s Kit SDK installation CD 8 Micro Color Macro Color User s Manual eese netten trennen tnter nn rennen 8 Chapter 2 Controlling Micro Color Macro Color Filters 9 Components of the Micro Color Macro Color SDK esses eene enne nnne nnne 9 Color Merge DLL for Windows sees entren n EES EE nn innen nnne nennen 9 National Instruments LabVIEW Sub VI uesesssenseessnessnsnennnennnensnennnnnnnnnennnnnnnnnnnnnennneennensnnnsnnsennnnnnn 9 CycleTool Program for Windows 2000 and Windows XP Professional 10 Controlling Micro Color Macro Color Filters with Direct Serial Commands sss 10 Table of Commands immer lere pret Pret RE SEE ERREUR VERE e a Ye ege ae err eau dede S etes panis 10 Micro Color Electronics Controller Module TTL Sync Port sess 11 Controlling Micro Color Macro Color Filters with Other Operating Systems sse 11 Microscope Alignment teret Pea ten coto e E ore beue SER bra eee ERE reo eene eer nee teens 11 Proper Software Acquisition and Image Processing Procedures s
27. ftware Developer s Kit SDK Micro Color Macro Color filters feature a self powered Universal Serial Bus 1 1 USB interface to host computers CRi supplies a Windows compatible SDK installation CD ROM with each filter The latest version may also be downloaded from the CRi web site Sample code and documentation are specific to Windows C However you may contact CRi if you are interested in drivers for other operating systems Your host computer will need to be running Windows 2000 or Windows XP Professional Logging on as an Administrator will prevent any future difficulty with different users accessing the installed software You must have a USB port available and the port must be able to provide the standard USB power load If you have other USB devices daisy chained on the same physical port you may need to utilize a powered USB hub 1 DO NOT attach the Micro Color or Macro Color filter hardware to your host computer yet Turn on your host computer and allow it to boot into the Windows 2000 or Windows XP Professional operating system 2 Insert the installation CD ROM into your CD ROM drive 3 Locate the Setup exe file and double click the icon to launch the Installation Wizard The file may also be included in a ZIP compressed downloadable file on the CRi web site 4 Choose the Full installation type if you wish to install the LabVIEW drivers and the additional development tools Continue with the Wizard until you can clic
28. her Operating Systems 11 e Microscope Alignment a a 11 e Proper Software Acquisition and Image Processing Procedures 11 e Third Party SoftWare ierit tiat tette eder ri RE Rh nass 11 Components of the Micro Color Macro Color SDK The Micro Color Macro Color SDK is available on a Windows compatible CD ROM as well as a downloadable file from the CRi web site and FTP site contact CRi Technical Support for FTP log in details if your Internet browser security configuration prevents you from accessing the Software Downloads page on the CRi web site The SDK consists of a ZIP compressed file with a name similar to McmMerge zip containing support files Color Merge DLL for Windows CRi provides an API to simplify the programming task for those who want to integrate Micro Color Macro Color filters into larger software projects Color merge as well as color balance and flat fielding functions are provided National Instruments LabVIEW Sub VI CRi also provides a sub VI virtual instrument file for basic control of the filter The vi file may be copied to the user library directory within LabVIEW and then accessed from Controlling Micro Color Macro Color Filters 9 the functions palette to drag and drop into higher level VI s A file named RGB example vi is supplied in order to illustrate a way to interconnect with other sub VI files CycleTool Program for Windows 2000 and Windows XP Pr
29. hould find a file on the CD ROM named ftdibus inf Click Next Windows should then find a file named ftdiport inf Click Next and then click Finish If Windows cannot find the files go back and manually locate the files 5 After the Add New Hardware Wizard has finished you will see a new program group icon appear Start gt Programs gt CRi gt MicroColor This program group includes the CycleTool software and a PDF copy of the User s Manual CycleTool Program for Windows 2000 and Windows XP Professional Operating Systems Choose the CycleTool exe menu item in Start gt Programs gt CRi gt MicroColor The Micro Color Control Panel will appear If it does not you may have other serial devices on your host computer or at least have some COM ports already assigned to other devices You may see an error message such as one that says Unable to connect to Port COMO Click OK until the Micro Color Control Panel appears Setting up a Micro Color Macro Color Filter 29 Select a COM port in the Interface list Click the Red Green or Blue radio buttons to see if the filter changes color and the tri color LED on the front of the electronics box changes color Continue down the Interface list until the radio buttons control the filter color You may also check available Windows COM ports by MicroColor Settings Ed going to the Windows Device Manager The Windows Filer euer Interface USB driver creates a virt
