Laser Scanning Microscope High-Speed Data Stream

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Solution Overview

Problem

Laser scanning microscopes face challenges in achieving high-speed data communication between lighting and detector means, which is crucial for rapid image acquisition, especially with biological samples, due to the complexity of synchronizing control and data transmission, often requiring significant technical equipment or inadequate speed.

Innovation Solution

A high-speed data stream is implemented using data packets composed of data bits and type bits without additional header or protocol bits, allowing for efficient data processing and transmission, simplifying the communication process by eliminating redundant information and enabling simultaneous data transmission to multiple points, thus optimizing data usage and reducing the need for complex interfaces.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional header or protocol bits are used in data packets for communication between lighting and detector means, then data transmission reliability is improved, but data transmission rate decreases due to redundant information

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata transmission reliabilityVSAvoiddata transmission rate
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and removes header or protocol bits from the data packet structure, retaining only the essential data bits and type bits. This extraction eliminates redundant information that does not contribute to the core data transmission function, thereby increasing the effective data transmission rate while maintaining sufficient reliability through the preserved essential data elements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the structural parameters of the data packet by redefining its composition to exclude header or protocol bits. This parameter change optimizes the data packet for high-speed transmission by allocating more bandwidth to actual data and type information, thus improving transmission rate without compromising the essential functionality of reliable data communication.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Measurement precision

If complex control and reading processes are implemented for pixel-synchronous coordination, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepixel detection precisionVSAvoidcontrol system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the data transmission function into distinct components: data bits for actual measurement information and type bits for control instructions. This segmentation allows the complex control and reading processes to be organized into separate, manageable functional units, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining the precision required for pixel-synchronous coordination.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces type bits as an intermediary element that carries control and reading process information without requiring complex separate control channels. This intermediary mechanism simplifies the control system by encoding all necessary coordination information within the data stream itself, thereby reducing device complexity while preserving measurement precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Productivity

If high data transmission rate is achieved by reducing data packet size, then productivity is improved, but loss of information increases due to reduced data capacity per packet

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimage acquisition speedVSAvoiddata completeness
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent ensures continuity of useful action by maintaining a steady stream of data packets with consistent structure (data bits and type bits). This continuous transmission approach allows for high productivity through rapid sequential packet transmission while preventing information loss by ensuring that each packet contains complete and essential information necessary for image reconstruction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent optimizes the data packet parameter structure by eliminating header or protocol bits and retaining only the essential data bits and type bits. This parameter change increases the effective data capacity relative to the total packet size, allowing more meaningful information to be transmitted per packet while maintaining high transmission rates, thus improving productivity without sacrificing data completeness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP1863228B1Laser scanning microscope with high-speed data processing
Publication Date: 2012.03.14 CARL ZEISS MIKROLMAGING
  • EP1863228B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP1863228B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4c
  • EP1863228B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

The microscope has a scanner module (4.1), a detector module (4.2) and a laser module (4.3), where a high-speed data flow (7) between the modules and a data interface (6) is formed from data packets with data bits and type bits, where the data bits include the data of the modules, and the type bits code the type of data. The type information is stored in the modules and a controller (3), where the type information refers to process tasks for coded data types. The modules and/or controller are set during transmission of a type specification for the data types. An independent claim is also included for a method for data communication in a laser scanning microscope.