Imaging Apparatus Focus Tendency Control for Microscope Imaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current imaging techniques, such as virtual slide systems and confocal microscopy, face challenges in increasing imaging speed due to the need for autofocus adjustments and tilt of the focal plane, which can result in blurring and reduced throughput, especially when dealing with uneven biological samples.
Innovation Solution
An imaging apparatus and method that includes a stage, an imaging unit, a tilt mechanism for adjusting the focal plane, and a control unit to calculate focus tendencies and adjust imaging characteristics, allowing for efficient imaging without the need for frequent autofocus adjustments by controlling the stage's movement in the Z-direction based on focus calculations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If autofocus adjustments are performed frequently to maintain image quality across different regions, then image quality is improved, but imaging speed decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by calculating the focus tendency in advance based on stage movement information and previously acquired image data. The control unit predicts the required focal plane adjustment before imaging each new region, allowing the imaging system to be pre-positioned for optimal focus. This eliminates the need for time-consuming autofocus adjustments during the imaging process itself, thereby maintaining high image quality while significantly improving imaging speed.
2Length of stationary object
If the focal plane is tilted to cover a larger thickness range, then the detectable thickness range is improved, but moving velocity on the object plane must be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the focal plane tilt angle adjustable and adaptive rather than fixed. The control unit dynamically adjusts the tilt angle based on the specific imaging requirements, sample characteristics, and stage movement parameters. This allows the system to optimize the balance between detectable thickness range and imaging speed for each imaging task, rather than being constrained by a fixed tilt angle that requires reduced moving velocity.
3Length of stationary object
If a larger tilt angle is used to image thicker samples, then the thickness coverage is improved, but blurring increases in non-focused regions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by calculating and applying different tilt angles for different imaging regions rather than using a uniform tilt angle across the entire sample. The control unit divides the imaging area into multiple regions and determines the optimal tilt angle for each region based on local sample characteristics and thickness variations. This ensures that each region is imaged with the appropriate tilt angle to maximize sharpness while maintaining adequate thickness coverage, preventing excessive blurring in non-focused regions.
Data Source
AI summary
An imaging apparatus includes: a stage; an imaging unit having an imaging surface for receiving observation light from an object on the stage; a first moving mechanism for performing a relative movement between the stage and the imaging unit along at least one direction within a placement plane for placing the object; a second moving mechanism for performing a relative movement between the stage and the imaging unit along a direction orthogonal to the placement plane; a computation unit that causes the imaging unit to image a first region of the object while operating the first moving mechanism to acquire information on the first region, and calculates a focus tendency of the object; and a control unit that controls the second moving mechanism based on the focus tendency, and adjusts an imaging characteristic of the observation light when the imaging unit images a second region of the object.