30. iated with an older USB session So the COMx port to which the filter gets assigned changes and there are fewer and fewer choices left in the normal range COM 1 COMS The Windows operating system remembers which physical USB port to which a particular device was attached So if you plug the USB device into another USB port a different virtual COM port number is assigned to the device This phenomena is not unique to Micro Color Macro Color filters Here is CRi s recommendation to delete the phantom COM ports 1 Disconnect the USB device in this case the filter s USB cable 2 Uninstall the USB serial port using the standard Windows tools e g Start Settings Control Panel Add Remove Programs 3 IMPORTANT Do not uninstall ports to which you already have a device assigned e g your modem or keyboard or mouse Shut down your computer Start gt Turn Off Computer gt Turn Off DISCONNECT THE SYSTEM FROM THE NETWORK Reboot your computer while disconnected from the network Reconnect to the network 9o a Sy OU cR Restart your computer Start gt Turn Off Computer gt Restart This flushes both the non network and network copies of the Windows configuration so the phantom USB ports will be eliminated in both of them 9 Reinstall the USB interface software by connecting the USB cable to the computer Point the hardware wizard to the installation CD or to the directory Frequently Asked Questions amp Trouble
31. ibus inf Click Next Windows should then find a file named ftdiport inf Click Next and then Finish If Windows cannot find the files go back and manually locate the files 10 After the Add New Hardware Wizard has finished you will see a new program group icon appear Start gt Programs gt CRi gt MicroColor This program group includes the demonstration software CycleTool and a PDF copy of the User s Manual CRi 35 B Cabot Road Woburn MA 01801 USA Toll Free US 1 800 383 7924 P 1 781 935 9099 F 1 781 935 3388 sales cri inc com www cri inc com Micro Color and Macro Color Quick Start Guide for a Windows based Host Computer MD15472 Rev A October 2006 11 12 13 14 15 Choose the CycleTool exe menu item in Start gt Programs gt CRi gt MicroColor The MicroColor Control Panel should launch If it does not you may have other serial devices on your host computer or at least have some COM ports already assigned to other devices You may see an error message such as one that says Unable to connect to Port COMO Click Okay until the MicroColor Control Panel appears Select a COM port in the Interface list Click the Red Green or Blue radio buttons to see if the filter changes color and the tri color LED on the front of the electronics box changes color Continue down the Interface list until the radio buttons control the filter color You may also check the available Window
32. ing lets you mount the filter in front of a lens with a 62 mm thread diameter Male T Mount Male C Mount 2 3 Female C Mount 52 mm Adapter Ring Hex Wrench for Set Screws 4 5 Male F Mount 6 T Adapter Plate co Female F Mount Figure 4 Adapter Plate with Inserts and 52 mm Adapter Ring Introduction to Micro Color Macro Color Tunable RGB Filters 7 Micro Color Macro Color Software Developer s Kit SDK installation CD The CD ROM that comes with each filter is a Windows compatible CD ROM that contains the following components e Windows compatible operating system installer for the CRi SDK Apple Mac OS X drivers for the USB interface e Linux drivers for the USB interface e Micro Color Macro Color User s Manual as an Adobe PDF file Micro Color Macro Color User s Manual A printed copy of the User s Manual is provided with each new filter purchase This document is also available as an Adobe PDF file on the installation CD ROM 8 Introduction to Micro Color Macro Color Tunable RGB Filters Chapter 2 Controlling Micro Color Macro Color Filters Topics in this chapter Page e Components of the Micro Color Macro Color SDK nennen 9 e Controlling Micro Color Macro Color Filters with Direct Serial Commands 10 e Controlling Micro Color Macro Color Filters with Ot
33. ischarge can render the filter inoperable or worse damage the electronics I have more than one filter Can I interchange the optics and electronics Yes Unlike CRi VariSpec filters optics and electronics controller modules are interchangeable Can I use cable extensions between the optics and electronics controller modules CRi does not recommend this since the added length or a poor connection may cause excessive signal loss Do Micro Color Macro Color filters polarize the light that passes through them Yes Unpolarized light that enters the filter becomes linearly polarized and the light that exits the filter is linearly polarized Of course if the light entering the filter is linearly polarized in the same orientation as the filter efficiency is doubled as compared with unpolarized light Contact CRi if you would like to know the axis of polarization for the entrance and exit apertures for a particular filter model I need a multispectral filter Do you have a solution Yes We also manufacture and sell the award winning VariSpec Liquid Crystal Tunable Filter LCTF Contact CRi for more information sales cri inc com e VariSpec filters are continuously tunable with high contrast very low out of band transmittance e VariSpec filters operate in the VIS or NIR wavelength range e VariSpec filters provide a narrow bandpass as narrow as 0 25 nm and as wide as 20 nm e VariSpec filters come in 20 mm or 35 mm a
