PRODUCT:
Edge
3D Illumination System
Edge
3D Imaging, LLC (Edge)
warrants this product against defects in materials and workmanship for a
period of two (2) years from the date of purchase subject to the following
limitations:
·
For a period of one (1) year from the date of purchase, Edge will
repair or replace defective electrical parts contained in the EDGE 3D
Illumination System at no charge.
·
Lamps contained in the 3D ILLUMINATION SYSTEM are not covered under
this warranty.
Charges
for parts and labor will apply to all work performed after the expiration
of the specific warranty period set forth herein.
To
obtain service during or after these periods, contact your local Edge
distributor. Every effort will be made to provide service at the users
location. During the warranty period, EDGE will pay shipping charges if
the product must be returned for repair. After the warranty period, any
shipping charges will be the responsibility of the user.
IT
IS SPECIFICALLY AGREED THAT THIS WARRANTY IS IN LIEU OF ALL OTHER
WARRANTIES WHETHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED INCLUDING THE WARRANTY OF
MERCHANTABILITY AND WARRANTY FOR PARTICULAR PURPOSE. EDGE SHALL NOT BE
LIABLE FOR ANY INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES ARISING FROM THE BREACH
OF ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTY ON THIS PRODUCT.
This
warranty does not cover cosmetic damage nor damage resulting from acts of
God, accidents, misuse, abuse, negligence, and normal wear and tear. This
warranty is valid only in the United States of America.
No
agent, employee, or representative of EDGE has any authority to bind EDGE
to any representation or warranty concerning this product unless said
representation or warranty is contained in this limited warranty
agreement.
Edge 3D Imaging, LLC
441 N. 5th Street
Philadelphia, PA 19123
Tel: 215-625-0600
Fax: 215-625-5005
Email: mail@edge-3D.com
Web: www.edge-3D.com
Federal
Communications Commission Radio Frequency Statement:
This
equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class
A digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC rules. These limits are
designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference
when the equipment is operated in a commercial environment. This equipment
generates, uses, and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not
installed and used in accordance with the instruction manual, may cause
harmful interference to radio communications. Operation of this equipment
in a residential area is likely to cause harmful interference in which
case the user will be required to correct the interference at his own
expense.
Changes
or modifications not expressly approved by Edge 3D Imaging, LLC, may void
your authority to operate this device.
Intended
Product Use:
The
3D Illumination System should be used only as an illumination system for
microscopes with removable light sources. Do not use the system for any
other purpose. Furthermore, the 3D Illumination System should be used only
in an indoor environment.
Do
Not Disassemble:
Disassembling
any part of the 3D Illumination System could result in electrical shock or
damage to the equipment. Disassembling the unit will void the warranty.
Never disassemble any portion of the equipment unless you are following
the procedure described in this manual for changing the dynamic aperture
sector. If you have any problems with the equipment, contact you Edge
representative.
Check
the Input Voltage:
Make
sure that the input voltage is within the acceptable range (see
Specifications); 100 to 240 volts AC with a frequency of 47 to 63 Hz. If
it is not the same, do not use the 3D Illumination System and notify your
Edge representative. Using the wrong input voltage for the power supply
could result in a short circuit or fire, and could also damage the power
supply and any equipment connected to the power supply.
Use
Only the Specified Power Cord:
When
connecting the electrical outlet to the power supply, use only the
specified power cord supplied with the 3D Illumination System. Using any
other chord may result in damage to the equipment or fire.
In
order to avoid electrical shock, always turn off the power switch before
connecting the power cord.
Caution
Do
Not Wet the 3D Illumination System:
The
3D Illumination System should be used only in an indoor environment. If
the unit gets wet, a short circuit may result that could damage the unit.
If you accidentally spill a liquid on the equipment, immediately turn off
the power switch and unplug the power cord. Then use a dry cloth to wipe
away any moisture. If any liquid gets inside the equipment, do not attempt
to use it. Instead, notify your Edge representative.
