SEM Image Capture System   Real-time conversion of analog CRT based SEM images to   conventional digital Image formats

SEMScan 1000 provides real-time digital image capture for early model CRT based SEMs. Windows based software and PC based hardware allow the capture and conversion of SEM images to standard formats.

Features of SEMScan

• Support for most analytical SEMs
• 12-bits of contrast depth for up to 4096 contrast gradients (16-bit version is available)
• Support for Portrait, Landscape and custom screen formats
• Multiple image resolutions 480, 512, 640, 768 & 1024 for all formats
• Non-proprietary multiple Image output formats: BMP, JPG, TIF and PNG (See image gallery)
• PC/Windows™ based Package
• Copy to Windows™ clipboard support
• False image color mapping for low-contrast artifact enhancement
• Continuous scan, EOS Scan and Photo scan modes with a single toolbar button click
• Simple user toolbar interface
• Due to its unique digital conversion methodology; does not lose track of line location or signal synchronization SEMScan locks onto the current vertical line without requiring a screen refresh.
• Hardware and software Kit can be installed on your existing PC/ windows™ computer.
• Electrical connection to your SEM requires a trained technician.

Purchase and Installation:

SEMScan 1000 requires professional installation by a trained technician to assure the proper electrical connection between your SEM  and the SEMScan hardware. Contact Scan Service with your SEM make and model number to assure capability with SEMScan. The SEMScan kit can be install in a PC/Windows™computer you supply - provided it meets the minimum specifications. Once connected and configured the user needs to only select the Scan mode to capture. 

To inquire about purchasing SEMScan contact:

SEMScan SEM Capability List & Electrical Output Signal Specifications:

•    Maximum Input Voltage: + 10 volts peak to peak.

•    Minimum Horizontal Acquisition time: 16ms.

Manufacturer List

• Amray

• Cambridge (LEO)

• Hitachi

• JEOL

Maximum pixel resolution: 1024 X 768: dependent upon SEM scan rate and Computer CPU speed and memory.

SEMScan Computer Specifications – Minimum Requirements

Computer Specifications – Minimum Requirements

• Computer Type: IBM PC
• Processor Type\Speed*: Intel Pentium III 700Mhz processor or higher (P4 Recommended)
• Buss type: PCI (one available slot required)
• USB: Interface required (For encryption key)
• Drives: CD ROM Drive (required for software install)
• Video: 16 Meg video memory
• Monitor size 15" or greater
• System RAM: 128 megabytes of ram or more.
• Hard drive space: 60 Megabytes of available hard drive space
• Display Resolution: 800 x 600

* Not tested on AMD processors – no capability is implied for AMD processors.

 Computer Specifications – Recommended

• Computer Type: IBM PC
• Processor Type\Speed*: Intel Pentium P4
• Buss type: PCI (one available slot required)
• USB: Interface required (For encryption key)
• Drives: CD ROM Drive (required for software install)
• Video: 64 Meg video memory
• System RAM: 256 megabytes of ram or more.
• Monitor Size: 17" or greater
• Display Resolution: 1024 x 768 or higher
• Hard drive space: 60 Megabytes of available hard drive space
• Laptop Version with PCMCIA Hardware is available, contact Scan Service for ordering details.

Operating System Compatibility List

• Windows 2000™ Professional – Tested and approved
• Windows XP™ Professional - Tested and approved
• WindowsNT4 or earlier™– NOT COMPATIBLE WITH NT4™ (no Plug and play or USB support)
• Windows 98™ - not tested
• Windows ME™ - Tested and approved

Windows Resolution Settings and SEMScan

SEMScan imaging is a 1 – 1 pixel ratio. Your computer monitor resolution must be set to a resolution higher than the SEM image acquisition resolution so that the image will fit on the computer screen. Ideally 1024 x 768 will allow the SEM image and SEMScan toolbars to be viewed on the monitor.

SEMScan Toolbar

The toolbar functions can be selected with the mouse or pressing the designated Ctrl+key on the keyboard.

- F1: Continuous Image Acquisition & Display - F2: Scan to EOS (End of Scan) - F3: Photo Acquire Mode - F4: Clear Image - F5: Save Image (BMP, JPG, TIF & PNG) -ESC: Stop Scan

SEMScan Menubar

The menu functions can be accessed by the mouse or keyboard combination indicated in the menu for that selection. 

SEMScan Function Description:

Save:

Saves the displayed image to disk in the following graphical file formats:

• BMP: Windows Bitmap
• JPG: Joint Photographic Experts Group: A compressed image format
• TIF: Tag based file format
• PNG: Portable Network Graphics

Exit:           

Exits the SEMScan application

 Clear Image:

Clears the image in the main display, performs the same function as the toolbar clear button. NOTE: there is no confirmation dialog when clear is selected, once is image is cleared it cannot be recovered.

Copy image to clipboard:

Copies the currently displayed image to the system clipboard. If false color is applied, the copied image will have the false color table.

Load Scan Mode:

Opens the Saved Scan Mode templates dialog which allows you to load a different image resolution setup for image capture. Scan setup templates are created at system installation and cannot be modified. Additional templates can only be created in engineering mode which requires password access.

 Setup Wizard:

Access the Hardware and Scan template creation wizard. This function is an engineering function and required a password to access. Access to these functions are not required in normal use of SEMScan.

Image – False Color

SEMScan allows the application of various false color tables, which provide additional visual detail to the image by emphasizing contrast changes. This is done by applying linear and non-linear contrast tables replacing the existing image gray-scale color table. The spatial information is not effected by a false color application.

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