User's Guide Filterinspector

User’s Guide
Filterinspector
Any copyrights relating to this manual shall belong to Olympus Soft Imaging Solutions GmbH. We at Olympus
Soft Imaging Solutions GmbH have tried to make the information contained in this manual as accurate and
reliable as possible. Nevertheless, Olympus Soft Imaging Solutions GmbH disclaims any warranty of any kind,
whether expressed or implied, as to any matter whatsoever relating to this manual, including without limitation
the merchantability or fitness for any particular purpose. Olympus Soft Imaging Solutions GmbH will from time
to time revise the software described in this manual and reserves the right to make such changes without
obligation to notify the purchaser. In no event shall Olympus Soft Imaging Solutions GmbH be liable for any
indirect, special, incidental, or consequential damages arising out of purchase or use of this manual or the
information contained herein.
No part of this document may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means,
electronic or mechanical, for any purpose, without the prior written permission of
Olympus Soft Imaging Solutions GmbH.
Windows, Word, Excel and Access are trademarks of Microsoft Corporation which can be registered in various
countries. Adobe and Acrobat are trademarks of Adobe Systems Incorporated which can be registered in
various countries.
© Olympus Soft Imaging Solutions GmbH

All rights reserved
Olympus Soft Imaging Solutions GmbH, Johann-Krane-Weg 39, D-48149 Münster, Tel. (+49)251/79800-0, Fax: (+49)251/79800-6060
Contents
What is the Filter Inspector?.................................................................... 2
Preconditions for the filter inspection .............................................................4
Carry out filter inspection ........................................................................ 6

Before you start with the inspection .........................................................................6
Inspect a new filter ...................................................................................................6
Set thresholds ..........................................................................................................7
Start filter inspection ...............................................................................................10
Results of a filter inspection ...................................................................................12
The particle map ..........................................................................................12
Sheets and diagrams ...................................................................................15
Overview image ...........................................................................................16
Check the filter inspection ......................................................................................17
Classify particle results ...........................................................................................19
Create report ..........................................................................................................19
View existing measurement results ........................................................................20
Set up the Filter Inspector...................................................................... 22

Sample tab ...................................................................................................22
Analysis tab ..................................................................................................25
Report tab ....................................................................................................30
Misc. tab .......................................................................................................35
Define Processing ..................................................................................................38
Image Input tab ............................................................................................39
Processing and Measurement tabs ..............................................................40
Questions and hints for using the Filter Inspector.............................. 43

How to load the Filter Inspector add-in ........................................................43
How to adjust the camera parallel to the stage ............................................43
How to invert the stage axes ........................................................................43
How to define a virtual stage ........................................................................44
How to initialize a virtual stage .....................................................................45
How to enlarge the live-image ......................................................................46
How to use a manual microscope stage ......................................................47
How to adjust the autofocus .........................................................................48
Notes for software installation .............................................................. 50

What is the Filter Inspector?

The Filter Inspector is a residue analysis system for fully automated analysis, classi-
fication and documentation of filter residues. With its high image resolution, this sys-
tem was designed for fast analysis. This means full inspection of circular filters 47
mm in diameter may be conducted quickly and at a resolution of 0.8 µm, for example.
Residue analysis Optical residue analysis is a method for determining residue amounts on compo-
nents or system parts. The identification takes place as follows. To begin with, the
object is cleaned using a rinse fluid. Then this fluid is filtered. Finally, the captured
residue is quantified optically.
A Filter Inspector sys-
tem consists of a micro-
scope with a camera
and a motorized stage,
together with a linked
computer on which the
Filter Inspector software
runs.
About this manual

The documentation for the Filter Inspector consists of two sections.
In the chapter "Carry out filter inspection" auf Seite 6 you can find all the information
which you need to use the Filter Inspector.
The chapter "Set up the Filter Inspector" auf Seite 22 is only relevant for users who
2
are setting up the system. The Filter Inspector preferences are preset and under nor-
mal circumstances do not need to be altered.
The process flow of a filter inspection

The Filter Inspector precisely determines the number of residue particles on the
entire filter. For this purpose the filter is scanned completely with the aid of the motor-
ized stage and the acquired images are both analyzed and classified automatically.
The Filter Inspector can analyze particles of any size, independent of the set magni-
fication. The particle analysis is not restricted to a single image, but continues over
the border of one into another image. This is why even at the micrometer level, par-
ticles that may be the same size as the filter itself are quantified accurately. All parti-
cle data is presented in sheets and diagrams.
The user interface shown above is visible after starting the Filter Inspector. The Filter
Inspector control bar is located on the left. If you cannot see the control bar, click on
the magnifying icon, which is located on the bottom left, to display the control bar
again. Following the start of the Filter Inspector the document area only contains the
image window, in which all images and especially the live-image will later be dis-
played. The remaining space in the document area is reserved for the results of the
filter inspection.
The process flow of a filter inspection is determined by the buttons in the Filter
Inspector control bar. If the system is correctly configured, then you investigate a filter
in five steps.
3
Button in the Filter Inspector Meaning see
control bar page
At the beginning of the filter inspection make a new entry in the 6
filter list. All results from the following filter inspection are auto-
matically saved and are linked to this entry.
Before the software can find and measure the residue particles, 7
you first have to define particles.
Start the inspection of the current filter. 10

Check the results. If you are not satisfied with the results, you 17
can delete several particles from the inspection at this time and
then create new results.
Conclude the filter inspection with a report which automatically 19

contains all the relevant measurement results for the standard in
question.
PLEASE NOTE Several functions which are used by the Filter Inspector are also to be found as menu
commands in the image analysis program. For example, there is the Image > Set
Thresholds... command, which accesses the same dialog box as the Thresholds but-
ton in the Filter Inspector control bar. The menu commands are always completely
independent of the Filter Inspector commands. All preferences which you set in the
Filter Inspector, e.g., in the Set Thresholds dialog box, will be ignored by the Image
> Set Thresholds... menu command, and vice-versa.
Supported standards
These mandatory regulations for characterizing contamination are defined in corre-
sponding standards for the respective branches of industry. The Filter Inspector sup-
ports a number of these standards. The standard selected in the software defines
which sheets and diagrams are output.
PLEASE NOTE The standards are not part of the standard scope of delivery of the Filter Inspector.
Please contact the manufacturer if you require special standards. The supported
standards are marketed as add-ins and can be installed at any time, if required (see
"Load a standard" auf Seite 34).
The following standards are supported:

ISO 4406-1987
ISO 4406-1999
ISO 4407-1991
ISO 16232-10
DBL 6515
SS 2687
NF E 48-651
4
Preconditions for the filter inspection

The complete Filter Inspector consists of the components: Microscope (e.g., Olym-
pus MX61 or BX2M Series), a digital camera (e.g., F-View II), motorized stage with
controller, the Filter Inspector software and a filter holder. The filter holder is a com-
ponent part of the scope of delivery. The hardware components and the software
have been developed to interact perfectly, guaranteeing measurement results that
are highly precise and reproducible.
Microscope The Filter Inspector does not necessarily mean a fully automatic microscope, which
can be completely steered by the software, is required.
Stage The stage should be motorized in the XY and Z directions. On some stages, the XY
and Z drives are steered by different controllers. In this case, the XY and Z drives
must be combined to a create a virtual stage driver (see "How to define a virtual
stage" auf Seite 44).
It is also possible to carry out a Filter Inspection with a non-motorized stage (see
"Live acquisition" auf Seite 39).
Camera Every type of digital camera is suitable, as long as it can supply images quickly
enough. The manufacturer recommends the black/white digital camera FView II from
Soft Imaging System GmbH.
If you use a color camera with the Filter Inspector, you should convert the acquired
color images into gray-value images before measuring (see "Use the Filter Inspector
with a color camera" auf Seite 29).
Calibrated input The input channel must be correctly calibrated. If an input channel has been cali-
channel brated with incorrect values, the stage will go to wrong positions.
Soft Imaging System GmbH Fire Wire Cameras will have been calibrated during their
installation, unless this option was declined at that time (see "Notes for software
installation" auf Seite 50). You can recognize an input channel that has already been
calibrated by the X/Y-Calibrated entry behind the channel name.
Alignment of cam- The camera must be aligned parallel to the stage movement direction. Otherwise, the
era and stage individual images in the overview image will appear twisted in relation to each other
(see "How to adjust the camera parallel to the directions in which the stage operates"
auf Seite 43).
5
Carry out filter inspection

Before you start with the inspection
1) Place the filter to be investigated into the filter holder.
PLEASE NOTE For the filter inspection it is important that the filter is lying smooth in the filter holder.
The filter holder is fixed with three screws. In order that the filter lies as smoothly as
possible in the sample holder, tighten each screw initially lightly only until it holds.
Tighten the screws firmly only during the second tightening.
2) Set your microscope optimally (Köhler illumination).

