Microscope.... using USB-Camera with Scale-Bar.

Fig.1　MicroScope_Cam_class101.py

Overview

The microscope cam software is created in Python to show scale in the image viewer. This document is its usage notes.

Function

1. Image View: Still or Live image is displayed at 1/2 scaled image viewer.
2. Camera Selector: Select Webcam or Microscope cam.
3. Camera setting: Change the exposure etc. using the driver provided by the camera manufacture.
4. Scale-Bar: Show and hide the Scale-Bar.
5. Scale-Bar length: Change between 1um and 1000um to fit the objective lens magnification.
6. Scale-Bar color: white, black, green, light blue, red
7. Scale-Bar location: Move Scale-Bar where to mouse click.
8. Save file: Save as jpg file.

Usage

1. Start PC: Start your PC.
2. Start program: Click MicroScope_Cam.py to start program. A Pop-Up Window for camera connection appears, so press the OK button. Start live camera view.
3. Image View: Pressing the “Play//Pause” button, change into Still or Live image.
4. Focus: Adjust the focus of your microscope while looking at the Live image view.
5. Exposure adjustment: Press the “Set Configuration” button. A function setting Pop Up Window appears. (Fig. 2 is our lab’s camera driver’s sample. Function is depend on your camera driver.) The exposure is set to Auto in the default. Auto-exposure images are not always good, and if they look slightly overexposed or underexposed, it's good to change the exposure manually to get a properly exposed image.
6. Scale-Bar and Objective Lens: When changed Objective Lens, select lens from “Objective Lens tab” to fit, and press “Objective Lens” button.
7. Scale-Bar location: Move Scale-Bar where to mouse click.
8. Scale-Bar: Scale-Bar shows on/off, Scale-Bar length, Scale-Bar color, as you like.
9. Save still image: Push the button “Save Image File” to save in jpg file.

Fig. 2　Camera profile setting window

Notes

You shall change these values to fit your camera.

1. Camera spec. length(um)/pixel (4.2um/pixel written in program now.)
2. Relay Lens magnification (x0.7 written in program now.) It is good to change these values to fit your monitor or lens.
3. Program window size: 1350x690 (For FWXGA 1366×768 )
4. Image View window size: 800x600
5. Image View window scale: 1/2 (Camera is 1600x1200 Pixels)
6. Objective Lens magnification: (selectable)

Development Environment

Hardware Environment

1. Camera: 1/2inch color CMOS, 1600x1200pixels, 4.2um/pixel, 10fps(max) (material(4))
2. Relay Lens (Eyepiece): 0.7x (material(3))
3. Objective Lens: 5x, 10x, 20x, 50x, 100x (material(1))

Software Environment

1. OS: Windows10
2. Python: Version 3.8.10
3. Libraries: OpenCV, Pillow
4. Regarding the display of video, referred to material(5)

Known issue

1. None

Related material

1. Polarized light microscope
2. Field of View and Shooting Range of CCD Camera Adapter/Eyepiece for Microscope
3. How to attach a C-mount camera to the eyepiece
4. USB Camera
5. Display OpenCV camera video on Canvas