Q Imaging Rolera EM-C2 User manual

Rolera EM-C
2
User’s Manual
Applic ability
This document applies to the Rolera EM-C
2
camera. For the latest updates, please visit
WWW.QIMAGING.COM.
Noticeof Copyright
Copyright© 1999-2010
Quantitative Imaging Corporation. All rights reserved. Unauthorized
duplicationof this document
is prohibited.
Trademarks and Proprietary Names
QImaging, Rolera,Retiga, QICAM, MicroPublisher, Go, LightWire-800, Fast-1394, and QCapture are
trademarks
of QImaging. Pr o duc t names mentionedin this document may be trademarks or
registered trademarks of QImaging or other hardware, s o ft w a re , or service pro v id e r s and are used
herein
for identification purposes only.Microsoft® and Windows® are registered trademarks in the
U.S. andother countries of Microsoft Corporationand are used herein for identification purposes
only. Apple® andMacintosh® are r e gis t er ed in the U.S. and other countries by Apple Computer,
Inc. and are used herein for identification purposes only.
QImaging Corporation Address Information
19535 56th Avenue, Suite 101
Surrey, BC
Canada V3S 6K3
WWW.QIMAGING.COM
QImagingTechnicalSupport
Technical support is available to all registered users of QImaging products from 7amto 5pm Pacific
Standard T i me.
SUPPORT @ QI MA GIN G . CO M
604.708.5061
WWW.QIMAGING.COM/SUPPORT/CONTACT/
i

CONTENTS
Rolera EM-C2User’s Manual ............................................................................................ i
INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................. 1
Power Requirements ................................................................................................... 1
Host Requirements ...................................................................................................... 1
IEEE 1394 (FireWire) Interface ................................................................................. 2
Cables..........................................................................................................................2
Imaging Software for Your Camera ........................................................................... 3
INSTALLATION .............................................................................................................. 4
Step 1. Install the 1394 PCI-Express card (Windows Users Only) ............................ 4
Step 2. Install Your Imaging Software ....................................................................... 5
Step 3. Connect the Rolera EM-C2.............................................................................. 5
CAMERA BASICS ........................................................................................................... 7
Turning the Camera On and Off ................................................................................. 7
Connecting the Rolera EM-C2to your Optics .............................................................7
Understanding the LED Indicators ............................................................................. 8
Capturing Images with the Rolera EM-C2................................................................... 8
ADVANCED CAMERA CONTROLS ............................................................................. 9
Cooling Capability ...................................................................................................... 9
Triggering the Rolera EM-C2Externally .................................................................... 9
Gain and Offset Controls ........................................................................................... 11
Easy-EM Mode……………....................................................................................... 11
CARING FOR YOUR CAMERA .................................................................................... 12
TROUBLESHOOTING .................................................................................................... 13
Resolving Problems with the camera ......................................................................... 13
Unresolved Problems - Contacting QImaging Support ............................................. 14
GLOSSARY ..................................................................................................................... 15
APPENDICES .................................................................................................................. 17
APPENDIX A: External Trigger Port ....................................................................... 17
ii

INTRODUCTION
CHAPTER 1
TheQImaging® Rolera EM-C
2
unites the highest sensitivity of EMCCD sensors with high resolution and high
speed . The camera's 1004 x1002 frametransfer EMCCD provides QE upto 65%, enabling a
1MegaPixelresolution for
low-light imaging. With itsability to capture images at an unprecedented
34.2full frames per second
in14-bit mode (and asfast as 200+ frames per second with binning and
ROI), the Rolera EM-C
2
sets anew benchmark in high-speed, high-sensitivity performance for live-cell
confocal
microscopy.
Power Requirements
The Rolera EM-C
2
can be powered through a single IEEE 1394 FireWire 6-pin to 9-pin or 9-pin to 9-
pin
cable when the cooling is off. Whenthe cooling is on, the Rolera EM-C
2
must be connected to the
included external power supply.
• Power Supply Specifications:
Input Power: 100-240 VAC
50-60Hz
Output Power: 12VDC, 5A (60W)
Host Requirements
For Windows PCs:
• Processor running at 1GHz or higher.
• 256 MB R A M (512MB RAM pr eferr e d ) .
• Video card with 16MB video memory capable of 32-bit color ou tput.
• Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7
• The included IEEE1394B FireWire card must be installed.
1

