ZEISS ZEN Core for Connected Microscopy

ZEISS ZEN Core is a software suite dedicated to connected microscopy from the materials laboratory to production.

Microscopy imaging is not the only aspect Zen Core tackles. It is an all-inclusive suite of segmentation, imaging, analysisand data integration tools in connected material labs for multi-modal microscopy.

Enjoy Its Highlights

Automated analysis and innovative imaging. Utilize in-built acquisition practices and benefit from the repeatable workflows’ consistency

Simple configuration and practical usage. Take advantage of a flexible user interface

Infrastructure solution for the connected lab. Organize all data together throughout laboratories, instruments, and locations.

Image Credit: Carl Zeiss Microscopy GmbH

Highlights

One Interface for all ZEISS Microscopes in a Multi-user Environment

Image Credit: Carl Zeiss Microscopy GmbH

ZEN core provides an integrated user interface for ZEISS cameras and microscopes, ranging from entry-level stereo microscopes to completely automated imaging systems.

It allows the correlation of light and electron microscopy in multi-modal workflows, thereby offering connectivity among laboratories, systemsand locations.

Data acquisition and analysis

Post-acquisition analysis

Mobile Access

Microscope and camera control

Correlative microscopy

Integrated reporting

Interfaces for further analysis

Automated segmentation

Contextual analysis

Central Data Management

Connectivity between systems, laboratoriesand locations

User Management Designed to Assure Data Repeatability and Integrity

Generate multiple user accounts with well-defined roles and privileges as per user requirement

Make and control users’ accounts directly in ZEN core or connect to ActiveDirectory and repurpose those user accounts

With ZEN Data storage as a principal hub for all the connected microscopes, manage all users successfully

Leverage wide-ranging abilities and secure access with passwords to keep password guidelines and expiration period-appropriate.

Image Credit: Carl Zeiss Microscopy GmbH

Perform Automated Segmentation, Contextual Analysisand Reporting

The desktop version of ZEN core is ZEN analyzer — made for activities that can be performed without a microscope. For post-processing tasks, the instrument is not blocked. Rather make use of it to perform other experiments — anytime, anywhereand with true efficiency.

The best choice for analysis and segmentation, alongside reporting and making job templates

Allows the user to utilize all workbenches accessible in ZEN core, offering complete control of all information and templates — which are accessible from the desk.

Provides remote access to ZEN Data storage.

Image Credit: Carl Zeiss Microscopy GmbH

Materials Modules for Metallography Applications

ZEN core offers all significant metallographic applications within a central user interface — comprising material modules for the identification of phases, grain sizesand layer thicknesses, along with the classification of graphite particles and non-metallic inclusion analysis.

Cast Iron Analysis

Graphite particles in cast iron can take place in various distributions and shapes, based on parameters of the process and chemical composition of the material. This affects the material’s mechanical properties.

Completely automated analyses of the graphite particles’ shape and size are possible. Acquire the spheroid number as per EN ISO 945-1: 2008 + Cor.1:2010. Identify the nodularity of vermicular graphite and analyze the graphite particles’ content in area percentage.

Cast Iron Analysis: Size and shape distribution. Image Credit: Carl Zeiss Microscopy GmbH

Grain Size Analysis

The distribution and size of grains are directly associated with the material properties. Measure the crystallographic structure of materialographic samples as per international standards. Three evaluation methods enable the user to define the material:

Planimetric method for reconstruction of automatic grain boundary

Comparison method for manual image examination with comparative diagrams

Intercept method to interactively identify and quantify the intersections with grain boundaries using different chord patterns

Grain Size Analysis: intercept method. Image Credit: Carl Zeiss Microscopy GmbH

Multiphase Analysis

Any material part with a unique crystal structure can be considered a “phase.” Various phases are isolated from each other by separate boundaries. Orientation and distribution of phases influence the material properties, such as strength, hardnessor elongation at break.

The user can examine the phase distribution in his/her samples. Identify shape, sizeor orientation accurately and automatically. Utilize this distribution analysis to acquire data about additive manufactured material’s porosity.

