Method and optical apparatus for acquiring frames using multiple detection channels

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for acquiring frames using a plurality of detection channels (CH1, CH2), comprising the steps of: acquiring first frame data using a first detection channel (CH1) in a first acquisition mode, and acquiring second frame data using a second detection channel (CH2) in a second acquisition mode, wherein the first frame data and the second frame data are acquired in respective mutually alternating acquisition sequences (Smn) of the respective acquisition series (EF1, EF2). The invention is characterized in that the duration of the acquisition sequence (Smn) of the acquisition series (EF1, EF2) is selected differently for each detection channel (Ch1, Ch2), the duration of the acquisition sequence (Smn) in one acquisition mode differing from the duration of the acquisition sequence (Smn) of at least one further acquisition mode by at least a duration of a single frame acquisition. The invention also relates to an optical device for acquiring a frame using a plurality of detection channels (Ch1, CH2).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to a method for acquiring frames using multiple detection channels. The invention also relates to an optical device configured to perform the method, and to a microscope. Background Art

[0002] In camera-based optical systems, for example in microscopes operated as widefield microscopes or lightfield microscopes, the necessary minimum exposure time and the maximum data transfer rate represent a limit to the maximum frame acquisition rate (frame rate). In the case of multicolor recording, the corresponding maximum frame rate can be achieved by appropriately illuminating the sample to be imaged with different wavelengths and using multiple cameras to simultaneously acquire the different color channels (detection channels). The disadvantage in this case is the need for multiple cameras and possible crosstalk between the color channels.

[0003] If the intention is to acquire a multicolor recording using only one camera, the frames of the individual detection channels can be acquired alternately. This reduces the maximum achievable channel-specific frame rate to the value resulting from the maximum frame rate of the camera divided by the number of detection channels and due to technical limitations of the frame recording system (e.g., limitations on the available bandwidth). Summary of the invention

[0004] The problem addressed by the present invention is to propose the option of acquiring frames using multiple detection channels, with which option an efficient device design and a high data quality can be achieved.

[0005] This problem is solved by the subject matter described below. Advantageous developments are also described below.

[0006] The present invention provides a method for collecting frames using multiple detection channels, the method comprising the following steps:

[0007] - collecting at least a first frame of data from a first detection channel in a first acquisition mode;

[0008] - collecting at least a second frame of data from the second detection channel in a second acquisition mode;

[0009] - wherein the first frame data and the second frame data are acquired in acquisition sequences that are respectively alternated with each other in a corresponding acquisition series;

[0010] Using a single camera to collect the first frame data and the second frame data,

[0011] and

[0012] For each detection channel, the duration of an acquisition sequence of an acquisition series is selected differently, wherein the duration of an acquisition sequence in one acquisition mode differs from the duration of an acquisition sequence of at least one other acquisition mode by at least the duration of a single frame acquisition.

[0013] In one embodiment, in each case, artificial frame data is generated for a data gap caused by the alternating acquisition of the first frame data and the second frame data and corresponding to at least one omitted frame, the generation being caused by any of the following:

[0014] - copying frame data acquired temporally before the data gap and / or temporally after the data gap and assigning said frame data to said omitted frame, or

[0015] - calculating frame data for said omitted frames based on frame data from detection channels acquired temporally before the data gap and / or temporally after the data gap.

[0016] In one embodiment, information specifying the duration of the acquisition sequence and the data gaps and the number of frames acquired or omitted is assigned to the frame data and the data gaps.

[0017] In one embodiment, the information further includes a timestamp of the acquisition sequence.

[0018] In one embodiment, the duration of the acquisition sequence of the acquisition series for each detection channel is selected based on the movement of the imaged structure.

[0019] In one embodiment, the duration of the acquisition sequence of the acquisition series for each detection channel is selected based on the intensity of the acquired frames.

[0020] In one embodiment, the duration of an acquisition sequence in a temporally consecutive series of acquisitions is modified.

[0021] In one embodiment, the duration of the acquisition sequence is modified within the acquisition series.