For Mac OS Computers:
• Intel based Macintosh computers with an OHCI compliant IEEE 1394Bport .
• Mac OS X 10.5 and above.
• 256 MB+ R A M
• The included IEEE 1 394B cardshould be installed when a 1394bport is not present.
IEEE 1394
(FireWire) Inter f ace
The Rolera EM-C
2
can be powered and controlled through an IEEE 1394a or 1394b (FireWire)
digital interface. To realise the full benefits of the Rolera EM-C
2
, 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. Maximum frame rates at
14-bit
will require a 1394b connection to exist on the computer and the supplied card can be used to
ensure full performance through the FireWire interface.
Cables
A 3-meter
FireWire 9-pin to 9-pin interface cable is included with the camera. The 9-pin connection
of either cable mustbe connected to the available FireWire 1394b port atthe back of the camera; the
other
end of the cableplugs into your computer’ s 9-pin FireWire port . QImaging recommends that
you install the
supplied1394B PCI-Express card to ensureproper connection to the 1394b port and
experience the full benefits of the camera.
Some compu t ers 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 . When
connecting
the Rolera EM-C
2
to any FireWire port, you will need to use an external power supply.
What is the dif f er ence between 4-pin, 6-pin and 9-pin FireWire ports?
FireWire cables are available in three varie t ie s: 4-pin, 6-pin and 9-pin. 9-pin and6-pin FireWire cables
are capable of providingboth power and a communication interface betweenthe camera and
computerwhile 4-pin
cablesprovide onlya communication interface. Some laptop computers have
6-pin
FireWire jacks that do not provide power. If your computer has such a port, you will have to
power your Rolera EM-C
2
by attaching the included external power supply to the system.
2

Imaging Software for Your Camera
Industry StandardImaging Applications
The Rolera EM-C
2
workswith industry-standard Wind ow s andMac OS imagingsoftware.
QCapture Suite Softwar e
TheRolera EM-C
2
operates on both Windows and Mac OS based systems. QCapture Suite Software
for both systems is available at WWW.QIMAGING.COM. The easy-to-use QCapture software gives you
complete control over the camera’s setting s and image cap t ure functions. QCapture Suite also
includes a TW AIN-co mplian t interface that allows many Windows image-editing applications to
acquire images using QImaging cameras.
3

INS T ALL A TION
CHAPTER 2
IMPORTANT: Follow these steps in order to completethe installation.
DO NOT
CONNECT the camera until the camera driver is installed.
1. Windows PC users only: Install the IEEE 1394 PCI-Express card - onlyif necessary.
2.
Imaging Software - Install the softwareand drivers that yournew QImaging
camera needs to capture images.
3. Rolera EM-C
2
- Connect the camera to your computer u s ing the included IEEE 1394 cable.
DO NOT CONNECT the camera until you have a fun c tionin g FireWire port in
your computerand the
camera driver is installed.
Step 1. Install the 1394 PCI-Express card (WindowsUsers
Only)
This step is for Windows PC users only. If you are installing the Rolera EM-C
2
on a Mac OS
computer, please skip to S t ep 2.
Checkyour computer for an existing FireWire port:
The Rolera EM-C
2
connects to your Windows PC via a FireWire port. If you already have a FireWire
po rt, you may not have to install the IEEE 1394 PCI-Express card. Check the connecto r s 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 1394) Port connection (recommended)
If your PCdoes not have a functioning FireWire port, youmust install the IEEE 1394 PCI-Express card
that came with your camera.
If necessary, install the included IEEE 1394 PCI-Express card :
• Shut down yourcomputer.
• Open the case,and install the included IEEE 1394 card into anempty PCI slot. See the user ’ s
manual for yourcomputerfor complete instructions on installing new PCI-Express card s.
• Restart yourcomputer.Windows should automatically install the appropriate software
drivers for the card.
4

