Cerna® Birefringence Imaging Microscope Chapter 1: Safety Chapter 1 Safety Warning: Risk of Electrical Shock High voltage inside. To avoid electrical shock, before powering up, make sure that the ground pin of the power cord is correctly connected to the ground connector in the power socket. Improper grounding can cause electric shock resulting in severe injury or even death. Do not operate without the cover installed. Caution Except for the main fuse, which is accessible from the outside of the housing, CM501/CM502 has no user‐serviceable parts. Service should only be performed by trained service personnel. Caution This unit must not be operated in explosive environments. Caution Transportation and delivery may cause the CM501/CM502 to be warm or cool upon receipt. Please wait for the whole device to reach room temperature before attempting to operate. Caution Do not operate in wet/damp conditions. Do not obstruct the air ventilation slots in the housing. Note: This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device, pursuant to part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential installation. This equipment generates, uses and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio communications. However, there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular installation. If this equipment does cause harmful interference to radio or television reception, which can be determined by turning the equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or more of the following measures: ...
Cerna® Birefringence Imaging Microscope Chapter 2: Getting Started Chapter 2 Getting Started Introduction Thorlabs’ CM501/CM502 Cerna® based Birefringence Imaging Microscope is particularly well‐suited for characterizing stress‐induced birefringence, in addition to measuring the retardance and azimuths of flat, planar samples, such as crystals and liquid crystal devices, visualize biological cells, like a cotton fiber or human hair follicle. These data are useful in academic research, medical diagnostics, industrial manufacturing, and product quality assurance applications. Thorlabs’ CM501/CM502 Birefringence Imaging Microscope is based on Thorlabs’s flexible Cerna® microscope and includes a scientific‐grade camera and an objective with 10x magnification. System control is provided by a user‐ friendly Graphical User Interface (GUI). A standard laptop or PC that includes two USB ports (USB 2.0 and 3.0) is ...
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Cerna® Birefringence Imaging Microscope Chapter 2: Getting Started Parts List – Accessories ® The Cerna ‐Based Birefringence Imaging Microscope is carefully packaged in a Pelican 1690 case. The complete system consists of a main unit and the following standard accessories. Note All the CM50x Birefringence Imaging microscopes are supplied with one USB 3.0 cable. These cables are constructed to provide reliable data throughput at a length of 3 m. Do not replace this cable with a 3 m cable from a different vendor. The use of a shorter cable (1 m or 2 m) might be acceptable but is not guaranteed. Never use any cable that is longer than 3 m on a USB 3.0 system. Item # CM501 12 VDC Power Supply, Item # DS12 Power Cord (Region‐Specific) USB Drive with Software and Manual High Speed USB 2.0 Type‐A to Type‐B Cable, 2 m Super Speed USB 3.0 A to Micro B Cable, 3 m Control Cable, 2 m ...
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Cerna® Birefringence Imaging Microscope Chapter 2: Getting Started Item # CM502 12 VDC Power Supply, Item # DS12 Power Cord (Region‐Specific) USB Drive with Software and Manual High Speed USB 2.0 Type‐A to Type‐B Cable, 2 m Super Speed USB 3.0 A to Micro B Cable, 3 m Control Cable, 2 m Birefringent NBS 1963A Resolution Target, Item # R2L2S1B Protective Tapes 10x Objective, Item # N10X‐PF Camera Assembly LED Assembly 9‐Piece Hex Key Set, Metric, Item # CCHK/M Three‐Channel Controller and Knob Box (Item # MCM3001) which includes: o Knob Box o Controller Box o Joystick Controller Cable o Power Supply o Power Cord (Region‐Specific) o USB Cable (A to B) o Two 1/4"‐20 Cap Screws, 1/2" Long ...
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Cerna® Birefringence Imaging Microscope Chapter 2: Getting Started First Foam Layer Protective Tape Figure 2 First Layer of CM501 Packaging Step 2: Take out the accessories and put them on the optical table. Then remove the second foam layer carefully. Note that main unit should remain in the Pelican case while this is done. LED Assembly Camera Assembly USB 3.0 Cable USB Drive USB 2.0 Cable Hex Key Set Control Cable Power Cord Holding Point 10x Objective (Right Hand) R2L2S1B Resolution Target CM501 Main Unit DS12 Power Adapter Holding Point (Left Hand) Figure 3 Second Layer of CM501 Packaging Rev. A, July 27, 2022 Page 5 ...
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Cerna® Birefringence Imaging Microscope Chapter 2: Getting Started LED Assembly 10x Objective Three‐Channel Controller Camera Assembly USB 3.0 Cable Control Cable Three‐Channel USB 2.0 Cables Knob USB Drive Hex Key Set R2L2S1B Power Cords Resolution Target Holding Point (Left Hand) Three‐Channel Controller Power Adapter Holding Point (Right Hand) DS12 Power CM502 Adapter Main Unit Figure 4 Second Layer of CM502 Packaging Step 3: Use both hands to transfer the main unit, as shown in Figure 5, to the optical table. Then use at least four screws to secure the main unit to the optical table. Note Lifting the unit while grasping it at points other than those shown in Figure 5 is not recommended, as this may cause damage to the main unit as well as human injury. If there is difficulty transporting the unit with two hands to its final location, the unit may first placed upright on an intermediate surface that is stable and flat. The unit may then be transported to its final location using one hand grasping the main body rail and the other hand supporting the base. ...