[0022] The present invention also provides an optical device for collecting frame data on at least two detection channels, comprising:

[0023] - a detection beam path along which the detection radiation to be collected is diverted to the camera;

[0024] a controller configured to create and transmit control commands, wherein at least one light source for providing illumination radiation, an optical filter element for controlled selection of at least one wavelength range of illumination radiation and / or an optical filter element for controlled selection of at least one wavelength range of detection radiation are controlled by means of said control commands in order to:

[0025] In a first acquisition mode, a first frame of data is acquired from a first detection channel by means of the camera, and

[0026] acquiring a second frame of data from a second detection channel by means of the camera in a second acquisition mode, the acquisition mode being determined by a correspondingly selected wavelength range of the illumination radiation and / or the detection radiation, and

[0027] so as to acquire the first frame data and the second frame data in a corresponding alternating acquisition sequence of a corresponding acquisition series,

[0028] It is characterized in that

[0029] the control commands of the controller are used to set the duration of the acquisition sequences of the acquisition series for each detection channel so that they differ from one another, are controlled by means of the optical filter elements so that the detection radiation of the individual detection channels is acquired and distributed due to their effect during the duration of the respective acquisition sequence,

[0030] Therein, the duration of an acquisition sequence from one detection channel differs from the duration of an acquisition sequence from at least one other detection channel by at least the duration of a single frame acquisition, with the result that, for temporally parallel acquisition sequences, in each case only frame data of one acquisition sequence are acquired at a point in time, and data gaps exist in the acquisition series outside the corresponding acquisition sequence.

[0031] The present invention also provides a microscope, comprising the optical device described above.

[0032] In one embodiment, the microscope is in the form of a light field microscope or a microscope designed to illuminate the sample with different patterns, phase angles, wavelengths and / or polarizations and to generate corresponding acquisition modes in the process.

[0033] The problem is solved by a method in which multiple detection channels are used to collect frames. The method comprises the steps described below. In one step, a first frame of data from a first detection channel is collected. The collection through the first detection channel can also be referred to as a first acquisition mode. In a further step, a second frame of data from a second detection channel is collected (also: second acquisition mode). In this case, the first frame of data and the second frame of data are collected in an alternating acquisition sequence of a corresponding acquisition series. Multiple frames are collected during the acquisition series. The acquisition series comprises at least one acquisition sequence (see below for Figure 1 and Figure 2 ).

[0034] The method according to the invention is characterized in that the duration of the acquisition sequence of the acquisition series is selected differently for each detection channel. In this case, the time length (and therefore the duration) of the acquisition sequence in one of the acquisition modes differs from the duration of the acquisition sequence of at least one other acquisition mode by at least the duration of a single frame acquisition. Therefore, different durations of the acquisition sequences require a correspondingly different number of acquired individual frames for each acquisition sequence of the acquisition modes.

[0035] The present invention is described below based on two acquisition modes. However, it can correspondingly include other acquisition modes, such as three, four, five or more acquisition modes.

[0036] As a simplification, the acquisition mode is understood here to mean the recording of frames with different information contents, i.e. the acquisition of detection radiation. Therefore, frame data from different sources, such as fluorescence radiation from different fluorophores, can be collected in each acquisition mode. For example, different acquisition modes can be realized by making different illumination wavelengths (excitation radiation) that excite different fluorophores to emit fluorescence radiation available. This can happen at the same time. Optionally, the fluorophore needs to be activated before its excitation, i.e. converted from an inactive state to an excitable state. For example, activation can be implemented using a suitable activation radiation. Reflected and / or transmitted illumination radiation can also be used as detection radiation. In this case, for example, the type of alignment and / or shaping of the illumination radiation can be modified in each acquisition mode. For example, it is possible to switch between reflected light and transmitted light illumination, between bright field and dark field illumination, and / or between different illumination angles and / or illumination directions in order to realize respectively different acquisition modes.

