Glass slide box placement detection device and glass slide inspection system

Abstract

The invention relates to a slide box placement detection device and a glass slide inspection system. The slide box placement detection device comprises a diffuse reflection sensor, two-dimensional code scanning equipment and a control unit, the diffuse reflection sensor is fixedly arranged at an inlet of the slide box and is connected with the control unit; when the slide box is in the detection range of the diffuse reflection sensor, the diffuse reflection sensor sends a slide box in-place signal to the control unit; the two-dimensional code scanning device is fixedly installed at an inlet of the slide box, a two-dimensional code is attached to the slide box, and the two-dimensional code on the slide box is within the scanning range of the two-dimensional code scanning device only when the slide box is correctly placed in a preset slide box placement area; the control unit is connected with the two-dimensional code scanning equipment and controls the two-dimensional code scanning equipment to be started when receiving the slide box in-place signal; the control unit judges whether the slide box is correctly placed or not by detecting whether the two-dimensional code scanning equipment scans the two-dimensional code on the slide box or not, and the problem that a glass slide sample is easily damaged due to the fact that the slide box is wrongly placed is solved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of computer technology, and in particular to a slide box placement detection device and a slide inspection system. Background Technology

[0002] Traditionally, microscopic observation of slide samples involves placing the sample face up on the microscope stage and observing it with the human eye. However, with the development of digital and information technologies, a large number of slide samples need to be observed, requiring high-throughput automated equipment to complete the data acquisition. This has led to the development of new slide carrier media, namely slide cassettes. Slide cassettes that can hold multiple slides simultaneously can work with automated devices to rotate the slides on slide inspection equipment.

[0003] In existing technology, when inspecting slides in a slide box, the slide box needs to be transported from the slide box inlet of the slide inspection equipment to the slide inspection area. Then, a slide gripping device picks up slides one by one from the slide box and places them into the scanning area of ​​the slide inspection equipment to complete the inspection. If the slide box is placed in the slide box in the wrong direction or orientation, such as being placed upside down or inverted, the slide samples can easily be damaged during the slide gripping process after the slide box is transported to the slide inspection area.

[0004] There is currently no effective solution to the problem that incorrect placement of slide boxes can easily damage the slide samples in existing technologies. Summary of the Invention

[0005] Therefore, it is necessary to provide a slide box placement detection device and a slide inspection system to address the above-mentioned technical problems, so as to solve the problem that incorrect placement of slide boxes can easily damage slide samples in related technologies.

[0006] In the first aspect, embodiments of this application provide a slide box placement detection device for detecting whether a slide box is correctly placed in a preset slide box placement area of ​​a slide inspection device, wherein the preset slide box placement area is located at the slide box entrance of the slide inspection device; the device includes a diffuse reflection sensor, a QR code scanning device, and a control unit;

[0007] The diffuse reflection sensor is fixedly installed at the entrance of the slide box and is connected to the control unit. When the slide box is within the detection range of the diffuse reflection sensor, the diffuse reflection sensor sends a slide box arrival signal to the control unit. The detection range of the diffuse reflection sensor is the preset slide box placement area.

[0008] The QR code scanning device is fixedly installed at the entrance of the slide box. The slide box has a QR code attached to it. The QR code on the slide box is only within the scanning range of the QR code scanning device when the slide box is correctly placed in the preset slide box placement area.

[0009] The control unit is connected to the QR code scanning device. When the control unit receives a signal that the slide box is in place, the control unit controls the QR code scanning device to turn on. The control unit determines whether the slide box is correctly placed in the preset slide box placement area by detecting whether the QR code scanning device scans the QR code on the slide box.

