Preview unit; S_II

For technicians and partly for sales managers!

 

 

 

To find the position of the entire tissue to be scanned or parts of it, a preview of the slide is made. The tissue is defined as a darker part of the slide in relation to its surrounding. Because dust, grease or fingerprints (specks) fulfills often the same requirement as the tissue itself; specks may be viewed as tissue also. Therefore, the surface of the slide and the cover slip should be as clean as possible.

 

The following description is based on the Software version 1.21 and the scanner “Pannoramic SCAN_II”, the components, procedures and adjustments are nearly the same in the MIDI_II and the DESK_II.

 

The entire preview unit is a part of the scanner unit and designed to fulfill the following 2 tasks:

 

 

 

      Contents

 

Configure the preview unit

Preview components

Areas of the slide

Mechanical adjustments

BF preview calibration

Barcode reading

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Requirements

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The version numbers of the service program “SlideScannerService.exe” and the scan program “SlideScanner.exe” are important, because the preview calibration program uses program parts (.dll-files) of the program “SlideScanner.exe”.

 

Attention:    Do not mix the versions of SlideScanner.exe and SlideScannerService.exe! Always use these programs with the same version number; otherwise the SlideScannerService.exe program could produce unwanted results and SlideScanner.exe does not work correctly or even freeze!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Configure the preview unit

 

 Since the software version 1.16 the units of the scanner are configured in the file “MicroscopeConfiguration.ini”, section [Microscope].

 

The actual version of the preview unit in the scanner S_II is defined by the use of the following parameters and values:

 

[Microscope]; SCAN_II

SerialNumber = SC150-2..........5

MicroscopeType = 3DMic11

ScanCameraType =

PreviewCameraType = CVrmc_m8_pPro

BarcodeReaderType = PreviewCamera

LoaderType = SL_6Mag_25Slide_NoSensor_Vertical_2

CameraChangerType = CC_None

ReflectorTurretType = RT_None;                                    no turret unit, BF only!

BrightfieldLightSourceType = RGBLedLight

ObjectiveChangerType = OC_2pos

ObjectGuideXYZType = OGXYZ_1.2mm

FlashUnitType = NoFlashUnit

NDFilterType = ND_None

PreviewLightType = PreviewLightUnitType_Type4

PowerSwitchBoardType = PowerSwitchBoard_None

[HardwareLimits]

 

 

          Parameter options of the section

 

 

 

 

 

 

Principle of brightfield preview

 

 

 

 

Brightfield illuminated preview

  • The preview illumination illuminates the background of the entire field of view of the preview camera, behind the slide.
  • Because the slide is much larger then the field of the preview camera’s view, the scan area of the slide is captured in 3 sections; the made 3 images are rotated, cut and assembled by software; the required parameters are defined during the preview calibration process and collected in the section [PreviewAndBarcodeScanning] of the file MicroscopeConfiguration.ini.
  • The assembled preview, the scan area of the slide, is shown in the preview window of the slide scanner program.
  • The barcode area is only a little bit smaller than the captured field of the preview camera’s view and is shown in the barcode window.

 

 

 

 

            “Scan area” and “Barcode area”

            “Creation of preview”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Components and construction

 

 

 

The entire preview and barcode unit is situated on the “horseshoe”; and this is a part of the scanner unit.

 

 

Horseshoe

The horseshoe is a part of the scanner unit, and contains the following components:

 

 

The preview mirror reflects the image of the preview in an angle of 90° to the objective; the mirror does not need adjustments.

 

            Construction, Preview camera VRmc-8+ PRO

            Scanner plate and horseshoe

 

 

 

 

 Preview illumination

 

The preview illumination illuminates the background of the slide in the size of the preview camera’s field of view.

 

            “Preview illumination”

 

 

 

 

 

Barcode illumination

 

The barcode illumination consists of four LED’s and these are situated on a small PCB.

To reach an evenly and bright illuminated barcode area, the position of the LED’s can be modified by positioning the entire PCB if the mounting bolts are loosened or by bending the LED’s carefully, separately.

