Photometrics Prime sCMOS User manual

USER MANUAL

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58-621-004 Rev A1 ©2016 Photometrics. All rights reserved.
Prime™ sCMOS User Manual
© Copyright 2016 Photometrics
3440 East Britannia Drive
Tucson, Arizona 85706
Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced by any means without the written permission of
Photometrics.
Acrobat and Reader are registered trademarks of Adobe Systems Incorporated in the United States and/or other countries.
Photometrics and PVCAM are registered trademarks of Roper Technologies.
Prime is a trademark of Photometrics.
Intel Core is a trademark of Intel Corporation in the U.S. and/or other countries.
Windows is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries.
All other brand and product names are the trademarks of their respective owners and manufacturers.
The information in this publication is believed to be accurate as of the publication release date. However, Photometrics does
not assume any responsibility for any consequences including any damages resulting from the use thereof. The information
contained herein is subject to change without notice. Revision of this publication may be issued to incorporate such change.

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Prime™ sCMOS User Manual
LIMITED WARRANTY
Photometrics (“Photometrics,” us,” “we,” “our”) makes the following limited warranties. These limited warranties
extend to the original purchaser (“You”, “you”) only and no other purchaser or transferee. We have complete
control over all warranties and may alter or terminate any or all warranties at any time we deem necessary.
Basic Limited Two (2) Year Warranty
Photometrics warrants this product against substantial defects in materials and/or workmanship for a period of
up to two (2) years after shipment. During this period, Photometrics will repair the product or, at its sole option,
repair or replace any defective part without charge to you. You must deliver the entire product to the Photometrics
factory or, at our option, to a factory-authorized service center. You are responsible for the shipping costs to return
the product. International customers should contact their local Photometrics-authorized representative/distributor
for repair information and assistance, or visit our technical support page at www.photometrics.com.
Limited One (1) Year Warranty on Refurbished or Discontinued Products
Photometrics warrants, with the exception of the CMOS or CCD image sensor device (which carries NO
WARRANTIES EXPRESS OR IMPLIED), this product against defects in materials or workmanship for a period of
up to one (1) year after shipment. During this period, Photometrics will repair or replace, at its sole option, any
defective parts, without charge to you. You must deliver the entire product to the Photometrics factory or, at our
option, a factory-authorized service center. You are responsible for the shipping costs to return the product to
Photometrics. International customers should contact their local Photometrics representative/distributor for repair
information and assistance or visit our technical support page at www.photometrics.com
Normal Wear Item Disclaimer
Photometrics does not warrant certain items against defect due to normal wear and tear. These items include
internal and external shutters, cables, and connectors. These items carry no warranty, expressed or implied.
Software Limited Warranty
Photometrics warrants all of our manufactured software discs or memory devices to be free from substantial
defects in materials and/or workmanship under normal use for a period of one (1) year from shipment.
Photometrics does not warrant that the function of the software will meet your requirements or that operation will
be uninterrupted or error free. You assume responsibility for selecting the software to achieve your intended results
and for the use and results obtained from the software. In addition, during the one (1) year limited warranty, the
original purchaser is entitled to receive free version upgrades. Version upgrades supplied free of charge will be in
the form of a download from the Internet. Those customers who do not have access to the Internet may obtain the
version upgrades on a CD ROM or USB memory device from our factory for an incidental shipping and handling
charge.

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Prime™ sCMOS User Manual
Owner’s Manual and Troubleshooting
You should read the owner’s manual thoroughly before operating this product. In the unlikely event that you should
encounter difficulty operating this product, refer to the owner’s manual. If the problem persists, please contact the
Photometrics technical support staff or an authorized service representative.
Your Responsibility
The above Limited Warranties are subject to the following terms and conditions:
You must retain your bill of sale (invoice) and present it upon request for service and repairs or provide other proof of
purchase satisfactory to Photometrics.
You must notify the Photometrics factory service center within thirty (30) days after you have taken delivery of a
product or part that you believe to be defective. With the exception of customers who claim a “technical issue” with
the operation of the product or part, all invoices must be paid in full in accordance with the terms of sale. Failure to
pay invoices when due may result in the interruption and/or cancellation of your two (2) year limited warranty and/
or any other warranty, expressed or implied.
All warranty service must be made by the Photometrics factory or, at our option, an authorized service center.
Before products or parts can be returned for service you must contact the Photometrics factory and receive a return
authorization number (RMA). Products or parts returned for service without a return authorization evidenced by an
RMA will be sent back freight collect.
These warranties are effective only if purchased from the Photometrics factory or one of our authorized
manufacturer’s representatives or distributors.
Unless specified in the original purchase agreement, Photometrics is not responsible for installation, setup, or
disassembly at the customer’s location.
Warranties extend only to defects in materials or workmanship as limited above and do not extend to any product or
part which has:
•been lost or discarded by you;
•been damaged as a result of misuse, improper installation, faulty or inadequate maintenance, or failure
to follow instructions furnished by us;
•had serial numbers removed, altered, defaced, or rendered illegible;
•been subjected to improper or unauthorized repair; or
•been damaged due to fire, flood, radiation, or other “acts of God” or other contingencies beyond the
control of Photometrics.

