Microscope Cameras FAQ

General Questions

Do Lumenera's cameras work with the Windows 7 and Windows Vista 32 and 64-bit operating systems?

Yes, with the release of INFINITY version 5.0, signed camera drivers are available for both Windows 7 and Windows VISTA 32 and 64-bit platforms, along with continued support for the Windows XP platform. The INFINITY application software packages continue to be provided as 32-bit, but will also work on the 64-bit platform. Visit the INFINITY installations on the Support section of our website.

How do I activate an older INFINITY camera for INFINITY ANALYZE?

INFINITY cameras purchased prior to July 31, 2006 were not enabled for use with the INFINITY ANALYZE application. These cameras can be activated in-the-field without the need to return them to Lumenera. A one-time upgrade license fee applies. The activation utility will be sent via e-mail once the upgrade request form has been completed and submitted to Lumenera.

Which operating systems are supported by my INFINITY USB 2.0 camera?

INFINITY cameras operate under Windows XP, Windows VISTA (32-bit & 64-bit), and Windows 7 (32-bit & 64-bit). The Windows 2000 platform is no longer actively supported. For information on the MAC O/S refer to the FAQ section on 'MAC Operating System' below.

How much power does your camera use?

Lumenera INFINITY cameras require between 500mA and 1000mA, depending on the model. Most models will run directly from the USB bus power, with the exception of the INFINITY3-1, INFINITY4-11 and the INFINITYX-32. The INFINITY3-1 requires an external power supply to enable the camera cooling. The INFINITY4-11 requires an external 12V power supply, and the INFINITYX-32 requires a 5V power supply. While both the INFINITY1 and INFINITY2 series of cameras will run directly off the power provided by the USB cable, the INFINITY2 series, and the INFINITY3-1U camera models may require an external 5.0 Volt DC power adapter to produce the optimal image quality. Individual PC configurations may influence whether an external power adapter is required.

Are Lumenera cameras CE certified?

Yes. We do certify all of our INFINITY camera models for the CE mark.

Which sensor is used on my camera?

Please contact our Support team at [email protected] for more information. Please provide the camera model you are using in your email.

What are the recommended or required Windows XP Service Packs and Hotfixes

We require at least Service Pack 2 for Windows XP.

How do I know if I have the most recent version of INFINITY software?

The most recent version of the INFINITY software is always posted on our website. You can determine the version you are working with by opening the INFINITY Capture application's Help -> About box. This box displays the software versions for the overall INFINITY software, the API, the device driver, the camera firmware and its FPGA load.

How does the licensing work for the INFINITY ANALYZE software?

Each INFINITY camera model acts as a license key for INFINITY ANALYZE software. With a camera connected to the computer, ANALYZE software works with full functionality. Without a camera connected ANALYZE runs in demo mode, which places an ‘EVALUATION’ watermark over each image processed. This feature enables users to test INFINITY ANALYZE functions prior to purchasing a camera.

There are two options available for purchasing additional licenses for INFINITY ANALYZE. One option is to purchase a USB key that provides a license enabling ANALYZE to run on a PC where there is no INFINITY camera connected. This USB key can be purchased for $200. To purchase please contact the support team at Lumenera for an order form. The second license option for ANALYZE is called the Advanced Features Key. Purchasing this additional license unlocks the functions of Multi-Focus Composition (MFC), and Spherical Aberration Correction (SAC). Contact Lumenera Scientific Sales for information on purchasing this additional module.

Can INFINITY ANALYZE operate without an INFINITY camera connected to the PC?

The INFINITY ANALYZE application will operate in DEMO mode if an INFINITY camera is not connected to the PC when the application starts. The purpose of the DEMO mode is to provide the ability to evaluate a subset of the ANALYZE software capabilities. Existing image files can be opened for processing, but the output will contain the ‘EVALUATION’ watermark on the resulting image. When an INFINITY camera is connected to the PC, it provides the license key for the ANALYZE package, enabling the full application capabilities. Processed images do not contain the ‘EVALUATION’ watermark when a camera from the INFINITY 1, 2, 3, or 4 series models is connected to the PC.

Is it possible to obtain additional licenses to run INFINITY ANALYZE?