 

 

             “Barcode adjustments”; “Barcode illumination”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Preview unit mounting

 

 The entire preview unit is situated on the horse shoe and this is mounted to the edge of the scanner plate, parallel to the magazine unit.

The position is fixed with two fixing pins and hold by the mounting bolt.

 

            “Scanner plate” and “Horseshoe mounting”

 

 

 

Remove the preview unit

·       Disconnect the cables for the preview illumination, the barcode illumination and the preview camera’s USB cable

·       Remove the mounting bolt and then the entire preview unit can be removed frontward.

 

Mount the preview unit

·       Fit the fixing pins of the scanner unit into the position fixing holes of the horseshoe and push the entire preview unit onto the edge of the scanner unit.

·       Drive in the mounting bolt.

·       Connect the cables for the preview illumination, the barcode illumination and the preview camera’s FireWire cable

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Camera VR magic

 

The preview objective and camera holder allows the adjustment of the preview camera rotation angle in a limited range.

 

To adjust the camera rotation angle:

  • Hold the camera from beneath (the rear of the camera) and loosen the position fixing bolt a little bit until the camera becomes barely moveable.
  • By loosening one of the “Rotation angle” bolts and tightening the opposite bolt, the rotation angle will be modified.
  • If the correct camera rotation angle is found, tighten the “Position fixing” bolt; further information can be found in the chapter “Adjust the preview camera rotation angle”.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Preview camera and objective

In the scanners S_M_D_II the preview camera VRmc-8+ PRO is used to create the brightfield preview and also to capture the barcode since the software version 1.16.

Because the camera has 2 different tasks, each kind of image is illuminated from another illumination source and these are of a different kind also, the adjustment of the aperture iris size and the focus position of the objective are important.

 

  • The distance ring has a thickness of 1.5mm nominal.
  • The shown focus value is for information only, the real value will be found during the preview calibration process.
  • Set the value of the aperture iris to 3.0.

 

            Preview camera VRmc-8+ PRO

            Preview objective, TAMRON 23FM16SP

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Areas of the slide

 

 

 

Scan area

 

The scan area defines the part of the slide on which the tissue, scanned by the scan camera, is expected to be. The entire scan area is captured by the preview camera in three sections and is shown in the preview area of the program SlideScanner.exe.

The scan area is limited by the mechanical construction of the specimen holder and should be defined as large as possible; it is not defined in relation to the cover slip.

In all cases, the specimen holder should never be touched by the focus pin or the objective! In other words, the scan area is that area of the slide, on which the focus pin and the objective can be moved seemingly during scanning the tissues, without touching the specimen holder.

 

            “Define the scan area”.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Barcode area

 

The barcode area is situated beside the scan area and contains stickers or labels with information about the tissue.

If the label contains a barcode, the analyzed and decoded barcode can be used as file name for the scanned tissue.

·       The entire barcode area is captured by one field of view of the preview camera.

·       To see the information of the barcode area, it is illuminated by the barcode illumination.

·       An evenly illuminated barcode area and a well adjusted focus of the preview objective increase the readability of the barcode.

·       The correct position of the barcode area will be defined in the step 16 of the preview calibration procedure.

Important

Stickers and labels should be placed only beside the cover slip; the opposite surface from beneath is glass only. If labels are placed on the opposite side also, the slide will not be hold correctly in the specimen holder and “slant fields of view” are produced during the scan process; see also: “Stage skew check”.

 

            “Barcode illumination”; “Adjust the barcode illumination”, “Step 16 of the preview calibration procedure” and “Barcodes in practice”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

When shall I check or define the scan area?

 

  • If the X-Y-stage was exchanged
  • If the parallelogram was adjusted
  • If any modifications on the specimen holder or its mounting was taken
  • If the scan area of the slide is too small or too much.

 

The scan area is defined during the system integration procedure.

If the scan area was modified, the steps and checks, described under “Adjust the pixel of the preview camera to the field of view of the scan camera” must be executed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Scan area and specimen holder

 

 

The scan area values may vary from scanner to scanner (depending on the specimen holder and parallelogram adjustment and mechanical tolerances); so the scan area has to be defined for each scanner separately.