Step 2. Install Your Imaging Softwar e
Once the IEEE 1394 card isinstalled in your computer, you areready to install the FireWire drivers and
imagingsoftware.
See your Imaging Software User’s Guide for complete installation instructions.
Step 3. Connectthe Rolera EM-C
2
Once yourimagingsoftware is installed, connect your camera. For the Rolera EM-C
2
, in order to
operate the cooling,the
camera must have the external power connected. However, should the
cooling
not be required, a single 9-pin to 9-pin connection will operate the camera sufficiently.
Inmost cases, the FireWire cable provides the necessary power required bythe Rolera EM-C
2
.
However, if
your camera is cooled youwill need to provide additional powerto the camera asshown
in Figure 5.
Connecting the QImaging Camera
Perform the following for connecting yourcamera.
• Remove the FireWire cable from the camera box,andplug oneend of the cable into the
camera ’ s FireWire socket .
Figure 3 — Camera FireWire Socket.
5

• Plug the other end of the cable into a FireWire port on your computer
Camera
Computer
Figure 4 — Desktop Computer FireWire Connection
• In orderto obtain the cooling specification of the camera, the s upp lied external power
adapter needs to be connected to the camera as shownin Figure 5 below.
Computer
Camera 110/240 VAC
power supply
Figure 5 — FireWire and External
Power Supply Conne ction
• If you have a laptop computer,you can use the built in FireWire port or a PCMCIA car d .
However, should you connect to a laptop computer you will still be required to connect the
supplied external power supply to the camera in orderto power it.
6

CAMERA BASICS
CHAPTER 3
The Rolera EM-C
2
’ s image capture capabilities are controlled entirely by yourimagingsoftware.
This
chapter provides basic instructions for working with the camera itself.
Turning the Camera On and Of f
To turn the Rolera EM-C
2
on, press the power switch. The Rolera EM-C
2
lightswill flash andthe
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 systemconfigurations ensuring that the
FireWire
cable(s) are connected as specified. If power is supplied, the WHITE LED will turn on.
To turn the Rolera EM-C
2
off, press the power switch again. This will turn your camera off. The
WHIT E LED will turn of f.
POW ER SI W T CH
Figure 6 — Power Switchon the Rolera EM-C2
Connecting the Rolera EM-C
2
to your Optics
The Rolera EM-C
2
connects directly to widely available C-mount optics, which are standard on
most
microscopes andlenses.
To attach the camerato a micr oscope:
Carefully threadthe 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-mountlens to the camera:
Carefully threadthe C-mount lens onto the camera’s lens ring, rotating the lens in a clockwise
directionuntil it
is mounted securely. Use the lens controls to adjust focus.
7

To attach F-mountoptics:
If youp
urchased the optional color filter, then carefully threadthe color filter to the C-mount ring
on the camera.
The opposite endof the colorfilter is a female F-mount connector. Carefully
connect your F-mount optics
to the open connector of thecolor filter until it is mounted securely.
Use your optics controls to adjust focus.
NOTE: If youdid not purchase a color filter, then you will need to purchase a C to F mount adapter
to allow the
connection of F-mount optics. Your camera does not need to be monochrome in this
situation.
Understanding the LED Indicators
The LED indicators atthe back of the cameragive you important information aboutwhat your camera
is doing:
• WHITE: The white LED is the power indicator. This LEDshould always belit when the
camera is connected to yourcomputerand is turned on.
• GREEN: The green LED is the exposure/integration indicator. It will stayilluminated for
the duration of the exposure of the CCD and turn off when not exposing.
• BLUE: The blue LED is the coolingindicator. It will flash while coolingdown to the
se t temperature.When the temperature is locked and regulated, the blue LE D
will stay illuminated.It will turn off when cooling is turned off th rough
software.
Capturing Imageswith the Rolera EM-C
2
Consult your imaging a pplicatio n ’ s user ’ s manual for moredetails.
8

