Precision Dual Port Camera Adapter (PDPC)

The Precision Dual Port Camera Adapter (PDPC) was developed in collaboration with Dr Sajit Mayor and colleagues, NCBS in Bangalore, India. This group had especially demanding camera alignment requirements for anisotropy imaging. In this imaging mode a polarizing beam splitter is used to separate the S and P EM polarizations of the fluorescence image. Alignment must be precise to allow sub-pixel precision in estimating local polarization effects.

To meet the demanding alignment and stability requirements, one camera was mounted on precision XYZ stage and the other on a goniometer for rotational adjustment as shown in the Figure 1. The beam splitter cube assembly was redesigned to deliver +/-3 degrees of rotation about the Z and Y axes. This ensures the cube orientation is optimized for contrast between the S and P polarizations, while Y axis rotation allows for some control of the image position on the second camera. Once the cube is optimized, then the mechanical adjustment of the cameras is optimized using the XYZ and rotational controls and an camera alignment Wizard in Andor iQ.
Beam Splitter Cube

Beam Splitter Cube provides +/-3 degrees of rotation adjustment

PDPD C and DPC configurations

The PDPC and DPC both operate in various optical configurations. These include:

* with a C or C-S lens
* directly on a microscope C side-port
* on a microscope C side-port with filter wheel
* on a microscope C side-port with filter wheel and CSU

Dual Port Camera Adapter

Andor couplers are designed to ensure optimum throughput, minimal aberrations, magnification options and flexible detection configurations. Our couplers match our CSU enhancements and can also be configured with a broad range of imaging optics including microscope C-mount, 'C' and 'CS' mount lenses.

* Magnification X = 1.0, 1.2, 1.5, 2.0 - other by request
* Compatible with 'C'/'CS' lenses, C-mount, filter wheel or CSU + filter wheel
* Magnification select in each arm
* Mounting cassettes 'store adjustment' simplifying exchange and minimizing readjustment

Dual camera Data systems - Master-Slave

In order to operate two cameras at full frame rates, it is necessary to operate two synchronized acquisition workstations (WKS), one per camera. The Master WKS provides timing, device control (e.g. piezo and ALC) and drives the first camera. The Slave WKS acquires data from the second camera, which is synchronized to the first by the Master's external trigger signal. Once an acquisition is completed, Andor iQ's Dual ImageDisk utility enables the user to concentrate/merge both image sets onto the Master WKS. The preliminary camera alignment step records any pixel offsets or rotation errors and these can be applied in the data merge process, for user convenience. Once merged the data can be processed, visualized or analyzed like any other multi-channel data in Andor iQ.

Standard Port Coupler

Andor couplers are designed to ensure optimum throughput, minimal aberrations, magnification options and flexible detection configurations. Our couplers match our CSU enhancements and can also be configured with a broad range of imaging optics including microscope C-mount, 'C' and 'CS' mount lenses.

* Magnification X = 1.0, 1.2, 1.5, 2.0 - other by request
* Compatible with filter wheel or CSU + filter wheel