In all cases, the scan area values of X-min, X-max, Y-min and Y-max are set just before the focus pin or the objective touches the specimen holder; the accuracy of the limits is 100 steps.

 

 

 

 

PSCAN

 

The slide is hold by the specimen holder on the longer, lower edge and with a slide clamp on its upper edge, on the barcode area; see the red lines on the right. As you can see, the definition of the limits X-min and Y-max are critical.

X-max and Y-min are given by the maximal usable slide size and are not critical; they could be the slide edge of the largest, allowed slide dimensions.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Because there is a rounded corner on the specimen holder as shown on the right (X-min and Y-max corner), there are two possibilities to define the scan area, shown with the red and green lines.

 The Y-max value can be more decreased (the scan area will be shortened in Y-direction) and the value of X-min can be decreased (the scan area will be larger in X-direction). Technically, both solutions can be accepted, but in practice, the users prefer the solution as shown with the green lines. The difference between both solutions is more hundred steps in each direction. Please take this into account if you are defining the scan area.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Define the scan area

 

 

The following “flow chart” describes the steps for Pannoramic SCAN especially. The steps for MIDI and DESK are similar, but named values and actions, given by the construction of the specimen holder can differ.

·       This procedure assumes that the hardware limits of the X-Y-stage unit are already defined.

·       The path of the file “MicroscopeConfiguration.ini”, in the version 1.14 is:

C:\ Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\3DHISTECH\SlideScanner\ MicroscopeConfiguration.ini

 

·       The path of the file “MicroscopeConfiguration.ini”, since the version 1.15 is:

C:\ProgramData\3DHISTECH\SlideScanner\MicroscopeConfiguration.ini

 

 

·       The scan area values to be used are set just before the focus pin or the objective touches the specimen holder mechanics. The accuracy of the limits is 100 steps.

 

 

1.      Insert a medium large slide or the Test slide #2.

 

2.      Start the Mservice.exe program, Low level service part.

 

3.      Go forward to 26000 steps in +X direction.

 

4.      Press Home1 then Home2 for the Y-stepper motor.

 

5.      Press Home1 then Home2 for the X-stepper motor.

 

6.      Go to position X=4000 steps.

 

7.      To find the “rounded” corner of the specimen holder, go to the position Y-max. This position is nearly 74000 steps or somewhat below. The real value can be found in the section [HardwareLimits]. If the specimen holder is touched by the focus pin, move the Y-stepper backward by 100 steps until the specimen holder is not touched and memorize this number of steps in Y-direction. If necessary, go to Y-Home1,2 for the Y-stepper motor and forward again to the memorized position (if steps where lost).

 

8.      To find the lower edge of the “rounded” corner of the specimen holder, decrease the number of steps by 100 in X-direction until the specimen holder is reached.

 

9.      After each movement of the specimen holder (either in X- or Y-direction) check the limit as described in the paragraph above “To check the found limit position”.

 

10. Decrease / increase the number of steps in the X-direction and the Y-direction until the correct corner point is found (see also “The physical construction of the specimen holders”).

 

11. If the corner point is found without touching the specimen holder and without lost steps update the parameter “ScannableAreaPositionXmin” with the found value of steps in X-direction and the value of the parameter “ScannableAreaPositionYmax” with the found value of steps in Y-direction in the file “MicroscopeConfiguration.ini” section [HardwareLimits] and save the file.

 

12. With the 3200 steps button go backward in -Y-direction (along the specimen holder side, defined by the parameter X-min) until the inner edge of the slide is reached and check after each click the correctness of the value for the parameter “ScannableAreaPositionXmin” as described in the paragraph above “To check the found limit position”. Collision with the specimen holder must not occur! Do the step 12 logically on each already defined edge.

 

13. To define the values for the parameters “ScannableAreaPositionXmax” and “ScannableAreaPositionYmin”, move the specimen holder into the opposite corner and repeat the flow chart from step 3 logically. In step 6 start with the position X = 24000 and in step 7 use the value of Y=23000 steps as a starting point.