[0010] In one embodiment, the control unit is also connected to a motor that drives the conveyor belt of the slide inspection device; the conveyor belt is used to transport the correctly placed slide box from the slide box inlet to the slide inspection area of ​​the slide inspection device; the scanning window of the QR code scanning device is perpendicular to the direction of movement of the conveyor belt;

[0011] When the control unit receives the slide box positioning signal, it also controls the motor to drive the conveyor belt. When the slide box moves out of the detection range, the diffuse reflection sensor sends a slide box removal signal to the control unit. When the control unit receives the slide box removal signal, it controls the motor to stop moving. During the process of the motor going from driving to stopping, the control unit determines whether the slide box is correctly placed in the preset slide box placement area by detecting whether the QR code scanning device scans the QR code on the slide box.

[0012] In one embodiment, when the QR code scanning device detects that the QR code on the slide box has been scanned, the control unit is further configured to control the motor to drive the conveyor belt to transport the slide box to the slide inspection area of ​​the slide inspection device; when the QR code scanning device detects that the QR code has not been scanned, the control unit is further configured to control the motor to drive the conveyor belt to transport the slide box to the preset slide box placement area.

[0013] In one embodiment, the device further includes an indicator light module connected to the control unit;

[0014] When the QR code scanning device fails to scan the QR code on the slide box, the control unit is also used to control the indicator module to issue an error indicator signal.

[0015] Secondly, this application also provides a slide inspection system, including slide inspection equipment and the slide box placement detection device described in the first aspect above.

[0016] The aforementioned slide box placement detection device and slide inspection system are used to detect whether slide boxes are correctly placed in the preset slide box placement area of ​​the slide inspection equipment. The preset slide box placement area is located at the slide box entrance of the slide inspection equipment. The slide box placement detection device includes a diffuse reflection sensor, a QR code scanning device, and a control unit. The diffuse reflection sensor is fixedly installed at the slide box entrance and is connected to the control unit. When the slide box is within the detection range of the diffuse reflection sensor, the diffuse reflection sensor sends a slide box positioning signal to the control unit. The detection range of the diffuse reflection sensor is the preset slide box placement area. The QR code scanning device is fixedly installed at the slide box entrance. A QR code is attached to the slide box. Only when the slide box is correctly placed in the preset slide box placement area will the QR code on the slide box be within the scanning range of the QR code scanning device. The control unit is connected to the QR code scanning device. When the control unit receives the slide box positioning signal, the control unit controls the QR code scanning device to start. The control unit determines whether the slide box is correctly placed in the preset slide box placement area by detecting whether the QR code scanning device scans the QR code on the slide box. This application configures a diffuse reflection sensor, a QR code scanning device, and a control unit at the slide box entrance of a slide inspection equipment. Together with slide boxes with attached QR codes, the interaction between these components enables the detection of whether the slide boxes are correctly placed in the preset slide box placement area at the slide box entrance of the slide inspection equipment. Incorrect slide box placement can be detected and processed in a timely manner, thereby effectively avoiding the problem that incorrect slide box placement can easily damage the slide samples. Attached Figure Description

[0017] The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of this application and form part of this application, illustrate exemplary embodiments and are used to explain this application, but do not constitute an undue limitation of this application. In the drawings:

[0018] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the slide box placement and detection device provided in Embodiment 1 of this application. Figure 1 ;

[0019] Figure 2 This is an application illustration of the slide box placement detection device provided in the embodiments of this application. Figure 1 ;

[0020] Figure 3 This is an application illustration of the slide box placement detection device provided in the embodiments of this application. Figure 2 ;

[0021] Figure 4This is a schematic diagram of the slide box placement and detection device provided in Embodiment 2 of this application. Figure 2 . Detailed Implementation

[0022] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of this application clearer, the application is described and illustrated below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are merely illustrative and not intended to limit the scope of this application. All other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art based on the embodiments provided in this application without inventive effort are within the scope of protection of this application.

[0023] Obviously, the accompanying drawings described below are merely some examples or embodiments of this application. Those skilled in the art can apply this application to other similar scenarios based on these drawings without any inventive effort. Furthermore, it is understood that although the efforts made in this development process may be complex and lengthy, for those skilled in the art related to the content disclosed in this application, any changes to design, manufacturing, or production based on the technical content disclosed in this application are merely conventional technical means and should not be construed as insufficient disclosure of the content of this application.

