ENHANCED VISION Merlin Ultra User manual

User Manual
®

Congratulations on your purchase of Merlin ultra from Enhanced
Vision. Merlin ultra is a full-color, auto-focus video magn ifie r
system designed to enhance the lifestyle of the visually impaired.
With the LCD monitor’s adjustable arm, Merlin ultra can provide the
user with the ultimat e fle xibility in the position of the screen.
Merlin ultra enables individuals with low vision to read, write,
view photos, enjoy crafts and hobbies, and more –in color,
black-and-white, or enhanced high-contrast positive or negative
viewing modes. Merlin ultra also includes 3 different preset color
combinations for both text and background to provide improved
viewing when reading. An additional 25 color combinations are
available and can be programmed. With easy-to-use buttons that
are also distinguishable by touch, you can enlarge or reduce the
image in seconds, change-viewing modes for easier visibility, and
establish preset buttons to your favorite viewing image sizes.
Please read this booklet and familiarize yourself with Merlin ultra’s
features and operation before using this system. Your Merlin ultra is
ready to use right out of the box. By reviewing all Merlin ultra features
and controls before use and following the directions carefully, you’ll be
able to enjoy all the great bene fi ts from your purchase.
Enhanced Vision products are designed to give you the highest quality
image, convenient and easy-to-use features and years of reliable
service. Thank you for choosing the Enhanced Vision Merlin ultra.

FCC COMPLIANCE NOTICE
This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is
subject to the following two conditions: (1) This device may not cause
harmful interference, and (2) this device must accept any interference
received, including interference that may cause undesired operation.
This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits
for a Class B digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules.
These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against
harmful interference in a residential installation. This equipment
generates, uses, and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not
installed and used in accordance with the instructions, may cause
harmful interference to radio communications. However, there is no
guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular installation. If
this equipment does cause harmful interference to radio or television
reception, which can be determined by turning the equipment off and
on, the user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or
more of the following measures:
–Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.
–Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver.
–Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that
to which the receiver is connected.
–Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help.
Unauthorized changes or mod ifi cation to this system can void the
user’s authority to operate this equipment.
If your Low Vision device has an option to connect to a TV, it must be
used with shielded interface cables in order to meet FCC emissions
limits for Class B digital devices. It is the responsibility of the user to
use the shielded interface cables supplied with the equipment.
FCC Compliance Notice

Safety and Care ............................................ 5-8
Merlin ultra at a Glance ................................... 9-10
Setting Up Merlin ultra ...................................... 11
Turning on Merlin ultra ...................................... 12
Changing Viewing Modes ............................... 13-14
Using Merlin ultra Color Select .......................... 15-17
Changing Magnification .....................................18
Changing Brightness ...................................... 19
Light Switch On/Off ........................................ 20
System Configuration Menu ..............................21-23
Using X-Y Table .............................................24
Tips for Reading and Writing ............................... 25
Using Optional HD Pack ................................. 26-27
Troubleshooting ........................................ 28-29
Specifications ............................................ 30-31
Other Products from Enhanced Vision .................. 32-34
Contact Information ........................................ 35
Warranty Statement ..................................... 36-37
Table of Contents

SAFETYAND CARE
T o obtain the most benefit from your Merlin ultra, please read these
safety
precautions very carefully.
Merlin ultra is designed to enlarge and enhance images in order to offer
improvement in the quality of life for people with visual impairment. The
extent to which Merlin ultra can improve the ability to see images depends
on a person’s individual condition and level of visual impairment.
Merlin ultra is not designed to restore vision, correct eye conditions or halt
degenerative vision loss. An eye care professional can determine the
usefulness and suitability of Merlin ultra for a patient’s individual condition.
Precautions for Use
•Follow all warnings, cautions, and instructions marked on the product.
•Use the Merlin ultra on a stable, level surface such as a solid desk or
table, according to its intended design specifications.
•Avoid placing the Merlin ultra on an unstable table, cart or stand. It
may fall causing serious damage to the unit or bodily injury to the
user.
•Use the Merlin ultra indoors only –it should NOT be exposed to
extreme or rapid changes in temperature or humidity. Do not place the
Merlin ultra near a radiator, heater or areas exposed to long hours of
direct sunlight. These conditions may cause damage to the unit’s
electronics or optics.
•At least once per week, clean the Merlin ultra with a soft dry cloth
or an electrostatic dusting wipe. DO NOT use liquid cleaners on its
plastic surfaces. No additional methods of sterilization or cleaning are
recommended nor required.
• Do not use the Merlin ultra near flammable materials or liquids.
Safety and Care
5