CHAPTER 4
ADVANCED CAMERA CONTROLS
The
Rolera EM-C
2
offers many advanced features. This section provides informationonhow to make the
most of your
QImaging camera.
CoolingCapability
The Rolera EM-C
2
offersthe user the option of selecting the cooling temperature in one (1)
degree increments. The maximum coolingof the Rolera EM-C
2
is -50ºC.
Triggering the Rolera EM-C
2
Externally
Externally triggering the Rolera EM-C
2
provides a sophisticated method of imaging and
synchronizing your
camera to external parts of your system, offering advanced capabilities. To use
this feature effectively, it is important to understand the operationand configuration of your
camera.
The External Trigger Port of the Rolera EM-C
2
is a 6-pin miniature circular DIN connector. This port
accep t s digital logic signals that are used to control the camera's integration. The External Trigger Port
isoptically isolated from the camera's electronics. For this reason, the usermust provide powerto the
External Trigger Port. See Appendix A for a pinout and schematicdiagram of the External Trigger Port.
In
externally triggered modes of operation,the user inputsa pulse on the External Trigger Port that
controls the camera's integration in one of two ways depending on the triggering mode.
Triggering Modes
When
using External Triggering, there are threedifferent types of triggering modes: Edge High/Low,
PulseHigh/Low and Strobe High/Low.
Edge mode: allows the camera to start integratingon the rising or falling edge of the trigger
pulse with the integration time controlled internally by the camera. Using this
method
allows you to externally trigger the camera as fast as possible, and
allows you to take advantage of the si mul t ane ous readoutandexposure
function.
Pulse Mode: allows the user to control the integration period where the time is dictated by
the duration of the
pulse. If “Pulse High” mode is used, then the time the pulse
is high is the time of the integration period. Vice versa for “Pulse Low” mode.
This mode does not allow the simultaneous readout and exposure operation of
the camera.
Strobe Mode:
allows the user the combination of pulse mode with simultaneous readout and
exposure. This is a very advanced mode of operation of the camera such that the
second pulse mustfinishafter the readout of the first. The time between pulses
is very critical for thisoperation
9

Connecting External Sourcesto the Camera
Before you can beginto externally trigger your camera, you need to connect the necessary trigger
signal source to the camera. To do this you need to ensure that you have a 6-pin miniaturecircular
din
cable and ensure that the pinouts are set correctly from yourtrigger source. Refer to Appendix A
for further
details on pin assignments anda diagram of the mini-din connector.
There are several ways that you can provide an external pulse to the camera, oneof them beingvia
the
QImaging External Trigger Box, which is available through QImaging, and another common
device is afunction generator. To trigger the camera, you need to provide a5V TTL pulse though the
pin
stated in Appendix A.
To ensure that youwill use the external triggering mechanism correctly, it is important to ensure that
the following qu estio n s have been answered when devising or architecting your system design:
• Has a system design been developed that incorporates the necessary elements such as:
• a Timing Diagram,
• Flow of Events(e.g. a simple state diagram),
• necessarycomponents (e.g. microscope, flash lamp, shutter etc),
• a softwaresolution for extracting and/or processing yourimages,
• External Triggering source (e.g. QImaging Trigger board,function generator etc)
• Have you Determined the typeof triggering modeyou require for you applicatio n?
• Areyou sure the settings in the camera have been se t correctly. For instance, are you
monitoring the
SYNCB output andif so have you set the correct output modefor your
sys t em?
The above list should be used as a guide and should be consulted beforecontactingQImaging
Technical Support.
Trigger
Mode Trigger S our ce Exposure Control
Continual I nt er na l to Camera Internal to Camera
Edge Hi/ L o E xt er n a l Trigger P or t Internal to Camera
Pulse Hi/ L o E xter nal Trigger Port Length of User Pulse
Strobe Hi/Lo E xter nal Trigger Port Length of User Pulse
Software QCAM API Trigger Event I nter na l to Camera
Table 1—Trigger Sources and Integration Mod e s
10