 

14. If the corner point is found without touching the specimen holder and without lost steps update the parameter “ScannableAreaPositionXmax” with the found value of steps in X-direction and the value of the parameter “ScannableAreaPositionYmin” with the found value of steps in Y-direction in the file “MicroscopeConfiguration.ini” section [HardwareLimits] and save the file.

 

15. Repeat step 12 logically with all four edges of the defined scan area. If anywhere collision occurs, define the appropriate parameter value again and actualize it in the file “MicroscopeConfiguration.ini” section [HardwareLimits] and save the file.

 

Define the slide stud area

·       The values of the slide stud area are defined just before the objective would touch the slide stud; please use an accuracy of 100 steps.

·       To define the values, please use the same technique as described above, in the chapter “Define the scan area”.

·       The defined areas are excluded from the scan area!

·       Because the objective will never reach the slide stud “MidiKnot3”, these values should be left unchanged.

·       See also “Scan area and specimen holders”, “PMIDI” and “PDESK”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Adjustments of the preview unit

 

 

The adjustment of the preview unit includes:

 

 

 

Prerequisites for the BF preview calibration

 

The success of the preview calibration procedure is bound to the following components and parameter values:

  • Driver of the preview camera is installed.
  • Hardware limits of the X-, Y- and focus unit are defined.
  • Home position of the turret unit is already adjusted; the first filter position is defined.
  • Brightfield preview illumination was checked with the service program and can be switched on / off.

 

 

 When shall I do a preview calibration?

  • If the focus position of the preview objective was altered.
  • If the preview camera was loosened, dismounted, changed.
  • If adjustments are done on the parallelogram or the specimen holder or the X-Y-stage was exchanged.
  • If the scanned area of the tissue is different from the selected area in the preview window. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Steps of the preview calibration procedure

 

  1. Set the aperture of the preview objective (Tamron objective only).
  2. Start the preview calibration procedure
  3. Adjust the focus of the preview objective.
  4. Adjust the rotation angle of the preview camera.
  5. Adjust the objective position of the 20x scanner objective (if not adjusted previously).
  6. Define the barcode area

 

 

 

 

Set PV objective aperture

 

  • Loosen the aperture fixing bolt, set the aperture to a value of 3.0 and tighten the fixing bolt.

 

Remark: To adjust the aperture of the preview objective the focus unit should be removed or the horseshoe can be dismounted.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Use the components of the calibration slide to adjust the focus of the preview camera objective.

  • Loosen the fixing bolt of the focus part of the preview objective, adjust the focus position so, that the centers of the circles are in focus and then tighten the fixing bolt.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Set aperture; Tamron

 

  • Loosen the aperture fixing bolt, set the aperture to a value of 3.0 and tighten the fixing bolt.

 

Remark: To adjust the aperture of the preview objective the focus unit should be removed or the horseshoe can be dismounted.

 

 

 

 

Adjust the focus position; Tamron

 

Start the service program and select the option “Preview calibration”.

Load the preview slide in “Manual” or “Automatic” mode; select the appropriate option.

  • The manual mode should be selected if the magazine unit is removed.
  • The automatic mode should be used if the magazine and slide loading procedure is done by the magazine unit and the slide loader.

 

 

            “Insert or remove a slide manually”

            After inserting the single width preview calibration slide, the live view of the preview camera is shown in the camera window.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  •  Adjust the top slide edge (2) parallel to the edge of the live view preview camera window (1). In reality, the preview camera image will be rotated until the edges (1,2) are parallel. The camera rotation angle is acceptable if the top of the slide edge is parallel to the top edge of the preview camera window; an acceptable deviation has to be less than 0.5 degrees.

 

 After tightening the mounting bolts and adjustment bolts, any kind of shadow should be eliminated and the top of the slide should not be cut.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Adjust the camera position; VRm

 

Bring the Y-stepper motor in the position where the edge of the slide is near to the top edge of the preview window. Set the X-stepper value to 28800.

