Wells Research & Development

Wells Research Introduces PixelScope Professional

Wells Research Introduces PixelScope™ Professional, Easy-to-Use Image Analysis Software for Optical Test and Alignment Applications

San Jose, CA (January 27, 2004)-Wells Research and Development (WRD), developer of innovative instrumentation for challenging optical measurement and alignment tasks, today announced at Photonics West PixelScope™ Professional, a new Windows-based image analysis software package for engineers who need to incorporate live image capture into optical inspection, alignment, or assembly fixtures. PixelScope Professional supports real-time image capture and display, with zoom down to the pixel level. The software includes an array of built-in tools that perform important measurement tasks, including cross-section plots, histograms, and distance measurements. PixelScope Professional requires no programming, allowing the typical engineer to make sophisticated image quality measurements within minutes of setup. The software runs under Windows 2000 or XP and is part of the AlignmentStudio™ family of modular optical tools.

"Most engineers building optical fixtures prefer to spend their time making measurements, not writing software," said Ben Wells, President of Wells Research and Development. "PixelScope Professional has them up and running immediately with live image capture and display. Combine this with our easy-to-use measurement tools, including intensity plots and histograms, and it's hard to make a bad measurement with PixelScope."
Image Capture, Display, & Analysis

With PixelScope Professional, images can be captured and displayed in real time at frames rates from 30 per second to 3.75 per second. Pan and zoom are supported down to the level of individual pixels. Complete images or sections of an image can be saved to disk or copied to the clipboard. Images can also be exported as arrays of numbers for import into other programs, such as Microsoft Excel. To reduce noise, images can be averaged over multiple camera frames. The output of multiple cameras can be displayed simultaneously by opening multiple PixelScope windows.

PixelScope Professional includes a set of intuitive, point-and-click image analysis tools that operate on an ROI (region of interest) selected by the user. The tools include cross-section plots along X or Y, histograms, and direct distance measurement via the mouse-driven caliper.

PixelScope provides additional flexibility through a series of expansion modules that support such advanced functions as sub-pixel feature location measurement, edge finding, blob analysis, and encircled energy. An ActiveX module turns PixelScope into an ActiveX server that can stream live data to other applications such as Microsoft Excel, Visual Basic, and MatLab; the ActiveX module allows PixelScope to be run stand-alone or as a client to other programs. Depending on the user, PixelScope can act as a front-end to other software or can be completely controlled by another program.
Expanded Family of Image Analysis Software

The PixelScope software family also includes PixelScope Lite, a basic image capture and display program that is included with all DC-100 FireWire cameras purchased from Thorlabs (http://www.thorlabs.com). PixelScope OpticStudio is designed for the evaluation of lens parameters, including Contrast Transfer Function (CTF), Modulation Transfer Function (MTF), focal length, and magnification. Pointspread and linespread can be viewed or plotted in real time. For the expert, all seven primary aberrations can be displayed and evaluated: spherical aberration, coma, astigmatism, field curvature, distortion, lateral color, and axial color.

All PixelScope software supports the DC-100 video camera from Thorlabs and the Dragonfly camera from Point Grey Research. Both are FireWire CCD cameras that provide 640x480 pixel resolution with a 7-micron pixel size.
Pricing & Availability

PixelScope Professional runs on any Windows 2000 or Windows XP computer; CPU speeds of 1GHz or greater are recommended. The software is priced at $599 and can be purchased from Wells Research and Development, http://www.wellsresearch.com. A 30-day evaluation package is available at no cost.
About Wells Research and Development

Wells Research and Development (WRD) develops custom optical instrumentation for challenging measurement and alignment applications. Founded by Ben Wells after a distinguished career in engineering and management at Polaroid and Teradyne, the company combines expertise in optics, precision mechanics, software, and motion systems, WRD focuses on applying modular hardware and software to a wide range of optical applications. The company's OpticStudio™is a manual lens testing system that performs detailed measurements on a wide range of lenses. Additional services include analysis, design, proof-of-concept models, and prototypes of optical and mechanical subsystems. For more information, see http://www.wellsresearch.com.

For further information, contact:
Ben Wells, President
Wells Research and Development
15A Lewis Street
Lincoln, MA 01773 USA
+1 781.259.8667, Fax: +1 781.259.8009
Email: ben@wellsresearch.com
Web: http://www.wellsresearch.com

PR Office:
Shari Worthington, President
Telesian Technology Inc.
49 Midgley Lane
Worcester, MA 01604 USA
+1 508.755.5242, Fax: +1 508.795.1636
Email: sharilee@telesian.com