Gain and Offset
Contr o ls
The Rolera EM-C
2
has two gain modes: (1) Multiplication Gain or EM Gain and (2) Easy-EM mode .
The Multiplication gain controls the EM portion of the camera and allows youto bring the signal of
the
sample above the read-noise.
The offsetcontrolof the Rolera EM-C
2
allow s you to change your bias level oroffset level to ensure
th at you capture all signals. This mapping is performedin the analog domainand thus avoids the
quantization errors incurred when the mapping is performedin the digital domain.
Easy-EM Mode
The Rolera EM-C
2
introduces the new Easy-EM Mode. This mode optimizes the EM Gain setting on the
camera to provide the best signal to noise ratio.
Using EM Gain adds an additional noise source known as Excess Noise. Using too much EM Gain will
increase this Excess Noise being added to the signal. However, using too little EM Gain does not
effectively reduce the read-noise.
Easy-EM Mode automatically selects the optimal position for the EM Gain to maximize the quality of your
results. Each and every camera is individually tested and calibrated to provide optimal settings.
11

CARING FOR YOUR CAMERA
CHAPTER 5
The Rolera EM-C
2
camera requires no regular maintenance except occasional external cleaning of the
cooling window (the
glass window that formspart of the cooling chamber and sits betweenthe
camera sensor andthe microscope or len s ) .
To clean
the Cooling window:
CAUTION — The cam e r a ’ s Cooling windows, CCD sensor, and circuits ar e
sensitive to static discharge. Ensureyou are using a static strap or ar e
completelygroundedat all ti me s to r e lease any s t atic energy before you
cleanthe cooling wi ndo w .
• Use clean forcedair (available at stores that sell cameras andcomputer cleaning supplies)
to dustthe coolingwindow (recommended).
• If the image still appears dirty, gentlywipe the face of the cooling window with a small
amount of optical
grade isopropyl alchohol and lens paper.
• Applyforcedair again to remove any loose particles.
12

TROUBLESHOOTING
ResolvingProblems with the camera
CHAPTER 6
The White LED is not lit.
• Check all the cable connections.
• Press the switchat the back of the camera.
• I f your white LED is stillnot lit, then your camera may not be receiving the required power.
If you
have a 1394 Power Supply or the included external power supply, connect the
camera as listed in Step 3 of the “ I ntr oduction ” Section.
Image occasionallygoes bright onone side or staysdark on one side
Turn off the overhead lightsin the room. Fluorescent lights may interact with the camera to create
fluctuating
image brightness.
Hazy image or poor contrast
• If you are using the camera on a microscope, check the magnification of the microscope
coupler. Con s ult your microscopemanufacturer to find the type of coupler that works
optimallywith the
Rolera EM-C
2
camera ’ s sensor.
• Point the camera at something in the far distance. Loosen the set-screw of the C-mount
ring
(there are three: one on the side and two on the top). Adjust the C-mount ring until
the image is in focus. Then tighten the set-screw so that the C-mount ring does not move.
A lens is not supplied with the camera.
• This effect may also be caused by excessive infrared (IR) illumination. Verify that your
camera or optical system is blockingthe IR. Contact QImaging to orderan IR filte r .
ImagesThat Do Not Appear“Sharp”
I f the image does not seem “sharp ,” check the format of the lens or the coupler being used on the
microscope. An incorrect coupler on the microscope will not provide the correct field of view, and will
reduce the light available to the sensor. If you experience an unsharp image, contact your micr o s cope
dealer to assist you in finding the most appropriate coupler.
13

