Nikon DS-U3 User manual

DS-U3 DS Camera Control Unit
DS Camera Head
DS-Fi1/ DS-Vi1
DS Cooled Camera Head
DS-Qi1Mc/DS-Fi1c/DS-Ri1
<Instructions>
(Ver.1.00)
M554E 10.11.NF.1
*M554EN01*

- i -
Introduction
Thank you for purchasing a Nikon product.
This instruction manual is written for users of the DS-U3 DS Camera Control Unit, DS-Fi1 and DS-Vi1 DS
Camera Heads, and DS-Qi1Mc, DS-Fi1c, and DS-Ri1 DS Cooled Camera Heads.
To ensure correct usage, read this manual carefully before operating the product.
• No part of this manual may be reproduced or transmitted in any form without prior written permission
from Nikon.
• The contents of this manual are subject to change without notice.
• Although every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of this manual, errors or inconsistencies
may remain. If you note any points that are unclear or incorrect, please contact your nearest Nikon
representative.
• Some of the equipment described in this manual may not be included in the set you have purchased.
• If you intend to use any other equipment with this product, read the manual for that equipment too.
• If the equipment is used in a manner not specified by the manufacturer, the protection provided by the
equipment may be impaired.
Trademarks
Microsoft, Windows, and Direct X are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States or other
countries.
Xeon is registered trademark of Intel Corporation in the United States or other countries.
Other company and product names indicated in this manual are the trademarks or registered trademarks of their
respective companies.
The “TM” and ® marks are not used for registered trademarks and trademarks in this instruction manual.

Contents
- ii -
Contents
Introduction ..................................................................................................................................................... i
Safety Precautions .........................................................................................................................................iii
Chapter 1 Before Use .................................................................................................................................. 1
1 Models of the DS Camera Head ......................................................................................1
2 Components ....................................................................................................................2
Chapter 2 Peripheral Equipment.................................................................................................................. 3
Chapter 3 Names of Parts and Their Functions........................................................................................... 5
1 DS-U3 DS Camera Control Unit....................................................................................... 5
2 DS Camera Head ............................................................................................................7
Chapter 4 Connecting and Installing the Equipment.................................................................................... 9
1 Connection Diagrams ......................................................................................................9
2 Installing the DS-U3....................................................................................................... 11
3 Connection Methods...................................................................................................... 12
Chapter 5 Microscope Setting ................................................................................................................... 15
Chapter 6 Operation Method ..................................................................................................................... 19
1 Connecting a Camera Head........................................................................................... 19
2 Installing the DS-U3 Device Driver................................................................................. 20
3 Installing Application Software ....................................................................................... 24
4 Operation ...................................................................................................................... 26
Chapter 7 Care and Maintenance.............................................................................................................. 29
1 Cleaning the System...................................................................................................... 29
2 Storage.......................................................................................................................... 29
Chapter 8 Troubleshooting ........................................................................................................................ 31
1 Power Supply ................................................................................................................ 31
2 Application Software Startup .......................................................................................... 32
3 Image Output to a PC Monitor ....................................................................................... 32
4 Camera Settings on the PC ........................................................................................... 35
5 Before Contacting Us..................................................................................................... 36
Chapter 9 Specifications ............................................................................................................................ 37
1 DS-U3 DS Camera Control Unit..................................................................................... 37
2 DS Camera Head .......................................................................................................... 38
3 DS AC Adapter .............................................................................................................. 40
4 Overall Specifications .................................................................................................... 41

- iii -
Safety Precautions
To ensure correct and safe operation, read this manual before using the product.
Warning and Caution Symbols Used in This Manual
Although this product is designed and manufactured to be completely safe during use, incorrect usage or failure to
follow the safety instructions provided may cause personal injury or property damage. To ensure correct usage,
read this manual carefully before using the product. Do not discard this manual and keep it handy for easy
reference.
Safety instructions in this manual are marked with the following symbols to highlight their importance. For your
safety, always follow the instructions marked with these symbols.
Symbol Description
Warning Disregarding instructions marked with this symbol may lead to serious injury or
death.
Caution Disregarding instructions marked with this symbol may lead to injury or property
damage.

