Microscope Aberration Correction via Intensity Symmetry Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing microscope systems face challenges in correcting aberrations caused by the thickness of cover glasses and temperature-dependent changes in refractive indices of immersion liquids, leading to image quality deterioration.
Innovation Solution
A microscope apparatus equipped with a monitoring optical system, an imaging unit, and a correction unit that analyzes symmetry in intensity distribution along the optical axis to determine and correct aberrations, using a correction collar or adaptive optics to adjust the focusing position and rotation angle for optimal image capture.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a correction amount is decided based only on the distance between the sample and objective lens, then the correction process is simple, but the correction is not appropriate when temperature-dependent refractive index changes occur
Solution Approach 1:
The system captures a test image through the monitoring optical system, analyzes the intensity distribution symmetry along the optical axis, and uses this feedback to automatically determine the optimal correction amount. This closed-loop feedback mechanism ensures accurate correction while maintaining operational simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The microscope apparatus performs self-correction by automatically analyzing its own captured images and determining the correction amount without requiring manual intervention or external calibration, thereby achieving both simplicity and precision.
2Device complexity
If manual adjustment of correction collar is used, then the device complexity is low, but the productivity and ease of operation are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The correction collar is automatically adjusted based on the symmetry analysis of captured images, eliminating the need for manual operation. This self-service mechanism maintains the simplicity of the mechanical correction system while dramatically improving operational speed and productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The manual mechanical adjustment process is replaced with an automated control system that uses image analysis and symmetry detection to determine and apply the appropriate correction, substituting human operation with automated computational control.
3Device complexity
If the focusing position is fixed, then the imaging process is simple, but the ability to correct aberrations for samples of varying thickness is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the focusing position along the optical axis by capturing multiple images at different focal depths. This dynamic focusing capability enables the system to adapt to samples of varying thickness while maintaining a relatively simple imaging process through automated image selection and analysis.
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 solution effectively corrects aberrations due to cover glass thickness and temperature-dependent refractive index changes, ensuring high-quality image acquisition without manual intervention, even for samples with varying thicknesses like organism cells.
Implementation Method 1
an imaging unit capturing an image of an observation target through the monitoring optical system
Implementation Method 2
a correction unit correcting various aberrations which occur due to an observation condition... correction amount for optical aberration ascribable to the thickness of a cover glass protecting the sample or ascribable to the thickness of a holding member
Data Source
AI summary
A microscope apparatus includes a monitoring optical system, an imaging unit capturing an image of an observation target through the monitoring optical system to generate a plurality of images, a correction unit disposed in the optical monitoring system and correcting various aberrations which occur due to an observation condition, and a decision unit deciding a correction amount of the correction unit based on the plurality of images generated by the imaging unit, whereby an image deterioration ascribable to the aberration occurring due to the observation condition in the microscope apparatus is appropriately and easily corrected according to a use condition of the microscope apparatus.