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Cerna® Birefringence Imaging Microscope Chapter 2: Getting Started Holding Point Holding Point (Right Hand) (Left Hand) Figure 5 Recommended Operation to Transfer the CM501/CM502 Main Unit from One Place to Another After unpacking the system, store the packaging cartons and the Pelican case. If the Birefringence Imaging Microscope needs to be serviced or returned, it must be transported within the Pelican case. Identification and Function of System Components Camera Assembly Camera Port Connectors Objective Holder Manual Objective Arm Objective Microscope Body Control Box LED Assembly Illumination Module Iris Diaphragm Figure 6 Identification of CM501 Imaging Microscope ...
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Cerna® Birefringence Imaging Microscope Chapter 2: Getting Started Camera Assembly Camera Port Connectors Motorized Objective Arm Objective Holder Objective Microscope Body Control Box LED Assembly Illumination Module Three‐Channel Controller Iris Diaphragm Three‐Channel Knob Figure 7 Identification of CM502 Imaging Microscope The tables below list the standard components of CM501 and CM502 Imaging Microscopes: Component CM501 CM502 625 nm, 700 mW (Min) Mounted LED, Item # M625L4 Collimating Lenses, Item # LA1134‐A, ACL12708U‐A LED Assembly Ø1" Laser Line Filter, CWL = 632.8 ± 0.2 nm, Item # FL632.8‐1 Cage Assembly Rod, 1" Long, Item # ER1 SM1‐Threaded 30 mm Cage Plate, Item # CP33/M Illumination Module Transmitted Light Illumination / DIC Imaging Module, Item # WFA1000 Microscope Body Cerna Microscope Body with Epi‐Illumination Arm, 500 mm Rail, Item # CEA1500 USB 3.0 USB 2.0 Connectors Control LED Connector Power Adapter Connector Control Box Liquid Crystal Optical Components Integrated 1X Camera Tube with C‐Mount, Item # WFA4100 ...
10X Nikon Plan Fluorite Imaging Objective, Item # N10X‐PF Objective Holder Nosepiece for 2 Objectives, Item #s CSN1202 and CSA1200 Standard systems use an integrated 633 nm LED as the light source. If a light source with a custom wavelength was selected, then it will instead be integrated into the delivered system. All of the CM501/CM502’s optical components are designed and tuned for either 633 nm or for the custom operational wavelength specified at the time of purchase. The configuration and positions of the optics within the system are carefully aligned in the factory. There are no user serviceable components. An integrated Thorlabs’ CS505MU Monochrome CMOS camera is used to capture the sample image. The camera’s sensor has 2448 x 2048 (H x V) pixels. The default imaging microscope configuration provides an objective with 10x magnification and a camera tube lens with 1x magnification. This results in a spatial resolution and field of view of the system of 1.055 μm and 0.84 x 0.71 mm. 2.4.1 Sample Stage and Sample Holder The standard CM501/CM502 system is a pre‐installed microscope system. It is compatible with Thorlabs' sample holders (available separately, see the following for more information) which support slide holders, petri dishes, ® recording chambers, micromanipulators, and other samples that will be inserted into a Cerna ...
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Cerna® Birefringence Imaging Microscope Chapter 2: Getting Started Manual Kit – Option 1 Figure 8 Rigid Stand Slide Holder and manual XY Translation Stage with CM501 This manual kit consists of an MP200‐MLSH rigid stand, an MLS203P2 Petri Dish/Slide holder, an XRN25P‐K1 XY translation stage and an MPA1 Adapter. It offers X and Y horizontal axis translation up to 25 mm and maintains a slim profile that consumes a minimal amount of space in and around the optical path. Item Number Qty. Description MP200‐MLSH 1 Large Insert Holder, Adjustment Height: 248.1 ‐ 410.1 mm MLS203P2 1 Petri Dish/Slide Holder for Inverted Microscopes XR25P 1 25 mm Travel Linear Translation Stage, Side‐Mounted Micrometer 25 mm Travel Linear Translation Stage, End-Mounted Micrometer XR25C 1 Page 10 CTN017763‐D02 ...
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Slide Holder and an CSS2001 manual Olympus XY stage. It provides 80 mm (3.1") of translation along the X axis and 54 mm (2.1") of translation along the Y axis without obstruction. A Vernier scale with 100 μm resolution alongside each axis provides high precision sample positioning. Item Number Qty. Description CSA1051 1 Olympus Stage Adapter Arm for Cerna Microscope CSS2000 1 Manual Olympus XY Stage Slide Holder CSS2001 1 Manual Olympus XY Stage for Upright Microscope Other customized sample holder adapters are available. Please contact Thorlabs’ Tech Support prior to purchase. Motorized Sample Stage The motorized kit consists of an 2D XY motorized translation stage (Item # PLS‐XY) and an MP100‐RCH2 rigid stand. The MCM3001 3‐Axis Controller is used to adjust the stage’s position. The stage is compatible with loads up to 42 lbs and mounts to the bottom of the rigid stand, which maintains the stand's compact footprint. Rev. A, July 27, 2022 Page 11 ...