An INFINITY camera provides the license key that enables the unrestricted processing of captured images within ANALYZE. If the processing capabilities of ANALYZE are required on another computer where the INFINITY camera is not connected, it is necessary to obtain an additional application license. Complete this order form to purchase a USB key that will provide an additional license. With this USB key connected, the ANALYZE application will start-up with all the standard image processing functions enabled, without the need to have a camera attached to the PC. The order form can be faxed directly to the Lumenera fax number provided on the form. The cost for each additional license key is $200 USD.

Where can I find the INFINITY CAPTURE or INFINITY ANALYZE User Manuals?

An electronic copy of the INFINITY CAPTURE User Manual is installed with the INFINITY software. The document is in Adobe Acrobat (PDF) format. It is located in a Documentation folder where the INFINITY Software was installed.

Typically this is the location:
C:\Program Files\Lumenera Corporation\INFINITY Software\

The INFINITY ANALYZE User Manual is found in another Documentation sub-folder, typically here:
C:\Program Files\Lumenera Corporation\INFINITY Software\INFINITY ANALYZE\

Note that the INFINITY ANALYZE User Manual can also be accessed directly from the Help menu within the ANALYZE application.

INFINITYHD

What performance can I expect from the INFINITYHD camera?

This camera features a full 2 Megapixel resolution (1920x1080), full HD format output at 60 frames per second, progressive scan. This requires a monitor or TV that supports the 1080p60 format. The camera provides excellent color reproduction.

Do I need a computer to operate the camera?

The camera is designed to operate without the need to be connected to a computer. Simply plug in the supplied power adapter, and connect the video cable to your TV or monitor. If your computer monitor or TV does not have an HDMI port, then you can use a cable with a DVi connector as the output. The camera automatically adjusts to changing illumination levels. There are also three buttons on the front of the camera to provide a simple user interface, including a power on/off function and the ability to perform a white balance operation. The third button on front of the camera provides an image capture operation, however the camera must be connected to a PC via a USB 2.0 cable, and the file storage configuration must be setup using the INFINITYHD CAPTURE application before using this feature.

Are the INFINITYHD camera settings retained between sessions?

This camera design includes the storage of the last configuration. If the camera is powered down or unplugged from the power supply, it will resume next operation with the same configuration that was active when the camera was last operating.

What are the intended uses for the INFINITYHD camera?

This camera has been designed for use on a microscope, where multiple people will benefit from seeing a high-speed, sharp clear image of the materials being examined. Some suggested application areas include hospital review boards, educational and training environments, and industrial materials inspection stations. The cameras can also be used with a conventional C-mount lens. Due to the high frame rate output from the camera sensor the exposure time for each frame is limited, making the camera most suitable for applications where plenty of light reaches the camera sensor.

What comes in the box when I order the INFINITYHD camera?

The package includes the following: an INFINITYHD camera; one DVD case including an installation CD for a Windows PC, and a Quick Start Guide, One universal 5VDC power supply with international AC plugs, One 2m HDMI video cable, one 3m USB2.0 cable.

What sort of microscope or microscope accessories are required?

Any microscope with a standard C-mount adapter will accept the camera. If the microscope includes a trinocular port, this configuration is typically better but the camera could also be mounted using an eye-piece fitted C-mount adapter. The sensor format for this camera is 1/3”, meaning that an optimal microscope adapter should be about a 0.35X. Other adapter magnifications will also work with this camera (eg. 0.30x, 0.40X, 0.45X, 0.5X, etc), however the greater the magnification on the adapter, the more magnification there will be on the camera image, and a smaller field of view will be captured by the camera. Whether the microscope is an upright clinical scope, inverted scope or a stereoscope, if it includes a C-mount adapter then the camera can be connected.

How should I perform a white balance with this camera?

The best way to perform a white balance is to:

• Adjust the lamp brightness to a high intensity setting

• Move the slide stage so that the microscope/camera sees only the light and a clear section of the slide glass. For stereoscopes use a white or grey background card.

• With the camera operating autonomously from a computer, simply push the center button on the front of the camera (labelled WB) to execute the white balance. Alternatively, if the camera is connected to a PC via USB2.0 cable, launch the INFINITYHD CAPTURE application and click the White Balance button. Performing a white balance computation a second time can often refine the results.

• New white balance values will be stored within the camera and will be maintained even with powering down or disconnecting the camera, until a new white balance function is performed.

