Re: [micro-manager-general] Using multi-dimensional acquisition to create stepwise behavior

[Jones, M. A <ma...@es...>]

Thanks Mark,
-
On Apr 4, 2014, at 1:44 AM, Mark Tsuchida <mar...@gm...> wrote:

> Hi Matt,
> 
> On Apr 3, 2014, at 1:16 PM, Matt Jones wrote:
>> I’m setting up a simple micromanager setup controlling an Andor camera and
>> Arduino-controlled LED lights. Following on from suggestions in other
>> postings I’m using the ‘Channels’ setting within the Multi-dimensional
>> acquisition to do the following;
>> 
>> Channel 1: Turn off LEDs
>> Channel 2: Delay (using a Demo Shutter)
>> Channel 3: Acquire image
>> Channel 4: Shorter delay (using another Demo Shutter)
>> Channel 5: Turn on LEDs
>> 
>> Then I’m using the ‘Time’ setting to loop this to create my time series.
>> 
>> Although it seems this would work, it seems a little inelegant- in
>> particular the ‘Summary' indicates that these settings will save an image
>> for each channel even though I’ve asked it to skip all of the frames except
>> for the acquired image (for instance it’s indicating that it will save 10
>> images rather than 2 when I loop this twice). Is there a better way of doing
>> this? I need to introduce the first delay (channel 2) before acquiring an
>> image, but the shorter delay isn’t necessary if I can be sure that the
>> camera shutter will be closed before the LEDs come back on.
> 
> How long are the delays, and do they absolutely need to be different?If
> they are not more than a few seconds and can be equal, the
> ArduinoShutter's delay settings could be used (though unfortunately they
> can only be controlled in the Hardware Configuration Wizard or by
> editing and reloading the configuration file).

I think my unique complication is that for experimental reasons I need to have a 10min delay between turning off the LEDs and acquiring an image-

Image acquisition with timings;
Arduino LEDs off
Delay 10 min
Acquire image
Arduino LEDs on
repeat in 1 hr

> 
> If all you need is a shutter with inverted behavior, maybe the most
> efficient solution would be to use a single shutter device that turns
> _off_ the LEDs when in the "open" state. Assuming such a shutter device
> is available, you could run the acquisition without channels, and
> Autoshutter enabled.
> 
I think I’m confusing myself as to whether the shutter on my camera needs to be explicitly controlled. If auto shutter is enabled (to control the LEDs as you suggest) will that interfere with the camera?

Thanks for your help,
Matt

-----------------------------
Matt Jones PhD
Leverhulme Early Career Fellow
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