[0024] In this application, the reference to "embodiment" means that a specific feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with an embodiment may be included in at least one embodiment of this application. The appearance of this phrase in various places in the specification does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, nor is it a separate or alternative embodiment that is mutually exclusive with other embodiments. It will be explicitly and implicitly understood by those skilled in the art that the embodiments described in this application may be combined with other embodiments without conflict.

[0025] Unless otherwise defined, the technical or scientific terms used in this application shall have the ordinary meaning understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this application pertains. The terms “a,” “an,” “an,” “the,” and similar words used in this application do not indicate quantity limitation and may indicate singular or plural. The terms “comprising,” “including,” “having,” and any variations thereof used in this application are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion; for example, a process, method, system, product, or device that includes a series of steps or modules (units) is not limited to the listed steps or units, but may also include steps or units not listed, or may include other steps or units inherent to these processes, methods, products, or devices. The terms “connected,” “linked,” “coupled,” and similar words used in this application are not limited to physical or mechanical connections, but may include electrical connections, whether direct or indirect. “Multiple” used in this application refers to two or more. “And / or” describes the relationship between related objects, indicating that three relationships may exist; for example, “A and / or B” can represent: A alone, A and B simultaneously, and B alone. The character " / " generally indicates that the preceding and following objects are in an "or" relationship. The terms "first," "second," and "third" used in this application are merely to distinguish similar objects and do not represent a specific ordering of the objects.

[0026] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the slide box placement and detection device 10 provided in Embodiment 1 of this application. Figure 2 Schematic diagram of the application of the slide box placement detection device 10 provided in this application Figure 1 See Figure 1 and Figure 2 The slide box placement detection device 10 includes a diffuse reflection sensor 11, a QR code scanning device 12, and a control unit 13. The diffuse reflection sensor 11 is fixedly installed at the slide box entrance and is connected to the control unit 13. When the slide box is within the detection range of the diffuse reflection sensor 11, the diffuse reflection sensor 11 sends a slide box arrival signal to the control unit 13. The detection range of the diffuse reflection sensor 11 is a preset slide box placement area set at the slide box entrance of the slide inspection device. The QR code scanning device 12 is fixedly installed at the slide box entrance. A QR code is attached to the slide box. Only when the slide box is correctly placed in the preset slide box placement area will the QR code on the slide box be within the scanning range of the QR code scanning device 12. The control unit 13 is connected to the QR code scanning device 12. When the control unit 13 receives the slide box arrival signal, the control unit 13 controls the QR code scanning device 12 to turn on. The control unit 13 determines whether the slide box is correctly placed in the preset slide box placement area by detecting whether the QR code scanning device 12 scans the QR code on the slide box.

[0027] As shown Figure 2 , the preset slide box placement area can be set in any area at the slide box entrance of the slide inspection device according to actual needs. If the slide box is correctly placed in the preset slide box placement area of the slide inspection device, the slide inspection device can transport the slide box from the slide box entrance to the slide to be inspected area in the direction indicated by the arrow in Figure 2 . It should be noted that the slide inspection device referred to in this application can be any device on the market that uses a slide box as the medium for carrying slides and needs to scan and inspect the slides in the slide box, such as a cell morphology analyzer. To ensure that the detection range of the diffuse reflection sensor 11 in this application is the preset slide box placement area, before fixedly installing the diffuse reflection sensor 11 at the slide box entrance, the position and parameters of the diffuse reflection sensor 11 can be continuously adjusted until the detection range of the diffuse reflection sensor 11 is the preset slide box placement area, and then the diffuse reflection sensor 11 is fixedly installed.