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Prime™ sCMOS User Manual
After the warranty period has expired, you may contact the Photometrics factory or a Photometrics-authorized
representative for repair information and/or extended warranty plans.
Physically damaged units or units that have been modified are not acceptable for repair in or out of warranty and will
be returned as received.
All warranties implied by state law or non-U.S. laws, including the implied warranties of merchantability and fitness
for a particular purpose, are expressly limited to the duration of the limited warranties set forth above. With the
exception of any warranties implied by state law or non-U.S. laws, as hereby limited, the forgoing warranty is
exclusive and in lieu of all other warranties, guarantees, agreements, and similar obligations of manufacturer or seller
with respect to the repair or replacement of any parts. In no event shall Photometrics’ liability exceed the cost of the
repair or replacement of the defective product or part.
This limited warranty gives you specific legal rights and you may also have other rights that may vary from state
to state and from country to country. Some states and countries do not allow limitations on how long an implied
warranty lasts, when an action may be brought, or the exclusion or limitation of incidental or consequential damages,
so the above provisions may not apply to you.
When contacting us for technical support or service assistance, please refer to the Photometrics factory of purchase,
contact your authorized Photometrics representative or reseller, or visit our technical support page at www.
photometrics.com. www.photometrics.com.
U. S. Government Restricted Rights
The software and documentation are provided with Restricted Rights. Use, duplication, or disclosure by the
Government is subject to restrictions as set forth in subparagraph (c)(1)(ii) of the Rights in Technical Data and
Computer Software clause at DFARS 252.227-7013 or subparagraphs (c)(1) and (2) of the Commercial Computer
Software-Restricted Rights at 48 CFR 52.227-19, as applicable. Contractor/manufacturer is Photometrics, 3440 East
Britannia Drive, Tucson, AZ 85706.
This license is effective until terminated. It will terminate upon the conditions set forth above or if you fail to comply
with any term hereof. Upon termination, you agree that the software and accompanying materials, and all copies
thereof, will be destroyed. This agreement is governed by the laws of the State of Arizona. You acknowledge that you
have read this agreement, you understand it, you agree to be bound by its terms, and that this is the complete and
exclusive statement of the agreement between you and Photometrics regarding the software.

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Prime™ sCMOS User Manual

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Prime™ sCMOS User Manual
Table of Contents
Overview ........................................................................................................................ 1
About This Manual .......................................................................................................................... 1
Precautions...................................................................................................................................... 1
Environmental Requirements ........................................................................................................... 2
Storage Requirements ..................................................................................................................... 2
Microscopes, Lenses, and Tripods ................................................................................................... 2
Repairs ........................................................................................................................................... 2
Cleaning ......................................................................................................................................... 2
System Installation........................................................................................................... 3
Introduction .................................................................................................................................... 3
Getting to Know Prime .................................................................................................................... 4
Software Compatibility Requirements ............................................................................................. 5
Host Computer Requirements ......................................................................................................... 5
Software Installation ....................................................................................................................... 5
Installing the PCI Express Interface Card ......................................................................................... 6
Connecting Prime to the PCIe Bus ................................................................................................... 8
Connecting Prime with USB3.0........................................................................................................ 9
Theory of Operation .................................................................................................... 10
Introduction .................................................................................................................................. 10
CMOS Image Sensor Structure ..................................................................................................... 10
Gain Combining ........................................................................................................................... 11
Rolling and Global Shutter Readout .............................................................................................. 12
Digital Binning ............................................................................................................................... 13
Sensor Clearing.............................................................................................................................. 13
Bias Offset..................................................................................................................................... 14
Pixel Noise Filters........................................................................................................................... 14
Operating Features ....................................................................................................... 18
Introduction .................................................................................................................................. 18
Bias Offset Setting ......................................................................................................................... 18
Clearing Mode Selection ............................................................................................................... 18
Single and Multiple Regions Of Interest......................................................................................... 19
Device Synchronization (Triggering)............................................................................................... 21
Trigger Modes ............................................................................................................................... 21
Expose Out Behaviors.................................................................................................................... 22
Multiple Output Triggers ............................................................................................................... 25