[0037] In order to realize the above process, the interaction of the controller with the camera and optionally the light source and further optically active elements is relevant to the present invention. It is assumed that the camera allows frame acquisition at only one frame rate. For example, different acquisition modes or detection channels can be realized by means of appropriate measures for selecting the acquired frame data, such as the use of wavelength-specific filters adopted in the illumination beam path and / or the detection beam path.

[0038] The acquisition series have the same duration and run simultaneously in a preferred configuration of the method. It is advantageously possible to implement at least two acquisition modes using only one camera, since the acquisition sequences occur alternately with each other within the acquisition series. Since the acquisition series occur simultaneously and have the same length, they all have data gaps at the times when frames are acquired in the corresponding acquisition sequence by means of the corresponding other detection channel. A data gap refers to a time period during an acquisition series during which no current frame data is acquired using the relevant acquisition mode and therefore corresponds to the number of omitted frames for this acquisition mode.

[0039] In the case of the results of the process according to the invention for frame acquisition, the availability of frames at all times within the entire acquisition series and / or the ability to display frames may be required. To this end, in one configuration of the method according to the invention, artificial frame data are generated in each case for data gaps caused by the alternating acquisition of first and second frame data and corresponding to at least one omitted frame. This can be achieved in two ways. In a first variant, frame data acquired temporally before the data gap and / or temporally after the data gap are copied and assigned to the omitted frame. Thus, the data gaps are filled with actual frame data from time periods that do not correspond to the data gaps. This variant of the method requires less computing power, but slightly increases the demand for storage space.

[0040] In a second variant, the data gap is filled by means of frame data for the omitted frames calculated based on frame data from detection channels collected before and / or after the data gap in time. For example, frame data collected before and after the data gap can be used to create frame data for filling the data gap by means of interpolation. Therefore, this variant requires increased computing power and storage space.

[0041] The advantage of both variants described above is that algorithms known from the prior art can process such a series of frames without further adaptation.

[0042] Another configuration of the method according to the invention comprises assigning information (metadata) to the frame data and the data gaps. In particular, such metadata can contain information about the duration of the acquisition sequence and the data gaps and the number of acquired or omitted frames.

[0043] In this way, information about acquired or omitted frames and associated times or time periods (time stamps) can be provided, for example for display and evaluation algorithms. Metadata can be created on an optional basis or always for an acquisition series and can be assigned to the frame data.

[0044] Another configuration of the method according to the invention utilizes information about the intensity of the acquired frames. For example, if the intensity values ​​of the frames in the various detection channels are very different, the acquired sequences can also be adjusted in this respect, with the result that, for example, in an acquisition mode with low intensities of the acquired frames each acquisition sequence acquires more images in each case than in an acquisition mode with high intensities of the frames.

[0045] The method according to the invention advantageously allows at least two acquisition modes to be implemented using only one camera, even if only limited bandwidth is available for data transmission. In the process, it is advantageously possible to flexibly match the duration and the relative alternation series of the acquisition sequences to the known or expected processes to be observed within the scope of the technical specifications of the camera. Thus, a fast-moving process can be observed in one of the acquisition modes. To this end, the acquisition sequences of this acquisition mode can be selected in rapid succession. In addition, in a manner corresponding to the acquisition sequences, their respective durations can be selected to be longer than the duration of the acquisition sequences of another acquisition mode intended for imaging a slower-developing process, such as the movement of an element of a sample to be observed. A slower-developing process can be recorded using frames of an acquisition sequence that is shorter and more temporally spaced apart.

[0046] The duration of an acquisition sequence can also be modified over a plurality of acquisition series, for example over acquisition series that temporally follow one another. Thus, when frame data from an acquisition sequence have just been evaluated, the speed of the process acquired using different acquisition modes can be inferred and the duration of the acquisition sequence and the alternating series of acquisition modes can be adjusted if necessary.

[0047] As an alternative or in addition thereto, information that can be used to adjust the acquisition sequence can be stored in a database.Such information can be obtained based on experiments that have been performed and / or based on simulations.