• Any time the color temperature of the illumination source is altered, the white balance operation should be repeated. This would include situations where the intensity of a “hot” lamp source (eg. Halogen bulb) is changed, or when specific filters are inserted into the optical path (eg.: daylight filters)

Can I use my favorite scientific software package?

You cannot directly control the camera through any software outside of INFINITYHD CAPTURE application. If your software supports, image importing, you can use this feature to analyze/annotate images.

Can it run at 720p or 1080i?

This camera can only be connected to a monitor that supports 1080p60

Can I transfer video over USB?

No, only single image snapshots can be done over USB.

Can I rotate the image from the INFINITYHD camera?

With the release 1.0.1 of the INFINITYHD software, a new item has been added to the Configure menu for the INFINITYHD CAPTURE application. The INFINITYHD camera transmits a 1080p60 output signal over the HDMI cable without a need to be connected to a PC. The configuration settings for the camera are stored in non-volatile memory on-board. To update the image orientation setting in the camera follow these steps: Connect the camera to a PC or laptop with the INFINITYHD software release 1.0.1 installed. Open the INFINITYHD CAPTURE application and click on the Configure button. Choose the option to “Rotate Image 180 degrees”. Close the INFINITYHD CAPTURE application. The camera setting for image orientation will be remembered even if the camera is powered down. The procedure can be reversed following the same steps, if desired.

INFINITY3-1UR

What sensor is used in the INFINITY3-1U camera?

The INFINITY3-1UR is using the same highly sensitive, 2/3” format, 1.4 Megapixel, Sony ICX285 CCD sensor that is used in the INFINITY3-1 (cooled) camera

What improvements have been made to the INFINITY3-1UR model?

The camera has been re-engineered to reduce the read noise and the dark current noise. This includes the use of high grade electronic components and thermal management techniques. With this revision the output bit-depth has been extended from 12-bit to 14-bit. The camera can also operate at 30 frames per second at full resolution for video preview.

Is there a difference regarding camera control and software?

No. This model uses the same camera model ID as the INFINITY3-1U, and device driver files have been updated to recognize the original or new hardware revision. Within the application software, the camera controls remain the same. The INFINITY3-1UR camera is available in either monochrome or color.

Is the re-engineered INFINITY3-1UR more expensive than its predecessor, the INFINITY3-1U?

No. The INFINITY3-1UR remains the same price.

Configuration

Can I pull multiple video streams from the camera?

No. The INFINITY camera models will only support one video stream to one application at a time.

Can I operate more than one INFINITY camera on the same PC?

Yes, it is possible to operate multiple INFINITY cameras at the same time on the same computer. If two microscopes are situated adjacent to one PC and both scopes are equipped with INFINITY cameras, it is possible to control and view output from both cameras at the same time. With two (or more) cameras connected to the PC, simply start the INFINITY CAPTURE or ANALYZE software. A prompt is displayed showing a list of any available INFINITY camera serial numbers when multiple cameras are available. Simply choose which camera to control. When another instance of INFINITY software is launched, another prompt to choose the camera will appear, unless there is only one available model. Use the application control panels to set camera parameters as desired, preview results, and capture images. Each camera is sharing part of the available USB 2.0 bandwidth so frame rate performance could be impacted.

How do I control the exposure time?

The exposure time is controlled within the INFINITY CAPTURE and ANALYZE application packages. Typically the exposure is controlled using adjustable sliders. Both ANALYZE and CAPTURE offer controls for auto exposure, enabling the camera to adjust automatically to changing light levels. Extended exposure time settings are available to perform image capture under low light conditions.

How can I setup calibrations for different microscope objects and save them?

INFINITY ANALYZE software includes the ability to calibrate the camera for different microscope objectives so that accurate measurements can be performed on captured images. Once calibrations are complete they can be saved directly into the application presets, under the file name you specify. Refer to the INFINITY ANALYZE flash tutorial ‘Calibration and Presets' for full instructions on how this feature works.

Can INFINITY ANALYZE display menus and dialogs in other languages?

INFINITY ANALYZE (v6.x.x) includes the ability to incorporate other languages. Multiple language support is not yet enabled within INFINITY ANALYZE (v7.0.x) Currently, the ANALYZE (v 6.5.6) application supports English, Chinese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, and Spanish language interfaces. Enabling another language is accomplished through a line by line translation of a text file from the English version. The procedure to perform your own translation for local language is available from the Lumenera Technical Assistance Centre (TAC) team. Contact [email protected] for additional information on this feature.

