Adaptive Scanning Microscope Field Curvature Correction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional optical microscopes face a trade-off between resolution and field of view, limiting their effectiveness in applications requiring high-resolution imaging of large areas, especially in micro-assembly, biological observation, and industrial inspection.
Innovation Solution
The adaptive scanning optical microscope integrates a scanner lens, a steering mirror, adaptive optics, and imaging optics to achieve a large field of view while maintaining high resolution through explicit field curvature design and image processing, using a deformable mirror to correct for residual aberrations and simplify the optical complexity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If a conventional optical microscope uses a fixed objective lens, then the resolution is maintained, but the field of view is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic scanning capability by replacing the fixed objective lens with a movable scanning mirror system that can rapidly reposition the optical path across different regions of the specimen. This allows the field of view to be expanded dynamically while maintaining the resolution characteristics of the objective lens through repeated scanning and image stitching.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent divides the large field of view into multiple smaller sub-fields that can be imaged sequentially by the scanning mirror. Each sub-field is captured with high resolution by the objective lens, and the individual images are then computationally stitched together to form a complete high-resolution image of the entire large area.
2Area of stationary object
If multiple microscopes are used to cover a large area, then the field of view is expanded, but the device complexity and calibration effort increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple microscope functions into a single microscope system by incorporating a scanning mirror mechanism that enables one objective lens to sequentially image multiple regions. This eliminates the need for multiple separate microscopes and their associated calibration procedures, while achieving the same expanded field of view through automated scanning and image stitching.
3Area of stationary object
If a moving stage is used to observe large areas, then the field of view is expanded, but the specimen is disturbed and imaging speed is limited
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of moving the specimen stage to change the field of view, the patent inverts the approach by keeping the specimen stationary and moving the optical path through a scanning mirror system. This allows rapid repositioning of the imaging beam across different regions without physically disturbing the specimen, thereby maintaining both high imaging speed and specimen stability.
4Productivity
If the scanning speed is increased for high throughput, then the productivity is improved, but the image quality may deteriorate due to motion blur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs periodic scanning motion where the mirror rapidly moves between predefined positions in a controlled back-and-forth pattern. This periodic motion allows the system to acquire multiple images at standardized positions over time, and through computational stitching, construct a high-resolution composite image that maintains quality even at high acquisition rates.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This design enables high-throughput imaging with fast re-positioning speeds, suitable for dynamic and low-fill-factor applications, such as biological imaging and micro-assembly, without disturbing the sample, and allows for rapid acquisition of high-quality images.
Implementation Method 1
an adaptive optics element, adaptive optics (AO) conditioning optics
Implementation Method 2
a deformable mirror to correct for residual aberrations
Implementation Method 3
a scanner lens assembly for acquiring images from different parts of an object plane and for forming a preferably curved image field
Implementation Method 4
a steering mirror for steering light from the image field and along a light path from the object plane to an final image plane
Data Source
AI summary
An adaptive scanning optical microscope has a scanner lens assembly for acquiring images from different parts of an object plane and for forming a preferably curved image field having at least some aberration which varies as a function of the part of the object plane from which the image is acquired. A steering mirror selects the field of view and steers light from the object and along a light path from the object plane to a final image plane. An adaptive optics element receives the steered light from the object and compensates for the field position dependent optical aberrations and additional optics are along at least part of the light path for conditioning and focusing the light as it moves from the steering mirror, past the adaptive optics element and to the final image plane.