34. ivers in order to function properly MicroColor Settings x Filter color Interface Red coms C Green Shutter Blue IE Open Color cycle Start Change every j mim Stop Cancel Technical Assistance Having difficulty setting up operating or maintaining your Micro Color or Macro Color LCTF Contact your local CRi representative CRi s main US office hours are from 8 00 a m to 6 00 p m Eastern Standard Daylight Time Monday through Friday Telephone US Toll Free 1 800 383 7924 Telephone Worldwide 1 781 935 9099 Facsimile Worldwide 1 781 935 3388 E mail techsupport cri inc com CRi 35 B Cabot Road Woburn MA 01801 USA Toll Free US 1 800 383 7924 P 1 781 935 9099 F 1 781 935 3388 sales cri inc com www cri inc com Index A adapter plate 7 angle of acceptance specification 19 C cable USB type A to type B 7 CE test 4 color merge DLL 9 color state light 6 color states specification 19 computer interface specification 19 CycleTool 10 29 D damage threshold 13 Disclaimers design change 4 reproduction 4 distributors CRi in the EU 4 dovetailed insert 7 E electronics controller module 5 TTL sync port 11 F features 2 frequently asked questions 13 H hardware components 5 K Keyspan 13 Koehler alignment 11 35 L LabVIEW 9 legacy considerations 33 legacy RS 23
35. k the Finish button Connecting a Micro Color Macro Color Filter to Your Host Computer 1 Connect the Micro Color or Macro Color optics module and the electronics controller box with the cable that is permanently attached to the optics module Make sure not to bend any of the pins Caution Do not connect the optics module directly to a computer or camera unless A directed to do so damage to the liquid crystal cells may result 2 Connect the electronics controller module and your host computer with the included USB Type A to Type B cable The rectangular end goes into your host computer s 28 Setting up a Micro Color Macro Color Filter USB port and the other end goes into the rear panel of the electronics controller module Figure 17 USB Cable Connection to Electronics Controller Module 3 Your host computer may sense the presence of new hardware and launch a Found New Hardware Wizard Click the Next button in the Found New Hardware Wizard If your computer did not sense the presence of the new filter and the wizard did not start automatically launch the Add New Hardware Wizard from the Windows Control Panel 4 Choose to Search for a suitable driver for my device and click the Next button A Files needed window may appear Windows may ask you if it can install the software automatically or from a list or special location Choose automatically or the CD ROM installation folder as the search location Windows s
36. leshooting tool if you are writing your own software or if you simply wish to manually tune the filter e You may position the optics module in the appropriate location on your microscope or in the desired position in the optical path of your instrument or experiment e The LabVIEW sub VI is located in C Program Files CRi MicroColor VIs 30 Setting up a Micro Color Macro Color Filter Operational Notes Unplugging the filter from the physical USB connection will not harm it under normal circumstances e The filter has a transition time at room temperature of approximately 2 ms from Red to Green from Green to Blue or from Red to Blue Going from Blue to Red or Green to Red involves a longer transition time of about 30 ms Selecting a faster interval between selected wavelengths will result in the filter being placed into unknown and uncharacterized transitional states Transition time is affected by the ambient temperature higher temperatures allow the liquid crystal LC to become less viscous and faster to respond to the controlling electric field Nevertheless always stay within the recommended operating temperature and maximum input flux 500 mW cm to prevent damage to the LC Longer or extended cables may prevent the filter from functioning properly due to excessive signal loss Although the cables are shielded the presence of strong electromagnetic fields may also adversely affect filter tuning e Ifyou have third party