[0048] In another possible configuration of the method according to the invention, the duration of an acquisition sequence can also be varied within an acquisition series.

[0049] The above-mentioned configurations of the method according to the present invention can be combined with each other within the routine practice of a person skilled in the art.

[0050] The problem solved by the present invention is also solved by an optical device configured to acquire frame data on at least two detection channels.

[0051] The optical device comprises a detection beam path, along which the detection radiation to be collected is diverted to a camera (detector). In addition, there is a controller configured to create and transmit control commands, wherein at least one light source for providing illumination radiation, an optical filter element for a controlled selection of at least one wavelength range of illumination radiation and / or an optical filter element for a controlled selection of at least one wavelength range of detection radiation are controlled by means of control commands. The control is used to collect a first frame of data from a first detection channel in a first acquisition mode and to collect a second frame of data from a second detection channel in a second acquisition mode. The acquisition mode is determined by the corresponding selected wavelength range of the illumination radiation and / or the detection radiation, or by the illumination method, as explained above. The first frame of data and the second frame of data are collected in a corresponding alternating acquisition sequence of a corresponding acquisition series.

[0052] The optical device according to the invention is characterized in that the control commands of the controller are used to set the durations of the acquisition sequences of the acquisition series for each detection channel so that they differ from each other. To this end, the optical filter elements are controlled so that the detection radiation of the various acquisition modes is acquired and distributed as a result of their action during the duration of the corresponding acquisition sequence.

[0053] In this case, the duration of an acquisition sequence between the acquisition series differs from the duration of an acquisition sequence of at least one further acquisition mode by at least the duration of a single frame acquisition (frame), with the result that, for temporally parallel acquisition series, only frame data of one acquisition sequence are acquired at a point in time in each case, and data gaps exist in the acquisition series outside the respective acquisition sequence.

[0054] In this case, an optical filter element is understood to mean technical components and measures that thus result in a controlled acquisition of the first frame data and the second frame data. Thus, the light source may comprise a plurality of individual lasers, laser diodes and / or illuminators emitting in different wavelength ranges. By means of preventing currently undesired wavelengths from irradiating the sample, for example by targeted activation and deactivation of individual light sources or by using shutters or mirrors, switching between the relevant individual light sources may be performed according to the respective currently selected acquisition mode. On the illumination side, it is also possible to select and / or control optical filters (e.g. spectral filters and / or acousto-optic filters (AOTF)) so as to allow the illumination wavelength to reach the sample according to the currently selected acquisition mode.

[0055] As an alternative or in addition to this, corresponding measures can be provided for the detection beam path. The acquired frame data are stored according to the acquisition series and the acquisition mode and their acquisition time and are available for immediate or subsequent evaluation.

[0056] The optical device comprises a suitably configured controller or is connected to such a controller in a manner suitable for data exchange.The controller is used to create the control commands and may be, for example, a computer, a microcontroller or an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array).

[0057] The optical device according to the invention is in particular a component of an optical apparatus for acquiring frames using a plurality of detection channels, for example a microscope.

[0058] The optical equipment can be part of a light-field microscope. In this type of microscope, one can start with a wide-field recording and then perform a light-field recording in the direction of the detection axis (z direction; see also Figure 5 and 6 ) to create multiple slice planes on the image plane. To this end, a microlens array is arranged in front of the camera, the microlenses of which represent an appropriate number of subapertures and image the sample to be imaged in frames with different angular information. A microscope operating according to light field theory can, for example, be designed with a microlens array (MLA) in the spatial domain (MLA in the intermediate image plane) or in the frequency domain (MLA in the pupil plane).

