Overview¶

A certified installer sets up the Inscoper hardware, connects all components, and installs both the Inscoper Imaging Software and the Inscoper Configurator. Together, these elements form the operational basis of the system.

The Inscoper Configurator sets up microscopy systems driven by the Inscoper Device Controller. Use it to declare, connect, and manage the hardware components of an instrument, and to generate a configuration that meets the requirements of the experiment.

The diagram below shows the physical architecture of a typical system. The computer reaches the hardware along two paths: through the Inscoper Device Controller, which drives every device wired to its physical ports, and directly, through external resource drivers such as Micro-Manager or a camera DLL.

flowchart LR
    classDef computer fill:#00a8cc,stroke:#00a8cc,stroke-width:2.5px,color:#fff,font-size:14px
    classDef dc      fill:#00a8cc,stroke:#00a8cc,stroke-width:2px,color:#fff,font-size:13px
    classDef hw_dc   fill:#fff,stroke:#00a8cc,stroke-width:1.5px,color:#222,font-size:12px
    classDef hw_ext  fill:#fff,stroke:#5b9aa0,stroke-width:1.5px,color:#444,font-size:12px

    C["Computer"]:::computer
    DC["Inscoper<br/>Device Controller"]:::dc

    D1["Hardware 1"]:::hw_dc
    D2["Hardware 2"]:::hw_dc
    DN["Hardware N"]:::hw_dc

    E1["Hardware 1"]:::hw_ext
    E2["Hardware 2"]:::hw_ext
    EN["Hardware N"]:::hw_ext

    C -->|"Device Controller driver"| DC
    DC --- D1
    DC --- D2
    DC --- DN
    C -.- E1
    C -.->|"External Resources drivers<br/>(e.g. Micro-Manager, camera DLLs)"| E2
    C -.- EN

    linkStyle 0 stroke:#00a8cc,stroke-width:2.5px
    linkStyle 1 stroke:#00a8cc,stroke-width:1.5px
    linkStyle 2 stroke:#00a8cc,stroke-width:1.5px
    linkStyle 3 stroke:#00a8cc,stroke-width:1.5px
    linkStyle 4 stroke:#5b9aa0,stroke-width:1.5px,stroke-dasharray:5 4
    linkStyle 5 stroke:#5b9aa0,stroke-width:1.5px,stroke-dasharray:5 4
    linkStyle 6 stroke:#5b9aa0,stroke-width:1.5px,stroke-dasharray:5 4

The Configurator produces or edits a configuration folder that the Inscoper Imaging Software (IIS) loads to initialize and operate the connected hardware. The diagram below shows the role of each tool and the users who interact with it.

flowchart TB
    classDef actor    fill:#fff,stroke:#1E2D38,stroke-width:2px,color:#1E2D38,font-size:13px
    classDef tool     fill:#00a8cc,stroke:#00a8cc,stroke-width:4px,color:#fff,font-size:13px
    classDef artifact fill:#fff,stroke:#00a8cc,stroke-width:3px,color:#222,font-size:12px,stroke-dasharray:5 4

    SI["System Integrator<br/>Inscoper staff<br/>Advanced user"]:::actor
    U["User"]:::actor
    C["Configurator"]:::tool
    F["Configuration"]:::artifact
    I["Inscoper Imaging Software"]:::tool

    SI -.->|"operates"| C
    C  -->|"generates / edits"| F
    F  -->|"loads into"| I
    U  -->|"operates"| I

    linkStyle 0 stroke:#5b9aa0,stroke-width:1.5px,stroke-dasharray:5 4
    linkStyle 1 stroke:#00a8cc,stroke-width:2px
    linkStyle 2 stroke:#00a8cc,stroke-width:2px
    linkStyle 3 stroke:#1E2D38,stroke-width:2px

The configuration workflow¶

A configuration is built in five stages, which the Configurator presents in order.

Stage	What you do	Page
1	Create a configuration, open an existing one, or clone one.	Choose what to open
2	Select the models present on the instrument and import them.	Importing hardware
3	Declare which functions of each device are in use, fill in the required startup values, and map every function to a port on the Device Controller. The setup wizard walks through these steps device by device.	Setup wizard, Configuring a device, Connections
4	Arrange the controls that the end user sees in the Imaging Software.	Imaging Software layout
5	Write the configuration folder to disk.	Saving a configuration

Target audience¶

System integrators who install microscopy systems controlled by Inscoper Device Controllers.
Advanced users who modify or adjust the hardware, with appropriate precautions.

Contents¶

This documentation provides step-by-step procedures for the main configuration tasks: importing hardware, declaring the functions and connections of each device, laying out the Imaging Software, and saving the configuration. The Interface reference describes every screen and control, and the Glossary defines the terms used throughout.

Support¶

If a problem occurs during configuration, see Troubleshooting or contact Inscoper Support.