Specifications
Components:
·
Illuminator Housing
·
Control Box
·
Power Supply
·
Power Cable
·
Polarizing Filters for your Microscope Eyepieces
·
Hex Key
·
2 Leveling Feet
·
Users Manual
·
3D Viewer
Electrical:
·
AC line input for the switching power supply is 100 to 240 volts,
with a frequency of 47-63 Hz.
·
Output is 15 volts, 5.3 amps max.
Bulb
Type:
·
50 watt, 12 volt
·
base: GU5.3
·
type: 13784
·
beam spread: 10°
·
ordering code: 50MRC16/CC/SP10
269779
Operating
environment:
·
Indoor use only
·
Temperature range from 10O C to 32.5O C (50O
F to 90.5O F)
·
Humidity range from 20-80% (no condensation)
Storage
environment:
·
Temperature range from 0O C to 35O C (32O
F to 95O F)
·
Humidity range from 10-80% (no condensation)
Dimensions:
·
Illuminator
5W x 9D x 5.5H inches (12.7 x 22.9 x 14 cm)
·
Control Box
5.12W x 7.25D x 3.67H inches (13 x 18.4 x 9.3 cm)
Weight:
·
Illuminator
6 pounds 2 ounces (2.78 kg)
·
Control Box
3.8 ounces (0.1 kg)
Features
and Nomenclature
Illuminator
Housing:
1.
Dovetail Adapter
2.
Screws Securing Case
3.
Aperture Centering Screw for Left/Right
4.
Aperture Focus Screw
5.
Aperture Centering Screw for Up/Down
6.
Leveling Feet
7.
Power In
8.
On/Off Switch
Control
Box:
1.
LCD Display
·
Lamp - Will display the
lamp intensity from 0 to 10
·
Motor - Will display
RUN if the oblique aperture motor is on
·
Speed - Will display
the relative speed of the oblique aperture motor on a scale to 100
2.
Control Pad
Top
Row Controls Mode of Operation:
·
2D - Inserts a open
aperture for conventional 2D imaging
·
3D - Inserts special
polarizing filters into light path
·
Oblique - Inserts the
oblique aperture mask
Middle
Row Controls illuminator Lamp:
·
Lamp - Turns the light
source on and off
·
Up Arrow - Increases
the intensity of the light source
·
Down Arrow - Decreases
the intensity of the light source
·
Photo - Sets the lamp
intensity to maximum for proper color balance, then pressing it again
resets the lamp intensity to the last setting used
Bottom
Row Controls Position of Dynamic Aperture:
·
Motor - turns on/off
the rotation of the oblique aperture mask
·
Up Arrow - increases
the speed of rotation of the oblique aperture mask
·
Down Arrow - decreases
the speed of rotation of the oblique aperture mask
·
L - positions the
oblique aperture to create a left-eye view of specimen
·
R - positions the
oblique aperture to create a right-eye view of specimen
·
N - positions the
oblique aperture to create a North view of specimen
·
S - positions the
oblique aperture to create a South view of specimen
3.
Multipin Connector
4.
RS-232 Port
5.
Foot Pedal Port
Installation
Depending
on which type of microscope has been selected for the 3D Illumination
System, whether it is an existing instrument or purchased specifically for
the 3D Illumination System, the illuminator will be fitted with the
dovetail attachment appropriate for that microscope. Ensure that you have
the correct dovetail adapter for the microscope you are using (see the
sticker on the outside box). If you wish to use the illuminator on more
than one type of microscope, additional dovetail adapters are available
and can be purchased from the Edge 3D web site (www.edge-3D.com).
For questions or details pertaining to a specific microscope please
contact your microscope dealer or contact Edge 3D Imaging directly.
·
Remove the standard light source from your microscope.
·
Remove any diffusing filters that may be installed in your
microscope. If you are not sure how to remove all diffusing filters,
contact your microscope dealer for directions. It is essential that all
diffusing filters are remove from the light path.
