ZEISS ZEN core Quick Guide

Introduction

ZEISS ZEN core is the image acquisition and analysis software from ZEISS, designed to support industry and manufacturing markets. Its intuitive user interface facilitates quick, easy, and reliable sample examination, particularly in quality assurance environments. The software offers two main operating modes: Free mode for personalized use by expert users, and Job mode for repeatable experiments using a workflow-based approach.

Operating Modes

ZEN core provides different operating modes tailored to various microscopy tasks, depending on the user role:

• Free Mode: Inspect samples quickly, easily, and flexibly without defining examination tasks.
• Job Mode: Run examinations according to predefined step-by-step tasks in a job template. This mode also allows for defining fixed examination steps for repeatable sample analysis.
• Manage Templates: Edit and manage templates in the archive, including form templates, report templates, macro templates, image analysis settings, custom workbenches, APEX modules, Intellesis models, and standards for technical cleanliness.
• Browse Results: View and manage job results stored in the archive.
• Maintenance: Configure global settings, manage users, and calibrate measurements.

User Roles

User management is an optional component. When enabled, three user roles are defined:

• Administrator: Installs and configures the software, manages system settings and users, specifies connected hardware, and configures archives.
• Supervisor: Creates job templates for operators, performs free examinations, runs jobs, manages jobs in the archive, defines and evaluates job reports, and releases job templates.
• Operator: Performs limited tasks such as searching for jobs, running jobs, and browsing job results.

Creating a Job Template

This process, primarily for supervisors, involves defining a sequence of tasks for repeatable examinations.

Workflow for Creating a Job Template

1. Select Job Mode and click Create a new template and edit it.
2. Acquire an image using the microscope camera or loading from a file system.
3. Process the image by enhancing it and configuring adjustable parameters.
4. Analyze the image by defining measurements and their tolerances. Steps 2-4 can be repeated.
5. Configure the input form by selecting a form template and specifying metadata recording.
6. Configure the report by selecting a report template and defining how results and metadata are displayed.
7. Save the job by naming the template and specifying user permissions.

Specifying Tools for a Task: Tools can be added or removed from workbenches to define available options for each task. Parameters can be locked or hidden to control operator privileges.

Applying an Image Processing Tool: Select the Image Processing workbench and add desired tools. Tools are applied sequentially.

Analyzing the Image: Perform measurements and specify tolerances. Instructions for measurement can be added.

Creating or Modifying a Form Template: Forms are used to add information to a job. Templates can be created or modified by customizing layout and properties.

Configuring a Job Report: Reports collate examination information using placeholders. Select report templates and assign measurement information to placeholders.

Saving and Completing the Job Template: Save the job template with properties, category, and permissions. Users can be specified to run the job.

Running a Job

This section applies to supervisors and operators.

Workflow for Running a Job

1. Select the appropriate job.
2. Acquire an image of the specified region.
3. Process the image as defined.
4. Perform analyses as defined by the supervisor.
5. Check the information in the job report.
6. Save the job results.

Acquiring an Image: Capture images using the microscope camera, adjusting parameters as needed. Navigation and focus can be controlled via software or manually.

Processing the Image: Adjust image appearance using various tools like brightness, contrast, and noise reduction. Tool availability depends on the job template configuration.

Performing an Interactive Measurement: Measure distances, angles, areas, and intensities. Results are displayed in the Center Screen Area. Tolerances can be specified.

Creating a Report: Collate information including images, measurement data, and metadata into a single document. Placeholders are used for easy information integration.

Saving and Completing a Job: Save job results after confirming measurements. Reports are generated automatically. Options include repeating the job or returning to the Home Screen.

Performing a Free Examination

User Interface - Free Mode

The Free Mode interface includes:

• Workbench & Tool Area: Displays added workbenches and tools.
• Center Screen Area / Image Area: Shows the current image, measurements, and results.
• Results Table: Lists measurement results, with options to show/hide.
• Documents Area: Lists all documents created during the examination (images, reports, etc.).
• Display Tab: Adjusts image display settings like Gamma.
• Data Zone Tab: Configures the display of additional hardware and acquisition data.

Workflow in Free Mode

Workbenches can be used in any sequence in Free Mode. The workflow involves:

1. Select Free Mode from the Home Screen.
2. Acquire an image.
3. Process the image using various tools.
4. Analyze the sample. Steps 2-4 can be repeated.
5. Save or export images and analysis results.

Documents: User-created documents are listed in the Documents Area. Documents can be opened, closed, renamed, or saved.

Saving Documents: Documents can be saved individually or in multi-selection. Options include using document names or custom names.

Selecting Workbenches: Workbenches can be added or removed from the Workbench Area without affecting results. The order does not matter.

Customizing Workspace: The Free Mode workspace can be customized by adding or removing workbenches and tools to suit user requirements.

Assigning Information to Report Placeholders: Reports summarize examination information. Placeholders are filled with relevant data.

Exporting Results: Images or measurement results can be exported for publishing or archiving.

Archive

The archive is the central location for storing and managing result data and templates. It is divided into three areas:

• Manage Templates: For organizing all types of templates except job templates.
• Browse Job Results: For all results.
• Job Mode: For managing all jobs.

Access to archive items depends on user privileges. The software supports:

• Local Archive: Suitable for a single system (free).
• ZEN Data Storage Archive: A client/server database solution for customers managing large amounts of data from multiple microscopes, facilitating data exchange and correlative workflows.