[0059] In a further embodiment, the optical device may be an integral part of a microscope in which it is necessary or advantageous to use only one camera. For example, such a microscope may illuminate the sample with different patterns, phase angles, wavelengths and / or polarizations, requiring appropriate acquisition modes. In such an embodiment of the invention, the light source for providing the illumination radiation and the switch element or filter element are used to selectively create at least one of the above-mentioned acquisition modes. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0060] The invention is explained in detail below based on exemplary embodiments and drawings, in which:

[0061] Figure 1 shows a schematic diagram of frame acquisition using two acquisition modes according to the prior art;

[0062] Figure 2 shows a schematic illustration of frame acquisition using two acquisition modes and alternating frame acquisition according to the prior art;

[0063] Figure 3 shows a schematic illustration of frame acquisition according to the present invention, which uses two acquisition modes and alternating frame acquisition;

[0064] Figure 4 shows a schematic illustration of the reproduction of frames acquired according to the invention from frame acquisition according to the invention using two acquisition modes and alternating frame acquisition;

[0065] Figure 5 shows a schematic illustration of an embodiment of a microscope according to the invention;

[0066] Figure 6 A schematic representation of a further embodiment of a microscope in the form of a light-field microscope according to the invention is shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0067] In the method according to the prior art for acquiring frames using two acquisition modes Ch1 and Ch2, a plurality of frames (depicted as squares) are acquired in each case in two acquisition series EF1 and EF2 parallel to one another in time ( Figure 1 ). By way of example, the movement of a first object O1 (shown by way of example as a hexagon) during the duration of a first acquisition series EF1 is shown in the first acquisition mode Ch1. The first object O1 clearly changes its relative position within the frame. In contrast, a second object O2 acquired by means of the second acquisition mode Ch2 and represented by a horizontal elliptical shape remains at its initial position during the duration of the second acquisition series EF2.

[0068] Due to the acquisition of the two acquisition modes Ch1 and Ch2 by means of two different cameras, for example, all acquired frames can be displayed on an electronic visual display (display), for example, without data gaps DL for the corresponding acquisition series EF1 and EF2 (see Figure 2 ).

[0069] In contrast, if the frames of the acquisition series EF1 and EF2 are acquired alternately, the acquired frames and the data gaps DL are alternated in each acquisition series EF1, EF2 ( Figure 2 ). Furthermore, in the example shown here, the objects O1 and O2 each move at different speeds.

[0070] Figure 3 Frame acquisition according to the present invention is schematically illustrated, which uses two acquisition modes and alternating frame acquisition. Since the second object O2 does not move, or moves substantially slower than the first object O1, the first object O1 is acquired more frequently than the second object O2 in a targeted manner. To this end, frames are acquired within a first acquisition series EF1 in acquisition sequences S11 to S13, which are separated from each other by an acquisition duration of at least one frame. During these data gaps DL of the first acquisition series EF1, frames of the second acquisition series EF2 are acquired in acquisition sequences S21 and S22. The acquisition sequences S11, S12 and S13 of the first acquisition series EF1 each include two acquired frames, while the acquisition sequences S21 and S22 of the second acquisition series EF2 each include one acquired frame.

[0071] In order to be able to display the acquisition series EF1, EF2 as completely as possible (each with a data gap DL, ie without a data gap DL), these are computationally filled in a further configuration of the method according to the invention ( Figure 4 ). To this end, interpolation can be used to fill the relevant data gap DL, in particular in the case of a fast-moving object O1. In the case of a slow-moving object O2, the frame acquired directly before the relevant data gap DL can, for example, be copied and used to fill the adjacent data gap DL. Figure 4 In FIG. 1 , the image inserted into the data gap DL is shown by means of a dotted line.

[0072] Figure 5 A schematic diagram of a microscope M in the form of a wide-field microscope is shown. The wide-field microscope comprises a light source 1, for example a laser light source, from which an excitation radiation beam is emitted and directed toward a sample 2 to be imaged. For greater clarity, optionally present optical elements for shaping and / or collimation of the excitation radiation are not shown.