37. ll installation type if you want to install the National Instruments LabVIEW drivers and the additional development Continue with the Wizard until you can click on the Finish button 6 Connect the Micro Color or Macro Color optics module and the electronics controller box with the cable that is permanently attached to the optics module Make sure not to bend any of the pins CAUTION Do not connect the optics module directly to a computer or camera unless directed to do so damage to the liquid crystal cells may result 7 Connect the electronics controller box and your host computer with the included USB Type A to Type B cable The rectangular end goes into your host computer s USB port and the other end goes into the back panel of the electronics controller box 8 Your host computer may sense the presence of new hardware and launch a Add New Hardware Wizard Click the Next button in the Add New Hardware Wizard If your computer did not sense the presence of the VariSpec filter and the wizard did not start automatically launch the Add New Hardware Wizard from the Windows Control Panel 9 Choose to Search for a suitable driver for my device and click the Next button A Files Needed window may appear Windows may ask you if it can install the software automatically or from a list or special location Choose Automatically or the CD ROM installation folder as the search location Windows should find a file on the CD ROM named ftd
38. n Board at CRi s factory The total financial obligation of CRi under this warranty does not exceed the purchase price of the items of its manufacture as set forth on normal pricing schedules We will not assume any expense or liability for repairs made by others without our prior written consent This warranty is void and CRi will be free from all obligations hereunder if the items of its manufacture have been misused reprocessed or reused repaired or modified without our written consent CRi assumes no liability for damages or injuries resulting from the misuse misapplication or unauthorized repair or modification of its equipment We assume no liability to users of our equipment or to any other person or persons for special or consequential damages of any kind and from any cause arising out of or in any way connected with the use of the equipment All warranty and post warranty service is nontransferable from the original shipping address to another without the prior written consent of CRi CRi 35 B Cabot Road Woburn MA 01801 USA Toll Free US 1 800 383 7924 P 1 781 935 9099 F 1 781 935 3388 sales cri inc com www cri inc com TO PLACE AN ORDER OR RECEIVE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE For more information contact CRi or your local authorized CRi distributor Cambridge Research amp Instrumentation Inc CRi 35 B Cabot Road Woburn MA 01801 USA Toll Free US 1 800 383 7924 Phone 1 781 935 9099 Fax 1 781 935 3
39. ng since the coupler s 0 65x demagnification factor in addition to your C mount camera tube also creates a smaller image on the sensor I can connect the Micro Color Macro Color filter optics modules to the back of my Qimaging camera using a special cable Do need the electronics controller module at all Many cameras made by QImaging Corporation have the proper circuitry built into them for tuning the optics module The electronics controller module is not necessary However if you ever move the filter to a different camera you will need the electronics controller module for proper operation Frequently Asked Questions amp Troubleshooting 17 18 Frequently Asked Questions amp Troubleshooting Appendix A Micro Color Macro Color Specifications amp Dimensions Operating Specifications Note that these specifications represent typical Micro Color and Macro Color filters as of September 2006 and are subject to change Parameter Micro Color Sliders 0 65x Coupler Macro Color 35 mm Color states Red Green or Blue Red Green or Blue Red Green or Blue NIR hot mirror Yes Yes Yes Working aperture mm 22 22 35 Angle of acceptance half angle NA NA 20 degrees off axis Maximum optical input 500 mW cm 500 mW cm 500 mW cm Optics response time ms 2 30 2 30 2 30 Operating temperature 10 40 C 10 40 C 10 40 C Storage temperature 15 55 C 15 55 C 15
40. ns therein without the prior written consent of CRi You may not use the Software for any unlawful purpose nor export or re export the Software except as authorized by law Should you have any question concerning this Agreement you may contact CRi by writing to CRi 35 B Cabot Road Woburn MA 01801 You may also call 1 800 383 7924 in the US or 1 781 935 9099 elsewhere CRi Software End User License Agreement 39 40 CRi Software End User License Agreement Micro Color and Macro Color Quick Start Guide for a Windows based Host Computer MD15472 Rev A October 2006 C2 A New Micro Color and Macro Color liquid Crystal tunable RGB filters LCTFs feature a self powered Universal Serial Bus USB interface to host computers CRi supplies Windows compatible demonstration software and a software developer s kit SDK on the CD ROM that comes with each Micro Color filter Sample code and documentation are specific to Windows C However you may contact CRi techsupport cri inc com Tel 1 781 935 9099 Fax 1 781 935 3388 if you are interested in drivers for other operating systems National Instrument s LabVIEW sub VIs are also included on the CD ROM and may be installed if desired A specification and API for an RGB color merge and flat fielding operations may also be found on the CD ROM See the most recent User s Manual or contact your authorized CRi distributor or CRi technical support for more information 4 Y