Safety Precautions
- iv -
1. Intended application of this product
Use this product only for photomicrography. Do not use this product for other purpose.
2. Do not repair nor disassemble.
The AC adapter for the DS-U3 contains a high-voltage power supply. Never attempt to disassemble or
repair the equipment by yourself; doing so may result in electric shock or equipment failure. Never attempt
to disassemble any part of the equipment unless instructed to do so in this manual. If you notice any
problems with the equipment, turn off the power and contact your nearest Nikon representative.
3. AC adapter
Use the specified AC adapter. Using a wrong adapter may result in fire or electric shock.
For details, refer to “3. DS AC Adapter” in Chapter 9, Specifications.
4. Power cord
To prevent electric shock, be sure to turn off the power switch of the DS-U3 before connecting or
disconnecting the power cord.
For the DS-U3, use only the specified AC adapter and power cord.
The specifications of the power cord are shown below. Using a wrong power cord may result in fire or
other hazardous condition.
The AC adapter for this product is classified as Class I protection against electric shock. Therefore, make
sure that the power supply is connected to an appropriate ground terminal (protective earth terminal). If
you lose or damage the power cord, contact your nearest Nikon representative.
•When used in 100-120 V region, outside Japan
UL listed detachable power cord set, 3 conductor grounding (3 conductor grounding Type SVT, No.
18 AWG, 3 m long maximum, rated at 125 V AC minimum)
•When used in 220-240 V region
Detachable power cord set approved according to EU/EN standard, 3 conductor grounding (3
conductor grounding Type H05VV-F, 3 m long maximum, rated at 250 V AC minimum)
•When used inside Japan
PSE approved detachable power cord set, 3 conductor grounding (3 conductor grounding Type
VCTF 3 x 0.75 mm2, 3 m long maximum, rated at 125 V AC minimum)
5. Bus power
When DS-Fi1 or DS-Vi1 camera head alone is connected, it can be IEEE 1394 bus-powered for operation.
Before using IEEE bus power, check that your PC has sufficient capacity to supply power to the camera
head and DS-U3.
6. Handling
•To prevent malfunctions or abnormal heating due to short circuits, do not wet this product and
others used with this product nor allow foreign matters to be intruded. If these products get wet, or
if foreign matter such as a piece of paper gets inside, immediately turn off the power switch of the
DS-U3, unplug the power cord from the wall outlet, and disconnect the IEEE 1394b cable from the
connector. Then, contact your nearest Nikon representative.
•To prevent fire or burn injury due to the breakage of a cable, do not bend nor twist the cables
excessively.
•To prevent fire due to heating, do not place a cloth or paper on the DS-U3 nor block the vent of the
DS-U3.
Warning

Safety Precautions
- v -
1. Installation location
•Do not use this equipment in locations subject to high temperatures, high humidity, vibration, or
excessive amounts of dust. Doing so may result in fire or malfunction.
•Avoid pointing the camera at high-power laser light or the sun. In particular, do not attempt to
photograph in such a condition.
Excessive light radiation may cause browning or burn-in to the image pickup device and may result
in malfunction.
•Because the DS cooled camera is equipped with a cooling mechanism, it is slightly more
susceptible to condensation than typical electronic devices if used for extended periods in locations
subject to sudden temperature changes (from cold to hot and vice-versa) or high humidity.
Pay particular attention to the ambient humidity when using the DS cooled camera for extended
periods. After extended use, be sure to leave the camera off for a few hours before turning it on
again.
•When used for an extended period of time, the DS-U3 may become hot. Do not place the DS-U3
on a surface that cannot withstand heat (such as vinyl or plastic). Always install the equipment with
a surrounding clear area of 100 mm or more.
•Arrange a layout that allows easy removal of the power cord from the inlet of the AC adapter in the
event of an emergency.
2. Turn off the power before assembling the product or connecting /disconnecting cables.
To prevent failure or malfunction, be sure to turn off the power switch of the DS-U3 before assembling the
product or connecting/disconnecting a cable.
3. Connect only the devices specified to the connectors.
To prevent malfunction or damage, connect only the devices specified to the connectors on both the
DS-U3 and the DS camera head.
4. Cautions on assembly, installation, and storage
•Always turn off the power switch before assembling the product, connecting or disconnecting
cables.
•Be careful to avoid pinching your fingers or hands in the equipment during installation.
•To prevent malfunction, handle the product carefully and do not subject it to a strong physical
shock or vibration.
•When installing the DS camera head to an optical device such as microscope, make sure that the
product or its cable is not interfered with the movable part of the optical device.
•If you are not using the equipment for an extended period of time, unplug the power cord from the
power outlet for safety.
•Store the product in a place with little vibration and dust.
•Do not store the product in a hot and humid place.
Caution

Safety Precautions
- vi -
☆☆☆

Chapter 1 Before Use
1 Models of the DS Camera Head
- 1 -
1
Before Use
1 Models of the DS Camera Head
There are five models available for the DS camera head as follows. The features differ depending on the
model you have purchased. Check the model name indicated on the DS camera head before use.
•Features of each model
Model Image pickup device Cooling Pixel- shifting
function Body color
DS-Fi1 2/3-inch, color, 5.24-megapixel ―― ―― White
DS-Vi1 1/1.8-inch, color, 2.11-megapixel ―― ―― White
DS-Qi1Mc 2/3-inch, monochrome, 1.50-megapixel Applied ―― Black
DS-Fi1c 2/3-inch, color, 5.24-megapixel Applied ―― Black
DS-Ri1 2/3-inch, color, 1.50-megapixel Applied Applied Black
* For details of the features above, refer to Chapter 9, “Specifications”.
* Pixel-shifting is a high-resolution photographing function available by using NIS-Elements or
other software on a PC connected with IEEE1394b cable.
Model name is indicated on the tripod mount or a place
near the location for the camera cap attachment.

