Hardware

The Digital Sight self-contained camera system provides the capability to view and capture high-resolution digital images from a microscope without reliance on a PC. The DS-5M-L1 system combines a camera head (DS-5M), based on a 5-megapixel Bayer-masked color matrix CCD detector, with a camera control unit (CCU, DS-L1) that incorporates a 6.3-inch LCD monitor to display high-resolution images in progressive or interlaced mode. Several live display modes are provided that vary the scanning mode and frame rate (up to 15 frames/second) of the LCD monitor or an external monitor to match the focusing and viewing requirements of specific applications.

The front panel of the Digital Sight camera control unit is illustrated in Figure 1, with labels indicating the functional components and controls that are presented in the overview below. The LCD display screen occupies the upper portion of the control unit, with control buttons and indicator LEDs arrayed in logical groups beneath the display area. Although most of the functions of the camera system are accessible through the controls located on this module, several require the use of a mouse, which may be connected to the left side of the control unit.

  • POWER Switch - This push switch is pressed to turn on the power to the control unit. Press the switch again to release it and switch off the power.

  • POWER Indicator - When the power is on, the LED indicator lights and remains on.

  • MENU Button - Pressing the menu button brings up a menu (initially the CAM Easy menu). While a menu is displayed, this button can be used to confirm selected menu commands, functioning as an ENTER button.

  • CURSOR Buttons - These four buttons are used to navigate within a menu for selecting an item such as an icon or command. The menu button is pressed to confirm the item selected, after which the cursor buttons function to increment or decrement the set value of the selected parameter. In general, the right or top cursor buttons increase set values or move in the forward direction and the left or bottom buttons decrease the values or move in the reverse direction. Specific details of the cursor button operations are discussed in the various menu and submenu descriptions.

  • ZOOM Button - The Zoom button can be employed to apply an electronic zoom to the displayed image. Each press of the button increases the image size by a predetermined ratio, advancing through the enlargement steps in sequence, and then returning to the original size. The zoom step ratios are fixed, and can be individually enabled or disabled in Additional Settings of the SETUP menu. The available zoom ratios are 100, 140, 200, 280, 400, 560, 800, 1000, and 1600 percent, and only those ratios selected will be effective when the zoom button is operated.

  • FREEZE Button - Depressing this button freezes (pauses) the currently displayed image. The freeze LED lights when the image is frozen and is no longer being refreshed from the camera input to the control unit. Pressing this button again will unfreeze the image and restore the live display.

  • CAPTURE Button - Pressing the capture button initiates image capture and subsequent writing of the data to a destination preassigned to the button. The destination is that specified for Capture Function in the Additional Settings of the SETUP menu. Data can be saved to the CompactFlash memory card, output to a printer, or saved to a computer on a local network. The specified destination is indicated during the capture operation by illumination of the corresponding LED (CF CARD, PRINT, or LAN). The capture button can be assigned to two or more functions at the same time.

The left side of the DS-L1 camera control unit is equipped with a number of input and output ports and indicators, as illustrated in Figure 2. The function of each is described briefly below.

  • 12 V DC Output - This output is currently unused.

  • 12 V DC Input - The dedicated AC adapter is connected to this input to provide power to the system.

  • USB Device Port - An external PC may be connected to this port with a USB cable to allow sending and receiving data to and from the PC.

  • USB Host Port - This port is utilized for connection of a USB mouse, USB keyboard, or USB printer.

  • NETWORK Tx Indicator - This indicator LED lights when data is being sent to the network.

  • NETWORK Rx Indicator - This indicator LED lights when data is being received from the network.

  • LAN Port - Using this connector and 10/100BASE-TX cable, the camera control unit can be connected through Ethernet to an external PC or to an Ethernet network hub for data exchange.

The following two features are accessed from the right side of the camera control unit, as illustrated in Figure 2:

  • Stand Arm - An adjustable arm that forms a support stand for the camera control unit swings into a recess in the unit when not in use. The arm is folded downward for use and holds the unit at an appropriate angle for viewing the LCD screen.

  • CF Card Slot - A CompactFlash memory card is inserted into this slot in the control unit housing for image storage. Stored images may be recalled from the CF card for display on the monitor. A diagram on the unit housing illustrates the correct orientation for the memory card. A small button at one end of the slot is used to eject the card for removal.

The rear side of the DS-L1 camera control unit is illustrated in Figure 3, and is the location of the connectors described briefly below.

  • RGB Connector - An external monitor may be connected to this connector with an appropriate RGB cable.

  • External Interface Output - This port is not currently available.

  • External Interface Input - This connector is used for interfacing the available DS Remote Controller (DS-RC). Additional third-party input devices, such as a foot switch to trigger freeze and capture functions, may be connected at this point provided it meets the interface specifications.

  • Camera Connector - The DS-5M camera head connects to this port using the proprietary cable provided.

The Digital Sight DS-5M camera head contains the 2/3-inch square 5-megapixel color CCD detector and is typically mounted on a microscope camera port by first attaching a C mount adapter to the C mount of the head. If utilized for other than microscopy applications, a C mount lens can be attached to the camera head, and a tripod attachment socket is provided for mounting the camera. The camera head is illustrated in Figure 4, and its connectors and other external features are described briefly below.

  • C Mount Cap - This cap protects the C mount flange from dust. The cap is attached to the flange when the unit is shipped from the factory.

  • Tripod Mount - This mount can be used to mount the camera head on a tripod.

  • C Mount - When performing photomicrography, the C mount adapter is attached to the camera head's flange, and then positioned on the camera port of the microscope. If the camera is used to photograph images that are not obtained from a microscope, a C mount lens system is attached to the C mount.

  • Camera Out Connector - Using the cable provided, this port is connected with the Camera connector on the rear panel of the camera control unit.

The Digital Sight camera system has the option of being controlled with a remote controller unit (DS-RC) that allows the user to easily freeze an image or capture it for storage to the CF card or FTP server. The remote unit is illustrated in Figure 5, and its buttons and connector are described below.

  • FREEZE Button - This button freezes the current image as a still image. Pressing the button again releases the frozen status and returns to the live image. The functions of buttons on the remote controller are the same as the corresponding buttons on the front panel of the control unit.

  • CAPTURE Button - Pressing this button causes the camera control unit to store an image file on the CF card or to a specified network FTP server. The destination for image storage is specified in Additional Settings of the SETUP menu.

  • TO EXT.IN Connector - Using the cable provided, this port connects with the EXTERNAL IN connector on the rear panel of the camera control unit.

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Contributing Authors

Matthew J. Parry-Hill, Thomas J. Fellers, and Michael W. Davidson - National High Magnetic Field Laboratory, 1800 East Paul Dirac Dr., The Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida, 32310.
Nikon Digital Imaging Systems