A. What is covered by the warranty?

This document describes the warranty conditions of the Argolight Product and supplants any other document regarding the warranty conditions (user guide, specification sheet, etc.) edited by Argolight prior to this date.

Argolight warrants that all Products sold by Argolight will conform to the published specifications and shall be free from defects in materials and workmanship under normal use, handling, and service. The resulting values obtained through patterns analysis are not warranted as they depend on too many external parameters within the acquisition and analysis process.

The warranty of the products is valid if the normal conditions of use are respected. These conditions can be found in the “general handling and care” section in the user guides of the Product. The user guides shall be deemed received and accepted if no claim is made by the Buyer to Argolight within one (1) month from the date the Product was delivered.

 

I. Fluorescent patterns

1. Positioning

The patterns are positioned (170 ± 5) μm below the top surface of the glass, which optical flatness is typically 0.065 µm, on a plane which parallelism with respect to the bottom surface of the metal carrier is less or equal to 5 mrad.

• For all the patterns except the target: The constituents within each individual pattern are positioned with a maximum relative error of ± 0.11 μm in XY and ± 0.15 μm in Z.

• For the target patterns (TAR-AG3-O1-D650P25D12.5 / TAR-AG3-O1-D240P10): The cross and the concentric circles are positioned with a maximum relative error of ± 0.11 μm in XY and ± 2.00 μm in Z.

2. Intensity

The intensity emitted by the patterns depends on the irradiation conditions: power density, illumination duration, excitation and emission wavelengths, zoom, etc.

Given the large range of possible irradiation conditions, Argolight cannot warranty an absolute intensity level of the fluorescence emitted by the patterns.

3. Photo-stability

The intensity of the patterns may decrease. However, this decrease is transient. The fluorescence intensity recovers to its initial value after some time. The recovery time, i.e., the time it takes for the fluorescence intensity to get back to its initial value, depends on the irradiation conditions (power density, illumination duration, excitation and emission wavelengths, zoom, etc.). The recovery time can be from seconds to months, to years, with typical values in the minutes range.

Given the large range of possible irradiation conditions, Argolight cannot provide recovery time values. However, Argolight warrants that the patterns will always remain fluorescent, albeit not at the same intensity if the laser irradiance (peak or average) is kept below 50 GW.cm^-2.

4. Spectral features

The spectral features (excitation spectrum, emission spectrum, and lifetime) of the patterns depend on the excitation and emission wavelengths, on the spatial scale at which they are measured, and on the illumination power density and duration.

Given the large range of possible irradiation conditions, Argolight only provides typical spectral features averaged on a scale of several micrometers, which are only valid for given excitation/emission conditions. Argolight does not warranty the accuracy of those spectral features.

5. Additional criteria for specific patterns

• The “field of rings” patterns (FOR-AG3-O2-L2600S50 / FOR-AG3-O1-L660S15 / FOR-AG3-O1-L100S5) is within the accepted criterium defined by Argolight’s inspection protocols, both for intensity and position distribution.
• The “intensity gradation” patterns (4X4IG-AG3-O2-L100S30 /4X4IG-AG3-O1-L8.5S5 / 4X4IG-AG3-O1-L6S4 / 2X16IG-AG3-O2-L100S30 / 2X16IG-AG3-O1-L8.5S5 / 2X16IG-AG3-O1-L6S4) are within the accepted criteria defined by Argolight’s inspection protocols, both for intensity and linearity.
• For the “gradually spaced lines” patterns of the Argo-HM model (GSLx-AG3-O1-L50-F100L700S50, where x stands for D, H, A, or V), the measured line spacings are within the acceptance tunnel, e. the specified line spacings ± 0.110 μm, and the spacing step, i.e. the slope of the linear regression curve, is within (0.050 ± 0.010) μm.
• For the “gradually spaced lines” patterns of the Argo-SIM model (GSLx-AG3-O1-L36-F0L390S30, where x stands for D, H, A, or V), the measured line spacings are within the acceptance tunnel, e. the specified line spacings ± 0.110 μm, and the spacing step, i.e. the slope of the linear regression curve, is within (0.030 ± 0.010) μm.
• The other patterns are free of defects with unaltered integrity.

6. How long does the warranty last?

The warranty related to the fluorescent patterns is valid for the lifetime of the Product, from the date the Product.

 

II. Metal mount

1. Dimensions

The dimensions of the mount for the standard “Argo-“ and “Argo-POWER” range of products are (75.0 ±0/-0.1) mm ×  (25.0 ±0/-0.1) mm.

2. Parallelism

The parallelism between the top and bottom surfaces of the mount is less than or equal to 10 μm. The parallelism between the top and bottom surfaces of the glass is less than or equal to 1 μm.

The parallelism between the glass top surface and the bottom mount surface is less than or equal to 5 mrad (for upright microscope use). The parallelism between the glass top surface and the top mount surface is less than or equal to 5 mrad (for inverted microscope use).

 

III. Opto-electronics and control-electronics components

1. Power sensor and control unit

Argolight warrants that all the opto-electronics and control-electronics components are free from any manufacturing defects and comply with the specifications provided in the user guide of the Product.

2. How long does the warranty last?

The warranty related to the opto-electronics and control-electronics components is valid for one year, from the date the Product was delivered.

 

B. What is not covered by the warranty?

This warranty does not cover:

– the wear and tear of the slide due to normal usage after delivery. it includes but is not limited to scratches, impacts, modification of the esthetics of the slide that does not impact its usage…

– the chemical stability of the glue used to hold the glass (we provide a paid service of certified re-gluing of the glass).

