Requirements, Installation, Setup
Complement your existing microscope setup within minutes: The microscope software Morgentau M1 was designed to
to allow a quick installation and to provide an easy setup.
The microscope software Morgentau M1 connects several research components such as a microscope shifting table, a camera, a laser,
various patch-clamps to an ordinary computer. These components are integrated in an easy-to-use software interface.
Requirements for all editions of Morgentau M1
To use our software with a microscope setup you simply need to connect the microscope setup to the computer via (1) the
USB port (or the serial port) of the shifting table, and (2) the BNC cable of the camera (CCIR/PAL).
In the current version, the microscope software Morgentau M1 is only applicable for microscope setups
which integrate a microscope shifting table of Luigs & Neumann GmbH.
The microscope software Morgentau M1 was designed to have low setup requirements and
to be employed with microscope setups that comply with the following specifications:
- Microscope, e.g. of Olympus.
- Microscope shifting table of Luigs & Neumann (Germany),
e.g., XY/XYZ-shifting table "Shifting Table 380FM"
- Camera which either produces a standard video signal (i.e., PAL/CCIR format) or is already connected to a computer (e.g. Leica FireWire cameras, USB cameras), e.g. an infrared (IR) camera.
Each edition of Morgentau M1 also includes an optimized computer, on which our software is
pre-installed. This computer contains all necessary computer-internal hardware and, thus, guarantees both an easy and quick implementation.
Optional requirements for the Professional Edition of Morgentau M1
The Professional Edition also allows you to conduct scanning experiments. During these experiments, scanning processes are
initiated in which large numbers of so-called scanning points are subsequently approached. At each of these points
a TTL-Out signal is sent that, for example, triggers a laser beam on that scanning point.
The microscope software Morgentau M1 plans, monitors, and controls such experiments. Instead of a laser beam, any other
action can be executed by the TTL-Out signal.
In case the TTL-Out signal, for example, triggers a laser beam, the following components are necessary:
- Laser (required for photostimulation experiments), e.g.
Omicron Phoxx 405nm/120mW (PhoxX 405-120),
PointSource 405nm/40mW diode laser, or
a frequency tripled Nd:YVO4 DPSS laser system with 355nm/1W pulsing at a 100-kHz repetition rate.
- Device to position the laser beam, e.g., from Rapp-OptoElectronic (Germany).
- Optional external mechanical shutter system, e.g., from Rapp-OptoElectronic (Germany).
Setup of the computer and the microscope system
The following illustration indicates how Morgentau M1 is pre-installed on an
optimized computer and how this computer interacts with the microscope system. This illustration also shows which
components are needed for the different editions of the microscope software Morgentau M1.
The black-coloured elements are necessary requirements for the Navigation Module. This module is included in
all editions of the microscope system Morgentau M1. The computer and all computer-internal hardware components necessary hereto are included in an edition.
The components of the microscope setup and all other external devices are not included in each edition.
The blue-coloured elements are the components required by the Scanning Module which only is included in the Professional Edition.
The Scanning Module is required if you wish to conduct scanning experiments. Note that only the computer-internal hardware components are included
in the Professional Edition, but not any other external devices.
Training and support
Concerning installation, setup and training, familiarizing oneself with Morgentau M1
is supported by extensive documentation and a manual.
Video tutorials and the Morgentau Solutions Knowledge Center assist in the installation and the setup procedure.
Additionally, each edition of Morgentau M1 contains software support.
We seek to assist researchers when installing Morgentau M1 or when working with it.
The support is offered either by Morgentau Solutions or by our distribution partners.
Also, Morgentau Solutions offers on-site installation support and training on request.
If you have any questions, feel free to contact us.