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Prime™ sCMOS User Manual
SMART Streaming ......................................................................................................................... 25
Fan Speed Control and Liquid Cooling........................................................................................... 26
Advanced Features ........................................................................................................................ 27
Time Stamps.................................................................................................................................. 28
Troubleshooting ............................................................................................................ 29
System Does Not Boot Normally ................................................................................................... 29
New Hardware Found Dialog Box Does Not Appear ..................................................................... 29
Images Not Displayed ................................................................................................................... 30
Camera Running Too Warm ......................................................................................................... 30
PVCAM Error Message Appears ................................................................................................... 30
Lengthy Pauses During Imaging ................................................................................................... 30
Basic Specifications ....................................................................................................... 31
Prime sCMOS: Front, Side And Rear Views ................................................................................... 31
Camera Weight ............................................................................................................................. 31
Power Supply Specifications .......................................................................................................... 32
Liquid Cooling Setup Instructions ................................................................................. 33
INDEX ............................................................................................................................ 34

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58-621-004 Rev A1 ©2016 Photometrics. All rights reserved.
Prime™ sCMOS User Manual
Chapter 1.
Overview
This Prime sCMOS User Manual is divided into five chapters. Photometrics recommends
you read this entire manual before operating the camera to ensure proper use. The
chapter contents are briefly described below.
Note: The information in these chapters applies only to the Prime sCMOS camera and
is currently not applicable to any other Photometrics camera.
•System Installation — Instructions for connecting the Prime sCMOS
camera to a computer via the PCI Express interface card or the USB3.0 bus.
•Theory of Operation — A basic overview of sCMOS camera technology as
used in the Prime sCMOS camera.
•Operating Features — Prime features and how to optimize them for speed
and sensitivity, and how to use the different trigger modes.
•Troubleshooting — Answers to common camera system questions.
•Basic Specifications — Specifications for Prime system components.
Precautions
The CCD and other system electronics are extremely sensitive to electrostatic discharge
(ESD). To avoid permanently damaging the system, please observe the following
precautions:
•If using high-voltage equipment (such as an arc lamp) with the camera
system, turn the camera power on last and when powering down, power
the camera off first.
•Never connect or disconnect any cable while the system is powered on.
•The camera’s power should be switched off before disconnecting any
camera system cables. However it is not necessary to power off the
computer to detach the cables.
•Use caution when triggering high-current switching devices (such as an arc
lamp) near the system. The image sensor can be permanently damaged
by transient voltage spikes. If electrically noisy devices are present, an
isolated, conditioned power line or dedicated isolation transformer is highly
recommended.
•Always leave one inch of space around the camera’s external cooling fins
for airflow.
About This
Manual

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Prime™ sCMOS User Manual
Environmental
Requirements
•Do not operate the camera without cooling (air or liquid).
•Never open the camera. There are no user-serviceable parts inside the
Prime sCMOS camera. Opening the camera voids the warranty.
•Use only the PCI Express interface card, cables and power supply
designated for this camera system. Using non-Prime cables, PCI Express
interface cards or power supplies may result in permanent damage to the
system.
•Do not use a C-mount lens with optics that extend behind the lens flange.
Storage
Requirements
Store the Prime sCMOS camera system in its original containers. To protect the system
from excessive heat, cold and moisture, store at an ambient temperature between
-20°C and 60°C with a relative humidity of 0% to 90%, noncondensing.
The Prime sCMOS camera system should be operated in a clean, dry environment.
The camera system’s ambient operating temperature is 0°C to 30°C with 80% relative
humidity, non-condensing.
Microscopes,
Lenses, and
Tripods
Repairs
Please save the original packing materials so you can safely ship the camera to another
location or return it for repairs if necessary. The Prime sCMOS camera system contains
no user-serviceable parts. Repairs must be done by Photometrics. Should the camera
system require repairs, please contact Photometrics Customer Service.
Note: Do not open the camera. Opening the Prime sCMOS camera voids the warranty.
The camera has a standard threaded video mount and can be mounted to any
microscope that accepts a standard C-mount adapter. The camera also allows you to
install any lens that is compatible with a standard threaded video mount as long as its
optics do not extend behind the flange of the lens. Prime can be mounted to optical
tables, tripods and copy stands using the eight ¼-20 threaded attachment points
located near the camera front and rear on all sides (see figure 1)
Cleaning
Clean exterior surfaces of the camera with a dry, lint-free cloth. To remove stains,
contact Photometrics Customer Service. To clean the camera’s imaging window, use
only a filtered compressed-air source. Hand-held cans are not recommended as they
may spray propellant onto the window. Do not touch the window.