[0028] In addition, to cooperate with the two-dimensional code scanning device 12 in this application, it is required that a two-dimensional code be attached to the slide box supporting the slide inspection device in this application. Specifically, the two-dimensional code can be pasted on the slide box using a sticker, printed on the slide box using a two-dimensional code printer, or attached to the slide box in any other reasonable form. Before officially using the slide box placement detection device 10 of this application, the slide box with the two-dimensional code attached can be placed in the preset slide box placement area in various poses, and then based on the position of the two-dimensional code on the slide box, the parameters of the two-dimensional code scanning device 12 can be adjusted to ensure that the two-dimensional code on the slide box is within the scanning range of the two-dimensional code scanning device 12 only when the slide box is correctly placed in the preset slide box placement area. It can be expected that since the two-dimensional code on the slide box is within the scanning range of the two-dimensional code scanning device 12 only when the slide box is correctly placed in the preset slide box placement area, when the slide box is correctly placed in the preset slide box placement area, the side of the slide box with the two-dimensional code attached is facing the scanning window of the two-dimensional code scanning device 12.

[0029] When a slide box enters the detection range of the diffuse reflection sensor 11, the diffuse reflection sensor 11 will send a slide box in-place signal to the control unit 13. When the control unit 13 receives the slide box in-place signal, the control unit 13 controls the two-dimensional code scanning device 12 to start. If the slide box is correctly placed in the preset slide box placement area, the two-dimensional code scanning device 12 can scan the two-dimensional code on the slide box. If the slide box is not correctly placed in the preset slide box placement area, the two-dimensional code scanning device 12 cannot scan the two-dimensional code on the slide box. Furthermore, the control unit 13 can determine whether the slide box is correctly placed in the preset slide box placement area by detecting whether the two-dimensional code scanning device 12 scans the two-dimensional code on the slide box.

[0030] In existing technology, when inspecting slides in a slide box, the slide box needs to be transported from the slide box inlet of the slide inspection equipment to the slide inspection area. Then, a slide gripping device picks up slides one by one from the slide box and places them into the scanning area of ​​the slide inspection equipment to complete the inspection. If the slide box is placed in the slide box in the wrong direction or orientation, such as being placed upside down or inverted, the slide samples can easily be damaged during the slide gripping process after the slide box is transported to the slide inspection area.

[0031] To address the aforementioned issues, this application proposes a slide box placement detection device for detecting whether a slide box is correctly placed in a preset slide box placement area of ​​a slide inspection equipment. The preset slide box placement area is located at the slide box entrance of the equipment. The device includes a diffuse reflection sensor, a QR code scanning device, and a control unit. The diffuse reflection sensor is fixedly installed at the slide box entrance and connected to the control unit. When the slide box is within the detection range of the diffuse reflection sensor, the sensor sends a slide box positioning signal to the control unit. The detection range of the diffuse reflection sensor is the preset slide box placement area. The QR code scanning device is fixedly installed at the slide box entrance. A QR code is attached to the slide box; the QR code on the slide box is only within the scanning range of the QR code scanning device when the slide box is correctly placed in the preset placement area. The control unit is connected to the QR code scanning device. When the control unit receives the slide box positioning signal, it activates the QR code scanning device. The control unit determines whether the slide box is correctly placed in the preset placement area by detecting whether the QR code scanning device scans the QR code on the slide box. This application configures a diffuse reflection sensor, a QR code scanning device, and a control unit at the slide box entrance of a slide inspection equipment. Together with slide boxes with attached QR codes, the interaction between these components enables the detection of whether the slide boxes are correctly placed in the preset slide box placement area at the slide box entrance of the slide inspection equipment. Incorrect slide box placement can be detected and processed in a timely manner, thereby effectively avoiding the problem that incorrect slide box placement can easily damage the slide samples.