·
If you are attaching the 3D Illumination System onto a transmitted
light microscope, take the 2 leveling feet supplied with the unit and
screw them into the real base of the illuminator. If you are installing
the illuminator on an inverted microscope or a reflection microscope, then
consider using a monopod to support the illuminator. Monopods are
available from the Edge 3D web site.
·
Using the supplied 3D Illumination System adapter for your
microscope, attach the illuminator where the conventional light source
would normally attach. Ensure the illuminator unit is positioned squarely
and not at an angle. Tighten the illuminator into place. You will not have
to replace your standard light source again because the 3D Illumination
System can also function as a conventional light source for conventional
brightfield microscopy.
·
Now unscrew the 2 leveling feet so that they support the
illuminator squarely on the table top.
·
Position the Control Box close to one side of the microscope.
·
Connect the multipin cable between the Control Box and the
illuminator unit.
·
Connect the power cable between the power supply and the electrical
outlet (100 - 240 volts, 47 - 63 Hz).
·
Connect the smaller cable from the power supply to the illuminator.
·
Turn on the power switch on the rear of the illuminator housing.
The unit will take a few seconds to initialize.
·
Press the 2D button on
the Control Box to engage conventional 2D imaging.
·
Turn on your microscope, place a specimen on the stage and focus
the image.
·
Focus and center the condenser lens as you would a conventional
microscope.
Alignment
Three
different alignment procedures must take place: 1) the illuminator lens
must be focused on the oblique aperture mask, 2) the oblique aperture mask
must be aligned and centered, and 3) the polarizing filters must be
installed into your eyepieces and aligned.
Focusing
the Illuminator Lens:
·
Focus on a specimen using a fairly high magnification (NA between
0.5 and 0.95) objective lens.
·
If you are using a reflected
light microscope, use a front-surface mirror as the specimen.
·
If you are using a transmitted
light microscope, ensure the condenser lens is properly centered and
focused for Kφhler illumination.
·
Kφhler illumination
procedure: a) focus on specimen, b) close the field stop at the base of
the microscope, c) focus the condenser lens so that the image of the iris
in the field stop is sharp and the polygon shape is clearly visible, d)
center the image of the iris by adjusting the condenser centering screws
attached to the condenser holder, and then e) open the field stop iris.
·
Place the specimen in a position just past its edge so that there
is nothing in the field of view (do not change the focus).
·
Press the Oblique button
on the Control Box to engage the oblique aperture mask.
·
Remove one of the eyepieces from the microscope and replace it with
a telescope eyepiece. If you don't have a telescope eyepiece then look
straight down the eyepiece tube to observe the oblique aperture mask. If
you do not see the mask, then press the buttons marked N
S L & R until you see
the sector-shaped oblique aperture.
·
If the sector-shaped mask is still not visible, make sure that all
diffusing filters have been removed from your microscope.
·
Use the Hex Key supplied with your unit to access the slot on the
right side of the Illuminator housing. Loosen the set screw by one or two
turns and use the Hex Key to move the lens forward and backward until the
aperture mask is in focus.
·
To achieve the most critical focus, use a telescope eyepiece. If
you are using a transmitted light microscope, close the condenser aperture
and focus the illuminator lens until it is at the same focus as the
condenser aperture. If you are using a reflected light microscope, close
the aperture iris and focus the illuminator lens until it is at the same
focus as the aperture iris.
·
The lens will move back and forth by about one inch. If you don't
see a noticeable difference between the back and forth positions then set
the lens in the middle position.
·
Tighten the set screw to secure the lens in its focused position.
It is possible that the focus may vary when using different objective
lenses.
·
Then open the condenser aperture (or aperture iris).
Centering
the Oblique Aperture Mask:
·
Continuing from above, now press the button on the Control Box
marked Motor. You will now see
that the aperture mask is rotating.