[0073] Purely by way of example, reference numeral 3 is used to symbolically represent a switch element or filter element connected to the controller 4, and the effect of which allows different acquisition modes in the aforementioned sense to be realized. For example, the light source 1 may comprise a plurality of individual lasers, laser diodes or illuminators emitting in different wavelength ranges. Depending on the respectively currently selected acquisition mode, there is a switch between the relevant individual light sources. This can be achieved by targeted activation and deactivation of the individual light sources or by blocking currently undesirable wavelengths using shutters or mirrors. It is also possible that, depending on the selected acquisition mode, different wavelength ranges of the emission wavelength range from the light source 1 are filtered out or made available for illumination by means of suitable filters (spectral filters, AOTF).

[0074] The excitation radiation is guided into a sample space, wherein a sample 2 to be imaged may be present on a sample stage 5 .

[0075] The detection radiation induced in the sample 2 by the excitation radiation is acquired by the objective 6 and guided along a detection beam path 7 (shown using a dashed line).

[0076] In the z-direction, the detection radiation reaches an optical unit 8 which is present in the detection beam path 7 and serves to guide the detection radiation to a camera 9 .

[0077] Optionally, there is a connection suitable for exchanging data and control commands between the light source 1 and the controller 4. For example, the controller 4 is a computer or a suitable control circuit. Optionally, the controller 4 and the camera 9 can be interconnected, for example to allow the controller 4 to generate control commands and / or verify these control commands based on brightness information (measurements) obtained from the camera 9. For example, these control commands are used to control the light source 1 and / or an optional driver 10 of the sample stage 8.

[0078] In particular, the controller 4 is used to execute the method according to the invention, in which predetermined parameters of the acquisition series EF1, EF2 of the acquisition sequences S11 to S13, S21 to S23 and the properties of the optional data gaps DL are converted into control commands and the method is applied by their execution.

[0079] In further embodiments of the invention, the switching element 3 can additionally or alternatively be arranged in the detection beam path 7 .

[0080] In another embodiment, the microscope M can be implemented as a light field microscope ( Figure 6 ). In this case, a microlens array 11 comprising a plurality of microlenses (shown in a simplified manner) is arranged in front of the camera 9. The microlens array 11 is arranged in front of the camera 9 at a distance from the focal length of the microlenses and in the pupil plane (Fourier light field microscopy, frequency domain light field microscopy) or in the intermediate image plane (spatial domain light field microscopy). In another embodiment, if the microlenses have different focal lengths, the distance from the camera 9 may correspond to the average focal length.

[0081] The controller 4 can be configured to process by calculation the measured values ​​acquired from the microlens array 11 arranged upstream of the camera 9, in particular to combine the measured values ​​by calculation within the meaning of light field theory. To this end, the controller 4 can be provided with an integrated evaluation unit 12, for example as a microcontroller, a computer, a GPU or a CPU. In a further embodiment, the evaluation unit 12 can also be present separately from the controller 9.

[0082] Other embodiments of the microscope M, not shown, are designed to illuminate the sample with different patterns, phase angles, wavelengths and / or polarizations and to generate corresponding acquisition modes in the process. To this end, optical elements such as gratings, spatial light modulators (SLMs), phase elements such as phase plates and / or filters (all not shown) may be present in the illumination beam path.

[0083] Reference numerals

[0084] 1 Light Source

[0085] 2 samples

[0086] 3 Switching elements

[0087] 4 Controller

[0088] 5. Sample stage

[0089] 6 Objective lens

[0090] 7. Detection beam path

[0091] 8 optical units

[0092] 9 Camera

[0093] 10. Drive

[0094] 11Microlens Array

[0095] Ch1, Ch2 detection channels, acquisition mode

[0096] DL data gap

[0097] EF1, EF2 acquisition series

[0098] M microscope

[0099] Smn acquisition sequence (m = acquisition series; n = index of acquisition sequence)