Multiphase Analysis: result view with distribution of different phases. Image Credit: Carl Zeiss Microscopy GmbH

Layer Thickness Measurement

Quantify the thickness of platings or coatings and the hardened surfaces’ depth in the sample’s cross-section.

Validate complex layers systems interactively or automatically. Based on the gradient available, the module measures the course of the measurement chords.

Achieve the results in a clear report comprising sample data, imagesand measurement values, like the maximum and minimum chord lengths, standard deviationand average.

Layer Thickness: automatic detection of a layer. Image Credit: Carl Zeiss Microscopy GmbH

Non-Metallic Inclusion Analysis (NMI)

NMI’s metallographic analysis is directed by industry standards that are backed by ZEN Core — guiding the user swiftly and effortlessly via the workflow, and creating a report and inclusion gallery that comply with the standards.

Potential inspection views and automatic deformation axis detection characteristics make analysis simple, repeatableand intuitive. ZEN core users can provide complete traceability and data integrity to their customers in NMI analyses, which implies that grade certification is auditable, specifically beneficial for users in regulated industries.

NMI: Global Results view providing the option to toggle between inclusion types: oxides, sulfides, and artifacts. Image Credit: Carl Zeiss Microscopy GmbH

Comparative Diagrams

Make Wall Charts digital. The user can compare the sample below the microscope using comparative diagrams on the screen directly.

The user can choose among various schematic micrographs with particular features. These change slowly from image to image and might relate to grain size, sample preparation sampleor carbide precipitation in steel.

To design comparison diagrams, the module also offers a chart series creator, for example, pass/fail criteria in quality management or best target preparation images for individual material microstructures.

Comparative Diagrams: Compare the sample with standardized or customized wall charts. Image Credit: Carl Zeiss Microscopy GmbH

Advanced Imaging and Analysis

Automation for Light Microscopes

ZEN core offers an extensive range of options for automated image acquisition:

Enhanced Depth of Field

Get images automatically with improved depth of field.

Online Panorama

Get panorama images on coded and non-coded stages.

Free-Form Tiles

Effortlessly characterize stitching areas to make highly resolved images.

Linkam Stage Control

Witness materials under temperature.

Multi-Channel Acquisition

Get images in one go with multiple channels automatically — for example, multiple fluorescent channels or simply dark- and bright-field.

ZEN Intellesis Enables Image Segmentation by Machine Learning

Today’s microscopists’ biggest challenge is segmentation, but the user can prevent errors and user bias with the use of machine learning for the segmentation of the image.

ZEN Intellesis Segmentation

The software module offers potential machine learning segmentation of multidimensional images along with 3D datasets. It is developed for seamless integration of multiple imaging modalities and for attaining high-quality segmentation on any single image.

Automatically analyze images that oncehad to be manually processed. The user can train a model to segment them.

Users can utilize their expertise to train the software, making it perform the time-consuming segmentation, or import dedicated networks that are trained somewhere else (for example, on www.APEER.com).

Take advantage of saving time in sample preparation, for the ZEN Intellesis Segmentation can be flexible to the preparation process. As the stored analysis program could be utilized again, sample by sample, or trained again to tackle new samples, reproducibility is assured.

(Left) Segmentation model training: The user labels a few regions just by painting them in to teach the system how to segment the image. (Right) Automated segmentation: Once a segmentation model has been trained, it can be re-used, shared, and applied to a bundle of images. Image Credit: Carl Zeiss Microscopy GmbH

ZEN Intellesis Object Classification

At times, segmenting objects like inclusions, particlesor grains is simple. However, it could still be difficult to categorize them further into various types. Even machine learning-based segmentation methods may find it challenging in this scenario, as they only take the pixels’ appearance into consideration and cannot consider derived features of pixel clusters (objects).

Now, ZEN Intellesis Object Classification offers a simple method to categorize already segmented objects into subclasses. To do the categorization automatically, an object classification model can be trained.