·
Use a standard slot screwdriver to center the lamp condenser lens,
which is located at the front of the illuminator unit. The small access
hole at the left side of the illuminator (near the front) will move the
aperture mask left and right, and the access hole on the top of the
illuminator will adjust the aperture mask up and down. Place the apex of
the sector-shaped mask at the optical center. If you are not using a
telescope eyepiece, ensure that your eye is observing the motion from
optical center of the eyepiece tube. If you are using a phase contrast
objective, then use the image of the phase ring as a target to center the
apex of the oblique aperture mask.
·
The oblique aperture is now centered, however please note that the
centering may vary when different objective lens are used.
Installing
and Aligning the Eyepiece Polarizing Filters:
Install
the polarizing filters into eyepieces. Depending on the microscope
selected for 3D Illumination System, the appropriate polarizing filters
for that microscope will be included. The polarizing filters must be
properly oriented within the eyepieces.
·
Hold a piece of black paper (or some other opaque material) under
the opening in the bottom of the condenser lens. Hold the paper as close
as possible to the opening at the condenser dovetail. Hold the paper so
that only the light entering the left
half of the condenser lens is blocked.
·
At the same time, rotate the polarizing filter in the left
eyepiece so that it is oriented is such that the image becomes the
darkest. Then fix the
polarizing filter and eyepiece into that position. It is preferable to
have non-rotating eyepieces (locking eyepieces). If your eyepieces can
freely rotate within the body tube, then either tape them in place or
label the appropriate position with a marker.
·
Then do the opposite for the right
eyepiece and polarizing filter (i.e., obstruct light coming into the right
side of the condenser and rotate the polarizing filter to darken the right
eye image).
·
If these filters are oriented incorrectly, the result may be either
a reversed sense of stereo or a lack stereo. If the stereo is reversed,
i.e., if the foreground appears to be in the background, then reverse the
procedure.
Operating
the 3D Illumination System
The
Edge 3D Illumination System replaces the traditional on-axis illuminator
on optical microscopes. The
system may be fitted to upright or inverted microscopes and may be used in
either transmitted light or reflected light modes. All this is required is
the appropriate adapter to retrofit to your existing microscope.
The
Edge 3D Illumination System is multifunctional and has 4 modes of
operation: 1) conventional 2D imaging, 2) direct-view stereo 3D imaging,
3) oblique illumination, and 4) 3D imaging by motion parallax.
Conventional
2D Imaging:
Press
the button marked 2D on the
Control Panel to engage the standard 2D imaging mode. In this mode of
operation, the illuminator functions the same as a conventional light
source.
Direct-View
Stereo 3D Imaging:
Press
the button marked 3D to engage
the direct-view stereo 3D imaging mode. This will employ the special
polarizing filter set into the illuminating beam. This special aperture
creates two oblique views of the specimen, a left-eye view and a right-eye
view. The left-eye view will be coded using polarized light at 90 degrees
orientation with the right-eye view. The two different views of the
specimen can be obtained if polarizing filters are installed in the
eyepieces and properly oriented (see Alignment).
If
the system is properly aligned the specimen will appear to be
3-dimensional. The foreground can be distinguished from the background.
The orientation of structures can be easily observed, and the relationship
of structures to one another in 3-dimensional space is accurately
perceived.
Make
sure that the left-eye and right-eye images are focused at the same depth
into the specimen. To achieve this, focus the microscope on a small detail
in the specimen. Then focus each eyepiece on the same small detail.
Oblique
Illumination:
Press
the button marked Oblique to
engage the oblique aperture mask. This will create oblique illumination,
which increases the depth of field, the contrast and the resolution of the
image. Highlights and shadows are emphasized.
The
direction of the apparent highlighting can be control by adjusting the
position of the oblique aperture mask. Pressing the N
button on the Control Box will create highlights on the top of structures
and shadows below. Pressing the S
button will have the opposite effect.
An
important feature of oblique illumination is that it creates angled views
of the specimen. Pressing the
L button on the Control Box
creates a left-eye view of the specimen, while pressing the R
button creates a right-eye view. The L
and R buttons are used to take
stereo-pair images (see Documentation
of 3D Images).