Unresolved Problems - Contacting QImaging Support
If you
are still unable to resolve your problem, contact QImaging Support for assistance in one of four
ways:
• Vi si t http://www.qimaging.com/support/faq/index.php for a list of all frequently asked
questions.Your issue may be resolved in oneof these faq s .
• Vi si t http://www.qimaging.com/support/contact.php and fill out a supportform online
with the details of yourproblem.
• E-mail SUPPORT @ QIMAGING . COM with complete details of yourproblem (including Error
Message and Code if possible), camera model,computer hardware configuration, and
operatingsystem.
14

GLOSSAR Y
Binning
Binning is a method of increasing camera speed and sensitivity to boostlow signals. Binning causes
the
acquired image to bebrighter and smaller, but the resolution will be lower as a result. Because
the
image is smaller, the image transfer time is reduced significantly.
Whenyou
select abinning settingin yourimaging software, the camera combines datafrom several
pixels in the camera ’ s CCD into a single super pixel. For example, a2x2bin means that 2 pixels in the
horizontaldirectionand 2
pixels in the vertical direction are combined to form one super pixel.
C-Mount
A
standard threaded lens mount used to attacha camera to a microscope, or a separate lens to a
camera.
CCD
Charge Coupled Device (abbr.)
CCD Gain
The amount of analog signal amplification. The gain isfactory-optimized for the camera ’ s maximum
dynamic range.
Charge Coupled Device
The light sensitive silicon chip near the optical interface of the camera that converts light in tensiti e s
into electrical signals. Theseare typically made up of many pixel elements whose intensities are
interpretedby imaging softwareto
display an image on the screen.
Dynamic Range
The ratio of the saturation level of the CCD to the readout noise of the CCD camera system. Dynamic
range is a measure of the abilityof the camera to capture both bright and dark features in a single
image. In general, the higherthe camera ’ s dynamic range, the moreinformation per pixel it can
capture.
Exposure
The amount of time that light reaches the image sensor.
Field of Vi ew
The area visible through the camera ’ s optics.
FireWire
See IEEE
1394.
15

IEEE 1394
High bandwidth (40
megabytes/second - 1394a;80 megabytes/second - 1394b) interface f or
connecting digital imaging, storage, and other devices to hostcomputers.
Image Intensifier
An
electro-optical vacuum tube which intensifies or amplifies on low light level images.
In
teg r ation
The active collection of photons as donebyan image sensor.
Iris
A
diaphragm in the lens that opens or closes to set the aperture (theamount of light that passes
through the lens to the CCD).
ms
millisecond (abbr.); unit of measure for exposure time.
ns
nanosecond (abbr.); unit of measure for exposure time.
Of fset
The offset value adjusts the CCD blacklevel relative to the analog-to-digital converter zero. It is
factory-optimized for the came ra ’ s maximum dynamic range.
Pixel
The smallest spatial element of a digital image.
s
second (abbr.); unit of measure for exposure time.
us
microsecond (abbr.); unit of measure for exposure time.
16

APPENDICES
APPENDIXA: External Trigger Port
The external trigger port at the rear of the camera is a 6-pin miniature circular DIN receptacle (AMP
749265-1).
The mating connector is a Singatron Enterprises part number 62000-6 P , available fr om
Digikey (www.digikey.com)
5 6
3
4
1
2
Figure 15 — ExternalTriggerPort Connector
The pinout for the connector is as follows
Pin Number Signal Name Signal
S our ce
Descr iption
1 +5 VDC U se r P ow er for Optocoupler trigger
2 Trigger (in put ) U s e r Active Low Trigger Input
3 S YN C-A (output) Camera Indicates CCD R ead -o ut
4 Ground U s e r Ground Reference for Optocoupler
5 SYNC-B (o ut put ) Camera E xp osur e or Trigger Mask
6 Ground U s e r Ground Reference for Optocoupler
Table 2—Pin-outof the ExternalTrigger Port Connector
+5VDC (pin 1) and GROUND (pin4 & pin 6)must be connected in orderfor SYNC-A, SYNC-B or
TRIGGER to belive.
17