Auto Focus locates objects in a drop along the Z-axis, which is especially important when imaging hanging drops on greased cover slides or when zooming in on a region of interest. You can execute the Auto Focus algorithm during a manual inspection by clicking the Auto Focus button (available from the Visible camera control panel). Auto Focus is also executed on a per-plate or per-drop basis, depending on settings in the Plate Type Editor.
If you are conducting a manual inspection, you can view the results of an Auto Focus algorithm on the Focus Sub-Tab.
The imager captures a stack of images at 30 frames per second at a low resolution and computes a focus curve. The imager then determines the most in-focus image and captures that image at the normal resolution.
How the Auto Focus Works
You can adjust the focus levels for each imager in the Focus Level Selection area and Manual and/or Automatic Auto Focus of the Plate Type Editor dialog box.
There are three Capture Range options in the Focus Level selection:
The first four fields (Max. focus levels above, Focus threshold above, Max. focus level below, and Focus threshold below) determine the "stack" of images to be taken around what ROCK IMAGER determines to be the best focus point. These settings are configured on a per-plate basis by our technicians when ROCK IMAGER is installed, but you can adjust them.
Auto Focus with Limits factory settings for a 3 Drop Intelliplate are as follows:
Focus Level Selection
Note: Auto Focus Range is measured in millimeters (mm).
If you decide to use the Fixed Range (DoF, or Depth of Field Limited) capture range, you can configure the Start Z and Stop Z positions and the software will determine the appropriate number of focus levels.
If you decide to use the Fixed Range (Interpolated) capture range, you can configure the Start Z and Stop Z positions and the maximum number of focus levels that the imager should take.
Note: Additional focus levels require additional imaging time.
The Manual and/or Automatic Auto Focus setting enables you to limit the movement of Auto Focus. By default, you can adjust the value between 0 and 0.5.
Manual and/or Automatic Auto Focus
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