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Cerna® Birefringence Imaging Microscope Chapter 2: Getting Started Figure 10 Rigid Stand and motorized XY Stage with CM501 Item Number Qty. Description MP200‐MLSH 1 Large Insert Holder, Adjustment Height: 248.1 ‐ 410.1 mm PLS‐XY 1 2D Motorized Translation Stage for Rigid Stands MCM3001 1 Three‐Channel Controller and Knob Box for 1" Cerna Travel Stages Note *The standard CM502 contains an MCM3001 three‐channel controller with two free ports available. Therefore, it is not necessary to purchase this additional MCM3001 controller if the motorized sample stage solution is chosen. Page 12 CTN017763‐D02 ...
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Cerna® Birefringence Imaging Microscope Chapter 2: Getting Started System Information and Connections An XY‐Coordinate is engraved on the top surface of control box for the indication of Azimuth (Fast‐Axis orientation) measurement. Figure 11 XY‐Coordinate for Azimuth measurement The control connector is located on the rear side of the control box. Figure 12 The back of control box The system connections, serial number and the manufacturing number are located on the rear side of the main unit: Rev. A, July 27, 2022 Page 13 ...
Power Switch Setting Up the CM501/CM502 2.6.1 General Setup For optimal image acquisition, we strongly advise that the following standard practices are met: Acquire images with the system mounted on actively isolated platforms or vibration‐damping tables. Failure to utilize appropriate mounting platforms results in poor quality images. Thorlabs offers a wide array of optical tables and mounting platforms providing the required stability. Avoid placing other instruments or machines that vibrate in close proximity to this imaging microscope. Such items include refrigeration units, cell culture incubators, hoods, etc. Minimize air drafts, as these can result in movement of the imaging microscope and affect sample focus. Drafts can also lead to particulate contamination that can damage your hardware and/or introduce ...
Cerna® Birefringence Imaging Microscope Chapter 2: Getting Started 2.6.2 System Installation Caution Initial component assembly required. Should assistance be required, arrangements can be made for a service appointment to install the system. Please contact Thorlabs (techsupport@thorlabs.com or imagingtechsupport@thorlabs.com) to obtain a quotation for installation services Steps for installing the system, which is done before running the system software, are described in the following: Step 1: Mount the main unit onto the optical table as shown below. Secure the main unit to the mounting platform using at least four screws, i.e., at least one screw at each corner. Counterbore for M6 CAP Screw Counterbore for ¼”‐20 CAP Screw Figure 14 Counterbores for main unit securing ...
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Cerna® Birefringence Imaging Microscope Chapter 2: Getting Started Figure 15 Mount the main unit onto the optical table Step 2: Mount the LED Assembly onto the illumination module of main unit. Figure 16 Mount the LED assembly onto the illumination module Page 16 CTN017763‐D02 ...
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Cerna® Birefringence Imaging Microscope Chapter 2: Getting Started Note Remove the Green Tapes on LED Assembly and Illumination Module before Installation! To mount the LED assembly onto the illumination module, use a 2.5 mm hex key or ball driver to remove the locking screw of the dust cover on the illumination module. Figure 17 Loose the locking screws of dust cover (2 sets) Attach the LED assembly on the illumination module with four cage rods. Secure the locking screws between illumination module, cage rods and cage plate by using a 1.3 mm hex key or ball driver. Rev. A, July 27, 2022 Page 17 ...
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Cerna® Birefringence Imaging Microscope Chapter 2: Getting Started Figure 18 Secure the locking screws between illumination module and cage rods (4 sets) Figure 19 Secure the locking screws between Cage Plate and cage rods (4 sets) Page 18 CTN017763‐D02 ...
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Cerna® Birefringence Imaging Microscope Chapter 2: Getting Started Step 3: Install the objective on the objective holder. Remove the Green Tape on objective holder and install the objective on the objective holder. Green Tape Figure 20 Remove the green tape before objective installation Figure 21 Objective installed Step 4: Loosen the locking screw with a 2 mm hex key or ball driver and remove the dust cover on Camera Port. Rev. A, July 27, 2022 Page 19 ...
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Cerna® Birefringence Imaging Microscope Chapter 2: Getting Started Dust Cover on Camera Port Locking Screw Figure 22 Remove the dust cover on camera port Note When repacking is needed, put the dust cover back by aligning the dot parallel in front of the front side of main unit. Alignment Marker of Dust Cover Figure 23 Remove the dust cover on camera port Step 5: Loosen the locking screw with a 1.5 mm hex key or ball driver and remove the dust cover of camera assembly. Page 20 CTN017763‐D02 ...