Additional Electrical Safety Precautions
•The power supply cord is a disconnect device for electrical
equipment. The socket-outlet should be installed near the
equipment and be easily accessible.
•This product is equipped with a 3-wire grounding type plug as a
safety feature. This plug has a third (grounding) pin and can only be
plugged into a grounding-type power outlet. If necessary, contact an
electrician to replace your power outlet with a grounding-type power
outlet.
•Do not use the Merlin ultra in, near or around water. The Merlin
ultra is not designed to offer protection against contact with liquids
of any kind.
•Use only the power supply provided with your Merlin ultra. Using
unauthorized power supplies may cause serious damage to Merlin
ultra’s electronic components.
•Using any other power supply than the one provided by Enhanced
Vision for the Merlin ultra will void the warranty.
•Prevent the risk of electrical shock by NOT attempting to
disassemble the unit. Please refer all service to an authorized repair
facility.
•To avoid personal injury or damage to the Merlin ultra, do not make any
other type of connections to the input jacks other than those indicated
in the photos below.
6
Safety and Care

Additional Mechanical Safety Precautions
Your Merlin ultra contains moving parts. Please use caution
when moving the X-Y table, adjusting the LCD monitor arm,
or when transporting the Merlin ultra to avoid possible injury
to hands and fingers.
Safety and Care
7

To Move Merlin ultra to Another Location
•If you are repositioning Merlin ultra a short distance across a
desk or table, make sure you do not pull on any power cords or
connector cables.
•Disconnect and secure all power and video cables and lock the
X-Y table before moving the unit.
•Carry the unit only by the two recessed handles located on either
side of its base. Do not carry it by the LCD monitor arm.
Caring for Merlin ultra
•Always turn the power OFF for the Merlin ultra and the
monitor when the system is not in use.
•Always turn the power OFF before cleaning Merlin ultra.
•The protective glass covering the camera can be cleaned as
needed with the lens cloth provided within your Merlin ultra’s
packaging.
Susceptibility to Interference:
There may be temporary degradation of the image when the Merlin
ultra is subjected to a strong radio frequency field, electro-static
discharge or transient electrical noise. An electro-static discharge
(caused by static electricity) may cause the screen to go black. If
this happens, unplug the AC Adaptor, wait 30 seconds, and plug the
cable back in.
Compliance Warnings:
•Electromagnetic compatibility: The use of accessories and cables
other than those specified by Enhanced V ision may result in
increased emissions or decreased immunity of the Merlin ultra.
•Placement of equipment: The Merlin ultra should not be
used adjacent to or stacked with other equipment.
8 Safety and Care

MERLIN ULTRA ATAGLANCE
Take a few moments to familiarize yourself with the
components of your Merlin ultra:
1. Merlin ultra
2. LCD Monitor
3. Light ON/OFF Switch
4. Viewing Mode button
5. Size (Magnification) dial
6. Merlin ultra power button
7. LCD Brightness Control Lever
8. X-Y table locking lever
9. X-Y table
10. Recessed handles for carrying Merlin ultra
11. LCD monitor arm
12. Merlin ultra 5V power supply
13. Merlin ultra Base & LCD Monitor “Y” Power Cord
(style of power cord may vary based upon country)
Optional Accessories:
14. HD Pack
Merlin ultra at a Glance
9