41. odules to see if it is set to the communications interface you desire Serial or Parallel Make sure your software is correctly addressing the serial or parallel port where the filter is attached Check the Windows Device Manager if necessary What is the damage threshold of the filters The damage threshold for reasonably long term exposure of the filters to visible VIS and near infrared NIR energy is 500 mW cm Note that the filters absorb light that you do not want to see or otherwise detect Standard model Micro Color and Frequently Asked Questions amp Troubleshooting 13 Macro Color filters have an NIR hot mirror to reflect some unwanted NIR light but longer wavelength near infrared light such as thermal energy can damage the filters Keep in mind that many detectors such as CCD or CMOS sensors may not be able to detect this energy It is good practice to check the temperature of the filter optics to make sure the tuning elements are not subjected to excess heat Typically the epoxy and polarizing material will be damaged first followed by the coatings glass and liquid crystal material itself The enclosure has been designed to withstand moderate impact but inadvertent impacts can damage the filter Nevertheless it is quite rare for a filter to break in the field Tests such as CE testing have shown the enclosure to be resistant to EMI Nevertheless exposing the electronics to voltage spikes or sags or a large static d
42. ofessional The CRi CycleTool program is a Windows 2000 and Windows XP Professional compatible program that was written to demonstrate the capabilities of the Micro Color Macro Color filter The program requires that the proper USB driver files be installed onto the host computer The program is a very good troubleshooting tool since it can help confirm that the filter is working properly with the host computer without resorting to the use of a terminal emulator to send ASCII character based commands Controlling Micro Color Macro Color Filters with Direct Serial Commands The Micro Color Macro Color filter contained in the optics module is controlled through the electronics controller module Never connect a computer or other apparatus directly to the optics module as the tunable elements may be damaged Each Electronics Controlled Module offers USB interface and TTL Sync ports The USB interface provides random access to the color states of the filter using a series of ASCII commands The terminator is always lt c r gt It is also possible to cycle the filter through the R G B sequence using signals to the TTL Sync port This allows the filter to respond to signals and synchronization pulses generated by cameras shutters and other equipment Previous generation Micro Color Macro Color filters utilized an RS 232 interface with essentially the same command set These older filters needed supplementary power transformers Table of Command
43. our host computer needs to be running Windows 2000 or Windows XP Professional Logging on as an Administrator will prevent any future difficulty with different users accessing the installed software You must have a USB port available and the port must be able to provide the standard USB power load If you have other USB devices daisy chained on the same physical port you may need to utilize a powered USB hub 1 Unpack your Micro Color or Macro Color filter Make sure that all components are present Be careful with the glass surfaces of the optics module since they have anti reflective AR coatings that might be scratched if not handled carefully See the User s Manual for instructions on cleaning the optical glass surfaces e Micro Color filters come in several form factors all with a 20 mm aperture They may be enclosed in a microscope slider housing or in a 0 65x C mount microscope coupler e Macro Color filters come in a black anodized aluminum enclosure with a 35 mm aperture 2 DO NOT attach the Micro Color or Macro Color filter hardware to your host computer yet Turn on your host computer and allow it to boot into the Windows 2000 or Windows XP operating system Insert the installation CD ROM into the host computer s CD ROM drive 4 Locate the Setup exe file and double click the icon to launch the Installation Wizard The file may also be included in a ZIP compressed downloadable file on the CRi web site 5 Choose the Fu
