System Overview

Optical System Description

Solid state diode lasers simultaneously provide light excitation at 685 nm, 785 nm, 488 nm, or 520 nm (two simultaneously). Collimating lenses, optical bandpass filters, and a focusing lens focus and tune the laser beams to produce an excitation spot on the scanning surface. The microscope electronics then modulate the laser beams to discriminate the signal fluorescence from background fluorescence. The scanner detection optics focus on the excitation spot and collect light from the fluorescing dyes.

The light is ultimately focused onto avalanche photodiodes that convert the light to an electrical signal for processing by the microscope detection electronics.

In the microscope electronics the signal is amplified, filtered, and finally converted to a digital value by an analog-to-digital converter. The digital signal is demodulated and coordinated with the microscope position to produce the image file.

The entire compact laser/microscope assembly travels on a platform that moves beneath the scanning surface along both the X- and Y-axes. It is adjustable in the Z-dimension to allow for focusing at the scan bed up to 5 mm above the scan bed to accommodate membranes, gels, microplates, and slides.

External Panels and Controls

Front Panel and Scanning Surface

**Figure 54.** **Front panel features and power button on the Odyssey F Imager.**

Power On/Off Button: Briefly pressing this button turns the instrument on and off, when the imager is not connected to the Image Studio™ SoftwareLI‑COR® Acquisition SoftwareImage Studio™ Software or LI‑COR® Acquisition SoftwareImage Studio™ Software or LI‑COR® Acquisition Software. If the imager is connected, pressing the button results in the red error light blinking along with a warning sound to alert the user that the imager is connected to the software. Continuing to hold the power button for 5 seconds will turn the instrument off and the software connection will end.

State	Description	Icons
OFF	The ODYSSEY text is white, no back lighting.	N/A
ON, CONNECTED TO SOFTWARE	The ODYSSEY text is back lit white. The green running icon indicates that the instrument is connected to the software.
SCANNING	The ODYSSEY text is back lit white. The green running icon indicates that the instrument is connected to the software. The orange clock icon indicates that a scan is in progress.
OPEN LID (INTERLOCK ACTIVATION)	The ODYSSEY text is back lit white. The green running icon indicates that the instrument is connected to the software. The orange lid icon indicates that the lid is open and that the interlock is activated.
WARNING	The ODYSSEY text is back lit white. The green running icon indicates that the instrument is connected to the software. The red triangle icon indicates an instrument issue.

Rear Panel

Figure 55. Odyssey F rear panel. The serial number label is located in the top left corner of the instrument (as you are facing the rear panel), and the serial number is in this format: ODF-NNNN (ODF- followed by four numbers). Note: The appearance of your instrument's back panel may vary slightly from the one shown.

Scanning Surface

The scanning surface is a 25 cm W x 18 cm D glass plate, upon which the samples to be scanned are placed. The scanning surface is sealed from the instrument interior to prevent moisture from penetrating to the detection optics and electronics below during scanning.

General Description of Scanning

Scans are initiated using the Image Studio Software Acquire ribbon. On the Acquire ribbon the user chooses the settings for the scan as well as the area to scan.Scans are initiated using LI‑COR Acquisition Software.Scans are initiated using Image Studio or LI‑COR Acquisition Software. In Image Studio, on the Acquire ribbon the user chooses the settings for the scan as well as the area to scan. Scanning progresses first across the X-axis, and then moves incrementally along the Y-axis of the scanning surface after each X-axis pass.