Chapter 1 Before Use
2 Components
- 2 -
2 Components
Check that all items listed below are provided in the package.
If any items are missing, contact your nearest Nikon representative immediately.
1 DS-U3 DS Camera Control Unit 6 Power cord
2 Vertical stand 7 DS camera cable (DS Camera I/F cable
20-26; 3 m)
3 Instruction manual 8 DS Camera Head with a C mount cap
4 NIS-Elements freeware package (CD-ROM) 9 C mount adapter (optional)
5 AC adapter

Chapter 2 Peripheral Equipment
- 3 -
2
Peripheral Equipment
(1) PC
The DS-U3 is designed for use with a PC connected via an IEEE1394b (bilingual) interface. The
DS-U3 performs the following operations via NIS-Elements freeware installed on a PC.
1) Display captured images on the PC monitor
2) Confirm/change the setting (for photographing conditions, etc.) of the DS-U3
Additionally, using the Nikon NIS-Elements software (optional) enables advanced measurement
and analysis.
Contact your nearest Nikon representative for the NIS-Elements software. For details on control
function, refer to the manual provided with the software.
The PC and its monitor to be connected to the DS-U3 must meet the following system
requirements.
•PC unit
Item Requirements
Type Windows PC
CPU Equivalent to Xeon 2.6 GHz or higher
Memory 2 GB or more
Hard disc 100 MB of free hard disk space for installation; 300 MB of free disk space for
program execution
Video 1280 x 1024 pixels, High Color mode or better (True Color mode recommended)
OS Windows 7/Windows XP (Japanese/English)
Note) Use Windows 7 Professional/Windows XP Professional Service Pack 2.
IEEE1394b IEEE1394b FireWire PCle Card (NK653AA from Hewlett Packard recommended)
For installation of the IEEE1394b PCI board, refer to the instruction manuals of the PC and the
IEEE1394b PCI board.
•PC monitor
Item Requirement
Resolution 1280 x 1024 pixels, True Color mode displayable monitor recommended
It is not guaranteed that the software runs on all PCs that comply with the operating environments
described above. For more details, contact your nearest Nikon representative.

Chapter 2 Peripheral Equipment
- 4 -
(2) IEEE1394b cable
IEEE1394b cable is used to connect the DS-U3 to the PC. We recommend a cable provided with
the IEEE1394b FireWire PCIe Card.
(3) C mount lens
The C mount lens is required to photograph subjects other than photomicrographs. Any lens that
meets the following conditions may be used:
•Protrudes no more than 10 mm from the mount surface into the camera.
Less than 5 mm for DS-Ri1.
•The image circle of the DS-Vi1 is 1/1.8”, and that of the DS-Fi1, DS-Fi1c, DS-Qi1Mc or
DS-Ri1 is 2/3”. Use a lens for 1” or 2/3”.
•When using diaphragm settings brighter than F2.8, you may observe slight light fall off
around the periphery.

Chapter 3 Names of Parts and Their Functions
1 DS-U3 DS Camera Control Unit
- 5 -
3
Names of Parts and Their Functions
1 DS-U3 DS Camera Control Unit
(1) External appearance of the DS-U3
V
entilation hole (on the top)
For internal cooling.
V
entilation hole (on the left)
For internal cooling.

Chapter 3 Names of Parts and Their Functions
1 DS-U3 DS Camera Control Unit
- 6 -
(2) Front of the DS-U3
(3) Rear of the DS-U3
DC IN 12V IEEE1394 CAMERA1 CAMERA2 EXT.I/O
Power switch
This is a push switch. Press to
turn it on. Press again to release
and turn it off. When the power is
on, the power indicator lights up.
Power indicato
r
When power is turned on, the indicator
first flashes green, and then turns to
green. When the indicator lights up in
green, the DS-U3 is ready for operation.
IEEE1394 connecto
r
Connects to a PC via an IEEE
1394b cable.
C
A
MERA 1 connecto
r
Connects to the DS camera head.
* Be sure to turn off power before
connecting or disconnecting the
connector: otherwise, the equipment
malfunctions.
DC lN 12V connecto
r
Use the supplied AC adapter.
C
A
MERA 2 connecto
r
Connects to the DS camera head.
* Be sure to turn off power before
connecting or disconnecting the
connector: otherwise, the equipment
malfunctions.
E
X
T. l/O connecto
r
When the DS-Qi1Mc is connected,
image capture can be externally
triggered by supplying external trigger
signals from this port.
(Cannot be used unless DS-Qi1Mc is
connected.)
Holde
r
Keeps the cable from being
pulled off the lEEE1394
connector.