44. perture models e VariSpec filters are also USB powered and can be controlled using a serial command set as well as by TTL Sync pulse 14 Frequently Asked Questions amp Troubleshooting Troubleshooting When I connect the USB cable from the filter s Electronics Controller module to my computer Windows XP Professional asks me where ftdibus sys and ftser2k sys are What can do The filter does not seem to be recognized by the Windows operating system Sometimes the Windows 2000 and Windows XP Professional operating systems Plug and Play feature for new devices does not work entirely seamlessly If you followed the directions to install the SDK onto your computer and received no error messages during or after the installation those files should be located in C Program Files Cri MicroColor USB support Use the Detect New Hardware Wizard to browse to that location and select the appropriate file After the Detect New Hardware Wizard is finished the filter should operate normally as a new USB serial device I was plugging and unplugging my USB devices and I ran out of COM ports This makes it hard to control the filter What can do to make these phantom COM ports disappear If you have Windows system administrator privileges and perform a series of actions involving USB devices plugging and unplugging connectors or installing over previous installations you can create multiple phantom COM ports each assoc
45. product design at any time without notice to anyone which may subsequently affect the content of this manual CRi will make every reasonable effort to ensure that this User s Manual is up to date and corresponds with the Micro Color Macro Color filter as currently shipped Reproduction Disclaimer No part of this manual may be reproduced photocopied or electronically transmitted except for reference by a user of the Micro Color Macro Color without the advance written permission of CRi CE Testing and Certification The Micro Color Macro Color filter has been tested by an C independent testing facility and bears the appropriate CE mark The following is the CRi distributor in the European Union region authorized to function as primary contact for CE related matters concerning CRi products LOT Oriel GmbH amp Co KG Im Tiefen See 58 D 64293 Darmstadt Germany Tel 49 6151 88 06 0 Fax 49 6151 896667 Email info lot oriel de 4 Introduction to Micro Color Macro Color Tunable RGB Filters Micro Color Macro Color Hardware Components Micro Color Macro Color filters consist of an Optics Module and an Electronics Controller Module The electronics controller module provides the interface to a computer or other host device as well as receives power from the host computer via a USB connector The optics and electronics controller modules are connected by a shielded cable Some third party cameras can directly interface with
46. reflections or non uniformity of color across the field of view See Appendix D Koehler Alignment for instructions Proper Software Acquisition and Image Processing Procedures To achieve the best results using the Micro Color or Macro Color filter proper image processing procedures such as managing white balance color uniformity and hue rendering must be addressed Third party software programs typically address these issues For software developers or interested users of the Micro Color or Macro Color filter see the CRi software development document maging with Micro Color RGB Filters for more information on fully utilizing the capabilities of the filter Third Party Software Any program capable of controlling devices such as microscope stages or filter wheels using serial COM or parallel LPT signals can easily control the Micro Color Macro Color filter CRi supplies a Windows based program for demonstration and troubleshooting purposes However to make the image acquisition process as simple as possible many image processing software companies have written into their programs direct support for image acquisition when using the filters in the form of plug ins extensions or macros Contact your dealer to find out which programs you can use with the filter and your digital camera Some examples are listed below AnalySIS Soft Imaging Systems e AQM Kinetic Imaging Ltd Controlling Micro Color Macro
47. s See Appendix C Legacy Hardware and Software Considerations for information on the communications protocols for previous generation filters controlled using the RS 232 interface TABLE 1 Command Characters Command Optics Module Response 4 Reserved for future use 5 Red 6 Green 7 Blue 8 Dark a spectrally uncharacterized state of about a 200 1 extinction 10 Controlling Micro Color Macro Color Filters Micro Color Electronics Controller Module TTL Sync Port The TTL Sync Port requires a TTL level input and triggers on the downward edge of the pulse It is a standard BNC jack The TTL Sync signal is a timing sync input signal to synchronize the filter tuning with an external TTL signal The TTL Sync port is a single trigger detect line Controlling Micro Color Macro Color Filters with Other Operating Systems CRi does not directly support the use of Micro Color Macro Color filters on operating systems other than Windows 2000 or Windows XP Professional However the filters can be controlled using other operating systems when the appropriate drivers are used USB drivers are available for Apple Mac OS X and Linux Contact CRi for further information Microscope Alignment In order to maximize performance of the Micro Color filter on your microscope you should perform a Koehler alignment procedure on your microscope with the filter in place Stray off axis light can result in unwanted
