Introduction

EclipseNET is image archiving and networking software developed by Laboratory Imaging s.r.o. for Nikon Instruments Incorporated and Europe B.V. With completely new user interface elements (docking windows, predefined layouts, customized workspaces) EclipseNET makes acquiring, archiving and analyzing images easier then ever. Images can be acquired by Nikon DN100 with associated information. Grid, thumbnail and detail views are prepared for viewing and browsing database images. Grid view supports grouping (like MS Outlook) of images according to database information. Multi-level file caching and JPEG200 technology (selected as native image format for EclipseNET) makes working even with very large images (>200 MB)

convenient. Creating very large images is available via tiling method. Image tiling involves the capture of multiple small regions. These small images are then stitched together, creating a large contiguous digital image. Images can be annotated by text, arrows, lines and other vector objects. These vector elements are stored separately, so the captured raster data are not affected. EclipseNet is extensible software using plug-in technology.

Databases

EclipseNET has a powerful build-in image database support. It enables creating image database with up to 14 associated items. These items can be text, memo, number, enum and date value types. Filtering, sorting and multiple grouping are also available. Detail, thumbnail, icon and grid views are prepared for database browsing. Multi-level file caching makes working even with very large images (>200 MB) convenient.

At the moment EclipseNET database uses MS Access database, connection to SQL database is under development. LUCIA Web DB was developed as web front-end of Eclipse Net database. LUCIA Web DB runs on every web server that supports php scripts. Click here to connect to a sample EclipseNET database now.

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Camera support

Nikon DN100 Camera Support

Until now it was difficult to connect more than one computer simultaneously to a camera. EclipseNET equipped with the Nikon DN100 camera makes this job easy. A private IP address is assigned to the DN100 camera, which is connected to a network. More computers with the EclipseNET software installed can then access this DN100 camera simply through its private IP address simultaneously. More cameras can be connected to computer network as well. Live inputs from two simultaneously connected cameras are shown on the picture to the left.

Nikon DXM1200 Camera Support

EclipseNET supports Nikon DXM1200 Digital Megapixel camera. This is a low-noise camera producing high-quality images. Exposure - 1/12,000 to 170 sec. Maximum resolution at 3,840 x 3,072 pixels.

Layout Management

EclipseNET comes with 5 build-in layouts - General, Image Capture, Measurement, Pictures, Explorer, Organizer, Database and DB+Explorer. Each layout is designed for a certain action. Capture layout was designed for easy image acquisition. Image layout suits best for dedicated work with a specific image. Organizer layout will increase your archiving and organizing capacity. Measurement layout enables direct interactive measurements. EclipseNET enables the user to arrange the windows and toolbars and save this setting as a new layout. There is a fast and convenient way to switch to another layout by a single mouse click.

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JPEG2000

EclipseNET reads/writes all common file formats like JPEG2000, BMP, GIF, TIF and PNG, JPG and proprietary LIM. JPEG2000 was selected as native format for EclipseNET, because JPEG2000 provides

high compression with image quality superior to all existing standard encoding techniques. This high compression and quality performance is due to the adaptation of wavelet transforms. Wavelet transforms are mathematical formulas that represent complex structures in the image, thereby compressing an extremely large amount of image data into a relatively small amount of compressed data. This compression technique allows applications to save compressed images with higher compression ratios and better image

quality as compared to any other software currently in production.

Interactive Measurement

EclipseNET offers various modes for interactive measurement. All basic geometric shapes (line, poly line, ellipse, circle, rectangle, markers, angles) can be drawn in several different ways. Generic shapes can be approximated via polygon or poly line. Polygon and poly line editing is done via per segment basis using Bezier curves. Due to attribute toolbar you can quickly modify the measured objects features like line thickness, ellipse color, text background color etc. For quick and rough measurement rulers or graticules can be used. Export to clipboard or file enables further statistical analysis in e.g. MS Excel. The objects that are to be measured are drawn in the vector layer. This approach enables later reviewing or modifying of measured objects.

Large Images

It is possible to create large images with EclipseNet. The size of the image is limited by the system capacity only (usual large images have hundreds of MB). Large image can be focused in to view more details and focused out to overview the whole specimen. This is a software analogy to magnification (objective) changes in microscopy. It is possible to move the zoomed part of a large image. This is a software analogy to moving the specimen under the microscope (moving the microscope stage) under a selected magnification.

Large Image Creation

A series of 3x4 pictures as opened from a disc. This series was captured by the use of a Nikon Coolpix digital camera. Large Image Creation - Step 1 Images are placed together. This can be done by dragging and drooping the pictures or by selecting the automate method (meander, raster).

Large Image Creation - Step 2 Pictures are matched together automatically. Maximal cropping rectangle is offered with the option to change it.

Large Image Creation - Step 3 Automatic shading correction is applied. The resulting large image defined by the cropping rectangle is created.

Large Image Example Original dimensions of this large image are 5160 x 3760 and its size reaches 35 MB.

Large Image Detail

Detail of the previous large image.

Vector Layer

Annotations, all temporary drawing, measure outputs... are stored in non-destructive vector layer. This layer can be switched on / off. The vector layer is stored together with the picture. This Vector Layer is an ideal place for your expertise. You can draw text, arrow, and basic geometric shapes to this layer. The great thing is that it is possible to save the image with your expertise in the SVG picture format. This format is becoming a Web vector graphic standard. New Internet browsers support it automatically. There exist an SVG plug in for common Internet browsers. All your colleagues can view your expertise (annotations) even without EclipseNET.

EclipseNet Web DB Client

Viewing

In your web browser, just type in the http address, where EclipseNet Web DB is installed. Web DB connects to the EclipseNet database, queries database for the requested records and sends the result to your browser. Due to speed optimization, Web DB uses cached image data representation. You can also view/download full image resolution data. Three different views can be used: Thumbnail view with customized number of records per page and customized image description field. Table view with image description and detail view for single image preview. Security Web DB controls access rights and settings using standard login procedure. Web DB is dedicated mainly for viewing. Creating tables, user's rights and database schema can be done only in Eclipse Net product line. Click here to connect to a sample EclipseNet database now.