8
Micropublisher 6
TM
User Manual
Imaging Software
The MicroPublisher 6 cameras come with optional full featured Ocular software. For an up-to-date list of other compatible
third-party imaging software applications, please visit: http://www.qimaging.com.
The MicroPublisher 6 camera’s image capture capabilities are controlled entirely through your imaging software. Basic
functionalities include control over exposure time, gain state, clearing mode, region of interest (ROI), and pixel binning.
Additional information on camera use and CCD operating is available on the web, please visit: http://www.qimaging.com.
Basic Camera Parameters
Exposure Time
The MicroPublisher 6 camera’s exposure controls allow you to adjust the integration time for each acquisition. By increasing
the exposure time, more light is captured by the sensor and a better signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) is achieved. The exposure
time should be adjusted to a level that achieves the shortest integration time possible while still maintaining sufficient SNR.
Gain State
Gain (with regards to cameras) is defined as the conversion factor of captured electrons to a digital signal, often referred to
as a grey value or ADU (Analogue to Digital Unit) and has units of electrons per ADU (e/ADU). Knowing the gain of a camera
allows users to directly compare an ADU value as measured from their software to the physical number of electrons actually
captured by the camera’s sensor. Gain plays a critical role in many of the camera’s parameters including dynamic range and
read noise.
The MicroPublisher 6 camera provides three user-selectable gain states that enable optimal camera performance for different
imaging environments:
• Gain State 1 ≈ 1.3e-/ADU (Mapped to the linear, single pixel full well of the sensor)
• Gain State 2 ≈ 0.70e-/ADU (Optimized for sensitivity, 1/2 single pixel full well)
• Gain State 3 ≈ 0.33e-/ADU (Optimized for sensitivity, 1/4 single pixel full well)
Gain State 1 uses the full dynamic range of the pixel and is recommended for applications requiring moderate sensitivity. Gain
State 2 and 3 are ideal for resolving low luminescence signals due to the very lowest read noise attainable.
Sensor Cooling
To further reduce thermally generated noise, the MicroPublisher 6 camera system provides regulated sensor cooling of
-12
º
C in a 22°C ambient, which effectively eliminates dark current noise from typical imaging scenarios.
Clearing Mode
When the camera does not expose and read out images simultaneously, it is in Non-Overlap Mode. Non-Overlap Mode is
set by choosing “Pre-Exposure Clearing” for the clearing mode of the camera. This allows the sensor to clear accumulated
charge before the start of each exposure.
The following waveforms show how Non-Overlap Mode functions. The main benefit of Non-Overlap Mode is that there are
no limitations imposed upon the exposure time, and the set exposure time is the actual exposure time. The tradeoff for this
accuracy is the frame rate, as each frame must be completely digitized before beginning the next exposure cycle.
Chapter 3 – Using Your MicroPublisher 6 Camera