Rather than observing the individual pixels, the model employs more than 50 features quantified per object to classify them. Such derived measurements comprise intensity-based and geometric features.

As ZEN Intellesis Object Classification functions on tabulated data and not on image data, the process of classification is much quicker than segmentation by dedicatedly trained deep neural networks.

Additionally, the classification process is not dependent on the prior segmentation, regardless of whether it was performed by typical thresholding or with machine learning.

Object classification performed on standard nano- and microplastic particles (polystyrene (PS, light blue), polyethylene (PE, green), polyamide–nylon 6 (PA, dark blue), and polyvinyl chloride (PVC, red)) on a polycarbonate filter imaged with ZEISS Sigma. This correlative study combines the high resolution of an electron microscope with the analytical capabilities of a Raman microscope. The classification model is capable of distinguishing the different particle types based on their properties. Image Credit: Carl Zeiss Microscopy GmbH

Infrastructure Solutions for the Connected Laboratory

ZEN Connect: Quality Data Put in Context

Consolidate and observe various microscopy data and images in context, all in the same place, from the same sample. ZEN Connect workflows allow the user to achieve from a quick overview image to innovative imaging for sample-centric analysis with multiple modalities.

At different scales, the correlations among the images can be observed and seamlessly navigated. The different datasets’ interdependencies could be exported, storedand re-purposed in a Client-Server Database, ZEN Data Storage.

The user can perform exportable angle, lineand area measurements within or across aligned images in the workspace. Across the connected images and datasets, it also allows integrated reporting.

ZEN Connect user interface: images at different scales can be easily navigated. Image Credit: Carl Zeiss Microscopy GmbH

Correlative Microscopy

Correlative microscopy — a potential method for integrating the corresponding attributes of various microscopic methods — achieves the utmost significant data from materials or parts samples.

ZEN Core — the ZEISS correlative microscopy interface —has been developed particularly for application in materials analysis that is available with motorized stages on all ZEISS light and electron microscopes.

Relocate samples between LM and EM systems quicker than before

Enhance throughput and efficiency

Automatically transfer regions of interest

Make well-informed material decisions

Gather the most relevant information

ZEN Data Storage: Central Data Management in the Connected Laboratory

The user faces a constantly growing mass of images and information that requires management, predominantly in multi-user laboratories, as digitization continues to increase microscopic investigations.

ZEN Data Storage allows the user to isolate image and information acquisition from post-acquisition works, which makes everyone in the laboratory work more effectively in several ways:

Share instrument presets, data, workflowsand reports easily

Analyses are reproducible and quality-assured

Access all information from different locations and systems

Assist IT departments in implementing backups and security

Multi-modal workflows are able to achieve themaximum amount of data from the samples

Integrate ZEN Data Explorer with ZEN Data Storage for achieving mobile access to data, letting the user use a tablet or smartphone to analyze the results while on the go.

Image Credit: Carl Zeiss Microscopy GmbH

GxP Module: Secure and Compliant Microscopy Processes

The GxP module allows traceable workflows via effortlessly combined microscopy hardware and software to fulfill the needs of regulated industries. All workflows available in ZEN core could be made to comply with GxP.

Audit trail

User management

Electronic signatures, including countersign functionality

Disaster recovery

Release procedure of workflows

Checksum protection of process-critical data

GxP module: Electronic signature validation. Image Credit: Carl Zeiss Microscopy GmbH

Module Packages

Source: Carl Zeiss Microscopy GmbH

Module Package	Features & Applications	Download / Learn More
ZEN core	Full control of motorized ZEISS microscopes	ZEN coreRelease Notes for ZEN core Rel 3.4learn more about the CZI format and request a free licence
ZENstarter	Free basic version (no license necessary) Extend this version with specific modules for your applications	try out key features of the ZEN package
ZEN analyzer	Desktop version of ZEN core Data processing, analysis and reporting Mulit-modal workflows and database connectivity features	learn more about the 60 day free trial ZEN analyzer