48. s COM ports by going to the Windows Device Manager The Windows USB driver utilizes a virtual COM port in case the physical ports are all utilized So you may see a COMS3 even if you only had two physical COM ports assigned to your computer before you installed the software Make sure that the Shutter Open check box is unchecked for normal operation When checked the filter s spectrally uncharacterized dark state is enabled about a 200 1 extinction ratio LabVIEW sub VIs are located in C Program Files CRi MicroColor VIs CycleTool Software Controls Filter Color Radio buttons select either the Red Green or Blue color state Interface Drop down menu allows you to select the COM port to which the filter is assigned by the computer operating system Shutter Checking the Open box allows the filter to change color un checking the box sets the filter to a spectrally uncharacterized dark state of about 200 1 extinction Color Cycle Start button starts an endless cycle of filter tuning through the Red Green and Stop button Change every XXX ms OK and Cancel Blue color states Stops the filter from tuning through the Red Green and Blue color states Allows you to set a dwell time for the color states when the Color Cycle mode is active Close the CycleTool program Congratulations You may now use the demonstration software to tune the Micro Color or Macro Color filter The software makes a great troubleshooting
49. shooting 15 where you unzipped the USB support to if downloaded from the web Follow the directions in the wizard 10 Right click on My Computer and choose Properties Go to the Hardware tab and click on the Device Manager button Go to the Ports item and click on the symbol Locate the new USB COM port 11 Right click on this COM port and choose Properties Select Port Settings and click the Advanced button 12 UNCHECK the Serial Enumerator box 13 Use the combo box to choose one of the COMx ports that is not actually connected to any existing RS 232 hardware like a modem mouse or keyboard 14 These will probably say COMXx in use but proceed anyway 15 Click OK on the Port Settings and OK on the COM Properties box 16 The USB COM port will now be visible in the Device manager at the new COMXx setting 17 Repeat steps 2 through 4 for all the other phantom COMx settings This will render them available for future use The filter works with your demonstration software and when I use HyperTerminal But when I try to use your LabVIEW sub Vls cannot communicate with it What can I do If you open LabVIEW 6 or later and then attach the VariSpec filter to the USB port of the computer LabVIEW will not dynamically update its COM port list In order to see the USB devices you have to close LabVIEW and relaunch it there is no refresh button Closing the sub VI is not enough the whole environm
50. tlet Disconnect the USB cable before servicing the unit Servicing should be performed by CRi authorized and trained personnel only For Technical Assistance If you experience any difficulty setting up operating or maintaining your filter please contact your CRi representative CRi s office hours are 8 00 a m to 6 00 p m US Eastern Standard Daylight Time Monday through Friday e Telephone US Toll Free 1 800 383 7924 e Telephone Worldwide 1 781 935 9099 e Facsimile Worldwide 1 781 935 3388 e Email techsupport cri inc com About This Manual This manual is designed to serve users of the CRi Micro Color Macro Color product family Operating instructions functional descriptions troubleshooting illustrations and other relevant information are contained in this manual Introduction to Micro Color Macro Color Tunable RGB Filters 3 Your particular filter may include additional support documentation from third party vendors Bear in mind that your filter may have been modified or custom designed so treat such third party documentation as supplemental material only In cases where CRi and third party documentation differ and you have any doubt as to which applies to your system contact an authorized CRi distributor or service representative Design Change Disclaimer Due to design changes and product improvements information in this manual is subject to change without notice CRi reserves the right to change