3) Select the suitable microscope magnification.
4) Set up the best possible live-image. Focus and select a suitable exposure time.
PLEASE NOTE The Filter Inspector requires specific preferences in the input channel, for example,
the live overlay must be activated. When starting the filter inspection the preferences
in the active input channel are therefore altered automatically. If you require specific
preferences during the image acquisition outside the filter inspection, then you
should set up a new input channel for this purpose.
Inspect a new filter

1) Click the New button in the Filter Inspector control bar, to inspect a new filter. In
this way, you set up a new entry for a filter inspection in the filter list.
" A dialog box opens into which you have to enter information about your fil-
ter. The exact appearance of the dialog box depends on the standard
which has been loaded.
All data which you enter
prior to a new filter
inspection is automati-
cally included in the
report.
6
2) Enter your filter name into the Filter-No. field. One suggestion is "Filter + <serial
number>". All measurement results will be saved under this name.
3) Fill out the remaining fields. All fields which must be filled out are marked with
an exclamation mark in front of the edit field. The remaining fields are optional.
4) Click the Insert button to enter the new filter inspection into the filter list in the
Filter Inspector control bar below.
" As soon as a filter is active, additional functions in the Filter Inspector con-
trol bar are available to you. You can now set the threshold values and start
the filter inspection.
The filter list now has a
new entry. The active fil-
ter is displayed in the
control bar.
Set thresholds
What is a residue particle? A person can answer this question immediately. A par-
ticle must always be first defined for a computer.
A particle is a connected number of image pixels, all of which lie within a defined
gray value range. Before each particle detection therefore, you have to define a suit-
able gray value range.
The suitable gray value range is defined using threshold values. The smallest and
largest gray values form the threshold values. You have two possibilities of setting
threshold values:
• Set the threshold values in the histogram interactively (Set Thresholds > Manual
tab).
• You may also have threshold values calculated automatically from the histo-
gram (Set Thresholds > Manual tab, Auto button).
A histogram displays the number of pixels versus the corresponding gray values.
You use this gray-value distribution of the image to define the gray-value range for
particle detection.
7
Set the threshold value
1) Click the Thresholds button in the Filter Inspector control bar.
" The system represents the image window as large as possible and
switches into live mode.
You will be asked to position the stage manually.
2) Move the stage to a position in which a series of typical residue particles can be
seen.
The image shows dark

residue particles on a fil-
ter.
3) Focus the microscope and confirm the message with OK.

" The Set Thresholds dialog box opens.
In the example shown,
the histogram contains
a clearly recognizable
maximum because the
light filter underground
takes up most of the
image.
The gray value range in
which the particles lie is
below this maximum.
8
In the enlarged histo-

gram the maximum is
also clearly visible
caused by the residue
particles.
4) Select the Manual tab.

• The colored bar beneath the histogram shows you the gray value range in
which the system is searching for the residue particles.
• The current threshold values are shown in the histogram as two perpendic-
ular lines. The lower threshold is blue and the upper is red.
• The residue particles are shown in color within the image so that you can
view what affect your settings have.
5) Define the gray value range for the residue particles directly in the histogram.
To do so, move the mouse pointer over the red threshold value line. The mouse
pointer will change into a double arrowhead. Hold down the left mouse button
and pull the threshold to the desired value. The set gray value range will be col-
ored within the image.
Gray value ranges are
set right in the histo-
gram. The gray value
ranges of the different
phases appear in color
within the image when
setting thresholds.
6) Confirm the new threshold setting by clicking on OK.

" The residue particles are now defined and will be displayed in the image.
You can start with the filter inspection.
The residue particles
are now defined and
can be recognized and
measured by the sys-
tem.
9
Tips on setting the thresholds
Phases It is possible to define several gray value ranges which do not need to be linked.
These gray value ranges are called "phases". This permits the detection of differently
colored particles. During detection, all particles which have a gray value within an
arbitrary phase are then detected.
The colored bar beneath the histogram in the Set Thresholds dialog box shows you
how many gray value ranges and/or phases are defined. Each phase has its own
color.
Normally, you only need to define one phase for the filter inspection. Therefore,
delete all phases already defined except one.
To do so, select one entry from the Phase list in the Set Thresholds dialog box and
click the Delete button. As soon as only one phase is defined, the Delete button will
become inactive.
Preview color As a rule, the particles are shown displayed in green in the image. If you prefer
another color, you can select one of 16 colors in the Set Thresholds dialog box.
Preview The Set Thresholds dialog box provides various preview options when setting the
threshold values. You can find these options in the Preview group. When setting the
threshold, it can for example be useful sometimes to deactivate the preview com-
pletely, so as to be able to see the particles optimally. To do so, select the None
option.
PLEASE NOTE When you leave the Set Thresholds dialog box, you should return the preview to the
standard All setting.
Set the exposure If you want to optimize the exposure time before setting the threshold, activate the
time camera control before you click the Thresholds button in the Filter Inspector control
bar.
To do so, select the Image > Camera Control... command.
Start filter inspection

The filter inspection now runs automatically. You only need to enter the filter border,
the reference positions for the tilt compensation and the magnification at the begin-
ning of the filter inspection.
PLEASE NOTE All data that is acquired during a filter inspection relates to the active filter inspection.
The active filter inspection is displayed in the Filter Inspector control bar underneath
the buttons. Should data about the active filter already exist, you will be asked
whether you want this data to be overwritten during the filter inspection that is about
to take place. If you answer, "No", the Filter Inspector automatically sets up a new
record. If you answer, "Yes", the data that already exists will be replaced by the new
measurement results.
The active filter inspec-
tion is displayed in the
control bar.
10
1) Click the Start button in the Filter Inspector control bar.

" The system makes the image window as large as possible and switches
into live mode.
" The system now asks you in certain cases, to define the following three
preferences.
Define the area to • The Filter Inspector must know which stage area
be scanned is to be scanned. To define the stage area, use
the joystick to move to any three points on the
border of the area that is to be scanned. Position
these points on the border of the filter in order to
have the complete filter area scanned.A cross
hair, which shows the center of the image, helps
you to carry out exact positioning.
You can also deactivate this query in the settings
(see Settings > Sample > Scan diameter on S.
23). The system then uses the reference points
that were last set.
Define inclined • The Filter Inspector scans a large object area. In order that the separate
plane images remain focused in the process, the Filter Inspector offers you a tilt
compensation. The tilt compensation creates a plane using three refer-
ence points. When an arbitrary XY position is approached, the system fol-
lows the microscope stage's Z-drive so that the Z position lies on this plane
during the image acquisition.
Three stage positions are moved to consecutively. You focus the image on
these reference points. The stage position should not lie too close to the
filter border, because the filter can bulge there.
You can also use the settings to deactivate this correction. Or you use the
same reference points as for the definition of the area to be scanned (see
Settings > Sample > Tilt compensation on S. 24).
Set the magnifica- • The measurement results are only accurate if the system is correctly cali-
tion brated. One precondition for this is that your system always knows which
magnification you are working with. The Set Magnification dialog box
therefore opens automatically before each filter inspection. Select the cor-
rect entry from the magnification list and close the dialog box with OK.
If you are working with an automatic microscope, the magnification will be
read from the microscope automatically. In this case, you should deacti-
vate the enquiry in the settings (see Settings > Misc. > Prompt for magni-
11
fication at start on S. 24).
" The filter inspection now runs automatically. The filter is completely
scanned and the acquired separate images are combined to form a com-
posite image. The Filter inspector always evaluates a circular area. All of
the areas that do not belong to the scanned area will be colored white.
" At the end of the detection the results are presented on the screen (see
"Results of a filter inspection" auf Seite 12).
The results of a filter

inspection. Now click
the Revise button to
examine individual par-
ticle results and to pro-
cess them if required.
" Following the end of the filter inspection, the system is still in live mode.
This makes sense, if you want to check and process the results. You can
end the live mode with the Image > Snapshot command.
PLEASE NOTE All results from a filter inspection are already saved to the Filter Inspector database
during measurement. Thus you do not need the File > Save command for the Filter
Inspector.
Cancel a filter You can cancel the filter inspection at any time. To do so, press the [Esc] key. All
inspection measurement results which were acquired prior to the cancelation are saved auto-
matically. The evaluation then takes place using the available measurement results.
Results of a filter inspection

Following a filter inspection you will receive the following measurement results:
12
• Particle map, see S. 12

