A Generic Protocol for Controlling an SEM over a TCP/IP Link

Abstract

In recent years, a number of different groups(1) have investigated and reported on implementing Web-based controls for SEMs and TEMs. Through telemicroscopy, as the field is often known, they have demonstrated that expensive microscopy resources can be shared and the experience of remote experts utilized in an efficient, cost-effective manner. Up to this point most technological demonstrations of telemicroscopy have been implemented as retrofits to existing microscopes. As retrofits, these demonstrations had limitations which a system designed from day one as a networked instruments could avoid. present here details of an ongoing project at R.J. Lee Instruments to redesign the software interface to our Personal SEM product around a TCP/IP link between the SEM hardware and the user interface. All communications between the SEM and console, including commands and image data are transmitted over a single 10-BaseT Ethernet link using the connection-oriented TCP protocol.