– the non-functional condition of the glass surface (for example, a scratch on a region of the glass surface that does not have fluorescent patterns below),

– the non-functional condition of the metal part surface (for example, a scratch on the surface that does not alter the parallelism or the flatness of the metal carrier),

– the effects and deteriorations linked to contact with water,

– the effects and deteriorations linked to any contact with acetone, ammonia, or any other detergent, apart from alcohol or isopropanol intended for optical lens cleaning,

– the effects and deteriorations due to unusual physical, thermal, or illumination stress and excessive light flux, whose irradiance (peak or average) is above 50 GW.cm^-2,

– the effects and deteriorations emerging from the use of the device with multiphoton imaging systems.

This limited warranty does not apply to products that are: (a) identified by Argolight as a pre-production product (alpha, beta, or similar product) or a prototype; (b) special, modified, or customized items meeting the specifications provided by the Buyer; (c) items repaired, modified or altered by any party other than Argolight; (d) items used in conjunction with equipment not provided by, or acknowledged as compatible by, Argolight.

To the extent the Product is incorporated into any other instrument or device, Argolight makes no representation with respect to the safety, efficacy, accuracy, reliability, use, or fitness for the intended purpose of such integrated product. To the extent so incorporated into any other instrument or device, the Buyer hereby agrees to indemnify and hold Argolight harmless from any claims, suits, liabilities, losses, damages, expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ and experts’ fees and expenses), and costs arising from or relating to any defects in and/or the use of such integrated product, and/or the failure of such integrated product to comply with any applicable laws or regulations.

 

C. What will Argolight do in case of a warranty claim?

Argolight will repair any product under active warranty that proves to be defective as per the given specifications.

In the event repair is not possible, Argolight will replace the device with a new similar device or with equivalent capacities or refund the full purchase price of the device.

 D. How to submit a warranty claim?

To submit a warranty claim, please refer to the “General Terms & Conditions of Sale”.

EXCEPT FOR THE LIMITED WARRANTY EXPRESSLY SET FORTH ABOVE, ARGOLIGHT MAKES NO WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, WITH RESPECT TO THE PRODUCTS, AND EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ANY WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.

What is covered:
Under strict conditions set by the General Terms and Conditions and by the documentation provided as “Normal Conditions of Use”, Argolight warrants Argolight’s slides that all Products sold by will conform to the published specifications therefore and show a series of fluorescent
patterns:
1. whose form and dimensions are set to +/- 110 nm in X and Y dimensions, and +/- 100 nm in Z,
2. whose spectrum , is similar in form in any part of the slide for similar illumination settings (wavelength, light flow…) and for similar
pattern intensity,
3. whose intensity is stable during the warrantee period, taking into account the restrictions hereafter.

Argolight specifies that the fluorescent properties of slides may vary in certain illumination settings, depending on the continuous exposure
time. Argolight warrants that after a period without illumination, which may vary depending on the exposure time (from one minute to several
hours), the fluorescent properties of the slide return to their initial state.
However, Argolight points out that the illumination conditions producing these effects are within the limits of Normal Conditions of Use, and
should only be undertaken in knowledge of the risks of damage the slide may undergo if the user exceeds these limits.
How long coverage lasts: This warranty runs for three (3) years from the date the slide has been delivered.

What is not covered:
This warranty does not cover:
1. the condition of the glass surface,
2. the condition of the metal part surface,
3. the effects and deteriorations linked to an extended contact with water,
4. the effects and deteriorations linked to an interaction with acetone, ammonia or any other detergent, apart from alcohol intended for
optical lens cleaning,
5. the effects and deteriorations due to unusual physical, thermal, or illumination stress and excessive light flow, whose peak irradiance
is above 50 GW/cm2,
6. the effects and deteriorations emerging from the use of the slide with multiphoton imaging systems.

This Limited Warranty does not apply to Products which are (a) identified by Argolight as a pre-production product, alpha, beta or similar
product or a prototype, (b) specials, modifications, or customized items meeting the specifications provided by Buyer; (c) items repaired,
modified or altered by any party other than Argolight; (d) items used in conjunction with equipment not provided by, or acknowledged as
compatible by, Argolight.
To the extent the Product is incorporated into any other instrument or device, Argolight makes no representation with respect to the safety,
efficacy, accuracy, reliability, use, or fitness for intended purpose of such integrated product. To the extent so incorporated into any other
instrument or device, Buyer hereby agrees to indemnify and hold Argolight harmless from any claims, suits, liabilities, losses, damages,
expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ and experts’ fees and expenses) and costs arising from or relating to any defects in and/or the
use of such integrated product, and/or the failure of such integrated product to comply with any applicable laws or regulations.

What Argolight will do:
Argolight will repair any product that proves to be defective as per the given specifications.
In the event repair is not possible, Argolight will replace the slide with a new similar slide or with equivalent capacities, or refund the full
purchase price of the slide.

How to get service:
To submit a warranty claim, please contact Argolight by email at contact@argolight.com. A service representative will contact you within 10
working days to organize the product return by mail for Argolight to analyze it. Argolight will then take any necessary action to correct
problems covered by this warranty.

EXCEPT FOR THE LIMITED WARRANTY EXPRESSLY SET FORTH ABOVE, ARGOLIGHT MAKES NO WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR
IMPLIED, WITH RESPECT TO THE PRODUCTS, AND EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ANY WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY OR
FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE

Please know that the warranty expressed here only concerns the fluorescence. Warranty about the electronics was at the time announced to be 1 year.