• Sheets and diagrams, see S. 15
• Overview image, see S. 16
The particle map

What is a particle The particle map is displayed on the bottom left of the screen directly following the
map? completion of a filter inspection. It is an overview image of the whole filter. The parti-
cle map does not, however, display an image of the filter, but rather contains only the
detected and measured particles. For this reason, a black and white image is suffi-
cient for the particle map.
The size of the particle map reflects the entire camera resolution, i.e., in the particle
map you can find every particle that has been detected, irrespective of how small it
may be.
Use the particle map to examine individual particle results more exactly. The sheet
with the particle results and particle map remain linked until you carry out the next
filter inspection or you load the data for an existing filter inspection.
What is the particle • To locate particles within the image according to specific particle results, To do
map for? this, click the row that contains the results in the Particle Results sheet.
• You can determine the measurement results for a particular particle. To do so,
click in selection mode once using the left mouse button on the particle for which
you want to examine the measurement results.
Click the Select Particle button in the particle map to switch into selection mode.
• You can also use the particle map to steer the stage and move towards a par-
ticular particle. To do so, click in stage mode on a particular particle.
Click the Move Stage to Particle button in the particle map to switch to stage
mode.
How long does the The particle map serves to check the measurement results. It will be saved along with
particle map exist? all of the other measurement results. You can load the particle map along with the
existing measurement results, and use it to separate and to delete individual particles
(see."View existing measurement results" auf Seite 20)
The particle map has its
own button bar.
Select Parti- Click the Select Particle button in the particle map to switch into selection mode. In
cle selection mode, click on any particle in the particle map. Use the zoom buttons in the
particle map before selecting particles. The system marks the relevant measurement
results in the "Particle Results" sheet.
Have the measurement
results displayed for
individual particles.
The marked measure-
ment results belong to
the selected particle.
13
Move Stage In theory you can move the stage to every detected particle individually following filter
to Particle inspection. Practically speaking, you will normally move to the largest or smallest par-
ticles. In the live-image you can thus examine individual areas of the filter once again.
It may be that you can only decide in the live-image whether the detected particle is
actually one residue particle, or whether several particles are touching each other.
1) Click the Move Stage to Particle button in the particle map to switch to stage
mode.
2) Use the zoom buttons in the particle map to set a suitable magnification for the
particle map.
3) As soon as you move the mouse across the particle map in stage mode, the
mouse pointer changes into a cross hair. Click the section of the particle map
that you want to check.
" The system moves the stage to the selected position.
" The current stage position is marked with a cross in the particle map.
" If a particle is located in this position, then the system additionally marks
the relevant measurement results in the "Particle Results" sheet.
4) As soon as you move the mouse out of the particle map, the shape of the mouse
pointer changes back into the normal arrow and you can use the mouse as
usual.
5) Click the Select Particle button in the particle map to leave stage mode.
Zoom Click one of the zoom buttons in order to enlarge or reduce the particle map step by
step.
Zoom 100% Click the Zoom 100% button to display the particle map in optimum resolution on the
monitor. In this mode, an image point on the monitor represents an image point in the
pixel map. A further enlargement would only make the image appear more pixel-
intensive, without displaying additional information.
Adjust Click the Adjust Zoom button to zoom the particle map to the window size. In this way
Zoom you have an overview of the entire filter.
14
Sheets and diagrams

The particle results
The "Particle Results"
sheet contains all resi-
due particles.
The "Particle Results" sheet is created for every filter inspection. The sheet contains
all residue particles which were found during the filter inspection. Every particle con-
tains an unambiguous number, the "ID particle".
Sort sheet The sheet is sorted by default, so that the largest residue particles are at the top.
However, you can sort the sheet as you require.
To do this, select the column to begin with. Click for example on the column header
"Feret Max" if you want to sort according to this particle parameter. Then, click the
15
right mouse button to open a context menu. Use the Sort Ascending or Sort
Descending command from the context menu to sort the whole sheet according to
this particle parameter.
Particle parameters The measured particle parameters are preset and depend on the selected standard.
You can change the order of the particle parameters or hide several particle param-
eters completely (see "Select measurement parameters for the residue particles" auf
Seite 26).
Particle-sheet link The sheet containing the particle results is linked to the particle map. Click on a line
to see the selected particle on the particle map.
Class results and diagrams

The binding rules for the characterization of residue are defined by standards. Each
standard defines exactly according to which criteria the residue particles are sorted
into which class. According to which standard is selected, you receive differing dia-
grams and sheets with class results (see also "Load a standard" auf Seite 34).
In the diagram for the

standard ISO 4407-91,
the number of particles
found is plotted against
the maximum feret
diameter. The number
relates to 100 ml.
All residue particles are

sorted into definite
classes, according to
standard. For every
supported standard you
also receive the results
as a sheet.
Overview image
Together with the measurement results, an overview image of the whole filter is cre-
ated and saved. To begin with, after finishing the measurement, you do not see the
overview image. It is, however, loaded and you can view it after you have made the
16
measurement. To do this, make the image manager for the viewing of images
appear, instead of the control bar for the Filter inspection. Click the control bar on the
bottom left of the List tab to switch to the image manager. There you will see all of
the images that have been loaded. Click the overview image once to have it dis-
played on your monitor.
The overview image will later be automatically used in a report.
The size of the overview image is reduced before saving. The overview image thus
requires much less storage capacity than the full image. The size of the overview
image can be set in the preferences on the Analysis tab (see "Analysis tab" auf Seite
25).
PLEASE NOTE The overview image is created and saved for the purposes of documentation. Due to
the reduced resolution it is no longer suitable for a particle analysis.
The overview image

shows the entire filter.
Optimize the quality of the overview image

When the overview image appears "glazed", then the images are generally not illu-
minated evenly right up to the border of the image. Activate a shading correction dur-
ing the image acquisition in order to correct this fault.
The online shading correction is only supported by the cameras FView II,
ColorView II and ColorView III from Soft Imaging System GmbH.
1) Use the Image> Configure Input command and switch to the Input tab.
2) Select the Activate check box in the Shading Correction group. From the Illumi-
nation method list select the Reflected Light entry.
! If you have further questions concerning the shading correction, you will find
the answers in your camera documentation.
3) Exit the dialog box with OK.
Check the filter inspection

17
It is at any time possible to look at individual particle results and to process them if
required. This can, for example, be necessary if several large particles touch each
other. They will then be counted as one particle and thus distort the result. You can
then separate these particles manually.
Click the Revise button in the Filter Inspector control bar to change into the revise
mode.
The user interface changes into revise mode. Instead of the Filter Inspector control
bar, you see a new control bar which is only available in revise mode.
Buttons in revise mode Meaning
Because of the number of particles, it is generally not possible to look at all
of the residue particles on one filter individually. However, you can for exam-
ple look at the largest or smallest particles. In the "Particle Results" sheet the
particles are sorted by size. Click a line number in the sheet, for example, line
6. The selected residue particle is then displayed in the particle map.
Click the Previous Particle or Next Particle button to look at the next largest
or next smallest particle.
Mark a particle in the "Particle Results" sheet. Then click the Erase Particle
button to delete the particle from the measurement. All values for the deleted
particle are set to the value 0 in the sheet. The particle are not permanently
removed from the measurement until you leave revise mode.
Click the Separate Particle button to separate connected particles in the par-
ticle map (see "How to separate a connected particle" auf Seite 18).
You can reverse all actions step by step, as long as you are in revise mode.
All completed modifications only become active when you have left revise
mode.
Click the Redo button to carry out the last reversed action once again.
Click the Back button to leave revise mode and to return to the standard view
of the Filter Inspector. All modifications are now activated.
When you leave revise mode the system asks if images of the largest parti-
cles should be acquired again. Answer the question with Yes, if you have
separated one of the large particles. If you have only separated small parti-
cles, then you do not need to move towards the largest particles again.
If you have deleted particles, the "Particle Results" sheet will contain accord-
ingly fewer entries.
Subsequently, click the Classify button in the Filter Inspector control bar to
18
evaluate the changed particle results once again, according to the selected
standards.
PLEASE NOTE The results, which reflect the selected standard, are not automatically updated fol-
lowing a modification of the particle results. So remember to click the Classify button
in the Filter Inspector control bar after every modification in revise mode.
How to separate a connected particle

1) Click the Revise button in the Filter Inspector control bar.
• Following completion of the filter inspection the system is still in live mode.
If you have deactivated live mode, you can reactivate it with the Image >
Acquire command.
It may be that you can only decide in the live-image whether the detected
particle is actually one residue particle, or whether several particles are
touching each other.
2) Click the Move Stage to Particle button in the button bar of the particle map.
3) Find the particle which you want to separate.
• You can, for example, examine the largest particles in series. In the "Par-
ticle Results" sheet, the largest particles are at the top. Click on line 1. The
stage will automatically move to the residue particle and the residue parti-
cle is displayed in the particle map and the live-image. Subsequently, click
repeatedly on the Next Particle button to examine the next large particles.
4) Click the Separate Particle button in the revise mode control bar.
" As soon as you move the mouse across the particle map, the shape of the
mouse pointer changes into a pencil.
5) Holding the left mouse button down, draw a dividing line through the particle.
" All values for the separated particle are set to the value 0 in the "Particle
Results" sheet.
In the live-image (left)
you can easily see that
the red particle (center)
was wrongly detected.
Following the separa-
tion (right) the individual
particles are evaluated
separately
6) Click the Back button in the revise mode control bar to leave revise mode and
return to the standard view of the Filter Inspector
" The connected particle is now deleted from the sheet. The two separate
particles are measured and added to the sheet.
7) Click the Classify button in the Filter Inspector control bar to classify the particle
results again, in accordance with the selected standards.
PLEASE NOTE All results are saved automatically. The ’old’ data is overwritten in the process.
Classify particle results

Click the Classify button to evaluate the measurements in the "Particle Results"
sheet once again. The command creates new diagrams and sheets with class
results. The existing diagrams and sheets are deleted in the process.
19
The Classify button is only necessary in the following cases:
• You have carried out modifications to the measurement results in revise mode.
• You have subsequently loaded standards and would like to create additional
results which are in accordance with the loaded standards.
Create report
You can conclude the filter inspection with a report which automatically contains all
the relevant measurement results for the standard in question. In the report you can
also find the data which you have filled out when setting up a new filter inspection.
To do this, click the Report button in the Filter Inspector control bar. The report is then
saved together with the measurement results.
Part of the scope of delivery for the Filter Inspector consists of several report tem-
plates which you can adjust to suit your company requirements (see "Create your
own report template for the Filter Inspector" auf Seite 32).
If you require larger modifications to the report templates, then you should contact
the manufacturer.
The standard report consists of three pages. The first page contains the data that
you have entered for the filter inspection, together with the overview image. The sec-
ond page contains the measurement results, the graphic presentation of the clean-
liness code, the classes of particle size and the paramter of the largest particle. The
third page shows an overview of the largest particle.
View existing measurement results

