Q Imaging EXi Aqua User manual

User Manual
Bio-Imaging Microscopy Camera
for
Highly Versatile, High Performance Imaging
™QImaging, the QImaging logo, EXi A ua and the EXi A ua logo are trademarks of QImaging Corporation.

EXi Aqua Bio-Imaging Microscopy Camera
User Manual
Applicability
This document applies to the EXi A ua Bio-Imaging Microscopy camera.
For the latest updates, please visit www. imaging.com.
Notice of copyright
Copyright 2009 QImaging Corporation. All rights reserved. Unauthorized duplication of this
document is prohibited.
Tra emarks an proprietary names
QImaging, the QImaging logo, EXi A ua, the EXi A ua logo and QCapture are trademarks of QImaging
Corporation.
Product names mentioned in this document may be trademarks or registered trademarks of QImaging or
other hardware, software, or service providers and are used herein for identification purposes only.
Microsoft and Windows are registered trademarks in the U.S. and other countries of Microsoft Corporation
and are used herein for identification purposes only.
QImaging Corporation a ress information
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th
Avenue, Suite 101
Surrey, BC V3S 6K3 Canada
604.530.5800
www. imaging.com
QImaging technical support
Technical support is available to all registered users of QImaging products from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Pacific
Standard Time.
800.874.9789
support@ imaging.com

CONTENTS
EXi A ua User Manual
................................
INTRODUCTION
................................
Power re uirements
................................
Host re uirements
................................
IEEE 1394B FireWire i
nterface
Cables ................................
................................
Imaging software for your c
INSTALLATION
................................
Step 1: Install th
e 1394 PCI card
Step 2:
Install your imaging s
Step 3: Connect the EXi
A ua
CAMERA BASICS
................................
Turning the camera on and o
Connecting the
camera to your o
Understanding the LED i
ndicators
Capturing images with the
EXi
ADVANCED CAMERA
FEATURES
Cooling ................................
................................
External triggering
................................
Gain and offset controls
................................
Blackout mode
................................
High sensitivity
................................
RGB color filter support
................................
CARING FOR YOUR CAMERA
................................
TROUBLESHOOTING
................................
Resolving problems
with the camera
Unresolved problems –
contacting QImaging s
APPENDICES
................................
APPENDIX A: External trigger p
................................
................................
................................
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................................................................
......................
nterface
................................................................
............................
................................
................................
................................
Imaging software for your c
amera ................................
................................
................................
................................
................................
e 1394 PCI card
................................................................
.....................
Install your imaging s
oftware ................................
................................
A ua
camera ................................
................................
................................
................................................................
................................
Turning the camera on and o
ff ................................................................
.............................
camera to your o
ptics ................................
................................
ndicators
................................................................
.....................
EXi
A ua camera ................................
................................
FEATURES
................................................................
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................................
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..........................
................................
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................................
................................
with the camera
................................
................................
contacting QImaging s
upport
................................
................................
................................
................................
APPENDIX A: External trigger p
ort ................................
................................
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1
CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCTION
The QImaging EXi A ua Bio-Imaging Microscopy Camera has been engineered for, high-speed, high-sensitivity
applications. A Peltier device provides cooling to 0 C. The EXi A ua camera features a 1.4-megapixel CCD, 14-bit
digital output, and an IEEE 1394B interface for enhanced connectivity and noise-shielding performance.
Power requirements
The EXi A ua camera can be powered through a single IEEE 1394B FireWire 9-pin to 9-pin cable when the
cooling is off. When the cooling is on, the camera must be connected to the included external power supply.
•
••
• Power supply requirements
13.5 watts, 12 volts dc
Host requirements
For Win ows PCs:
• Pentium 4 CPU, running at a minimum of 1.6 GHz.
• 512 MB RAM (1 GB RAM preferred).
• Video card with 8 MB video memory capable of 32-bit color output.
• Windows XP Professional (with Service Pack 3 installed), or Windows Vista Business or Ultimate
edition (with Service Pack 1 installed) operating system.
• If the PC is not e uipped with a FireWire 800 / FireWire B card, the included card must be
installed.
IEEE 1394B (FireWire) interface
The EXi A ua camera can be powered and controlled through an IEEE 1394B (FireWire) digital interface.
A single FireWire connection from the camera to the computer combined with the external power connection
will allow full control of the camera and rapid image data transfer from the camera to the computer.
Cables
A ten-foot FireWire interface cable is included with the camera. One end of this cable connects to either of the
available FireWire ports at the back of the camera. The other end of the cable plugs into your computer’s
FireWire port.
Some computers have 4-pin FireWire ports. These ports may be used if they are OHCI compliant, but you will
need to purchase a 4-pin to 9-pin FireWire cable from your local computer store or from QImaging. When
connecting the camera to any FireWire port, you will need to use an external power supply.
Note: 4-pin FireWire ports are FireWire A (400 Mbps) ports. Some settings will not work unless the
camera is connected to a FireWire B port.