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Cerna® Birefringence Imaging Microscope Chapter 2: Getting Started Dust Cover on Camera Assembly Locking Screw Figure 24 Camera Assembly Step 6: Put the camera assembly on the camera port and secure the camera assembly with the locking screw. Figure 25 Put the camera assembly on the camera port Rev. A, July 27, 2022 Page 21 ...
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Cerna® Birefringence Imaging Microscope Chapter 2: Getting Started Figure 26 CM501 Final Arrangement Step 7: Place a proper sample holder and stage underneath the objective. Figure 27 Sample holder placed underneath the objective Page 22 CTN017763‐D02 ...
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Cerna® Birefringence Imaging Microscope Chapter 2: Getting Started Note Three options of sample stage are recommended in Chapter 2.4.1. Rigid Stand and other parts can be customized prior system installation. Step 8: Connect the CM501/CM502 system cables: CM501 Connect the Control cable between main unit and control box. Connect the USB 2.0 cable between the main unit and laptop or PC. Connect the USB 3.0 cable between camera and laptop or PC. Connect the LED cable between main unit and LED assembly. Connect the 12 VDC power supply to the main unit. Connect the power cord to the power supply and connect the other end to a wall plug. CM502 Connect the Control cable between main unit and control box. Connect the USB 2.0 cable between the main unit and laptop or PC. Connect the USB 3.0 cable between camera and laptop or PC. Connect the LED cable between main unit and LED assembly. Connect the 12 VDC power supply to the main unit. Connect the power cord to the power supply and connect the other end to a wall plug. Connect the Controller cable between Three‐Channel controller box with knob box. Connect the cable between motorized objective arm and Three‐Channel controller box. Connect the power supply to Three‐Channel controller box. Connect the power cord to the Three‐Channel power supply and connect the other end to a wall plug. ...
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Cerna® Birefringence Imaging Microscope Chapter 2: Getting Started Figure 29 Connected Cables of CM501/CM502 Page 24 CTN017763‐D02 ...
Cerna® Birefringence Imaging Microscope Chapter 3: System Operation Chapter 3 System Operation Starting the System Warning: Risk of Electrical Shock High voltage inside. To avoid electrical shock, before powering up, make sure that the ground pin of the power cord is correctly connected to the ground connector in the power socket. Improper grounding can cause electric shock resulting in severe injury or even death. Do not operate without the cover installed. Caution This unit must not be operated in explosive environments. Caution Transportation and delivery may cause the CM501/CM502 to be warm or cool upon receipt. Please wait for the whole device to reach room temperature before attempting to operate. Caution Do not operate in wet/damp conditions. Do not obstruct the air ventilation slots in the housing.
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Cerna® Birefringence Imaging Microscope Chapter 3: System Operation One Available Super‐Speed USB 3.0 Port CPU: Intel Core i3 or Above RAM: 2 GB or More Page 26 CTN017763‐D02 ...
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Cerna® Birefringence Imaging Microscope Chapter 3: System Operation Installing the Software The CM501/CM502 software can be downloaded from the Thorlabs website or from the bundled USB drive. Note Do not connect the CM501/CM502 to the laptop or PC prior to software installation. Administrator privilege is required to complete software installation. Note Completing the installation of the CM501/CM502 software requires that either Thorlabs’ ThorCam™ Software or the ThorCam Driver also be installed on the computer. If ThorCam is not installed, then the installation procedure will automatically install the CM501/CM502 GUI as well as the ThorCam driver. If ThorCam has already been installed on the computer, then the new software will skip the installation of the ThorCam driver. If the installed ThorCam version supports the USB 3.0 Camera, then the CM501/CM502 software can run properly. If the installed ThorCam version does not support the USB 3.0 Camera, then an error will occur when running the CM501/CM502 software. If this occurs, it is necessary to first uninstall the old ThorCam driver. Then either repeat the ...
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Cerna® Birefringence Imaging Microscope Chapter 3: System Operation Choose the install location and click “Install” to continue. Click “Finish” to close the Installation. Page 28 CTN017763‐D02 ...
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Cerna® Birefringence Imaging Microscope Chapter 3: System Operation If the window shown in the following image appears, click “Install” to finish the Camera Driver installation. Software GUI The CM501/CM502 Software GUI is divided into 6 functional areas: Main Menu Image Preview Window Camera Control Light Source Control Measurement Control Measurement Data View Tabs Status Bar Rev. A, July 27, 2022 Page 29 ...
Camera Control Measurement Light Source Data View Control Tabs Measurement Control Status Bar Figure 30 Front Panel of GUI 3.4.1 Main Menu Controls for all user operations are included in the main menu, which consist of 3 sections: Device Information Link to Thorlabs Operation Buttons Link to Thorlabs Device Information Operation Buttons Figure 31 Main Menu Area of GUI Device Information Display the Device Model, Serial Number, Operating Wavelength, Hardware Version and Firmware Version Link to Thorlabs Open the Thorlabs home page by clicking the Thorlabs logo. Operation Buttons Seven buttons provide the functions summarized in the table and described following the table: ...