 

  • Loosen the brightfield preview illumination adjustment and fixing bolts a little bit and remove the shadow from the top edge of the live view window, then tighten the bolts carefully; they are driven into plastic!

 

 

Remark: This adjustment is done only to see the top edge of the slide as sharp as possible; so the camera rotation angle can be adjusted properly.

 

To loosen the camera and objective holder you need a 1.5mm hex wrench.

  • Hold the camera from beneath (the rear of the camera) and loosen the camera holder fixing bolt a little bit until the camera becomes barely moveable.

By loosening one of the “Rotation angle” bolts and tightening the opposite bolt, the rotation angle will be modified; see also “Preview objective and camera holder” above.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  •  Adjust the top slide edge (2) parallel to the edge of the live view preview camera window (1). In reality, the preview camera image will be rotated until the edges (1,2) are parallel. The camera rotation angle is acceptable if the top of the slide edge is parallel to the top edge of the preview camera window; an acceptable deviation has to be less than 0.5 degrees.

 

 After tightening the mounting bolts and adjustment bolts, any kind of shadow should be eliminated and the top of the slide should not be cut.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Preview calibration procedure

 

 

 

The preview calibration part of the SlideScannerService program adjusts the pixel view of the preview camera to the FOV (Field of view) of the scan camera, because both cameras are physically in distance to each other.

 

The preview calibration includes:

 

1.       Defining the position of the preview camera’s pixel and the scan camera’s FOV.

2.       Adjusts the pixel position of the preview camera to the FOV position of the scan camera.

3.       The preview camera takes three images from the slide. The parameters for assembling the three parts are defined in the preview calibration process.

4.       Defining the barcode area.

 

 

The calibration slide (Calibration slide single width) defines positions inside the scan area with circles containing a cross. The centers of the circles are marker positions for the preview camera and the scan camera also.

 

 

To executing the steps, please refer to

 

Preview calibration procedure

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Barcode reading and adjustments

For technicians and sales managers!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

These instructions describe the procedure to define the barcode area and the adjustments necessary for reading barcodes with Pannoramic S_M_D scanners, equipped with

 

 

 

 

If the barcode reading is not allowed in the dongle for the SlideScanner software, barcodes can not be read; nevertheless the barcode dongle is connected.

 

 

 

Check the barcode reader unit for necessary adjustments:

 

·   If the barcode print quality on the barcode area is high or acceptable and barcodes can be read, but some barcode types are unreadable (with also a high print quality), then adjustments may be needed.

 

 

 

 

Requirements

                

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Before you start adjustments

 

Before you start adjusting the components of the barcode reader, try to read barcodes of different kind and codes and do the following checks; see also barcodes in practice:

 

1. If there is no barcode readable or available:

·       Check the Matrox driver installation

·       Check the presence of the dongle for barcode reading

·       Check the validity of the license file or dongle

·       Check the focus position of the preview camera

·       Check the size of the preview objective aperture

·       Check the selected barcode type in the dialogue “Barcode settings”

 

 

            2. If several barcodes are unreadable:

·       Check the barcode print quality on the slide’s barcode area

·       Check the uniformity of illumination on the barcode area

·       Check the size of the barcode area 

·       Check the focus position of the preview camera

·       Check the size of the preview objective aperture 

·       Check the selected barcode type in the dialogue “Barcode settings”

 

 

Define the barcode area

 

We assume that the preview calibration procedure is already done and the barcode area is defined properly. For details to define the barcode area please refer to the “Step 16: Fit the barcode area into the red square”.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Driver installation

 

Attention:

 

·       Do not copy the MIL Runtime folder to your desktop! Instead copy the folder to C:\. Because there are a lot of long file- and folder names inside the MIL Runtime folder, the maximal path length will exceed the limit, and the install procedure can not be executed successfully. Never install the MIL Runtime via network!

 

·       For further information please refer to “Setup the Matrox Imaging Library”.

 

 

 

Start the Pannoramic scan software and check the barcode readability.

