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Adding Devices to a Profile

Add and setup peripheral hardware devices to the profile. Supported hardware devices include: cameras, stages, filters, shutters, I/O and microscope devices.

Adding a Camera

  1. Install DCAM. Consult the DCAM documentation for installation instructions.
  2. Launch HCImage. Go to File > Current Profile > Device Control.
  3. Select Image Capture Devices > Click Add > select DCAM > OK
  4. Select the available camera, click OK and then click OK to close the Profile window.
  5. Go to the Capture pane and select the camera from the Camera drop-down menu.

Adding a Filter Wheel and a Shutter

  1. Go to File > Current Profile > Device Control > Filter Devices > Add
  2. Select the type of Filter Wheel and check Add Shutter.
  3. Click the Com-Port tab and select the Com-Port where the filter wheel and shutter are connected.
  4. Click the Filter Setup tab and click Apply to test communication and verify filter positions.
  5. Customize the filter list. To modify an item in the filter list, highlight it and change its name in the name field and click Modify.
  6. Click on the Shutter Setup tab. Click Apply > Click Test to verify communication with the shutter.
  7. Click OK once all of the filter names have been added and the devices are communicating properly. If a communication error message appears, ensure that the device is connected to the correct Com-Port.
  8. Configure Filter and Shutter settings. Click the Devices pane > Filter Setup > Add > Enter filter name > OK.
  9. With the new name highlighted, select the filter wheel installed under the Filter-Shutter tab > double click on Don’t Care or the name under Position. Select the filter position or wavelength from the pop-up window.

Adding a XYZ Stage

  1. Go to File > Current Profile > Device Control > Stage Devices > Add
  2. Select the type of stage to be added.
  3. Click the Com-Port tab and select the Com-Port.
  4. Click the Stage Setup tab, then click Apply to test communication. If you get an error message make sure that the correct Com-Port is selected, and that you have connected everything properly. Click OK.

 

Adding an Automated Microscope

  1. Install the manufacturer’s software and configure the microscope accordingly.
  2. Go to File > Current Profile > Device Control > Microscope Devices > Add > Select type of microscope > Click on the Com-Port tab and select the Com-Port where the microscope is connected.
  3. Click the Controller tab > Click Auto to read the microscope configuration file created in Step 1. The component list will be updated. Click OK to accept the current settings and close the window.
  4. Click on the Devices pane > expand the Microscope Setup panel and select the component to be controlled.
  5. Microscope components listed are accessible through the Filter Setup panel in the Devices pane to synchronize activity during automated image capture.

Calibrate an Image from Pixels to Microns

Open or capture an image with some known distance, for example a micrometer. Calibration

Click on the Calibration Properties icon on the Analysis toolbar.

Enter a Title for the calibration file (e.g., 10x). Select Microns from the Units drop-down menu.

Click Calibrate. Move the cursor to the start of a known distance; click and drag a line to span the distance to measure.

Enter the known distance of the line and click OK.

Click Add and repeat the previous steps for adding additional calibrations.

[Save Calibration] Click OK > Select file path > File name > Save. The Spatial Calibration is displayed in the lower right-hand corner of the image file.

Calibrate an XY Stage

Before calibrating the stage, make sure to load the correct scale factor for the selected objective. Click the Devices pane > Click the XYZ Setup panel > Click the Stage Setup tab > Click Step Size. Stage Calibration

Center an object to the green crosshair box and click OK. The green crosshair will move to the bottom-right, center the same object and click OK.

If the object moved back to the center of the top crosshair, the calibration for X, Y has been successful, click OK. If it did not move to the same location, check the camera orientation to the microscope and repeat Steps 2 & 3.