Claims

1. A method for acquiring frames using multiple detection channels (Ch1, CH2), The method comprises the following steps: - collecting at least a first frame of data from a first detection channel (Ch1) in a first acquisition mode; - collecting at least a second frame of data from a second detection channel (Ch2) in a second acquisition mode; - wherein the first frame data and the second frame data are acquired in acquisition sequences (Smn) of corresponding acquisition series (EF1, EF2) that alternate with each other; using a single camera (9) to collect the first frame data and the second frame data, and For each detection channel (Ch1, Ch2), the duration of the acquisition sequence (Smn) of the acquisition series (EF1, EF2) is selected differently, wherein the duration of the acquisition sequence (Smn) in one acquisition mode differs from the duration of the acquisition sequence (Smn) of at least one other acquisition mode by at least the duration of a single frame acquisition.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that In each case, artificial frame data is generated for a data gap (DL) caused by the alternating acquisition of the first frame data and the second frame data and corresponding to at least one omitted frame, the generation being caused by any of the following: - copying frame data collected temporally before the data gap (DL) and / or temporally after the data gap (DL) and assigning the frame data to the omitted frame, or - calculating frame data for the omitted frame based on frame data from detection channels (Ch1, Ch2) acquired temporally before the data gap (DL) and / or temporally after the data gap (DL).

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: Information specifying the duration of the acquisition sequence (Smn) and the data gap (DL) and the number of frames acquired or omitted is allocated to the frame data and the data gap (DL).

4. The method according to claim 3, characterized in that The information also includes a time stamp of the acquisition sequence (EF1, EF2).

5. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The duration of the acquisition sequence (Smn) of the acquisition series (EF1, EF2) for each detection channel (Ch1, Ch2) is selected based on the movement of the imaged structure.

6. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The duration of the acquisition sequence (Smn) of the acquisition series (EF1, EF2) for each detection channel (Ch1, Ch2) is selected based on the intensity of the acquired frames.

7. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that Modifying the duration of an acquisition sequence (Smn) in a temporally consecutive series of acquisitions (EF1, EF2).

8. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The duration of the acquisition sequence (Smn) is modified within the acquisition series (EF1, EF2).

9. An optical device for collecting frame data on at least two detection channels (Ch1, Ch2), include - a detection beam path (7), along which the detection radiation to be collected is diverted to the camera (9); a controller (4) configured to create and transmit control commands, wherein at least one light source (1) for providing illumination radiation, an optical filter element (3) for controlled selection of at least one wavelength range of illumination radiation and / or an optical filter element (3) for controlled selection of at least one wavelength range of detection radiation are controlled by means of the control commands in order to: In a first acquisition mode (Ch1, Ch2), a first frame of data is acquired from a first detection channel (Ch1) by means of the camera (9), and Acquiring a second frame of data from a second detection channel (Ch2) by means of the camera (9) in a second acquisition mode (Ch1, Ch2), the acquisition mode being determined by a correspondingly selected wavelength range of the illumination radiation and / or the detection radiation, and so as to acquire the first frame data and the second frame data in a corresponding alternating acquisition sequence (Smn) of a corresponding acquisition series (EF1, EF2), It is characterized in that The control commands of the controller (4) are used to set the duration of the acquisition sequences (Smn) of the acquisition series (EF1, EF2) of each detection channel (Ch1, Ch2) so that they are different from each other, and are controlled by means of the optical filter elements (3) so that the detection radiation of the individual detection channels (Ch1, Ch2) is acquired and distributed due to their effect during the duration of the corresponding acquisition sequence (Smn), In which the duration of an acquisition sequence (EF1, EF2) from one detection channel (Ch1, Ch2) differs from the duration of an acquisition sequence (EF1, EF2) of at least one other detection channel (Ch1, Ch2) by at least the duration of a single frame acquisition, with the result that, for temporally parallel acquisition sequences (EF1, EF2), only frame data of one acquisition sequence (Smn) are acquired at a single point in time in each case, and data gaps (DL) exist in the acquisition series (EF1, EF2) outside the corresponding acquisition sequence (Smn).

10. A microscope (M) comprising an optical device according to claim 9.

11. Microscope (M) according to claim 10, in the form of a light field microscope or in the form of a microscope (M) designed to illuminate the sample with different patterns, phase angles, wavelengths and / or polarizations and to generate corresponding acquisition modes in the process.

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