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Cerna® Birefringence Imaging Microscope Chapter 3: System Operation Icon Operation Icon Operation Connect Disconnect Save Profile Load Profile Options Update Technical Support Help Connect/Disconnect Enable or disable the connection between the CM501/CM502 and the laptop or PC. When the software recognizes the CM501/CM502 hardware, the connect button will be enabled. If the connect button is grayed out, check that the CM501/CM502’s power switch is turned on and the USB cables are properly connected to the computer. If this is in order, please check for solutions in Chapter 8. Note If more than one CS505MU is connected to your computer, be sure to confirm the camera serial number matches that of the camera integrated into the CM501/CM502. Save Profile Save the user defined settings in XML format. Load Profile Load the user defined settings in XML format. Options The camera settings and other values can be set using controls accessed via the options tab. Exposure Time Range (ms) Define the range of Camera Exposure Times that the front panel Exposure control provides. Rev. A, July 27, 2022 ...
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Cerna® Birefringence Imaging Microscope Chapter 3: System Operation Over Exposure Highlight Threshold Defines the threshold of pixel saturation, default is set to 85% of 4095. Pixels exceeding this threshold value will be color‐coded as RED, as discussed in Section 5.4.4, if the Over Exposure Detection option in the Light Source Control panel has been checked. LC (Liquid Crystal) Temperature (˚C) Displays the actual temperature of the Liquid Crystal components. Auto Adjustment Range This range is used to specify the source Current (mA) settings for the LED source and the input Polarization States, in order to provide the desired intensity level. Theme Set the Software Theme to Dark or Light. Language Set the software language to Chinese Simplified or English (United States). Page 32 CTN017763‐D02 ...
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Cerna® Birefringence Imaging Microscope Chapter 3: System Operation Update Update the CM501/CM502 software to the most recent version. Support Microsoft Outlook is launched (if installed), and a new email with the address set to is techsupport@thorlabs.com opened. Help Displays the detailed information about the CM501/CM502 software. Please have these details available when contacting the Thorlabs’ Tech Support. Rev. A, July 27, 2022 Page 33 ...
Cerna® Birefringence Imaging Microscope Chapter 3: System Operation 3.4.2 Image Preview Window The image preview window is the main window for the camera image preview. By default, when the 10x objective is integrated into the system, a clear field of view of 0.84 mm x 0.71 mm is provided. Figure 32 Image Preview Window of GUI The toolbar on the right side can be used to customize several image settings, which are listed in the table and described in the following Icon Description Icon Description ROI* of Rectangle ROI of Circular Resume to Full image Rotation in Anti‐Clockwise Rotation in Clockwise Flip in Horizontal Flip in Vertical ROI indication Line Profile Page 34 CTN017763‐D02 ...
Cerna® Birefringence Imaging Microscope Chapter 3: System Operation Note *The Region of Interest (ROI) can be selected by dragging a rectangular or circular region in the image preview window. With ROI selected, the camera reads out only the ROI area and it can increase frame rate, which can increase measurement speed. Line Profile Select the Line Profile tool to draw a line across the image that indicating a linear path of interest. The intensity values measured by the pixels along the line are displayed in a separate window. Figure 33 Line Profile Tool of GUI 3.4.3 Camera Control The camera control settings enable the desired exposure time, gain, and black level values to be selected. Figure 34 Camera Dynamic Setting Area of GUI Exposure Time Set the exposure time appropriate for all frames to be acquired. The unit here is milliseconds. The setting range can be changed in the Option Tab. The default range is defined from 0.021 ms to 7330 ms with ~0.007 ms increments. Rev. A, July 27, 2022 Page 35 ...
Cerna® Birefringence Imaging Microscope Chapter 3: System Operation Gain The relative gain applied to the analog signal from the image sensor. The increment here is 0.1 dB per step (typical). Black Level The average image signal from the camera in the absence of light. Increments of 1.0 ADU (Analog to Digital Unit) are used. Save Image As Save the preview image in PNG or TIFF format. Reset Reset the camera parameters to default values. 3.4.4 Light Source Control Figure 35 Light Source Control Area of GUI Current (mA) Sets the current supplied to the LED to a value between the minimum and maximum. Auto Adjusts the LED brightness (intensity level) automatically. Since the level chosen by the software depends on the current sample under test, place the sample in the sample stage and orient to the desired position before using ...
Cerna® Birefringence Imaging Microscope Chapter 3: System Operation Figure 36 Over‐exposed Pixels in Image Preview Window Polarization State Set the Polarization States of input light on the sample. There are six states available in total. Note The Polarization States are defined from the perspective of the observer looking into the beam, towards the light source. No. Polarization State of Input Light 1 Right‐Handed Circular (Default) 2 Left‐Handed Circular 3 Linear 0° 4 Linear 45° 5 Linear 90° 6 Linear ‐45° 3.4.5 Status Bar The status bar displays information about the system status including: Figure 37 Examples of Status Bar of GUI Image Preview Information o Image Dimension o Image Intensity Rev. A, July 27, 2022 ...