What are the minimum system requirements to operate an INFINITY camera on a PC

The INFINITY camera models require a USB2.0 connection to the computer. There is very little demand placed on the computer by the INFINITY camera, and most laptop or desktop computers have plenty of memory and processor power to keep up with the camera output. It is recommended that the computer have a minimum of 1Gb or RAM, and a Pentium III processor that operates at 1.5 GHz or better, for optimal performance. The camera does not rely on graphics card functions, so any standard card it acceptable.

Usage

How do I control the frame rate after I have configured the camera?

The INFINITY camera frame rates will vary according to the Region of Interest (ROI) specified, and the exposure time selected. A camera’s frame rate will drop when exposure time is set to a longer interval. For example, an exposure time of 100ms (1/10th second) will limit any camera to an output frame rate of 10 frames per second.

How can I turn off my USB 2.0 camera?

The INFINITY USB 2.0 camera will work with your computer's power management scheme. The camera will turn off when your computer turns off or sleeps, and turns on when the computer is awake. If you want to turn off the camera without turning off the computer or putting it to sleep you will need to unplug the USB 2.0 cable and the external power supply (if used) from the camera.

Can your cameras work with various Patient / Medical Record Systems (via TWAIN)?

Yes, all INFINITY cameras (except the INFINITYHD) can be accessed from within any third-party software Windows package that supports TWAIN. Third-party patient records applications may include the ability to acquire images using a TWAIN source (eg.: Cerner CoPath). With the INFINITY CAPTURE software installed and any INFINITY camera connected to the PC, selecting this option will bring up the INFINITY CAPTURE control panel. Use the settings options to make the desired adjustments to the live preview and click the camera icon to acquire an image. Each captured image is transferred directly into the calling application, and the camera utility is closed. The camera settings are restored the next time an acquisition is requested.

Can I add a cross-hair or a custom bitmap overlay to the preview or captured image?

With both INFINITY Capture and INFINITY ANALYZE packages it is possible to use a custom bitmap overlay with either the live preview or with the captured image. Custom bitmaps can be easily created using simple programs like MS Paint. Add colored text and graphics to a bitmap image. Keep the image background as pure white, as this will get mapped as transparent automatically within the INFINITY application. The INFINITY ANALYZE package supports the display of a cross-hair at the centre of the live preview image for alignment purposes. This cross-hair is toggled on or off from the File menu.

Can I change the number of Field Group images that can be stored within INFINITY ANALYZE?

Use the Help -> Settings dialog box within the ANALYZE application. This dialog box includes a space where the number of field group images stored by the application can be altered. Another space on this dialog allows for an adjustment to the amount of memory that is reserved by ANALYZE when it runs. It may be advisable to increase the amount of memory allocated in conjunction with an increase in the number of field group images to store. Be aware of how much free (memory) RAM your computer has available before allocating too much for ANALYZE. The default setting for RAM usage is 128Mb. Increasing this number to 256Mb should not cause an issue on a PC that has 1Gb of RAM or more, depending entirely on how many other applications are concurrently running.

Can I export the measurement data from ANALYZE into a spreadsheet?

This is a simple task accomplished by drag & drop. With both the ANALYZE application and a spreadsheet program (such as MS Excel) running concurrently, simply use the mouse over the measurement panel to highlight all measurements of interest. Then drag these entries using the mouse until the cursor is over the tray icon for the spreadsheet. This causes the spreadsheet function to open in the foreground, where you continue to drag the measurements (now represented as an outline rectangle) to the desired section of the spreadsheet, and release the mouse. The data is now resident in the spreadsheet for calculating sums, averages, etc.

Can I save video clips with my INFINITY camera?

This capability is provided within the INFINITY Capture application. Refer to the INFINITY Capture User’s Manual for instructions on how to capture and convert brief AVI clips from the camera.

Drivers

What is the latest software and driver release for the scientific cameras?

Access the latest releases, patches and find answers to common questions here.
If the information you are looking cannot be found at the link above, feel free to contact the support team at [email protected]

USB

What is the maximum number of USB 2.0 cameras on a single USB 2.0 bus?

