Polarized DIC optical microscope with advanced temperature control and image processing system

 

 

(a)

 

 

(b)

 

Fig.1 Optical microscopy and imaging processing system

 

 

The system consists of the following parts:

·         Polarized optical Microscope (Olympus BX60-F)

·         Heating and freezing stage (Linkam THMS 600)

·         3CCD camera (JVC KY-F55BE)

·         Digital video recorders (Sony DSR-40P)

·         Soft imaging system (analySIS® ver 3.2)

A) Olympus BX60 Microscope

It provides bright 100W halogen illumination for both transmitted and reflected light, and switching between the two is made easy by a simple flip of the lever. Its key capability includes differential interference contrast DIC (Nomarski) technology This model can be utilized not only for the observation of opaque samples but also for transparent materials such as film and LCD substrates. Other capabilities include investigating crystalline structures with rocks and minerals, crystallization and biomineralization, research and examinations in medical and biological fields, as well as in such industrial field as asbestos identification chemicals, fibres, materials, electronics, and forensics. It is the most versatile materials sciences microscope.

 

B) Linkam Heating-Freezing stage

This is equipped with THMS600 Stage, which has a temperature range of –196 deg C to 600 deg C and is controlled by TMS 94 temperature programmer unit. The Heating element is cast into silver block to form an integral heater and sensor assembly which is virtually indestructible and unaffected by moisture. Silver has very high thermal conductivity resulting in excellent heat transfer. Characteristics and a fast and stable response to both heating and cooling. The temperature response to hold or limit command before the temperature is stable to 0.1 deg C is only 0.1 seconds at 30 deg C/min. The 1/10th Din standard Class A platinum resistor sensor, accurate to 0.1 deg C is mounted near the surface of the silver block and provides a far more accurate and stable temperature signal than can be achieved than with a thermocouple and thermister. The stages can be cooled to –196 deg C using the unique LNP cooling system which operates directly from a source of unpresurised liquid nitrogen. Cast into the silver block is a chamber through which the coolant flows, avoiding any direct contact with the sample and minimizes condensation problems. The stage and lid form a gas tight environment which allows gases to be introduced via automatic shut-off couplers for experiments which require different atmospheres.

C) Soft imaging system (analySIS® ver 3.2)

AnalySIS® is the leading software for image acquisition, archiving, processing analysis and reporting. This software offers interfaces for virtually all microscopes and cameras, and has been developed with bio-medical and materials science as well as general image-processing application in mind.

Capabilities: Include the DCE (Differential contrast enhancement) for superb contrast optimisation (b/w and color), MIA (Multiple Image Alignment) for automatic or manual montaging or laterally displaced images into one large image at high resolution, EFI (Extended-Focal Imaging) for images with infinite depth of focus.

analySIS® is available in three expansion levels: docu, auto and pro.

  • docu has its focus on image acquisition, archiving, documentation, interactive measurements, and macro programming.
  • auto, as the next higher level of analySIS®, is the standard among image-processing systems against which all others are measured. In addition to the functions available in docu version, auto provides a wealth of image-processing functions such as automatic analysis, morphological operators and the programming language Imaging C.
  • pro is the most powerful level of analySIS®. It is designed right from the beginning to satisfy the most demanding requirements for image processing and analysis. Its sheer number of available functions and the embedded programming environment set up a framework that offers the latest developments in the field of the digital image analysis.

For more details please go to: http://www.soft-imaging.de/eng/products/core_software/analysis/m_ana_e.php

Example of Application:

Fig.2 Polarized Optic Micrograph of spherulites occurred in HSAin/dodecane gels.

 

 

            Fig.3. Mr Teo Hoon Hwee is working on image processing

                       

Fig.3. Ms. Du Ning is examining the micro-sized ice crystallisation