1
11
2
3
4
5
6
7
12
8
9
10
13
14
10 Merlin ultra at a Glance

Figure 1
1.Find a steady and level location, such
as a table or desk, where you will be
comfortable using Merlin ultra. Carry
the Merlin ultra only by the two
recessed handles on the side of the
base for a secure grip. Do not lift the
unit by the LCD monitor arm. Place it
on the table or desk (see Figure 1).
Figure 2
Figure 3
Figure 4
2.Connect the short end of the “Y”
power cord to the Merlin ultra Power
Supply (see Figure 2 and items #12 &
#13 on page 9).
3. Connect the long end of the “Y” power
cord to the monitor power input on the
rear of the Merlin ultra as shown
(see Figure 3).
4.Connect the power lead from the
Merlin ultra Power Supply to the
power input labeled “DC IN 5V” on
the rear of the unit as shown (see
Figure 4). Finally, connect the AC
power plug to an available wall outlet
or surge protector.
Setting Up Merlin ultra
11

TURNING ON MERLIN ULTRA
Merlin ultra Power Button
#2 #1
The Power button on your Merlin ultra is located on the far right
of the control panel (item #1 above).
•Press the Power button. Notice the green light will illuminate on
the Control Panel, indicating the power is ON (item #2 above).
•The screen should automatically come on in a few seconds.
If the green light does not illuminate or if an image does not appear
on the LCD monitor, please check the power supply connections
(review steps 2-4 on page 11 for details). Unit turns ON by default
upon plugging it in the AC mains.
NOTE: If your Merlin ultra is plugged into a power strip/surge
protector, make sure the power switch is turned on before
attempting to turn on Merlin ultra. If the power strip/surge
protector comes with a circuit breaker, make sure the circuit
breaker has been reset before attempting to turn on Merlin ultra.
12 Turning on Merlin ultra

CHANGING VIEWING MODES
You can choose a viewing option by pressing the MODE button on the
control panel. Each press will cycle through all 7 viewing options. These
available options are:
•Full Color Image
•Black and White Image
•Enhanced Positive Image
•Enhanced Negative Image
•Color Select 1
•Color Select 2
•Color Select 3
•Color Select 4 - Off by default
•Color Select 5 - Off by default
Crisp, Clear
Text Images!
Enhanced Positive
Crisp, Clear
Text Images!
Enhanced Negative
Full Color Image
This mode is used most often because it gives you a true color
representation of the image that is being magnified. When Merlin
ultra is first turned on, it displays the image in full color.
Black and White Image
Based on preference, you can choose the black-and-white mode.
Changing Viewing Modes
13

Enhanced Positive Image
This mode provides a white background with black text. This mode
increases the contrast to offer crisp text images for reading.
Enhanced Negative Image
This mode provides a black background with white text. This mode
increases the contrast to offer crisp text images for reading.
Color Select 1
In factory default this mode provides a blue background with
yellow text. This is one of the most commonly used color
combinations. To change this mode to any of the 28 available
follow the instructions on page 15-17.
Color Select 2
In factory default this mode provides a black background with green
text. To change this mode to any of the 28 available follow the
instructions on page 15-17.
Color Select 3
In factory default this mode provides a black background with
yellow text. To change this mode to any of the 28 available follow
the instructions on page 15-17.
Color Select 4
In factory default this mode is turned off. Follow the instructions on
page15-17 to turn this color mode on.
Color Select 5
In factory default this mode is turned off. Follow the instructions on
page 15-17 to turn this color mode on.
14 Changing Viewing Modes

USING MERLIN ULTRA COLOR SELECT
Merlin ultra was designed to provide optimum viewing for
people with certain visual conditions by offering an extended
range of choices in both text and background colors.
Merlin ultra offers 28 combination of text and background
colors, called color select modes. The Merlin ultra offers the
following:
• 28 text/background color combinations (see page 16)
• 3 factory preset color select modes (see page 13)
• 2 additional user color select modes
Both the preset and user color select modes can be independently
programmed to your preferences, using the procedure listed below.
How to Program a Color Select Mode
With Merlin ultra turned ON, place a piece of reading material on
the X-Y table so that it appears on your monitor at a magnification
size that is comfortable for viewing. Follow these steps to program
any of the 5 color select modes:
Step 1: Press and hold the MODE
button (approximately 5 seconds)
until the words “SYSTEM
CONFIGURATION” appear on your
LCDmonitor.
Step 1
Using Merlin ultra Color Select
15