2
Imaging software for your camera
In ustry stan ar imaging applications
The EXi A ua camera works with industry-standard Windows imaging software.
QCapture suite software
The EXi A ua camera operates on Windows-based systems. QCapture Suite software for Windows is available
at www. imaging.com. The easy-to-use QCapture software gives you complete control over the camera’s
settings and image capture functions. QCapture Suite also includes a TWAIN-compliant interface that
allows many Windows image-editing applications to ac uire images using QImaging cameras.

3
CHAPTER 2
INSTALLATION
Important: Follow these steps in or er to complete the installation.
Do not connect the camera until you have a functioning FireWire port in your
computer an the camera river is installe .
1. Install the IEEE 1394 PCI or PCIe card only if necessary.
2. Install the software and drivers that your new QImaging camera needs to capture images.
3. Connect your camera to your computer using the included IEEE 1394 cable.
Step 1: Install the 1394B PCI car
Check your computer for an existing FireWire port:
The EXi A ua camera connects to your Windows PC via a FireWire port. If you already have a FireWire port, you
do not have to install the IEEE 1394 PCI or PCIe card. Check the connectors at the back of your PC for a port that
matches the FireWire port of the connection shown in Figure 1 or Figure 2.
Camera Computer
Figure 1 — 9-pin to 9-pin FireWire (IEEE 1394B) port connection
Camera Computer
Figure 2 — 9-pin to 6-pin FireWire (IEEE 1394a) port connection
Figure 2
NOTE: Unless the 6-pin FireWire Socket is on a FireWire B card, the maximum data rate will be 400 Mbps.
Due to the amount of high speed data transferred, some of the high end settings may not function
fully.

4
If your PC does not have a functioning FireWire port, you must install the IEEE 1394 PCI card that came with your
camera:
• Shut down your computer.
• Open the computer’s case and install the included IEEE 1394B card into an empty PCI or PCIe slot. See the
user manual for your computer for instructions on installing new PCI or PCIe cards.
• Re-start your computer. Windows should automatically install the appropriate software drivers
for the card.
Step 2: Install your imaging software
• Once the IEEE 1394B card is installed in your computer, you are ready to install the FireWire drivers and
imaging software. See your imaging software User Guide for instructions.
Step 3: Connect the EXi Aqua camera
Once your imaging software is installed, connect your camera. There are two types of connections: (1) through
Windows 9-pin PCI card and (2) through a Windows laptop computer.
In most cases, the FireWire cable provides the necessary power re uired by the EXi A ua camera.
Connecting the EXi Aqua camera
Perform the following for connecting your camera.
• Remove the FireWire cable from the camera box, and plug one end of the cable into one of the
camera’s FireWire sockets (either socket is fine).
FIREWIRE PORTS
FIREWIRE PORTSFIREWIRE PORTS
FIREWIRE PORTS
Figure 3 — Camera FireWire sockets.

5
• Plug the other end of the cable into a FireWire port on your computer.
Camera Computer
Figure 4 — Desktop computer FireWire connection
• In order to obtain the cooling specification of the camera, the supplied external power adapter
needs to be connected to the camera as shown in Figure 5 below.
Camera 110/240 VAC
power supply
Figure 5 — FireWire an external power supply connection
• If you have a laptop computer, you can use the built-in FireWire port, ExpressCard, or a PCMCIA card.
However, should you connect to a laptop computer you will still be re uired to connect the supplied
external power supply to the camera in order to power it (see Figure 5). Optional powering of the
ExpressCard or PCMCIA card will not be re uired in this configuration.
Note: Due to the large amounts of data the camera sends to achieve high frame rates, most
PCMCIA cards and some built-in FireWire ports cannot process the data fast enough,
resulting in substandard performance and corrupted images. To get the full benefits of
this camera, we recommend that laptop users use ExpressCards when possible.
Computer

6
CHAPTER 3
CAMERA BASICS
The image capture capabilities of the EXi A ua camera are controlled entirely by your imaging software. This
chapter provides basic instructions for working with the camera itself.
Turning the camera on an off
To turn the EXi A ua camera on, press the power switch. The camera’s lights will flash and the white power
light will remain on, provided that you have the appropriate configuration of “Step 3” in the “Introduction”
section. Refer to this step for all system configurations ensuring that the FireWire cable(s) are connected as
specified. If power is supplied, the white LED will turn on.
To turn the camera off, press the power switch again. This will turn your camera off. The white LED will turn off.
POWER SIWTCH
POWER SIWTCHPOWER SIWTCH
POWER SIWTCH
Figure 6 — Power Switch on the EXi Aqua camera
Connecting the camera to your optics
The EXi A ua camera connects directly to widely available C-mount optics, which are standard on most
microscopes and lenses.
To attach the camera to a microscope:
Carefully thread the camera onto the microscope’s C-mount adapter, rotating the camera until it is mounted
securely. Use the microscope controls to adjust focus.
To attach a C-mount lens to the camera:
Carefully thread the C-mount lens onto the camera’s lens ring, rotating the lens in a clockwise direction
until it is mounted securely. Use the lens controls to adjust focus.