Filter list All measurements can be found in the filter list. The filter list is located in the control
bar of the Filter Inspector. It contains the "Filter-No." and "Date" columns. The date
shows when the filter inspection was carried out. By default you find the latest entries
at the top of the list.
All measurements can
be found in the filter list.
20
Go over an entry in the

filter list with your
mouse pointer, to have
additional information
about the filter displayed
below the pointer.
The filter list in the control bar enables you to access all measurement results at any
time. Simply doubleclick on an entry in the filter list to load all measurement results
referring to this filter which have been saved.
If you load existing measurement results, you can restart the filter inspection, or, by
clicking the Classify button, have the results from the particle data recalculated.
If you load existing measurement results, the functions for checking the measure-
ment results are still available. That means that you can at any time separate or
remove individual particles (see "Check the filter inspection" auf Seite 17).
Stage mode with An exception is the stage mode, which is only available for the particle map immedi-
the particle map ately after the measurement. In the stage mode you can also use the particle map to
steer the stage and move to a particular particle. The stage mode is only available
for the current inspection, and for the filter inspection that was last completed. With
all earlier filter inspections, a stage control on the basis of the particle map is no
longer possible.
PLEASE NOTE With every change made in existing measurement results, these existing measure-
ment results will be replaced by the changed results. The previously existing mea-
surement results will then be lost.
21
Set up the Filter Inspector

In the Filter Inspector control bar, click the Settings button to gain access to all Filter
Inspector settings.
The Filter Inspector normally only needs to be set up once. To ensure that you will
be able to compare measurement results, you should not subsequently change the
settings for the Filter inspector, if it can be avoided.
PLEASE NOTE Several functions which are used by the Filter Inspector are also to be found as menu
commands in the image analysis program. For example, in several software versions
there is the Analysis > Define Processing...command, which activates the same dia-
log box as the Processing button in the Filter Inspector settings. The menu com-
mands are always completely independent of the Filter Inspector. All settings which
you define in the Filter Inspector, for example in the Define Processing dialog box,
will be ignored by the Analysis > Define Processing... menu command and vice
versa.
The settings are arranged on four tabs:
• Sample tab, see 22
• Analysis tab, see 25
• Report tab, see 30
• Misc. tab, see 35
Sample tab
22
The Filter Inspector precisely determines the number of residue particles on the
entire filter. The filter is completely scanned and the acquired separate images are
combined to form a composite image. It is also possible to limit the area which is to
be scanned to a size that is smaller than the filter. You define which area of the filter
is to be scanned in the first group on the Sample tab.
Scan area The Filter Inspector always scans a circular area. Enter the diameter of the area the
filter is to scan in the Scan Area field. Your Filter Inspector automatically defines the
positions of the separate images so that the whole area is seen on the composite
image.
The scanned area is
displayed hatched. The
scanned area is defined
by the scan diameter S .
One separate image at

the border is shown
enlarged. The Filter
Inspector colors every-
thing that does not
belong to the scanned
area white.
[...] The center point of the scanned area is defined by three points on the border of the
filter holder. Click the [...] button to set the scanned area. Use the joystick to move to
any three points on the border of the area that is to be scanned. Position these points
on the border of the filter in order to have the complete filter area scanned. A cross
hair, which shows the center of the image, assists you to carry out exact positioning.
Select in the list next to Scan area field whether or not the center of the scanned area
should be redefined at the beginning of each filter inspection. In this case, select the
3 points interactively entry.
If you select the Already defined entry, then the position of the scanned area of the
last filter inspection will be used.
Flow-through area Enter the diameter of the area in which the residue particles are to be found in the
Flow-through area field. The Flow-through area value determines the area to which
the evaluation of the residue particles pertains. This area may well be smaller than
the scanned area. This is, for example, the case when the aperture for emptying the
rinse fluid has a smaller diameter than the filter. The Filter inspector still searches
over the whole of the scanned area for residue particles, but takes it for granted that
23
outside of the flow-through area there will be none.
Should the scan area not completely cover the flow-through area, a corresponding
message will be displayed. Please note that the results will in this case be extra-
polated.
The scanned area is
displayed hatched. The
flow-through area is
shown in black. It should
lie withing the scanned
area. Otherwise, results
will be extrapolated.
PLEASE NOTE The residue particles that lie on the borders of the scanned area, will be truncated by
the detection. That is to say, only the part of the particle that lies within the scanned
area will be taken into consideration.
Residue particles that lie on the border of the flow-through area will, however, be
taken fully into consideration in the analysis.
Tilt compensation Tilt compensation works according to the following principle: Three stage positions
are moved to consecutively. You focus the image on these reference points IP1 - IP3.
The system lays a plane through the XYZ coordinates of the three reference points.
As a result, a Z-position, which would have to correspond to the focal position, can
be calculated for any given XY-position. This means that the system follows the Z-
drive accordingly when an XY-position is moved to.
The three reference
points IP1-IP3 mark off
a plane. All moved to
stage positions with the
coordinates XY are
automatically focussed
so that they lie on this
plane.
In the Tilt compensation list, select the None entry to deactivate the tilt compensation.
In this case the focus position will not be changed during image acquisition.
In the Tilt compensation list, select the 3 points interactively entry to activate the tilt
compensation. At the beginning of a filter inspection you will now be asked to define
three reference points. Move the stage to one position which lies near the filter border
and then focus. In the process, focus for example on the filter plane and not on the
residue particles, so that the reference level for the calculation of tilt compensation
24
remains constant.
PLEASE NOTE The positions for the definition of the tilt compensation should not lie too near to the
border of the filter, since the filter is somewhat bent at the border by the filter holder.
The Filter Inspector also offers software autofocus, which you can activate in the
Define Processing dialog box. Please note, however, that in this case a filter inspec-
tion does take far longer.
In the Tilt compensation list select the Use scan area definition option to have the
same three positions used for the tilt compensation as you used for the definition of
the scanned area. Remember in this case to focus on these positions.
Analysis tab
Processing One core function of the Filter Inspector is the detection, measurement and evalua-
tion of residue particles on the entire filter. The entire process consists of the image
acquisition, the processing and the evaluation. The parameters for this process are
predefined for every standard and normally do not need to be altered.
Click the [...] button next to the Processing list to open the Define Processing dialog
box. Here you can view and edit the parameters for the current process. The dialog
box is described in the "Define Processing" auf Seite 38 chapter on page 39.
Document layout The user interface is configurable to a high degree and can thus be adapted to the
requirements of individual users and tasks. The user can define a layout for each
working step, providing an optimum organization of the controls on the screen for this
task.
Click the [...] button next to the Document Layout list, to open the Define Layout dia-
log box. The dialog box is described in the "Define a new layout" auf Seite 29 chapter
on page 30.
25
Acquiring images Following a filter inspection, you can acquire images of the largest residue particles.
These images are saved together with all other measurement results. Enter here
how many separate residue particles are to be acquired. The default setting is 10,
with which images of the 10 largest particles on the filter will be acquired.
Overview Image In the process of a filter inspection, a large number of separate images are acquired
during the scanning of the filter. To save storage capacity, the separate images are
not saved, but rather an overview image of the filter is saved, composed of the sep-
arate images. However, the separate images are not composed into the overview
image in full resolution, since the overview image in full resolution would be far too
large.
Enter the required size of the overview image into the Resolution x, y field. The
length/width ratio of the original overview image remains unchanged in the process.
An image width or height of 1000 pixels is preset, depending on which image side is
largest in the original image.
Detecting particles Select the Preview check box so that the particles found are displayed on the current
image during image acquisition. The particles are displayed in color. In this way you
can check at any time during image acquisition whether the residue particles are cor-
rectly found.
The preview has an effect on the overview image. If the check box is selected, then
the particles found will be displayed in color in the overview image.
Enter the minimum number of pixels which should be recognized as a particle into
the Min. particle area field. Enter a value of 10 into the field, for example, to have only
particles detected that have an area of at least 10 pixels² or more.
This is an excellent way to exclude particles comprised of very few pixels. Detecting
these particles can be rather pointless. There are always individual pixels which may
have a gray value which lie within the threshold value, but do not belong to a particle.
Using the preset value of 2, you exclude such interference particles.
PLEASE NOTE If your software version contains the Analysis menu, please note the following: The
current preferences for the standard particle analysis are not taken into account by
the Filter Inspector.
Select measurement parameters for the residue particles