Step 2: Rotate the SIZE dial to scroll through the
available menu options. Choose COLOR
MODE SELECTION (see the photo at right)
and press the MODE button again.
Step 3: Rotate the SIZE dial to choose the Color
Select number (1-5) you wish to program.
Press the MODE button and choose one of
the following options:
a. Rotate the SIZE dial to cycle through the
color combination of your choice (1-14). To
access color combinations 15-28, press the
MODE button first, before rotating the SIZE
dial again. (Please refer to the list on next
page)
b. OR, if you want to turn OFF the current
COLOR SELECT (1-5) option, select OFF
by turning the SIZE dial clockwise. If no
change is desired, select PREVIOUS MENU
by turning the SIZE dial counter-clockwise.
Step 4: Press and hold the MODE button (~ 5
seconds) to register the color combination
you’ve programmed into the Color Select.
Step 5: When you’re finished, rotate the SIZE dial
all the way counter-clockwise to PREVIOUS
MENU and press the MODE button.
Press MODE again when EXIT appears
to finishing programming.
Step 2
Step 3b & Step 5
Step 5
16 Using Merlin ultra Color Select

Using the procedure outlined on pages 14-15, the following 28
color combinations can be programmed into any of the 5 color
select programs, based on your personal preferences.
Color Mode Background Color Text Color Notes
#1 Black Green
#2 Black Yellow *DefaultColor Select3
#3 Black Red
#4 Black Blue
#5 Black Purple
#6 Black Orange
#7 White Green
#8 White Red
#9 White Purple
#10 White Blue
#11 White Orange
#12 Yellow Red
#13 Green Yellow
#14 Yellow Blue
#15 Green Black
#16 Yellow Black *Default Color Select2
#17 Red Black
#18 Blue Black
#19 Purple Black
#20 Orange Black
#21 Green White
#22 Red White
#23 Purple White
#24 Blue White
#25 Orange White
#26 Red Yellow
#27 Yellow Green
#28 Blue Yellow *Default Color Select 1
Using Merlin ultra Color Select
17

CHANGING MAGNIFICATION
Figure 1
You can increase or decrease the size of the image by using the
SIZE dial at the center of the control panel (see Figure 1).
There are sixteen levels of
magnification available on Merlin ultra.
•To increase the size of the image,
turn the dial clockwise, or to the
right.
•To decrease the size of the image,
turn the dial counterclockwise, or to
the left.
The size you selected will be
displayed in the upper left corner of
your monitor (see Figure 2).
ZOOM 7
Figure 2
18
Changing Magnification

CHANGING BRIGHTNESS
Figure 1
You can increase or decrease the brightness of the image by
using the brightness lever located underneath the right bottom
of the control panel. (see Figure 1) The Merlin ultra will show
the most natural image quality when brightness is set in the
middle in normal color mode.
•To increase the brightness, slide the lever to the right.
•To decrease the brightness, slide the lever to the left.
An on screen display will show the level of brightness.
***Note - You can also increase or decrease the LED lighting
brightness setting for your specific needs. (See page 22)
Changing Brightness
19

LIGHT SWITCH ON/OFF
Figure 1
Your Merlin ultra as a built-in LED lighting system for illuminating
your reading material. When magnified images are displayed on
your monitor, the built-in lighting system assists in providing a bright
and clear image with true-to-life colors, ideal for most applications.
From factory default, the LED lighting system will come on
automatically when you turn on the power for your Merlin ultra.
However, depending on ambient lighting conditions within the room
(i.e., bright sunlight), it may be helpful to turn the built-in lighting
OFF in order to provide the clearest possible image. This may help
reduce glare when viewing certain “glossy” or reflective images
such as color photos or magazines.
•To turn the light OFF, move the rocker switch to the left. The
rocker switch is located underneath the lower left hand side of
the LCD monitor faceplate (see Figure 1).
•To turn the light ON (default setting), move the rocker switch to
the right. The rocker switch is located underneath the lower left
hand side of the LCD monitor faceplate (see Figure 1).
20 Light Switch On/Off