[0032] See Figure 3 An application illustration of the slide box placement detection device 10 is provided. Figure 2 ,like Figure 3As shown, the control unit 13 is also connected to a motor that drives the conveyor belt of the slide inspection equipment; the conveyor belt is used to transport the correctly placed slide box from the slide box entrance to the slide inspection area of ​​the slide inspection equipment; the scanning window of the QR code scanning device 12 is perpendicular to the movement direction of the conveyor belt; when the control unit 13 receives the slide box positioning signal, the control unit 13 also controls the motor to drive the conveyor belt; when the slide box moves out of the detection range, the diffuse reflection sensor 11 also sends a slide box removal signal to the control unit 13; when the control unit 13 receives the slide box removal signal, the control unit 13 controls the motor to stop moving; during the process of the motor going from driving to stopping, the control unit 13 determines whether the slide box is correctly placed in the preset slide box placement area by detecting whether the QR code scanning device 12 scans the QR code on the slide box.

[0033] Specifically, since the conveyor belt in this application is used to transport correctly placed slide boxes from the slide box inlet to the slide inspection area of ​​the slide inspection equipment, and the conveyor belt is driven by a motor, it can be understood that the motor in this application can drive the conveyor belt to... Figure 3 The direction indicated by the arrow and the direction of the arrow are as follows: Figure 3 The movement is in the opposite direction to that indicated by the middle arrow. Since the scanning window of the QR code scanning device 12 in this application is perpendicular to the direction of movement of the conveyor belt, when the control unit 13 receives the slide box positioning signal and controls the motor to drive the conveyor belt, if the slide box is correctly placed in the preset slide box placement area, the relative distance between the scanning window of the QR code scanning device 12 and the side of the slide box with the QR code attached will gradually change. This setting ensures sufficient buffer distance between the scanning window of the QR code scanning device 12 and the QR code on the slide box, guaranteeing that the QR code on the slide box can be scanned by the QR code scanning device 12 when the slide box is correctly placed in the preset slide box placement area.

[0034] In one implementation, when the QR code scanning device 12 detects that the QR code on the slide box has been scanned, the control unit 13 is also used to control the motor to drive the conveyor belt to transport the slide box to the slide inspection area of ​​the slide inspection device; when the QR code scanning device 12 detects that the QR code on the slide box has not been scanned, the control unit 13 is also used to control the motor to drive the conveyor belt to transport the slide box to the preset slide box placement area, so as to realize timely and effective response to whether the slide box is correctly placed in the preset slide box placement area.

[0035] Figure 4This is a schematic diagram of the slide box placement detection device 20 provided in Embodiment 2 of this application. Based on the slide box placement detection device 10 provided in Embodiment 1 of this application, the slide box placement detection device 20 provided in this application further includes an indicator light module 24, which is connected to the control unit 23. When the QR code scanning device 22 detects that it has not scanned the QR code on the slide box, the control unit 23 is also used to control the indicator light module 24 to send an error indicator light signal.

[0036] Specifically, if the control unit 23 detects that the QR code scanning device 22 has not scanned the QR code on the slide box, it means that the slide box is not placed in the preset slide box placement area in the correct posture. Therefore, in this embodiment, an indicator light module 24 is added to the slide box placement detection device 20. When the slide box is not placed in the preset slide box placement area in the correct posture, the control unit 23 can control the indicator light module 24 to send an error indicator light signal, thereby prompting the situation that the slide box is not placed in the preset slide box placement area in the correct posture, so that relevant personnel can discover the problem and deal with it in time.

[0037] Furthermore, this application also provides a slide inspection system, which includes a slide inspection device and the slide box placement detection device 10 provided in Embodiment 1 above. Alternatively, the slide inspection system may also include the slide inspection device and the slide box placement detection device 20 provided in Embodiment 2 above, enabling the slide inspection system to detect whether the slide box is correctly placed at the slide inlet of the slide inspection device, effectively avoiding the problem of slide samples being easily damaged due to incorrect slide box placement. It is understood that, corresponding to the implementation principle of the above embodiments, the slide box matching the slide inspection device in the slide inspection system has a QR code attached, and the QR code on the slide box is only within the scanning range of the QR code scanning device when the slide box is correctly placed in the preset slide box placement area of ​​the slide inspection device.