Measurement parameters are magnitudes which are measured for each detected
residue particle. All measured parameters are listed in the "Particle Results" sheet.
Normally, you find all measurement parameters here which have been measured by
the Filter Inspector. However, you can also fade out some of the measurement
parameters or reorder the parameters.
The sheet lists the particle parameters which are available for the filter inspection.
Particle pa- Type Icon Description
rameters
Diameter Max Distance To calculate the maximum diameter of a particle, the diameter
for different calculation axes is calculated. The calculation axis
is altered in 1° steps and the maximum diameter is determined
for each angle.
ECD Distance The ECD value is the diameter of a circle which has the same
(Equivalent area as the particle.
Circle Diame-
ter)
26
Feret Max Distance The maximum distance of parallel tangents at opposing particle
borders.
Feret Min Distance The minimum distance of parallel tangents at opposing particle
borders.
Feret Mean Distance The medium distance of parallel tangents on opposite particle
perimeters.
Feret Orienta- Angle The orientation of the maximum feret distance. The maximum
tion feret distance is the maximum distance of parallel tangents at
opposing particle borders.
Area Area Area of the particle in the unit of the current image calibration.
The area is calculated by multiplying the number of pixels by the
calibration factors of the X and Y axes.
Shape Factor Shape A shape factor informs you how round a particle is. A shape fac-
tor of 1 is a circular particle: all other particles’ shape factors are
less than 1.
Perimeter Perimeter The sum of the pixel distances along the closed boundary.
PLEASE NOTE Some standards definitely require certain measurement parameters. If these mea-
surement parameters are missing, then the results cannot be issued in accordance
with the standard.
1) In the Filter Inspector control bar, click the Settings button to gain access to all
Filter Inspector settings.
2) Activate the Analysis tab.
3) Click the [...] button next to the Processing list to open the Define Processing
dialog box.
4) In the Define Processing dialog box, activate the Measurement tab.
5) In the Current functions list, select the Frame Independent Results entry. Click
the Edit... button.
" The Filter Inspector Criteria dialog box opens.
27
The Filter Inspector Cri-

teria dialog box lists all
available measurement
parameters for residue
particles.
6) Click the top directory called All in the tree view on the left side of the dialog box
to view all parameters listed alphabetically in the Measurements list.
Select particle 7) Select the parameters desired: To do this, select the check box next to the
parameters parameter desired. It will then appear in the Selected Measurements list. All the
parameters listed here are later issued in the "Particle Results" sheet.
" The selected parameters are shifted to the Selected Measurements list.
Sort particle param- 8) In the Selected Measurements list, select the particle parameter that you want
eters to move.
28
9) Click one of the Up and Down buttons to move the selected particle parameter
to the required position.
10) Confirm the selection of the measurement parameters with OK.
11) It is possible to save the altered preferences in a file. To do this, click in the
Define Processing dialog box on the File...button .
12) In the File In/Output dialog box, enter a file name and click the Save button.
PLEASE NOTE In order to avoid overwriting the default settings, you should always save altered pref-
erences in a file.
13) Close the Define Processing dialog box with OK, in order to return to the Set-
tings dialog box.
14) Select the file with your settings from the Processing list.
15) Close the Preferences dialog box by clicking OK.
Use the Filter Inspector with a color camera

The particle analysis can often be carried out more reliably on a gray-value image.
You can still use a color camera for the Filter Inspector. In this case, every separate
image should be converted into a gray-value image directly after acquisition. You can
set up such a conversion on the Settings > Analysis tab.
dialog box.
4) In the Define Processing dialog box, activate the Processing tab.
5) In the Available functions list, select the Color Separation Intensity entry.
6) Click the Add >> button to move the entry from the Available Functions list into
the Current functions list.
7) Select the Color Separation Intensity entry in the Current Functions list and click
on the Up button until the function reaches the first position.
8) Close the Define Processing dialog box by clicking OK.
Define a new layout

To create more space for the filter list, it can make sense to fade out the viewport
manager during the filter inspection. The viewport manager is located outside the Fil-
ter Inspector control bar. If you fade out the viewport manager the control bar
increases in size.
3) To begin with, set up a document layout. To do this, enter a name for your doc-
ument layout into the Document Layout field.
4) Click the [...] button next to the Document Layout list, to open the Define Layout
dialog box.
29
" Under the For this field the filter inspection process step is displayed for
which a new layout is to be defined. Every button in the control bar of the
Filter Inspector represents a process step in the process.
Here you define a new
document layout.
5) Click the Next button to select the process step for which you want to define a
new layout. Select, for example, the Start process step, to define the user inter-
face following the start of a filter inspection.
• While the Define Layout dialog box is open, you have access to all the
functions of your image analysis program which you require to set up a
new layout.
6) Click the Apply button to load the user interface which has been defined for the
selected process step. Using this user interface, you can now go on and define
a new one.
7) Now arrange the user interface as you need it to be for the selected process
step. Select, for example, the Window > Viewport Manager command to fade
out the viewport manager. A check in front of the command shows whether the
viewport manager is visible or not. The check should not be visible if you use
the Window > Viewport Manager command again.
8) Click the Save Layout button to use the active user interface in the next filter
inspection for the selected process step.
PLEASE NOTE If you never want to display the viewport manager during the filter inspection, then
you have to deactivate it for every process step singly.
9) Click the Close button to return to the Settings dialog box.
10) Close the Filter Inspector Settings dialog box.
" The new layout will be used for the next filter inspection.
Save camera status Select the Save camera status check box to determine, together with the layout,
whether or not the camera should be in live mode during the selected process step.
Report tab
Conclude the filter inspection with a report which automatically contains all the rele-
vant measurement results for the relevant standard. To do this, click the Report but-
ton in the Filter Inspector control bar. The report is then saved together with the mea-
surement results.
Part of the scope of delivery for the Filter Inspector consists of several report tem-
plates which you can adjust to suit your company requirements (see "Create your
own report template for the Filter Inspector" auf Seite 32).
If you require larger modifications to the report templates, then you should contact
the manufacturer.
30
Standard These mandatory regulations for characterizing contamination are defined in corre-
sponding standards for the respective branches of industry. On the Report tab, you
find a list in the left hand column of all standards which can be used by the Filter
Inspector. Select the check box in front of the required standard in order to evaluate
the measured residue particle in accordance with the standard. You can also activate
several standards simultaneously. In this case, measurement results will be created
and saved for all selected standards following a filter inspection.
SEE ALSO • "Load a standard" auf Seite 34
Report Template In the Report Template column, you define in which form the measurement results
are to be displayed. The scope of delivery includes the "InspectionReport" report
template. If you use several standards, then normally there will be several report tem-
plates which are adapted to the individual standards.
To match another report template, click the Report Template field. You then automat-
ically open a list containing all report templates which are available. Select the
required report template from the list. Select the - No Report - entry, if no report is to
31
be created for the selected standard.
In the example shown,
two standards are used
to evaluate the particles.
A report is created for
the first standard only.
SEE ALSO • "Create your own report template for the Filter Inspector" auf Seite 32
• "Alter an existing report template" auf Seite 32
• "Produce two different reports for one standard" auf Seite 34
Create your own report template for the Filter Inspector

You can only create a new report template based on an existing report template. The
Filter Inspector scope of delivery includes report templates which contain all mea-
surement results automatically. You can adapt these report templates for your own
requirements.
1) Select the File > Report > New... command.
" The New Report dialog box offers you all of the available report templates.
2) Activate the User Templates tab.
3) Select the report template which you want to use as a basis for the new report
template.
4) Select the Template option in the Create new group.
Only via this step, can you decide that you want to create a report template and
not a report.
To create a template,
you must select the
Template option
5) Confirm via OK to create the new report template.

Save report tem- 6) Select the File > Report > Save Report Template command.
plates
7) Enter a name for your report template that reflects its contents into the File
name field.
PLEASE NOTE • You should not change the preset report directory, so that the Filter Inspec-
tor recognizes the report template.
8) Click the Save button to save the report template.
Alter an existing report template

Replace the logo in the Filter Inspector report template and change the title.
1) Create a new report template.
2) Use the Special > Preferences... command. On the Report tab, make sure that
the Create copies check box is selected. Close the dialog box with OK.
• In this way the logo is saved together with the report. If the Create copies
32
check box is not selected, then only the path name of the image will be
saved with the report. Linked image files can be saved within any directory
or drive. You do have to make sure that image files are always accessible
when you are creating or editing reports.
Replace logo 3) Load your logo in an image buffer in your image analysis program.
4) Drag your logo onto the image object.
You replace the logos in

the supplied report tem-
plates simply by using
drag & drop.
Alter text 5) Doubleclick on a heading.

