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50 MicroMAX System User Manual Version 6.C
Experiment Setup Timing tab page (Acquisition|Experiment Setup…):
• Timing Mode: Free Run
• Shutter Control: Norm
al
• Safe Mode vs. Fast Mode: Safe
Acquisition Menu: Select
Video if you have connected an RS-170 (or a CCIR)
video monitor to the system and plan to use it for focusing or other operations.
There will be a check next to “
Video” to indicate that it is selected
Focusing
1. If you are using WinView/32 (or WinSpec/32 in Imaging Mode) and the computer
monitor for focusing, select
Focus from the Acquisition menu. The shutter, if
present, will open and successive images will be sent to the monitor as quickly as
they are acquired. Because the time to acquire and read out an image varies directly
with the size of the CCD, the observed frame rate will vary greatly depending on the
CCD installed. With a short exposure time, it is not uncommon for the frame readout
time to be significantly longer than the exposure time.
Note: If you are using WinView/32 (or WinSpec/32 in Imaging Mode) and a video
monitor for focusing, select the Video Focus… mode from the Acquisition menu.
Then select a short exposure time (0.1 s), an Intensity Scaling setting of 4096, and 2x
Zoom. With an MicroMAX:1300Y camera (1030×1300 pixels), set the Pan selector
as required for the 756×486 subset of the array image you wish to use for focusing
purposes. Select the center pan position if the camera is a MicroMAX:782Y
(782×582 pixels) or a MicroMAX:512BFT (512×512 pixels). Begin data collection
by selecting RUN on the Interactive Camera Operation dialog box. The shutter, if
present, will open and successive images will be sent to the monitor as quickly as
they are acquired, giving as close to continuous video as possible.
2. Adjust the lens aperture, intensity
scaling, and focus for the best image as viewed on
the monitor. Some imaging tips follow.
a. Begin with the lens blocked off. Set the lens at the sm
allest possible aperture
(largest f-stop number).
b. Place a suitable target in front of the lens. An object with text or graphics works
best. If working with a m
icroscope, use any easily viewed specimen. It is
generally not advisable to attempt fluorescence imaging during this Getting
Started phase of operation.
c. Adjust the intensity
scaling and lens aperture until a suitable setting is found. The
initial intensity scaling setting of 4096 assures that the image won’t be missed
altogether but could be dim. Once you’ve determined that the image is present,
select a lower setting for better contrast. Check the brightest regions of the image
to determine if the A/D converter is at full-scale. The A/D converter is at full-
scale when any part of the image is as bright as it can be. Adjust the aperture to
where it is just slightly smaller (higher f stop) than the setting where maximum
brightness on any part of the image occurs.