The angular size of the
sector-shaped oblique aperture mask can affect the apparent angle of view
of the image of the specimen. An oblique aperture mask that passes light
through a smaller sector-shaped opening will increase the angle of view or
parallax angle of the specimen, compared with an oblique aperture mask
that passes light through a larger sector opening. The smaller the opening
in the aperture mask the greater will be the contrast, depth of field and
parallax angle (3D depth). However, when the aperture is too small there
can also be a reduction in resolution. The effect of using different
aperture masks is very dependent on the particular specimen being
examined.
Several
different size aperture masks are available and can be purchased from the
Edge 3D Imaging web site (www.edge-3D.com). Sector openings of 180, 120,
90 and 60 degrees are available. The individual aperture masks are easily
removed and replaced using a small jeweler screwdriver.
To
change the oblique aperture mask:
·
Turn of the unit at the rear of the illuminator and unplug the
power supply.
·
Before changing an oblique aperture mask, allow
the unit to cool off for 30 minutes.
·
The illuminator is hot
during and after use. Exercise
caution!
·
Unscrew the 4 screws securing the illuminator case.
·
Removed the illuminator case.
·
Turn the turret to allow clear access to the oblique aperture mask.
·
Use a small jeweler screwdriver to remove the existing oblique
aperture mask.
·
Use the small jeweler screwdriver to secure the new oblique
aperture mask.
·
Screw the case back into place.
3D
imaging by motion parallax:
Press
the Oblique button on the
Control Box to engage the oblique aperture mask. The button
marked Motor can be
pressed in order to rotate the oblique aperture mask. This creates a
continuously changing angle of view and the image appears to move in
3-dimesional space like a movie loop. The 3D image is perceived by motion
parallax cues. The speed of rotation can be increased or decreased by
pressing the Up Arrow or the Down
Arrow. Pressing the Motor
button again will turn off the rotation.
The
Motor can be turned on and off
using a foot pedal. There is a foot pedal jack on the rear of the Control
Box. This can be useful if you are repeatedly turning the Motor on and
off, which is how the motor is intended to be used.
Changing
the Bulb
Before
changing a burnt out bulb, allow
the unit to cool off for 30 minutes. The illuminator is hot
during and after use. Exercise
caution!
It
is important that you use only the specified light bulb in the Edge 3D
Illuminator. Using a different bulb may degrade performance and cause
severe damage to the system. The bulb is rated 50 watts at 12 volts. For
the exact specifications and code numbers see Bulb
Type in the section of this manual entitled Specifications.
Before
changing the bulb, turn off the unit on the back of the illuminator, and
unplug the power supply. Then unscrew the 4 screws securing the
illuminator case. When you remove the case you will see the bulb and bulb
holder at the rear of the unit (see diagram). The bulb holder is fitted
with a lever that ejects the bulb from the holder. Pull down on the lever
to eject the burnt out bulb.
[drawing
of bulb and bulb holder]
Before
inserting the new bulb, reset the ejection lever to its original position.
Then slide the new bulb firmly into the holder, being careful to properly
align the slots in the holder with the 2 pins protruding from the bulb.
Replace
the illuminator case and tighten the 4 securing screws. Do not attempt to
turn on the unit before replacing the case. There is a safety shut-off
switch that prevents the unit from functioning when the case is not in
place.
Documentation
of 3D Images
Documenting
images using the Edge 3D Illumination System is simple and convenient. You
may use film cameras, digital cameras or video cameras. You can use the
same equipment you normally use to document images through your
microscope. You can use the Edge 3D Illumination System to capture
conventional 2D images. And, there are two methods for capturing 3D
images; first and most popular, is the stereo-pair method that creates
separate left-eye and right-eye images on two photographs, and second, is
the Dynamic Aperture method that creates 3-dimensional perception through
motion parallax "movie loops".
Photography:
·
Looking at a specimen with a relaxed eye, focus the photo
eyepiece reticule.