6) In the Report Object Properties > Text dialog box you can now enter your own
text for the heading. Close the dialog box with OK.
Doubleclick on a report
object in order to
change the object set-
tings. With text objects
you can also change the
text yourself in the set-
tings.
33
7) If your text is longer than the overwritten text, you have to adapt the text object
size. To do so, drag one of the handles to the left or the right whilst holding down
the left mouse button.
Move one of the han-
dles, 1 or 2, to change
the width of the text
object.
PLEASE NOTE A report template can contain several page templates. Normally, you have to carry
out changes in all page templates.
8) Click in the report window button bar on the Select Page Template button.
" The Select Page Template dialog box opens. You will find all template
pages that are defined in the current report template listed within the dialog
box. Depending on the report template, you will have very different page
templates available.
9) In the Select Page Template dialog box, select a page template that you have
not yet adapted and confirm with OK.
" The selected page template opens.
10) Adapt the active page template accordingly.
Determine the first • After you have adapted all page templates, determine the first report page.
page of a report
11) In the button bar of the report window, click the Select Page Template button.
Then select one of the page templates listed for use as a cover page, or first
page of your report.
12) Now save your report template and close the report window once the cover
page has been activated.
" When you then create a new report based on this report template, the first
page of the report to be opened will be this one.
Produce two different reports for one standard

1) Create a new report template for the Filter Inspector (see S. 29).
2) Click once on an entry in the Standard column.
" A list containing all loaded standards appears.
3) Select one of the available entries, for example, "ISO4407-99".
4) Click next to the entry in the Report Template column.
" As soon as you click on the Report Template column, a new entry for the
selected standard will be created in the list. There can be several entries
for each standard.
" You receive a list of all the report templates which you can use for the Filter
Inspector.
5) Select the required report template from the list.
Load a standard
1) Select the Special > Add-In Manager... command.
2) In the Add-In Manager dialog box, click the Add... button.
34
" A standard dialog box for loading and saving files opens.
3) Go to the \FilterInspector\Standards\Module directory in your program directory
and select the required standard, for example, "ISO4407_91.sxu". Close the
dialog box with OK.
" In the Available Add-Ins list you will now find an entry for the selected stan-
dard, for example, "Filter evaluation ISO4407_91". The check box in front
of this entry must be selected.
4) Leave the Add-In Manager dialog box with OK.
PLEASE NOTE " Under certain circumstances the loading of the standard may mean that
new database fields will be loaded automatically into the database of the
Filter Inspector, for example, a standard requires the oil volume/ml. The
system will then automatically ask for this value before a new filter inspec-
tion.
6) Activate the Report tab.
" Here you find a list of all the loaded standards.

7) Select the standards, according to which you want to evaluate your data.
Misc. tab
Database All results from a filter inspection are already saved to the Filter Inspector database
during measurement. If you do not define any other directory during the software
installation, then this Filter Inspector database will be set up by default in the
\archive\FilterInspector\ directory on your hard disk. The name of the database is
FilterDB.apl.
The database directory is defined during the software installation (see "Notes for soft-
ware installation" auf Seite 50).
35
PLEASE NOTE Please note the following notes regarding the Filter Inspector database.
• When working with the Filter Inspector, it is normally not necessary to access
the database directly. The filter list in the control bar enables you to access all
measurement results at any time.
• You do not have to open the Filter Inspector database. Even if the Filter Inspec-
tor database is not open, all data is saved in the database.
• All of your measurement results are saved in the database directory that you
defined during installation. Make sure that you make regular backup copies of
the directory. You can check the path name of the database directory on the
Settings > Misc. tab at any time.
Use for example the Database > Administration > File Storage... command, to
archive or save the measurement results. Software wizards then lead you
through the individual steps of data saving.
• The Filter Inspector database requires special database fields which are auto-
matically set up in the preinstalled database. If you want to use a database other
than the given database to save your results, then you should set up a database
which the Filter Inspector database uses as a template (see "How to set up a
new Filter Inspector database" auf Seite 36).
• Only those measurement results which have been created within the framework
of a filter inspection are listed in the filter list. Data which you enter into the Filter
Inspector database directly using a command from the Database menu will not
be added to the list.
Prompt for magnifi- The measurement results are only accurate if the system is correctly calibrated. One
cation at start precondition for this is that your system always knows which magnification you are
working with.
Select the Prompt for magnification at the start check box to ensure that the acquired
images are correctly calibrated. Before every filter inspection, the Set Magnification
dialog box opens automatically. Select the correct entry from the magnification list
and close the dialog box with OK.
PLEASE NOTE If you are working with an automatic microscope, the magnification will be read from
the microscope automatically. In this case, you should deactivate the enquiry. To do
this, clear the check box.
How to set up a new Filter Inspector database

A wizard guides you step-by-step through the setting-up of the database.
1) Select the Database > Administration > New Database... command.
2) Click the Browse... button to set the storage directory for the database. In the
Select Directory dialog box you can also select a network drive, from which
backup copies are automatically made.
3) Exit the Select Directory dialog box with OK.
4) Enter the name of your database into the Database name field.
" The database wizard suggests an identically-named subfolder in the data-
base directory for the storage of the database files. Even if you change the
suggested directory, you should still set up a separate directory for each
database.
5) Click the Next > button.
6) Confirm the question as to whether the database directory should be set up.
36
7) Use the Template option.

Click the Next > button.
You can use any exist-

ing database as a tem-
plate for a new data-
base. All fields which
are defined in the tem-
plate database are then
adopted in the new
database.
8) Click the Browse... button. Select the preinstalled Filter Inspector database as
a template. If you do not define any other directory during the software installa-
tion, then this Filter Inspector database will be set up automatically in the
\archive\FilterInspector\ directory on your hard disk.
A database which you
use for the Filter Inspec-
tor should be based on
the preinstalled data-
base
37
9) Click the Finish button.

Log on the data- Before you can use the database for the filter inspection, you have to log on the data-
base with the Filter base with the Filter Inspector.
Inspector
11) Activate the Misc. tab.
12) Click the Browse... button next to the Database list to open a standard window
for file loading. Select your own database and confirm with OK.
" From now on, all measurement results in a filter inspection will be saved in
the new database.
" The filter list in the Filter Inspector control bar is updated immediately and
now no longer displays any data.
Define Processing
In the Define Processing dialog box you can view and edit the parameters for the cur-
rent process.
To open the Define Processing dialog box, click the Settings button in the Filter
Inspector control bar. Activate the Analysis tab. Click on the [...] button next to the
Processing list.
This one dialog box describes completely the "filter inspection" process, from the
acquisition of the images through to evaluation. Every working step can be checked
with a test run for a selected sample position.
PLEASE NOTE The process is preset for the Filter Inspector and normally does not need to be
changed. Modifications in the Define Processing dialog box can mean that the pro-
cess no longer runs correctly.
Process flow for an automatic process

The filter inspection is divided in the Define Processing dialog box into the following
tasks:
• Image acquisition ( Image Input tab, see 39)
• Image processing ( Processing tab, see 40)
• Evaluation ( Measurement tab, see 40)
Each of these tasks is specified on its own tab in the Define Processing dialog box
and is worked through in series following the start.
The processed images are not saved following analysis. The result of the automatic
analysis are measurement sheets, containing data from many images ("Results of a
38
filter inspection" auf Seite 12).

Image Input tab

Use this tab to define the source which supplies the images which are to be analyzed.
Source of images Here you select the image source for the filter inspection.
PLEASE NOTE Not all listed image sources make sense for the Filter Inspector! The two image
sources Stage and Live acquisition are available to Filter Inspector. You should not
use the remaining image sources for the filter inspection.
Stage Select the Stage image source if you are working with an automated stage. In this
case, the filter or a circular area on the filter will be automatically scanned. You define
which area of the filter is to be scanned on the Settings > Sample tab (see page 22).
Live acquisition Select the Live acquisition image source if you have no automated stage available
(see "How to use a manual microscope stage" auf Seite 47). In this case, you move
manually in the filter inspection, using the joystick, to every position where you want
to measure particles. When the analysis of the individual image has been completed,
39
the system asks you to set a new sample position. Confirm the message with OK to
continue with the filter inspection.
In this case, enter the number of the positions which you want to move to during the
filter inspection into the Max. No. of Iterations field. The filter inspection then stops
automatically following the acquisition of the last position.
Max. No. of Itera- In the Max. No. of Iterations field you enter the maximum number of images to be
tions acquired, processed and evaluated during the application. The system reads out a
new image from the selected image source until the maximum number of images is
reached. If you are working with an automated stage, you should select this number
as high as possible so that the acquisition does not stop before the filter has been
completely scanned.
Autofocus Select the Autofocus option to use the autofocus that is integrated in the Filter inspec-
tor. This option will only be available if you are using a stage with a Z-axis drive.
PLEASE NOTE When you use the Autofocus, a fliter inspection will take considerably longer. You
should first try out whether the tilt compensation already supplies you with images
that are sufficiently focused.
Edit focus... Click the Edit focus... button, to have the autofocus settings adapted or to check
them.
Manual focus Choose the Manual focus option, if you want to focus every image acquisition man-
ually. The system will then use a dialog box to request you to do this before each ac-
quisition. Confirm the request with OK, as soon as you have completed the focusing
Select the No focus option, if you wish neither to update the focusing manually nor
automatically while you are acquiring an image series.
Test Click the Test button to acquire a single image from the selected image source. In
the Test image field you specify the stage position for a test acquisition. For example,
if you enter the value 2, the system moves to the second stage position after clicking
the Test button and takes a test image at this position.
File... With the File... button you open the File In/Output dialog box, in order to save or load
the automation process flow that you have created.
PLEASE NOTE The settings for all of the tabs in the Define Processing dialog box are saved.
Start Click the Start button to begin image acquisition. The dialog box remains open so that
changes to the process can still be made based on the test run.
Processing and Measurement tabs

