Universal Layer

Dual Port, Illumination or Detection, Filter Cube Changer

The Universal Layer can be used to provide dual illumination or dual detection through the motorised (or manual) switching of different filter cubes. The filter cubes can be set up to either couple light into the microscope for epi-illumination or to reflect light out of the microscope and onto a camera for detection. The desired purpose determines where this layer is positioned in the openFrame microscope.

There are two input/output ports on opposing sides of the Universal Layer. Each of these can have an illumination/detection device connected. Switching between the connected devices is achieved by simply selecting the corresponding filter cube position - through the push of a button or software command (if you prefer doing this manually, there is a physical slider present as well).

At the core of the Universal Layer is the cube carrier which sits upon sliding rails and can accommodate up to three filter cubes. Each filter cube can be oriented so that it couples either of the two side ports with the central optical path of the openFrame. Two of the filter cubes can be individually tip-tilt adjusted, so they are registered to each other (and the central cube if present) with sub-pixel precision. This is easily achieved by viewing the illumination live on the camera and adjusting the resulting image to a target image.

Assembling an Universal Layer — Installing 1/3 Filter Cubes into the Universal Layer through the access door.

When used for Epi-Illumination

The Universal Layer allows motorised or manual switching either between up to three filter cubes or between two illumination inputs. The ability to switch between illumination inputs allows the building of powerful multi-functional systems on a single compact microscope frame. If two different illumination inputs are to be used sequentially, there is no need to add additional layers or external combiners to achieve this.

When used for Detection

As a detection layer, the Universal Layer provides two ports for connecting cameras. Switching between these ports is achieved through a pushbutton, or (if you prefer manual control) by the use of a manual slider. The same approach can be used as an easy means of switching filter cubes, to quickly swap between imaging different wavelength combinations with a single camera. If two detectors are installed, then these can only be used individually. A typical example would be connecting a camera to one port and a spinning disc confocal extension to the other port.

If just one cube is required then please visit our Infinity Cube page

We can also use the Dual Infinity Slider as the basis of a modular fluorescence microscope for bespoke applications; please contact our Sales team for details.

Further information at Cairn Ltd.