Cerna® Birefringence Imaging Microscope Chapter 3: System Operation Measurement Information o Azimuth o Retardance System Status Information o Initialize o Warm Up o Ready o Error Light Source Over Exposure Detection Status 3.4.6 Measurement Control The CM501/CM502 contains three measurement modes with different measurement ranges. Figure 38 Measurement Control Area of GUI Measurement Mode The measurement rate depends on the camera exposure time. An exposure time of 230 ms (typical) is set as the default, which allows a measurement to be finished within 20 s in standard mode and 4 min in low noise mode. Standard Mode Higher measurement rate with a lower signal‐to‐noise ratio compared with Low Noise Mode. Low Noise Mode Lower measurement rate with a higher signal‐to‐noise ratio compared with Standard Mode. Raw Sample Mode The camera collects a set of images corresponding to the six Input Polarization States, i.e. Right‐Handed Circular, Left‐Handed Circular, Linear 0°, Linear 45°, Linear 90° and Linear ‐45°. Measurement Range ...
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Cerna® Birefringence Imaging Microscope Chapter 3: System Operation The Low Retardance Range will improve the measurement accuracy of retardance to ±1 nm in the retardance measurement range from 0 nm to 100 nm, as well as the measurement accuracy of azimuths to ±1° over the entire azimuth measurement range. Background A background measurement must be collected before making a measurement with Low Retardance Range specified. Click the background button to start the background collection and follow the instructions to complete the acquisition of the background. ...
Cerna® Birefringence Imaging Microscope Chapter 3: System Operation 3.4.7 Measurement Data Views The measurement data views toolbar, on the left side of the window (Measurement Data View Tabs), provides three different options for viewing measurement results. The data is presented in a layout determined by the measurement mode: Layout 1 Standard Measurement Mode, Low Noise Measurement Mode Layout 2 Raw Sample Measurement Mode 1D View ‐ Layout 1 Displays the measurement results of Standard and Low Noise measurement modes in 1D view. The 1D tab consists of two parts: Measurement Data Display Display Mode Selection Figure 41 1D Data View of Measured Sample, Liquid Crystal Polymer Waveplate, Standard Mode Measurement Data Display The curves displayed in the two graphs are horizontal or vertical cross sections of the azimuth and retardance measurement data. The Display Mode Selection controls, which are described in the following, specify the cross section shown in the graphs. Display Mode Selection The Display Mode area includes colormaps of the complete set of azimuth and retardance measurement data, and these graphs are overlaid by a black bar. The controls beneath the colormaps are used to specify the position and orientation of the black bar, which selects the azimuth angle and retardance data plotted in the Measurement Data Display graphs. The radio button controls select between horizontal and vertical orientations of the bar. The bar can also be dragged to the desired position in each graph. When the “Synchronize Positions” Box is selected, the positions of the bars in both graphs are constrained to have the same XY coordinates. Both bars move in tandem when one is adjusted. Page 40 CTN017763‐D02 ...
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Cerna® Birefringence Imaging Microscope Chapter 3: System Operation Click the Save Data As button to save the data in comma separated value (CSV) or Binary (.bin) format. 1D View ‐ Layout 2 Displays the measurement results of Raw Sample measurement mode in 1D view. The 1D tab consists of two parts: Intensity Data Display Display Mode Selection Figure 42 1D Data View of Measured Sample, Liquid Crystal Polymer Waveplate, Raw Sample Mode Intensity Data Display The displayed trace is the horizontal or vertical cross section one measurement data sets in the collected raw sample measurement data. The Display Mode Selection controls, which are described in the following, select the particular measurement set, as well as the cross section of that set that is shown in the graph. Display Mode Selection The Display Mode area includes a colormap of one of the raw sample measurement data sets, and this colormap is overlaid by a black bar. There are six data sets in the raw sample measurement data, and each data set corresponds to a different input polarization state. The Polarization States selection box specifies the data set ...
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Cerna® Birefringence Imaging Microscope Chapter 3: System Operation o Data Analysis Display Mode Selection Measurement Data Display Data Analysis Figure 43 2D Data View of Measured Sample, Liquid Crystal Polymer Waveplate, Standard Mode Measurement Data Display The measurement data is shown as a colormap, with the data range indicated by the vertical bar on the right. The maximum and minimum values of the color bar can be user defined or set as Auto Range. Display Setting Displays the measurement results of Azimuth and Retardance in 2D view with three display modes. Units of nm, waves, and degree are selectable regarding the measured retardance. Azimuth indicator is shown while the Retardance with Azimuth Vector and Azimuth modes are selected. Retardance with Azimuth Vector The colormap shows the measured sample’s retardance and the overlaid vector graph with arrows indicates the sample’s fast axis orientation (azimuth), see Figure 43. Retardance Mode The colormap shows only the measured sample’s retardance. Page 42 ...