 

 

 

Adjust the preview camera parameters and barcode illumination for barcode reading and preview capturing

 

For a successful barcode reading the adjustment of the barcode illumination, the correct setting of the focus position of the preview camera is essential. For this adjustment a slide with a white label area and a barcode test set is required.

 

Attention

If you adjusted the focus position of the preview camera objective you have to do the preview calibration process again. For details to execute the preview calibration please refer to the “Preview calibration above”.

 

A fully white barcode area can be created easily by sticking a blank adhesive label onto the slide and the edges are cut around with a utility knife. The white barcode area is required to check the uniformity of illumination.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Adjust the barcode illumination

 

Start the program “SlideScanner.exe” with the service password. Insert a slide with white label area and select the tab “Service” and “Microscope control”. In the pull down menu “Video source” select the “Preview camera”. After click on “live view” check the checkbox “Barcode area illumination” and set the “Backlight illumination intensity” to zero.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

To reach a uniform barcode area illumination, please bend the LED’s carefully and observe the live view. By modifying the PCB position, the uniform illumination of the barcode area can be  also reached.

 

1.      Adjust the position of the PCB.

2.      Bend the LEDs carefully until a uniform barcode area illumination is reached.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Barcode Settings dialog

 

The following dialog is implemented since the version 1.11 in the program “SlideScanner.exe” and can be found in “Options”, “Barcode settings”.

 

 

1D Barcode Types, 2D Barcode Types

 

Check the appropriate radio button for the barcode type you are expected to read. In the file “Barcode print check.pdf” you will find enclosed the barcode set and you can compare the view of barcode to the samples.

 

 

 

1D Barcodes with check digit

 

This barcodes including a check of correct reading the barcode and this is added as a digit of the barcode (always the last character position). With checked checkbox “Exclude check digit” this check digit is not displayed and is also not a part of the read barcode. For test possibilities you can uncheck this checkbox, the check digit will be displayed and is a part of the read barcode.

 

Fore ground color

The foreground color is black. If the barcode is reverse printed (white barcode on black background) select the foreground color as white.

 

Preprocess Barcode Image

 

Sharpen

The sharpness is calculated meanwhile the barcode image is taken.

 

Gamma modification

A slider will be opened and you can adjust a value for gamma in the range of

 

Contrast modification

A slider will be opened and you can adjust a value for contrast in the range of

 

Special Barcode Settings

 

Barcode string length

You can define a string length, coded in the barcode. This way, the barcode detection will be quicker.  If the number of coded characters in the barcode and the number of characters to be read defined here is not identical, an error message occurs, “There is no barcode”. If zero is selected (default) any string length can be read.

 

Maxi code dot spacing

The dot spacing for the dots in the maxi code can be defined. Maxi code barcode can be created with dot spacing different from the default value (0). For successful barcode decoding this dot spacing value must be defined here.

 

Other

 

Use barcode compensation Image

This is one of two possibilities to increase the readability of barcodes. The compensation image, taken with the “Grab New” option is used to compensate the barcode image for best barcode decoding results. The image is stored and will be used until this checkbox is checked.

 

Grab New

A new compensation image is taken of the barcode area and will be stored; the previously took compensation image will be overwritten. It is important, that an exact white (not light gray) area is inserted and the surface should be very smooth. An only white paper surface is too rough.

 

Barcode exposure time increase

This is another possibility to increase the readability of barcodes. Because the automatically calculated exposure time often produces a too dark view of the barcode area, you can increase the brightness of the view; and so you increase the readability of barcodes. The calculated exposure time reflects to the value of 100 percent. To find a well usable value for the exposure time, the start value of 100 percent should be increased by a step rate of 10 percent until the optimum was found.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Check barcode reading with different barcodes and types

                                              

 

Now we are checking the readability of defined barcodes. For this purpose a set of barcodes is required that fulfill the requirements in pixel size and mechanical dimensions for the smallest, readable barcodes. In the appendix you find a set of barcodes for testing. If this page is printed onto an adhesive label sheet and each label is stuck on a slide, you created your own barcode test set. For further details see the appendix. After all these barcodes are recognized successfully by the Matrox Imaging Library, check some samples of the user’s unreadable barcodes. See also chapter “7 Barcodes in practice”.