Use the Processing tab to specify processing steps for each individual image within
the application.
On the Measurement tab you define the measurement operations which will be car-
ried out during a process.
All processing steps contained in the Current functions list are applied to each pro-
cessed image. The order of the processing steps in the list corresponds to the order
for the application. The number of processing steps is unlimited.
PLEASE NOTE The predefined functions in the Current functions list are matched to the filter inspec-
tion. You should neither remove one of these functions, nor change the preset order
of the functions.
40
The function of the elements described below is the same in both dialog boxes.
Add >> With the Add >> button you select one of the available commands for the filter inspec-
tion. Select the desired command with the left mouse button and click on the button
to copy the command to the list of commands to be executed.
Current functions The Current functions list contains the commands to be executed for the filter inspec-
tion. The listed commands are processed in the order listed.
The predefined functions in the Current functions list are matched to the filter inspec-
tion. You should neither remove one of these functions, nor change the preset order
of the functions.
<<Remove With the <<Remove button you delete a command from the list of functions to be exe-
cuted. Select the desired command with the left mouse button. The selected com-
mand is copied to the list of available commands and no longer used in the filter
inspection.
Up Use the Up or Down button to change the order of the commands. Select a command
41
Down from the list of functions to be executed and click on the corresponding button.
File... With the File... button you open the File In/Output dialog box, in order to save or load
the automation process flow that you have created.
PLEASE NOTE The settings for all of the tabs in the Define Processing dialog box are saved.
Start With the Start button you begin the process. All commands contained in the tabs in
the Current functions list are processed consecutively. The dialog box remains open
so that changes to the filter inspection can still be made based on the test run.
Test With the Test button you can test the filter inspection step by step. All commands up
to and including the current tab will be worked through in series. A careful test
ensures that the automatic analysis does not stop in the middle of the process.
Edit... With the Edit... button, or with a doubleclick on the command name, you open a dia-
log box in which you can set the parameters for the selected function. If the selected
command does not permit user-defined settings, the button is deactivated.
Processing and measurement functions in the Filter Inspector
PLEASE NOTE All the functions listed here are necessary, otherwise the Filter Inspector cannot sup-
ply correct results.
Gray Thresholds Use the Gray Thresholds function on the Processing tab to define the thresholds for
the particle detection (see "Set thresholds" auf Seite 7).
Frame Independent The Filter Inspector can analyze particles of any size. Even particles that may be the
Detection same size as the filter itself, are quantified accurately.
Use the Frame Independent Detection function on the Processing tab to track parti-
cles through several images, to combine them to a particle and only then to evaluate
them.
In the example the com-
posite image is com-
posed of four separate
images.
Particles 1 and 2 are
located in several
images.
Particle 3 cuts the bor-
der of the composite
image. Only that part of
particle 3 which is inside
the image is evaluated.
Overview image Following the filter inspection, use the Overview Image function on the Processing
tab to enter an overview image of the entire filter into the database. The size of the
overview image is reduced before saving to the width that you have defined on the
Analysis tab in the Filter Inspector settings. The overview image thus requires much
less storage capacity than the full image.
If the Overview Image function is not one of the executed functions, then no overview
image is created!
Frame Independent Use the Frame Independent Results function on the Measurement tab to display the
Results measurement results from an automatic particle detection in a measurement sheet.
42
The measurement results for all images will be written in one single result sheet.
The Filter Inspector makes a large number of measurement parameters available
which can be output following a detection for the particles found.
With the Edit... button you open the Filter Inspector Criteria dialog box. Here you
specify which particle parameters are to be copied to the measurement sheet (see
"Select measurement parameters for the residue particles" auf Seite 26).
Questions and hints for using the Filter Inspector
Questions and hints for using the Fil-

ter Inspector
How to load the Filter Inspector add-in
You can also use the Filter Inspector as an add-in for your existing image analysis
program. In this case, you have to load the Filter Inspector in the Add-In Manager.
1) Select the Special > Add-In Manager... command.
" In the Available add-ins list, find the Filter Inspector entry.
2) Select the check box in front of the Filter Inspector entry.
3) Leave the Add-In Manager dialog box with OK.
4) Close your image analysis program.
5) Restart your image analysis program.
" You can now find the Filter Inspector control bar as an additional tab in the
image manager. The Filter Inspector tab is marked by a magnifying glass.
How to adjust the camera parallel to the directions in which the

stage operates
1) Mount the camera onto your microscope as parallel as possible to the stage
movement direction.
2) Switch on the live overlay for the active input channel: to do so, select the Image
> Configure Input > Display > Live overlay check box.
3) Position a specimen that shows vertical and horizontal lines or structures under
the microscope.
4) Switch into live-image.
5) Paste a rectangle into the image. To do so, click the Overlay Button Bar button
in the Standard button bar and then click the Rectangle button.
6) Use the joystick to move the object along the horizontal object line. The object
must move exactly parallel to the displayed frame.
43
7) Correct the camera position as necessary, by loosening the camera screws and
turning the camera a little.
8) Repeat the last two steps until the camera and the stage are correctly adjusted.
How to invert the stage axes

PLEASE NOTE The procedure can differ from stage drive to stage drive. The following step-by-step
instructions describe the procedure for the most common stage drives.
When the overview image has not be correctly put together from the separate
images, this can have been caused by the stage having been driven in the wrong
direction. You can use your software to invert the axis of the stage.
1) Keep the [Shift] key depressed and use the Stage > Preferences... command.
! Then, the Stage Preferences dialog box offers the additional group Invert
axis.
2) Select the Horizontal and Vertical check boxes to swap the X/Y axes.
3) Close the dialog boxes with OK.
How to define a virtual stage

Two stage controllers are often required to move a motorized stage in XY and Z
directions. Each of these stage controllers is controlled by the software using a dif-
ferent stage driver. Using your software, you can combine these two physically dif-
ferent stage drivers to form a virtual driver which can then control all three axes.
1) Use the Special > Preferences... command.
2) Activate the Stage tab.
3) Ensure that the XY and Z drivers are loaded and initialized.
Non-loaded drivers can be recognized by the message "Driver not loaded"
directly behind the entry of the relevant stage on the Stage tab.
Non-initialized stages can be recognized by the message "Stage not initialized".
Two stage drivers are
loaded and initialized.
You can compose a
new virtual stage driver
from these stage driv-
ers.
44
4) Click the New... button.

" The Properties for ’Virtual Stage’ dialog box opens.

Allocate a stage driver
to the individual stage
axes.
5) In the Virtual stage list, select the X axis. From the Available stages list, select
the stage driver which you want to use for the X axis. Click the Select X button.
" The selected stage driver now appears behind the "X axis" entry in the Vir-
tual Stage list.
6) Repeat the last step for the Z and Y axes.
7) Close the Properties for ’Virtual Stage’ dialog box by clicking OK.
" On the Stage tab you now find a new stage driver.
When the dialog box is
closed, the virtual stage
must be selected and
highlighted.
PLEASE NOTE To use the virtual stage, it is not enough that the check box in front of the virtual stage
driver on the Preferences > Stage tab is selected. The entry must also be selected
(highlighted). Otherwise, the stage driver is not available for use.
45
How to initialize a virtual stage
Every microsocpe stage has to 'know' the absolute stage position in order to be capa-
ble of moving to the desired stage positions. This knowledge is lost when the system
is shut down. This is why the stage must be initialized again, every time the image
analysis program is started. If the stage has not been initialized, you will receive an
appropriate message when you start the Filter Inspector.
1) Start the Filter Inspector.

" If the stage is not initialized, the Virtual Stage dialog box opens.
2) Select one of the axes which is not initialized in the Virtual Stage dialog box.
3) Click the Init... button.
PLEASE NOTE 4) To initialize, the stage moves to the end switches. Please ensure that the objec-
tives are not touched by the object.
Then confirm the message by clicking OK.
" Following successful initialization, the message "Driver not initialized" dis-
appears from the Virtual Stage dialog box.
5) Close the Virtual stage dialog box by clicking OK.
" The stage is now ready to use.
How to enlarge the live-image

46
Larger live-image The size of the live-image is defined in the logical input channel. The setting Image
> Configure Input > Display > Image scaling > Adjust to viewport is preset. The whole
acquired image is displayed with this setting. The resolution of the acquired images
is however greater than the space which is available in the image window for image
display. For this reason, the live-image is greatly reduced for display.
In revise mode, often only one particle is of interest. This particle is then to be dis-
played in optimum resolution, i.e., with a zoom factor of 100%, in the live-image. To
do this, you can use the Intelligent Exposure focus mode.
1) In revise mode select the particle that you want to observe.