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Cerna® Birefringence Imaging Microscope Chapter 3: System Operation Figure 44 2D Data Display Mode of Retardance Azimuth Mode The colormap shows only the measured sample’s azimuth. Values indicated by the color bar have units of degrees. Figure 45 2D Data Display Mode of Azimuth Rev. A, July 27, 2022 Page 43 ...
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Cerna® Birefringence Imaging Microscope Chapter 3: System Operation Data Analysis A simple data analysis section shows the maximum, minimum, mean and standard deviation (SD) values, which are based on the selected display mode. Right‐Click or click the “Save Data As” button to save the data or the image of the “Measurement Data Display” area. The data can be saved into CSV or Binary (.bin) file format. The image can be saved in PNG (8 bit) or TIFF (16 bit) file format. 2D View – Layout 2 2D view tab for Raw Sample measurement mode contains three sections: o Measurement Data Display o Display Setting o Data Analysis Measurement Data Display Display Mode Selection Data Analysis Figure 46 2D Data View of Measured Sample, Liquid Crystal Polymer Waveplate, Raw Sample Mode Measurement Data Display The measurement data is shown as a colormap, with the data range indicated by the vertical bar on the right. The maximum and minimum values of the color bar can be user defined or set as Auto Range. Display Setting Displays the collected image intensity with selected input polarization state in 2D view with Color or Gray Scale display modes. Data Analysis Page 44 CTN017763‐D02 ...
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Cerna® Birefringence Imaging Microscope Chapter 3: System Operation Provides the maximum, minimum, mean and standard deviation (SD) values, which are based on the selected display mode. Right‐Click or click the “Save Data As” button to save the data or the image of the “Measurement Data Display” area. The data can be saved into CSV or Binary (.bin) file format. The image can be saved in PNG (8 bit) or TIFF (16 bit) file format. 3D View – Layout 1 This layout is used to displays the measurement results of Standard and Low Noise measurement modes as a 3D graph. Controls on the left are used to toggle between Retardance and Azimuth data, as well as select the desired units. The 3D graph can be dragged with the mouse for different viewing orientations. Figure 47 3D Data Display of measured Sample, Liquid Crystal Polymer Waveplate, Standard Mode 3D View – Layout 2 This layout is used to display data acquired using Raw Sample Mode. Controls on the left are used to toggle between data sets corresponding to the different input polarization states. The 3D graph can be dragged with the mouse for different viewing orientations.3D. Rev. A, July 27, 2022 Page 45 ...
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Cerna® Birefringence Imaging Microscope Chapter 3: System Operation Figure 48 3D Data Display of measured Sample, Liquid Crystal Polymer Waveplate, Raw Sample Mode Page 46 CTN017763‐D02 ...
CM50x microscope and LCC7201B imaging system, are sensitive to retardance and azimuth changes as small as ±1 nm and ±1° (Low Retardance Range). The CM501 and CM502 can provide higher spatial resolution. The example measurement results shown below for a Thorlabs' Liquid Crystal Polymer Zero‐Order Half‐Wave Plate (Item # WPH10E‐830) indicate retardance and azimuth changes due to laser‐induced damage threshold (LIDT) testing. Figure 49 2D Azimuth View of Measured Sample, Liquid Crystal Polymer Waveplate ...
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Cerna® Birefringence Imaging Microscope Chapter 4: Applications Figure 50 2D Retardance View of Measured Sample, Liquid Crystal Polymer Waveplate Birefringence in Biological Tissue The Cerna Birefringence Imaging Microscope is a powerful tool to reveal submicroscopic organization in biological materials. It offers rapid measurements to study and understand the biological structures, such as striated muscle, nerve myelin, mitotic spindle, dermal collagen, and stress fibers without staining or labeling. Some example measurement results are shown below. Page 48 CTN017763‐D02 ...
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Cerna® Birefringence Imaging Microscope Chapter 4: Applications Berry Hair Whole Mount (w.m.) (Complete Organism) Figure 51 2D Azimuth View of Measured Sample, Berry Hair Whole Mount (w.m.) Figure 52 2D Retardance View of Measured Sample, Berry Hair Whole Mount (w.m.) Rev. A, July 27, 2022 Page 49 ...
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Cerna® Birefringence Imaging Microscope Chapter 4: Applications Dandelion Fuzz Whole Mount (w.m.) (Complete Organism) Figure 53 2D Azimuth View of Measured Sample, Dandelion Fuzz Whole Mount (w.m.) Figure 54 2D Retardance View of Measured Sample, Dandelion Fuzz Whole Mount (w.m.) Page 50 CTN017763‐D02 ...
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Cerna® Birefringence Imaging Microscope Chapter 4: Applications Leaf of Nerium Indicum T.S. Figure 55 2D Azimuth View of Measured Sample, Leaf of Nerium Indicum T.S. Figure 56 2D Retardance View of Measured Sample, Leaf of Nerium Indicum T.S. Rev. A, July 27, 2022 Page 51 ...