 

1.     Start the program “SlideScanner.exe” and in the tab “options” of the first selector screen select the option “Barcode Settings”.

 

2.     Insert a slide with barcode.

 

3.     In the selector guide “Barcode settings” select the barcode type to be decoded. The type, shown on the slide label and selected in the “Barcode settings” must be equal.

4.     Press the button “Read barcode”.

5.     The software starts the barcode reading and decoding, the result is written in the field below the button “Read barcode”. If the barcode can not be decoded in 5 attempts the error message “There is no barcode” is displayed.

 

 

 

Attention:

Some 1D barcodes can be read with different types and the contents of the barcode is different also. To achieve the correct barcode content select always the appropriate barcode type in “barcode settings”!

 

1.     Repeat steps 2 to 4 with all slides of the barcode check set.

2.     Read barcodes from the users “Hard to read” collection.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                 Barcodes in practice

 

The following examples show barcodes, coded with Data-matrix. The left hand column shows the original barcode area of the slides and on the right hand column you find the same slide as it is seen by the preview camera for barcode analyzing and decoding. In the following we analyze the barcode print. Slides with visible faults in the barcode should be excluded from the tissue creation process. All the following barcode prints was read with the same illumination setup. Unreadable barcode prints could also not be read after illumination modifying. To ensure a high print quality and to increase the readability of the barcode the slide’s barcode area should be clean and dry, free of moisture, before printing. The printers, even ink jet printers should be maintained in the defined time interval and the ink cartridge should be changed if the “ink low” message occurs. Ink jet printers have often an integrated service part with a “Clean” option in their drivers. Run the “clean” and “Test print” options if the print quality is reduced.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Figure 1:       The slide has a LASER printed barcode paper label. A good solution, the barcode print is rich in contrast and therefore easily and safely readable.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Figure 2:       The barcode was printed with an ink jet printer direct onto the surface of the slide. May be there was too much ink, the slide was moved before the ink was dry or moisture is on the barcode area meanwhile printing. Contrast poor, blurry or diffuse barcode print is unreadable.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Figure 3:       The barcode was printed with an ink jet printer direct onto the surface of the slide. A nozzle does not work during printing. A missed jet in the print may be readable or not, it depends on the position, where the jet is lost. Maintain the printer.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Figure 4:       The barcode was printed with an ink jet printer direct onto the surface of the slide. Some jets have not enough ink, so the contrast is partially reduced. A contrast reduced print may be readable or not. Maintain the printer and / or change the ink patron earlier.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Figure 5:       The barcode was printed with an ink jet printer direct onto the surface of the slide. Some jets have not enough ink, so the contrast is partially reduced. A contrast reduced print may be readable or not. Maintain the printer and / or change the ink patron earlier.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Figure 6:       The barcode is engraved by a LASER beam. The contrast is reduced because a white surface (=background) is “printed” (as a result of engraving) with glass, so the contrast cannot be much. This barcode needs very uniform adjusted illumination, exact adjusted white balance and shutter values.

 

 

Appendix

 

Create your own barcode check set.

 

In the file “Barcode print check.pdf” you will find enclosed the barcode set. The content of this page generates a full, specified barcode test set.

 

Please print the file “Barcode print check.pdf” perhaps with a LASER printer onto an adhesive label sheet with 27 labels organized as 3 columns with 9 lines of labels, the upper border is 5mm and the lower border is 3mm, with no border on the left and no border on the right.

 

The size of one label is 70mm x 32mm without space to each other.

 

After printing, stick each label onto a slide and cut it around with a utility knife.

Take into account that the slide clamp lower part in Pannoramic SCAN cuts out a bit of the barcode area. The shadow should not disturb the barcode print.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 To prevent the barcode print from dust and finger prints during use, stick a strip “tesa Film crystal clear” 19mm in with or equivalent translucent strip over the barcode print; so it becomes cleanable. If the adjustments are correct and no mistake occurred meanwhile creation, all this barcodes are readable; even if the label is stacked on slanted.