2) Use the Image > Intelligent Exposure... command to open the Intelligent Expo-
sure dialog box.
3) If you are already in live mode, the Acquire button is activated. If you are not yet
in live mode, click the Acquire button.
4) Click the Focus mode button to display the particle in the center of the image in
optimum size in live mode.
• In focus mode only a small central area of the camera is read out. The size
of this area is predefined. The area is always displayed with 100%.
PLEASE NOTE 5) Change camera control from intelligent exposure back to the standard camera
control. To do so, select the Image > Camera Control... command.
6) You might have to adapt the exposure time now. To do so, click in the Camera
Control dialog box on the Auto button.
How to use a manual microscope stage

If you have no automated stage available, you have to adapt the process for the filter
inspection.
47
dialog box.
4) In the Define Processing dialog box, activate the Image Input tab.
5) Select the Live acquisition entry from the Source of images list.
6) Enter the number of the positions which you want to move to during the filter
inspection into the Max. No. of Iterations field.
7) Close the Define Processing dialog box with OK, in order to return to the Set-
tings dialog box.
8) Select the file with your settings from the Processing list.
Please note the following points

If you run a filter inspection without an automated microscope stage, please note the
following the changes:
The process flow of In this case, you move manually in the filter inspection, using the joystick, to every
a filter inspection position where you want to measure particles. When the analysis of the individual
image has been completed, the system asks you to set a new sample position. Con-
firm the message with OK to continue with the filter inspection.
Particle map The particle map is an overview of all particles found and measured during a filter
inspection. To create the particle map the separate images that were acquired during
the filter inspection are mounted in one image. This particle map does not indicate
the absolute position of the individual particles anymore.
No frame indepen- There is no frame independed detection when using a manual stage. Each image is
dent detection evaluated separately.
How to adjust the autofocus

Requirement You can only use the autofocus when you have a controllable microscope stage with
a Z drive.
Procedure Define a separate parameter set for the autofocus for each objective, as the selection
of the Z-distances is dependent on the depth of field.
You should keep the number of images for focus determination as small as possible
to keep the time required to focus the system as low as possible.
In the Define Autofocus dialog box you set some autofocus parameters. Click the Edit
focus... button located in the Define Processing dialog box to open the dialog box.
48
Coarse focus Here you set the parameters for the coarse focus. In general the coarse focus
already provides satisfactory results so that additional focussing with the fine focus
function is unnecessary.
Focus range In the Focus range field you enter the maximum Z-range which is to be covered dur-
ing focussing. The focus range is specified by the number of steps of the Z-axis step-
ping motor required.
The correct focal position can only be found if it lies within the focus range. Therefore,
select the focus range coarse enough that the system does not run out of the focal
position when another object position is moved to.
For orientation purposes, the Focus range value indicates the absolute height by
which the stage is moved up and down during focussing. This value generally
depends on the used microscope as the transmission of the fine drive has to be con-
sidered.
Increments In the Increments field you enter the number of images which are evaluated during
focussing. The number of images should be as small as possible in order not to
reduce the autofocus speed unnecessarily.
Detail size In the Detail size field you define the size of an NxN median filter. Prior to calculation
of the focussing value you can smooth the image with an NxN averaging filter. As a
result, minor intensity fluctuations caused, for example, by statistical noise have no
effect on the calculation of the focus value. The larger the entered value for the detail
size is, the more image details are suppressed by the averaging filter.
Fine focus You can have the system search for the focus in two steps. First the coarse focus
determines an approximate plane of focus. Then the system repeats the same pro-
cess with the fine focus parameters defined here. The coarse focus determined first
is used as the starting point.
Select the On/Off check box to switch the fine focus on or off.
Min. dynamic range In the Min. dynamic range field you enter the range from the maximum to the mini-
mum focus value. Values from 1.01 to 2 are possible. The minimum dynamic range
must at least be reached so that the system can automatically determine a focus
value. If the recorded focus diagram does not have the required minimum dynamic,
then the system returns to the starting position without interrupting focussing with an
error message.
This option is particularly important when you move into a border area in which the
focal position differs greatly from the focal position in the sample area when acquiring
a series of images. In this case the system does not move out of the set focus range.
Set ROI Click on the Set ROI button to define an image section which is to be evaluated when
calculating the autofocus values. When you limit the evaluation to an image section,
you considerably speed up the calculation of the autofocus values. After clicking on
49
the button, the mouse pointer switches into the image and you can change the size
and position of the image section with the mouse.
Diagram... Click on the Diagram... button to open a dialog box with a focus diagram. In the focus
diagram the calculated focus value (Focus) is applied for each moved to Z-position
(Distance). When you switch on the fine focus, you will see a curve for the coarse
focus (red) and another for the fine focus (green). The calculated focal position is
shown as a vertical line.
The dialog box remains open when you change the parameters in the Define Auto-
focus dialog box to provide a constant visual check of the focus values.
Color signal This group is only available if you are using a color camera. The focus value for a
true-color image is calcualted from either the intensity separation or a color separa-
tion.
Notes for software installation

1) Put the installation CD into your CD-ROM drive.
" The setup menu will open automatically - unless you have deactivated the
autorun function. If so, start the setup.exe file via Windows Explorer.
2) Using the setup menu, you start the installation of your image analysis program
by clicking on the program name.
" An installation wizard guides you through the entire software installation.
3) To carry out the installation, simply follow the instructions in the set up, and each
time you make a necessary entry, click Next > to continue.
If you are working with
an automated micro-
scope, select the micro-
scope in the Microscope
Selection dialog box.
50
In the Input Device (Dig-

itizer) Selection dialog
box, normally select the
Firewire check box.
Only then will your
firewire digital camera
be offered to you in the
next dialog box.
In the Camera Selection

dialog box, first select
the manufacturer in the
left column, for exam-
ple, "Soft Imaging Sys-
tem", and then your
camera.
51
In the Automatic XY cal-

ibration dialog box you
should adopt a precali-
bration for your camera.
Select the automatic
calibration check box
and select the TV
adapter magnification
from the list. Then,
select the check boxes
for all mounted objec-
tives in the Magnifica-
tion of the microscope
objective list. Should
you be working with a
remote microscope,
select the Automatic
calibration using motor-
ized microscope check
box.
In the Install Demo-

Database dialog box,
you must select the Fil-
terInspector check box.
52
In the Choose Destina-

tion Location dialog box,
you define the loca-
tion of the automatic
storage of your mea-
surement results.
Click the Browse... but-
ton for example, to
select a network drive.
53
Index
Measurement results 12
A Move Stage to Particle 14
Adjust autofocus 48
N
C New filter inspection 6
Camera/stage adjustment 43 Notes for software installation 50
Cancel a filter inspection 12
Class results 15
Color camera 29 O
Control bar 3 Overview Image 16, 42
Create report 19
P
D
Particle Map 12
Database 36 particle parameter 26
Define Processing 38 Particle results 15
Define the area to be scanned 11 Processing functions in the Filter Inspector 42
Define virtual stage 44
Document layout 29
R
E Report Template 32
Revise mode 17
Enlarge live-image 46
S
F
Scan area 23
Filter holder 6 Separate particles 18
Filter insertion 6 Set the magnification 11
54
Flow-through area 23 Set up the Filter Inspector 22

Frame Independent Detection 41 Setting thresholds 7
Settings 22
Analysis 25
I Misc 35
Initialize virtual stage 45 Report 30
Invert stage axes 43 Sample 22
Standards 4
Start filter inspection 6
L
Load standard 34 T
Tilt compensation 11, 24
M
Manual microscope stage 47
Measurement functions in the Filter Inspector 42
Index
U
User interface 3
V
View existing measurement results 20
55

User's Guide Filterinspector

Cargado por

Información del documento

Título original

Derechos de autor

Formatos disponibles

Compartir este documento

Compartir o incrustar documentos

Opciones para compartir

¿Le pareció útil este documento?

¿Este contenido es inapropiado?

Copyright:

Formatos disponibles

User's Guide Filterinspector

Cargado por

Copyright:

Formatos disponibles

User’s Guide

© Olympus Soft Imaging Solutions GmbH

Carry out filter inspection ........................................................................ 6

Set up the Filter Inspector...................................................................... 22

Questions and hints for using the Filter Inspector.............................. 43

Notes for software installation .............................................................. 50

What is the Filter Inspector?

About this manual

The process flow of a filter inspection

Start the inspection of the current filter. 10

Conclude the filter inspection with a report which automatically 19

The following standards are supported:

Preconditions for the filter inspection

Carry out filter inspection

2) Set your microscope optimally (Köhler illumination).

Inspect a new filter

The image shows dark

3) Focus the microscope and confirm the message with OK.

In the enlarged histo-

4) Select the Manual tab.

6) Confirm the new threshold setting by clicking on OK.

Start filter inspection

1) Click the Start button in the Filter Inspector control bar.

The results of a filter

Results of a filter inspection

• Particle map, see S. 12

The particle map

Sheets and diagrams

Class results and diagrams

In the diagram for the

All residue particles are

The overview image

Optimize the quality of the overview image

Check the filter inspection

How to separate a connected particle

Classify particle results

View existing measurement results

Go over an entry in the

Set up the Filter Inspector

One separate image at

Select measurement parameters for the residue particles

The Filter Inspector Cri-

Use the Filter Inspector with a color camera

Define a new layout

Create your own report template for the Filter Inspector

5) Confirm via OK to create the new report template.

Alter an existing report template

You replace the logos in

Alter text 5) Doubleclick on a heading.

Produce two different reports for one standard

" Here you find a list of all the loaded standards.

How to set up a new Filter Inspector database

7) Use the Template option.

You can use any exist-

9) Click the Finish button.

Process flow for an automatic process

filter inspection" auf Seite 12).

Image Input tab

Processing and Measurement tabs

Processing and measurement functions in the Filter Inspector

Questions and hints for using the Fil-

How to adjust the camera parallel to the directions in which the

How to invert the stage axes