In theory you can have up to 127 USB 2.0 devices on one USB 2.0 bus. This value includes all hubs required to connect all the other USB 2.0 devices on the bus. Assuming you wanted to connect as many cameras as possible and you assume that each hub has 4 ports, in theory you would be able to connect up to 94 cameras using 33 hubs. In practicality though, we do not recommend connecting more than 4 at a time as the performance of each camera will be 1/2 of its max throughput. In addition, the computer’s USB bus will not be able to supply power to multiple cameras at the same time, so external power adapters either connected to each camera or injecting power into each hub will be required.

My laptop's USB 2.0 port doesn't supply enough power to my camera. How can I power my camera?

All INFINITY USB 2.0 cameras can be powered externally using a DC power supply. The adapter must have a 2.1 mm center positive tip. The requirements for the power supply vary by camera model as follows: INFINITY1 series, and INFINITYX-21: 6V DC, 800mA INFINITY2 series, INFINITY3 series, and INFINITYX-32: 5V DC, 500mA INFINITY4 model: 12V DC, 1000mA.

I only have two USB 2.0 ports available on my computer. How can I connect more than 2 cameras on the same bus?

There are two options. Either you can purchase a USB 2.0 adapter card for your computer with extra USB 2.0 ports or you can purchase a USB 2.0 hub.

Do you provide a longer USB 2.0 cable with your cameras?

The standard cable we provide is a 10' (3m) cable. We can provide a 15' (5m) active cable upon request. Please contact [email protected] if you require more information.

Troubleshooting

My USB 2.0 camera is not recognized by the system and not listed in Device Manager. What should I do?

Follow these steps to correct any issues you may have with the detection of your camera in Windows:

  • Disconnect the USB 2.0 cable and power supply (if applicable) from all Lumenera cameras.
  • Ensure that the proper version of the INFINITY software is installed in your computer.
  • Connect the INFINITY camera to the USB 2.0 cable and connect the USB 2.0 cable to an available USB 2.0 port on your computer. Attach the power supply to the camera if one was provided with this camera.
  • If the New Hardware Wizard runs, follow the instructions provided. The camera should now be present in the Device Manager. If not, proceed to the next step.
  • Open the Device Manager.
  • Find the entry in the list with a yellow question mark (?). You will find it in either of the two following locations.
  • Imaging Devices Section: the camera will appear in this section as a "Lumenera USB 2.0 camera".
  • Universal Serial Bus controllers: the camera will appear in this section as a "USB 2.0 device".
  • Right-click on this entry and either select Update driver (in Windows XP) or Properties (in Windows 2000). If you selected the Properties menu item, select the Driver tab in the dialog box and click the Update driver button.
  • The New Hardware Wizard will run to install the appropriate drivers for the camera. It should find the proper drivers automatically.
  • If, after completing all the steps above, the camera is still not found in the Device Manager correctly, please contact the Support team at [email protected].

Why does Windows Device Manager incorrectly list my Lumenera camera, or displays an exclamation mark beside the device?

This happens when it does not find the correct drivers for the camera, when the New Hardware Wizard was terminated before completion, or with an error. Please refer to the previous question for details on correcting this issue.

Why is my image darker in the corners?

This issue, known as vignetting, happens when the microscope coupler/adapter is incorrect for the camera's sensor format. Contact your microscope provider to obtain the compatible coupler for your camera model. Check the camera's datasheet for the size of the sensor so that the proper coupler/adapter is used. Typical coupler/adapters come in 0.6X for a 2/3” format sensor, or 0.5X for a ½” format sensor.

Why can't I get the advertised rate of streaming images from the camera?

There are several camera settings that can impact the frame rate. The selected exposure time can have a direct impact on the camera frame rate, therefore make sure that the exposure time is kept low to ensure maximum frame rate. If the exposure itme is set to 100ms (1/10th second), the maximum number of frames per second will be 10. Another source for frame rate limitations is the lack of computer resources to keep up with the current camera data rate. You will need to minimize the resource usage or operate the camera on a faster computer. Operating two or more INFINITY cameras on the same USB adapter card will also cause the individual camera frame rates to drop due to the necessity for multiple devices to share the available bandwidth.

Why do I sometimes see horizontal bands on my INFINITY1 camera?