51. ual COM port So you may see a Red cows COMA even if you only had three physical COM ports C Green Shutter assigned to your computer before you installed the Blue a pen software m Color cycle Make sure that the Shutter Open check box is unchecked for Start Change every normal operation When checked the filter s spectrally 100 uncharacterized dark state is enabled Ed Cancel CycleTool Controls The controls in the CycleTool software are described in detail below Control Function Filter Color Radio buttons select either the Red Green or Blue color state Interface Drop down menu allows you to select the COM port to which the filter 1s assigned by the computer operating system Shutter Checking the Open box allows the filter to change color un checking the box sets the filter to a spectrally uncharacterized dark state of about 200 1 extinction Color Cycle Start button starts an endless cycle of filter tuning through the Red Green and Blue color states Stop button stops the filter from tuning through the Red Green and Blue color states Change every XXX ms allows you to set a dwell time for the color states when the Color Cycle mode is active OK and Cancel close the CycleTool software program You are now ready to use the demonstration software to tune the Micro Color or Macro Color filter The software makes a great troub
52. uction to Micro Color Macro Color Tunable RGB Filters 5 Micro Color RGB TUNABLE IMAGING FILTER Gi O O w o oe Figure 2 Front Panel of Micro Color Electronics Controller Power On light is lit when the module is plugged into a USB port and power is being provided Note that the Power On light may not be able to determine if the correct voltage and current are being supplied to the unit Check your host computer or powered USB hub specifications to make sure at minimum it adheres to the official USB 1 1 standard Color State light changes color depending on which color state is being selected for the optics module Note that the optics module does not provide a feedback signal to the electronics so you may wish to visually check the first time that the LC optics component is actually changing color The light will be dark when there is no power being supplied to the electronics controller module or when the dark state is selected The rear panel of the electronics controller module contains three clearly labeled interface ports left to right viewed from the rear r O Optics TTL Sync Figure 3 Rear Panel of Micro Color Electronics Controller e Optics is an 8 pin connector for the cable connecting the Optics and Electronics Controller modules e TTL Sync is a BNC type connector with a single trigger detect line that can be configured to allow the filter to respond to a standard TT
53. um Restricted Rights provided by DFARS 52 227 7013 c 1 ii Miscellaneous This Agreement contains the entire agreement of the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes any proposal or prior agreement written or oral and any other communications between the parties relating to the subject matter hereof No modification or waiver of any provision of this Agreement shall be effective unless in writing and signed by the parties No delay or failure on the part of any party in exercising any right under this Agreement shall impair any such right or any remedy of such party nor shall it be construed to be a waiver of any continuing breach or default under this Agreement In the event any provision of this Agreement is held to be unenforceable the remaining provisions of this Agreement will remain in full force and 38 CRi Software End User License Agreement effect This Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of New York without regard to principles of conflicts of laws Any disputes relating hereto shall be adjudicated only in the state or federal courts in New York County New York State and you hereby consent to the exclusive jurisdiction of those courts This Agreement shall not be governed by the United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods the application of which is expressly excluded You may not assign or otherwise transfer this Agreement or any of your rights or obligatio
54. veloper s Kit SDK Connecting a Micro Color Macro Color Filter to Your Host Computer eese CycleTool Program for Windows 2000 and Windows XP Professional Operating Systems CycleTool Controls pere eerte eco ori ert Uode pete dio es tb adero e Ur ee Hn eee pedi sb rer crib ie Operational Notes Appendix C Legacy Hardware and Software Considerations Optics and Electronics Controller Modules sess nennen nnns Legacy SOL WAC merere Appendix D Koehler Alignment Appendix E CRi Software End User License Agreement Appendix F Micro Color Macro Color USB Quick Start Guide Index ii Contents 27 27 28 28 29 30 31 33 33 33 35 37 41 43 Introduction Chapter 1 Introduction to Micro Color Macro Color Tunable RGB Filters This chapter provides information about the Micro Color and Macro Color tunable RGB filters which is common to all filter models Appendices are used to provide additional information specific to individual models Topics in this chapter Page Important Features tear einen einen eiserne 2 Uude DUE 2 e Operator and Equipment Safety eene enne 3 About This Man al eret e RERO Ida Fe e oues 3 e CE Testing and Certification ener 4 e Micro Color Macro Color Hardware Components
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