PI Introduces Affordable Piezo Focusing Devices

PI has introduced a more affordable series of Fast Piezo Focusing devices at the 2011 BIOS (Biomedical Optics) meeting. The PIFOC system packages are designed to improve results in fast focusing and lens positioning, as well as in deconvolution/3D imaging, and to reduce costs at the same time. Features: complete system with fast digital controller and software; choice of travel ranges - 100, 250, 400um; sub-nm resolution, suitable for Fast Autofocus applications; choice of position feedback sensors - piezoresistive (lower cost); capacitive (higher precision); improved performance, yet more affordable.

The PIFOC piezo objective scanner system packages consist of closed-loop piezomechanic objective positioners and custom-tuned compact ditigal servo controller/driver units. This combination provides higher performance at reduced costs. The integrated, frictionless and high-stiffness piezo flexure drive ensures fast response and short settling times, as well as high guiding accuracy. The settling time of less than 10ms increases throughput and allows for rapid Z-stack acquisition.

The digital controller is said to provide several advantages compared with the conventional analogue controllers of the fast focusing systems currently available, such as higher linearity, improved settling performance, quick adaptation to changing motion requirements and access to advanced automation features. The included software facilitates system setup and allows switching of different sets of parameters on-the-fly. For the user, this means extracting the maximum performance from the piezo focusing mechanism all the time, no matter what size objective is used or whether aggressive long-travel stepping or smooth nanometre-size dithering motion is needed.

Since jumpers and trim pots no longer have to be accessed to make changes, system integration becomes much more straightforward. System set-up with the included user-interface software is fast and easy; interfacing to the customers' software is facilitated with the included Labview drivers and DLLs. Drivers for image-acquisition software packages such as Metamorph and Umanager are available.

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