Horizontal banding may be seen on cameras equipped with CMOS sensors that use an electronic rolling shutter. This includes the INFINITY1-1, 1-2, 1-3, and 1-5 models, where the horizontal bands change thickness with exposure time alterations. The banding may appear when a 60Hz or 50Hz AC powered microscope lamp is flickering (faster than the eye can detect), and the exposure time on the sensor is short (typically less than 25ms). As the sensor is exposing only a few rows at a time, from the top to the bottom of the CMOS chip, the oscillating brightness of the AC powered lamp causes a fluctuation that is detected on the camera. The INFINTIY Capture software includes a setting that limits the exposure intervals based on the light source frequency. Alternately, you can use neutral density filters to reduce the amount of light reaching the camera, so that a longer exposure time can be used, which will eliminate the problem.

What am I missing if the EVALUATION watermark is still displayed on ANALYZE MFC results when the Advanced Feature USB key is plugged in?

It is possible that the driver files for the USB key are not correctly installed or are missing from your computer. Contact the Technical Assistance Centre using [email protected] for assistance, or to request access to the Knowledge Base where there is a solution to download called: “Can I get the driver files for the INFINITY ANALYZE Advanced Features USB Key”

How can I get the correct color balance for my camera?

With either INFINITY Capture or INFINITY ANALYZE, the first step to obtaining a correct color balance is to properly adjust the exposure. If the live preview image is too bright, then one or more of the color channels will be saturated (ie. at maximum brightness). The camera’s White Balance function needs to have the pixel values within a valid range to determine the appropriate levels to set for the Red, Green, and Blue channel gains. Reduce the exposure time slider, or use the Automatic Exposure Calculation feature to bring the preview brightness down to about 60 to 90% of full brightness. With the sample removed from the viewing area, or with a white (or grey) card in the field of view, click on the White Balance function. If desired, increase the exposure time to brighten the image again. You can also use the Auto Exposure features (AEC) in either Capture or ANALYZE to achieve appropriate scene brightness prior to performing the white balance operation.

Can I adjust the upper limit used by the Auto Exposure function in ANALYZE?

The Help -> Settings dialog in ANALYZE 5.0.3 includes a setting that will limit the upper exposure time employed by the Continuous Auto Exposure function. By default, the auto exposure can take the camera exposure time up to the maximum range of 500ms. When the light level is very low, the exposure time will be increased by the application in an attempt to increase the scene brightness. This results in a reduction in the frame rate from the camera. By imposing an upper limit on the auto exposure to a value that is more suitable to your microscope setup (for example 75ms may be the longest exposure time required on your highest power objective), the auto exposure function will respond more rapidly to changes in light level, especially as the turret is rotated between objectives, when light is briefly blocked from reaching the camera.

SDK/API

Can I develop my own applications to control INFINITY cameras?

Yes. Lumenera provides a fully functional Application Programmer Interface (API) library to control all of the USB camera models. Contact the Lumenera Technical Assistance Centre (TAC) team, or Lumenera sales for more information on the Software Developer’s Kit (SDK).

DirectX and/or DirectShow

Do you support DirectX and/or DirectShow?

Yes. All INFINITY USB 2.0 models rely on DirectX for image display. Third-party software packages can use the DirectX property pages to control basic camera functions.

Optics

How does the camera attach to a microscope?

All INFINITY camera models have a standard female C-mount thread. Most microscope brands have adapter/couplers available with a male C-mount thread, or they can be obtained from the microscope provider. It is also possible to obtain custom adapters that allow a C-mount camera to be coupled to the microscope ocular port, if a trinocular (or photoport) is not available.

Mac O/S

Do you have a USB 2.0 driver for Mac?

For MAC users running 10.4, INFINITY camera support is provided for most models using a Quicktime interface enabled as a plug-in through the third-party package ImageJ. Refer to the Support section of our website for more details.

Support is also available for INFINITY camera models running under the Mac 10.6.X operating system. Refer to the Support Software Downloads page to access the package. INFINITY cameras that are not compatible with the MAC interface are: INFINITY2-3, INFINITYX-21 (discontinued), and INFINITYX-32.

How can I tell what version of Mac OS X I have on my computer?

Select 'About This Mac' from the Apple menu (the Apple icon in the top left), and a window will appear containing the Mac OS X version number.

Application Software

What software can I use with an INFINITY camera?

