M-TI DAGE-MTI IR-1000 User manual

User’s Manual
DAGE-MTI
IR-1000
IR CCD Camera

Purchaser’s Record
Model Name: DAGE-MTI IR-1000
Serial Number:
Dealer’s Name:
Dealer’s Address:
Dealer’s Phone Number:
Date Purchased:
P.O. Number:

Introduction
The DAGE-MTI IR-1000 camera system is based upon a
1/2" Interline CCD that produces high-resolution imaging
into the near IR spectrum. The CCD employs a state of the art
microlens design to increase the light gathering capability of
the CCD. The simplistic front panel design of the IR-1000
control unit allows easy access to the Gain and Black Level
controls that provide a vast adjustment range. A Test switch
provides a stair step pattern for rapid calibration or
troubleshooting of the attached equipment such as a monitor
or frame grabber. The read-out of the sensor can be inhibited
by an external Gate pulse, which allows increased integration
times in low-light level situations.
The flexibility of the DAGE-MTI IR-1000 camera system
makes it the camera of choice in almost any imaging
situation.
DAGE-MTI offers our customers state-of-the-art video
technology… with an eye on your image.

Installation
The IR-1000 camera head connects directly into the
control unit. Power for the control is supplied by an external
switching supply that is provided. Ensure that a correct AC
power cord is used in accordance with local safety standards.
All power and interconnections to the IR-1000 camera head
are supplied through the single interface cable. Gating can be
accomplished by simply using the DAGE-MTI Investigater to
control the gate time, display and store the image, or by using
a computer with a frame grabber. Figure 1 shows some
typical setups of the IR-1000.

MONITOR
IR-1000
VID
CAMERA
POWER
POWER
SUPPLY
HEAD
POWER
CORD
GATE
COMPUTER
INVESTIGATER
CONTROL
UNIT
1
GATE
VID IN
VID OUT 2
3
CCD
CAMERA
CONTROL
IR-1000
1. IR-1000 VID OUT CONNECTED TO MONITOR. CAMERA
OPERATION IN ‘NON GATING’ REAL TIME MODE.
2. IR-1000 CONNECTED TO INVESTIGATER CONTROL UNIT.
GATING AND FRAME STORE OPERATION CONTROLLED BY
INVESTIGATER CONTROL UNIT.
3. IR-1000 CONNECTED TO A COMPUTER. GATING AND FRAME
STORE OPERATION CONTROLLED BY COMPUTER.
Figure 1: IR-1000 Connections

Figure 2: IR-1000 Control Rear Panel
Power
Connect the external switching supply to the rear panel's
POWER connector and to a suitable power source in the
range of 95VAC to 250VAC. Ensure that an approved AC
cord is used to attach the supply to the AC mains.
Camera
This 12-pin ‘Hirose’connector supplies all of the power
and interface to the IR-1000 camera head. Always ensure that
the camera head is attached to the control unit before turning
the control unit on.
NOTE:
The interconnect cable between the camera head and
the control unit has different sex connectors. The control
unit end has a yellow stripe labeled “CCU”. Be certain to
use the correct cable end at the control unit and head in
order to avoid damage, which could void the warrantee.

Video
This ‘BNC’connector supplies video output of the
IR-1000 system. The signal is 1Vp-p terminated into 75Ω.
Be careful to avoid double termination of the output video,
which would result in incorrect video levels. Connect to a
monitor, computer or the DAGE-MTI Investigater as
required.
NOTE:
Do not use the VIDEO OUT connector on the camera
head. This will cause incorrect video levels to be sent to
the control and the signal at the camera head will be
double terminated.
Gate
This ‘BNC’connector can be used to provide input of a
gate pulse in order to increase the sensitivity by inhibiting the
readout of the CCD's image and allowing light to gather in
the CCD for extended periods of time before readout.
Connect to a computer or the DAGE-MTI Investigater.

Operation
Figure 3: IR-1000 Control Front Panel
Power
This switch controls the power to the IR-1000. The green
light indicates when the power is on.
Test
The TEST switch provides a 10-step stair pattern for
rapid calibration or troubleshooting of the attached equipment
such as a monitor or frame grabber. With the TEST switch
on, adjust the monitor or frame grabber until the whitest step
is just under the point of saturation and the darkest step is as
dark as possible while visible without clipping.
Gain
The GAIN of the IR-1000 can be either in a manually
adjustable or in an automatic mode. In AUTO, the output of
the camera is determined by the internal automatic gain
control (AGC) circuitry, which will adjust the camera gain in
order to keep the output signal at a full level. This is
particularly useful when viewing low contrast highlights and
rotating the Black Level control to stretch the low contrast
highlights into a signal that is easier to examine.

Black Level
The black level output is determined by this control.
When set to MAX, the output video resides on a standard
50mV black pedestal. The BLACK LEVEL control range
allows blacks to be pulled down so that whites can be contrast
enhanced and stretched. Using this mode with the GAIN
control in AUTO stretches the portion of the signal that is of
interest. When using external gating, the BLACK LEVEL
control is useful for removing unwanted light offsets due to
effects such as lens scattering and low level background light.
Microscope Use
A. Initial Set-up:
1. Set switches on rear of camera head as follows:
SHUTTER to OFF, FIELD/FRAME to FRAME.
2. Use the TEST signal to adjust the associated equipment
as outlined in the “Test” section on the previous page.
B. All Forms of Transmitted Light:
1. Set GAIN to AUTO and BLACK LEVEL to MAX.
2. Adjust light so white highlights are just under saturation.
3. Turn BLACK LEVEL control for the proper contrast.
C. Live or Real-time Fluorescence:
1. Set for best visual fluorescence using eyepieces.
2. Set GAIN to AUTO and BLACK LEVEL to MAX.
3. Turn BLACK LEVEL control for best black background.
D. Gated low Light Level Fluorescence:
1. Follow steps 1-3 in part C above for live fluorescence.
2. Set GAIN to MAN and control to MIN.
3. Select Gate (Integration) time and initiate.
Note: Increasing MAN GAIN can shorten the Gate time.
However, this may cause the image to be very noisy.

Gating
The IR-1000 camera system can be externally gated in
order to increase the sensitivity. Inhibiting the readout of the
CCD's image allows light to gather in the CCD for extended
periods of time. An external gating pulse defines the gate
time of the camera through the GATE connector. Gating can
be accomplished by simply using the DAGE-MTI
Investigater, or by using a computer. If a computer is used,
follow the timing recommendations as follows.
The timing of the External Gate pulse requires that the
pulse occur sometime during the field immediately before the
CCD readout is to be inhibited. Figure 4 shows the
relationship of the CCD transfer to the output video signal.
Figure 4: Video to CCD Transfer Timing
As long as the gate pulse edges occur before the CCD
transfer, the correct timing will occur. Care should be taken
to ensure that the CCD is gated for an even number of fields.
If an odd number of fields are gated, the resultant image will
differ in intensity between the two fields.