Digital Sight Camera Control Unit

The DS-L1 camera control unit (CCU) serves as the central processor of the Digital Sight camera system, controlling the acquisition of signal from the CCD, applying various processing functions to optimize the data, and delivering an output video signal for display on the built-in LCD monitor or a high-resolution external monitor and an image file of up to 2560 x 1920 pixels. In addition, the control unit enables the system to operate over a local area network or the Internet, and provides web browser support for live image viewing and camera control.

Among the most significant features of the Digital Sight camera system are the highly advanced image control capabilities that are accessible even by inexperienced microscopists through a simple menu interface, which includes pre-programmed image mode buttons for both biological and industrial applications. The menu functions, combined with the self-contained high-resolution LCD monitor, greatly simplify obtaining high quality digital micrographs independent of a PC. Experienced users can access advanced menus that provide full control of all important imaging functions as well as use of the embedded application tools, to take full advantage of both stored and live images. The microscopist therefore is afforded a great deal of latitude in acquiring, processing, organizing, and customizing digital images. Many of the features provided by the Digital Sight camera control unit control a complex set of functions that display considerable interdependency, and the system provides a number of custom user memories to facilitate reestablishing personal settings that have been optimized for specific applications. Detailed reviews of many of the control features are presented in the links below (refer to Figure 1 for the location of hardware controls discussed in these sections).

Digital Sight Camera Control Unit Reviews

Exposure Control and Camera Sensitivity - Digital cameras require some mechanism of exposure adjustment in order to control the levels of brightness, color saturation, and contrast in the final image. Three factors defining correct exposure in a charge-coupled device (CCD) camera are the visible light spectrum wavelength-dependent sensitivity, the intensity of illumination, and the length of time the CCD is exposed to light.

White Balance Calibration - The colors present in a digital image produced by an optical microscope are dependent not only upon the spectrum of wavelengths transmitted through or emitted by the specimen, but also on the spectral content of the light source. In color digital cameras that utilize charge-coupled device (CCD) imaging detectors, a range of balance adjustments is often necessary in order to produce acceptable color quality in digital images.

Image Display Features - The Digital Sight camera control unit is equipped with an easy-to-use zooming and panning utility that enables the microscopist to magnify and examine fine details of both captured and live digital images. A double window feature is also included that allows an operator to perform a side-by-side comparison of a live specimen image with a captured image.

Image Correction Features - The Digital Sight camera control unit is equipped with a series of image processing functions that the microscopist can employ to quickly and easily correct imaging problems that arise from poor focus, insufficient or uneven illumination, specimen shading or discoloration, and noise.

Saving Digital Images - An advanced file saving function is a valuable feature of the Digital Sight Camera Control Unit (CCU), which allows the user to rapidly record and save digital images in an efficient and organized manner. By enabling the specification of a set of storage conditions prior to conducting photomicrography sessions, the software automatically records, names, and stores image files as they are captured by the camera system.

Time-Lapse Cinemicrography - A time-lapse feature, built into the Digital Sight software package, affords the microscopist the capability to capture sequential images of dynamic events that occur under the microscope. The REC menu is utilized to configure variables necessary for time-lapse experiments, and to start and stop recording of image sequences.

CAM Menu Features - Among the control capabilities of the Digital Sight CAM menu, four display modes are provided that utilize different combinations of resolution, camera gain (sensitivity), frame rate, and color balance to suit varied specimen types and illumination conditions. Other variables that may be fine-tuned to optimize image quality through this menu include color balance and image contrast, as well as the mode of exposure determination and the photometry mode and area.

VIEW Menu Features - The VIEW menu of the Digital Sight camera control unit provides Compact Flash (CF) card access features that enable the operator to browse the CF card, view captured images or an image slideshow, and delete captured images.

TOOL Menu - The Digital Sight camera system is equipped with a selection of tools that enables the microscopist to utilize an overlay function to place text and other annotation information, and to make measurements, on a photographed image. Additionally, a remote user may annotate an image through the camera's Internet browser interface, allowing for simultaneous interaction among multiple users of the system.

Power ON Settings Panel Features - The Power On Settings panel allows the microscopist to set a number of options that determine the configuration of the system display at startup. Three different display configurations can be defined in the menu and selected as the startup version.

Network Settings Panel Features - The Network Settings panel enables the instrument operator to configure the Digital Sight camera control unit's networking features, which include HTTP and FTP access. These settings must be finalized before the Digital Sight's networking features can be accessed. The Digital Sight's networking capabilities are discussed thoroughly in the Digital Sight Networking Features section.

Additional Settings Panel Features - The Digital Sight's Additional Settings panel can be utilized to configure date and time as well as other setup options of the camera control unit.

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