On a Windows platform, the INFINITY camera models come with both the INFINITY CAPTURE and INFINITY ANALYZE applications. Additionally, any third-party software that uses a TWAIN interface to communicate with a camera device will accept input from the INFINITY CAPTURE TWAIN package. The INFINITY software is provided with purchase, and is also available for download on the microscopy downloads page. The ANALYZE package will operate in demonstration mode if an INFINITY camera is not connected to the PC.

For Mac users, many of the INFINITY camera models are supported by a QuickTime plug-in enabled through ImageJ. The INFINITY2-3 model is not supported due to the output from the CCD sensor being interlaced in this particular model. See the microscopy downloads page for more details on the installation of the required software for the MAC platform.

Can I capture video clips with an INFINITY camera?

Yes, you do have the ability to capture short video clips. Setup Options and toolbar buttons are provided within the INFINITY CAPTURE panel to record (Red dot icon) and playback (Green triangle icon) video clips. Lumenera does not provide compression codecs, so the captured video clips are comprised of uncompressed frames, making the video files very large. Third-party software packages can perform post-processing to reduce the output video file size. Other third-party software products can provide video clip capture directly from an INFINITY camera. The video-clip capture supports writing directly to a standard Windows RGB 24-bit AVI file, or on computers where processing power, memory, or disk write speeds are not optimal, CAPTURE offers the ability to write to an interim file (8-bit custom format), which can be converted easily to a standard AVI file as a post-capture process. See the INFINITY CAPTURE User’s Manual included with your camera for more details.

What are the differences between INFINITY ANALYZE and INFINITY CAPTURE applications?

INFINITY CAPTURE provides full camera control, live video preview, and image capture functions. Additional functions within this package include a focus meter, bitmap overlay, flat-field correction, video-clip capture, custom white balance color target, preview zoom, and the ability to export the camera settings to the ANALYZE application. The INFINITY ANALYZE package provides many of the same functions as CAPTURE, such as full camera control, live video preview, and image capture, however, the ANALYZE package provides a number of additional functions for post-image capture processing, such as calibration, measurement, multi-channel composition, panorama, sharpening, time-lapse capture, bitmap overlay and database storage. Refer to the product datasheets on these two applications for further details.

Can I customize the appearance of INFINITY ANALYZE?

There are many options available for adapting the INFINITY ANALYZE package to suit your needs. Firstly, the display language for ANALYZE is set to English by default, but it can be customized to display in any other language. Search the Knowledge Base to locate the article that provides all the necessary details on customizing the language for INFINITY ANALYZE. Other configuration options include the ability to hide or display any of the panels and toolbars within ANALYZE. In addition, the live preview or any captured image can be displayed within the standard application dialogs, or can fill the display screen dimensions with a simple keyboard click.

Are INFINITY cameras integrated with MetaMorph Software?

If you are a MetaMorph Software user, you can control the INFINITY2-1, INFINITY2-2, INFINITY3-1 or INFINITY3-1U camera models and capture images directly into MetaMorph. Download the package available at Microscopy Camera Downloads and install it on your computer. The instructions are included in the WinZip package, and can also be accessed directly using the link available at the end of the paragraph that describes the download package.

Can I control the camera frame rate in INFINITY ANALYZE?

The frame rate provided by the camera is controlled by a number of factors within INFINITY ANALYZE. The camera typically runs the live preview at full resolution in order to provide swift and random access to various Regions of Interest (ROI) and zoom levels. Additionally, the exposure time setting on the camera will impact the frame rate output with longer exposure times. For example, if the exposure time for each frame is set to 100ms (1/10th of a second), then the camera will not be able to deliver frames any faster than 10 times per second. Faster frame rates for ROI settings are achieved within the INFINITY CAPTURE application, where the ROI selected is used to reduce the number of pixels output from the camera sensor, which generally increases the frames per second.

Can the camera be used for time lapse recording of images?

The INFINITY ANALYZE package provides settings to specify an interval between frames and a duration for the time lapse capture sequence. This capability should be used in conjunction with the Capture Settings that specifies images are to be saved directly to file (not Field Group or Both). Additionally, the setting to allow auto incremental of file names should be specified. As the camera supplies images at the specified interval, the image files will be saved directly to the folder identified, using the file type and prefix requested. ANALYZE will append a sequential file number to each captured image. Third-party software (eg.: VirtualDub) will enable the creation of a video sequence by opening the first of a list of sequentially numbered image files.