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Cerna® Birefringence Imaging Microscope Chapter 4: Applications Tomato Flesh Whole Mount (w.m.) (Complete Organism) Figure 57 2D Azimuth View of Measured Sample, Tomato Flesh Whole Mount (w.m.) Figure 58 2D Retardance View of Measured Sample, Tomato Flesh Whole Mount (w.m.) Page 52 CTN017763‐D02 ...
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Cerna® Birefringence Imaging Microscope Chapter 4: Applications Human Hair (w.m.) (Complete Organism) Figure 59 2D Azimuth View of Measured Sample, Human Hair (w.m.) Figure 60 2D Retardance View of Measured Sample, Human Hair (w.m.) Rev. A, July 27, 2022 Page 53 ...
Cerna® Birefringence Imaging Microscope Chapter 5: Maintenance Chapter 5 Maintenance Basic Care Handle the complete system with care during transportation and unpacking. Banging or dropping the system can damage the unit or lower the system performance. If the system is mishandled during the shipment, the optical components inside may become misaligned, which would lead to a decrease in accuracy of the measurement performance. If this occurs, the complete system will need to be sent back for realignment and recalibration. Please contact Thorlabs’ Tech Support for more information. Do not store or operate in a damp, closed environment. Do not store or operate on surfaces that are susceptible to vibrations. Do not expose to direct sunlight. Do not use the solvents on or near the equipment. ...
Cerna® Birefringence Imaging Microscope Chapter 6: Specifications Chapter 6 Specifications General Specifications Light Source Wavelength 632.8 nm ± 1 nm Microscope Cerna® Series Microscope Measurement Range Retardance Standard Retardance Range: 0 nm to 316 nm Low Retardance Range: 0 nm to 100 nm Azimuth ±90° Measurement Accuracy Retardance Standard Retardance Range: ±10 nm Low Retardance Range: ±1 nm Azimuth Standard Retardance Range: ±3° Low Retardance Range: ±1° Measurement Rate <20 sec (Based on Default Camera Settings) Field of View 0.84 mm x 0.71 mm Spatial Resolution 1.055 μm Interface USB 2.0 & USB 3.0 Imager Resolution 2448 x 2048 (H x V) Pixels Dimensions 469.6 mm (D) x 354.1 mm (W) x 836.3 mm (H) CM501 21.9 kg (48.3 lbs) Weight ...
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Cerna® Birefringence Imaging Microscope Chapter 6: Specifications Parfocal Length 60 mm Compatible Tube Lens Focal Length 200 mm Coverslip Correction 0.17 mm Barrel Diameter 30.0 mm Length 48.7 mm Threading M25 x 0.75 Camera Port Specifications Item # WFA4100 Magnification 1X Dovetail Male D1N Tube Lens Focal Length 200 mm Page 56 CTN017763‐D02 ...
Power switch is off Switch on the power Power cord is broken Change power cord Status Indicator in software Does Ambient Temperature is Reduce the fluctuation of Not Show Ready fluctuating strongly ambient temperature GUI Does Not Start No USB 2.0 cable is connected to Connect the USB 2.0 cable the device No USB 3.0 cable is connected to Connect the USB 3.0 cable the device USB cable is broken Change USB cable System Does Not Perform Software halted Restart Laptop or PC Measurement Poor connection of USB cable Check USB connection No Image Adjust LED current or camera Light source intensity is too low settings Adjust the iris diaphragm on Aperture of iris diaphragm on the illumination module to illumination module is too small maximum aperture If problem cannot be identified, please contact Thorlabs’ Tech Support. Rev. A, July 27, 2022 Page 61 ...
Cerna® Birefringence Imaging Microscope Chapter 10: Warranty and RMA Information Chapter 10 Warranty and RMA Information Thorlabs verifies our compliance with the WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment) directive of the European Community and the corresponding national laws. Accordingly, all end users in the EC may return “end of life” Annex I category electrical and electronic equipment sold after August 13, 2005 to Thorlabs, without incurring disposal charges. Eligible units are marked with the crossed out “wheelie bin” logo (see right), were sold to and are currently owned by a company or institute within the EC and are not dissembled or contaminated. Contact Thorlabs for Annex I more information. Waste treatment is your own responsibility. “End of life” units must be returned to Thorlabs or handed to a company specializing in waste recovery. Do not dispose of the unit in a litter bin or at a public waste disposal site. It is the user’s responsibility to delete all private data stored on the device ...
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Cerna® Birefringence Imaging Microscope Chapter 11: Thorlabs Worldwide Contacts Chapter 11 Thorlabs Worldwide Contacts For technical support or sales inquiries, please visit us at for our most up‐to‐date www.thorlabs.com/contact contact information. USA, Canada, and South America UK and Ireland Thorlabs, Inc. Thorlabs Ltd. sales@thorlabs.com sales.uk@thorlabs.com techsupport@thorlabs.com techsupport.uk@thorlabs.com Europe Scandinavia Thorlabs GmbH Thorlabs Sweden AB europe@thorlabs.com scandinavia@thorlabs.com France Brazil Thorlabs SAS Thorlabs Vendas de Fotônicos Ltda. sales.fr@thorlabs.com ...