[0038] It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are merely illustrative of the application and not intended to limit it. All other embodiments derived by those skilled in the art based on the embodiments provided in this application without inventive effort are within the scope of protection of this application.

[0039] Obviously, the accompanying drawings are merely some examples or embodiments of this application. Those skilled in the art can apply this application to other similar situations based on these drawings without any creative effort. Furthermore, it is understood that although the work done in this development process may be complex and lengthy, for those skilled in the art, certain design, manufacturing, or production modifications made based on the technical content disclosed in this application are merely conventional technical means and should not be considered as insufficient disclosure of this application.

[0040] The term "embodiment" in this application refers to a specific feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with an embodiment that may be included in at least one embodiment of this application. The appearance of this phrase in various places in the specification does not necessarily imply the same embodiment, nor does it imply that it is mutually exclusive with or independent of other embodiments. It will be clearly or implicitly understood by those skilled in the art that the embodiments described in this application may be combined with other embodiments without conflict.

[0041] The above embodiments merely illustrate several implementation methods of this application, and while the descriptions are relatively specific and detailed, they should not be construed as limiting the scope of patent protection. It should be noted that those skilled in the art can make various modifications and improvements without departing from the concept of this application, and these all fall within the scope of protection of this application. Therefore, the scope of protection of this application should be determined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A slide box placement detection device, used to detect whether a slide box is correctly placed in a preset slide box placement area of ​​a slide inspection device, wherein the preset slide box placement area is located at the slide box entrance of the slide inspection device; characterized in that, The slide box placement detection device includes a diffuse reflection sensor, a QR code scanning device, and a control unit; The diffuse reflection sensor is fixedly installed at the entrance of the slide box and is connected to the control unit. When the slide box is within the detection range of the diffuse reflection sensor, the diffuse reflection sensor sends a slide box arrival signal to the control unit. The detection range of the diffuse reflection sensor is the preset slide box placement area. The QR code scanning device is fixedly installed at the entrance of the slide box. The slide box has a QR code attached to it. The QR code on the slide box is only within the scanning range of the QR code scanning device when the slide box is correctly placed in the preset slide box placement area. The control unit is connected to the QR code scanning device. When the control unit receives a signal that the slide box is in place, the control unit controls the QR code scanning device to turn on. The control unit determines whether the slide box is correctly placed in the preset slide box placement area by detecting whether the QR code scanning device scans the QR code on the slide box.

2. The slide box placement detection device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The control unit is also connected to a motor that drives the conveyor belt of the slide inspection equipment; the conveyor belt is used to transport the correctly placed slide box from the slide box entrance to the slide inspection area of ​​the slide inspection equipment; the scanning window of the QR code scanning device is perpendicular to the direction of movement of the conveyor belt; When the control unit receives the slide box positioning signal, it also controls the motor to drive the conveyor belt. When the slide box moves out of the detection range, the diffuse reflection sensor sends a slide box removal signal to the control unit. When the control unit receives the slide box removal signal, it controls the motor to stop moving. During the process of the motor going from driving to stopping, the control unit determines whether the slide box is correctly placed in the preset slide box placement area by detecting whether the QR code scanning device scans the QR code on the slide box.

3. The slide box placement detection device according to claim 2, characterized in that, When the QR code scanning device detects that the QR code on the slide box has been scanned, the control unit is also used to control the motor to drive the conveyor belt to transport the slide box to the slide inspection area of ​​the slide inspection device; when the QR code scanning device detects that the QR code has not been scanned, the control unit is also used to control the motor to drive the conveyor belt to transport the slide box to the preset slide box placement area.

4. The slide box placement detection device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, The device also includes an indicator light module, which is connected to the control unit; When the QR code scanning device fails to scan the QR code on the slide box, the control unit is also used to control the indicator module to issue an error indicator signal.

5. A slide inspection system, characterized in that, It includes a slide inspection device and a slide box placement detection device as described in any one of claims 1 to 4.

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