·
Set the left and right eyepiece focus so that they are in focus
with the camera eyepiece (i.e., look at a small spot in the specimen and
ensure that all eyepieces are focused on the same spot)
Color
Photography:
·
If you are using daylight balanced color film, then you will have
to insert an 80b filter (light blue) into the light path to increase the
color temperature of the illumination from 3200O K. to 5600O
K. If you are using tungsten balanced color film, such as Kodak 64T
Ektachrome, then no color correction filter is necessary.
·
When taking photos with color film, press the button on the Control
Box marked Photo. This will
automatically set the lamp intensity to 10. This will ensure that the
color temperature of the lamp is balanced to match the film.
Black
& White Photography:
·
For B&W film a green filter will improve contrast and sharpness
on the film.
·
When using B&W film, there is no need to press the Photo
button on the Control Panel, because the color balance of the light source
is not an issue when using B&W film.
2D Photography:
·
Remove the polarizing filters from the illuminator by sliding
pressing the button marked 2D
on the Control Box.
·
Frame the field of view through the photo eyepiece port (The camera
can be rotated to frame the field of view as desired)
·
Then take the photo in the usual way. For most microscopes, move
the slider on the microscope head to send the light to the camera, and
then press the camera exposure button.
3D Stereo-Pair Photography:
·
Set the camera orientation for vertical or horizontal images,
relative to the optical axis of the microscopes (the vertical or portrait
format is preferred for stereo-pair images). Ensure that the camera
orientation is straight and square.
·
Press the button marked Oblique
on the Control Box.
·
Frame the field of view in the photo eyepiece port, or in the
eyepiece reticule.
·
To take the stereo photographs, press the L
button on the Control Panel and then push the camera exposure button. This
will capture the left-eye image of the stereo-pair. Then press the R
button on the Control Panel and push the camera exposure button. This will
capture the right-eye image of the stereo-pair.
·
When viewing the stereo-pair photos after processing, make sure
they are viewed in the same orientation they were taken. If they were
taken as vertical images then they must be viewed as vertical images. If
they were taken in horizontal format, then they must be viewed that way or
the 3D will be lost. If the stereo does not look correct, then turn the
photos upside down or reverse their position in terms of viewing the left
and right-eye images.
Motion
Parallax "Movie Loops":
·
In order to make 3D motion parallax movie loops, you will need to
attach either a video camera or a digital camera that will capture
sequential images very rapidly (greater than 15 frames per second)
·
Press the button marked Oblique
on the Control Box.
·
Frame the desired field of view and focus the image onto the video
camera (or digital camera)
·
Press the button marked Motor
on the Control Box to create the motion parallax movie loop in the
microscope.
·
Press the Up Arrow or Down
Arrow on the Control Box to select the desired speed of rotation for
the movie loop. If you are using a digital camera that captures images
more slowly than a video camera, then select the slowest motor speed.
·
Begin recording the movie loop on the video camera (you may want to
start the scene with a still image of the specimen for comparison
purposes).
·
When you have finished recording the movie loop, press the button
marked Motor on the Control
Box to turn off the Dynamic Aperture.
Presentation
of 3D Images
There
are many ways to view and present stereo images.
Here are the most popular methods.
For
Publication, Render Side by Side Stereo-Pair Images:
In
general, a vertical orientation is preferred for 3D presentation using the
side by the side stereo-pair method. Prints should be photographed and
presented in a vertical (portrait) orientation. They can be viewed through
an image-merging lunette or experienced observers can merge the images
without the aid of glasses. In order to successfully merge the images,
ensure that the distance between the left and right images is no greater
than 65mm center to center.
This is the average inter-ocular distance for adults. It is important to
make sure that corresponding features in the two images are aligned
horizontally.
·
Wall-eyed viewing: This
is when the left eye views the left picture and the right eye views the
right picture. Generally, stereo-pairs shown in print publications are
arranged for wall-eyed viewing, unless otherwise stated. Cross-eyed
viewing of these images causes the 3D information to be reversed. A mound
becomes a pit and vice-versa.
1.
Hold the stereo-pair images at a comfortable viewing distance,
wearing your glasses if you normally wear them.