Chapter 3 Names of Parts and Their Functions
2 DS Camera Head
- 7 -
2 DS Camera Head
C mount cap
Protects the C mount
from dusts. C mount
When taking microphotographs, mount the C
mount adapter here before connecting to the
microscope.
When taking other photographs, attach the C
mount lens here.
CAMERA OUT connecto
r
Tripod mount
Mounts the DS camera head on a tripod, etc.
Top Bottom Rear

Chapter 3 Names of Parts and Their Functions
- 8 -
☆☆☆

Chapter 4 Connecting and Installing the Equipment
1 Connection Diagrams
- 9 -
DS camera head
DS-U3
DS AC adapter
(Front)
IEEE1394b cable
DS
camera
cable
AC
4
Connecting and Installing the
Equipment
1 Connection Diagrams
(1) Schematic diagram
PC

Chapter 4 Connecting and Installing the Equipment
1 Connection Diagrams
- 10 -
Trigger signal output device
(Can be connected only when
DS-Qi1Mc is used.)
DS AC adapter DS camera head
DS
camera
cable
PC
CAMERA 2 connectorCAMERA 1 connector
(2) Connectors (Rear of the DS-U3)
DC IN 12V IEEE1394 CAMERA1 CAMERA2 EXT.I/O

Chapter 4 Connecting and Installing the Equipment
2 Installing the DS-U3
- 11 -
Figure A Figure B
2 Installing the DS-U3
The DS-U3 can be installed horizontally or vertically.
•Horizontal installation
Set the DS-U3 horizontally on a flat surface.
Provide a clearance of approximately 100 mm around the product to release heat.
•Vertical installation
Attach the vertical stand to the DS-U3 for setting the product in the vertical position.
Set the DS-U3 vertically on a flat surface as shown below.
Provide a clearance of approximately 100 mm around the product to release heat.
Attach the vertical stand as follows:
Remove two of the four screws at the upper front position and the lower rear position on the right
side of the DS-U3. (See Figure A below.)
Then, fix the stand to the right surface of the DS-U3 using the screws that have been removed.
(See Figure B below.)
Use an M2.5-size Phillips driver to attach or remove screws.

Chapter 4 Connecting and Installing the Equipment
3 Connection Methods
- 12 -
3 Connection Methods
(1) Connecting the DS Camera Head
Be sure to turn off the DS-U3 before connecting the DS camera head.
Plug one end of the supplied camera cable into the camera connector on the DS-U3, and the other
end into the CAMERA OUT connector on the DS camera head. Plug the cable into the connectors
while pinching the locking tabs. When the cable is inserted as far as it goes, the locking tabs return
to their original positions, locking the connector in place.
DS-U3 is equipped with two connectors to connect DS camera heads. When two camera heads are
connected, you can select and operate either camera head using NIS-Elements or other software.
When you use only one DS camera head, connect it to the CAMERA 1 connector.
Mounting the DS camera head on a microscope
1) Remove the C mount cap from the C mount
on the DS camera head.
2) Make sure there is no dust on the C mount
adapter.
If there is, use an air blower or the like to
wipe it out.
3) Screw the C mount adapter into the C mount
on the DS camera head.
Screw it in as far as it goes.
4) Plug the C mount adapter into the vertical
tube of the microscope.
Use the clamping screw on the vertical tube
to secure the C mount adapter.
Likewise, a relay lens can be attached.
The x0.7 relay lens is recommended for the DS-Fi1, DS-Fi1c, DS-Qi1Mc, and DS-Ri1.
The x0.55 relay lens is recommended for the DS-Vi1.
For setting the microscope with the DS camera head, see “Microscope Setting” in Chapter 5.
Installing an optional C mount lens on the DS camera head
Select an attachable lens (see “Peripheral Equipment” in Chapter 2), and then screw it into the C
mount.
Note that the image quality produced by this product is tuned for microphotography. The tripod
mount on the DS camera head can also be used to mount the DS camera head on a tripod.
(2) Connecting to a PC with an IEEE1394b Cable
Plug one end of an IEEE1394b cable into the IEEE1394b connector on the PC, and the other end
into the one on the DS-U3.
Vertical tube
Connect to the CAMERA
connector of the DS-U3.
DS camera head
C mount adapter
Cmount