2.
The stereo-pair should be approximately in the center of your
visual field and evenly illuminated.
3.
Looking "through" the paper, look into the distance. Do
not converge your eyes, just relax and them drift apart as if you were
looking into the distance.
4.
A third image will appear between the left and right pictures, with
the separate 2D images still visible on either side.
5.
Allow your eye-brain complex to lock onto the middle image.
6.
Without converging the eyes, slowly focus on the third, center
image. A 3D picture will emerge.
·
Cross-eyed viewing: If
cross-eyed viewing is more comfortable, then the images need to be
switched. This is the standard arrangement for stereo-pair projection onto
a large screen, since it is impossible to relax the convergence at large
distances (most people's eyes will normally not diverge enough to fuse the
pictures into a stereo image). Cross-eyed viewing is also the preferred
method for fusing large stereo-pair photographs, i.e., greater than 65mm
across. That is because the average distance between the left and right
eyes is about 65mm, which is what limits to size of image that can be
accommodated.
1.
View the stereo-pair images from a straight-on point of view, with
the images left/right reversed (i.e., with the left image positioned on
the right side and the right image positioned on the left side).
2.
Hold your finger 4-5 inches in front of your nose, in the middle of
your field of view.
3.
Focus on your finger. In the distance, the two images become one
stereo image (the middle image), with the separate 2D images still visible
on either side.
4.
Slowly focus on the center image, the center image becomes sharp
and will appear in 3D.
Viewing
35mm Stereo-Pair Slides:
·
For private viewing or small groups of people, use 35mm
stereo-viewers. A complementary stereo viewer has been included with the
Edge 3D Illumination System.
·
For larger audiences, use stereo slide presentations. You will
require:
1.
Two identical slide projectors, with two identical lenses
2.
Two polarizing filters over the lenses, orientated at 90 degrees to
one another (each filter should be oriented 45 degree from normal)
3.
A silvered screen or lenticular screen (A normal white screen, or a
white wall, will not properly reflect polarized light and the stereo
effect will be lost.)
4.
Polarizing spectacles for the audience.
5.
Place the left-eye views in one projector and the right-eye views
in the other projector.
6.
Project the images on the same screen so that they overlap one
another. The vertical overlap must be fairly accurate, whereas there can
be quite a bit of play with regard to the horizontal overlap. This is
because it is fairly easy to converge and diverge our eyes, but it is
nearly impossible to have one eye looking up while the other eye is
looking down.
7.
Focus each projector individually.
8.
In order to properly orient the polarizing lenses on the
projectors, turn on only the projector with the left-eye images and
then, while wearing the polarizing spectacles, rotate the polarizing
filter covering the projection lens so that the image is dark in the right
eye. Then, turn on only the projector with the right-eye images and
rotate the polarizing filter covering the right-eye projection lens so
that the image is dark in the left eye. In other words, the left
photograph is blocked by the right-eye filter in the polarizing
spectacles, and vice versa for the right photograph.
9.
Turn on both projectors and you will see a dramatic 3D image. If
you are too far off to the side of the screen, you may loose the stereo
effect, so position yourselves as close to the middle of the screen as
possible.
3D
Video Systems and 3D Computer Systems:
There
are a number of emerging technologies that can interlace stereo-pair
images onto a computer or television monitor. The audience wears
lightweight polarizing glasses or liquid crystal shutter glasses to see
the 3D images. Please refer to the list of "Links" in the Edge
3D webpage: www.edge-3D.com
References
Greenberg G, Boyde A, novel
method for stereo imaging in light microscopy at high magnifications.
NeuroImage 1:121-128
(1993)
Greenberg G, Boyde A,
Direct-view 3-D microscopy using conventional Lenses. Microscopy
and Analysis 22:7-9 (1997)
Greenberg G, Boyde A,
Convenient and controllable direct-view 3D imaging in conventional light
microscopes: Approaches via illumination and inspection. Proceedings
Royal Microscopical Society 32/2:87-101 (1997)
