Digital Microscope Adaptive Resolution Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current digital microscopes are not well-suited for all usage scenarios as they lack flexibility in generating images, often requiring either full resolution or a time-consuming scan mode, which can compromise user convenience and efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A digital microscope system and method that allow users to select between full resolution and reduced resolution modes based on the area of interest, enabling faster image processing by generating individual images with a reduced number of pixels and combining them into an assembled image, optimizing trade-offs between image quality and speed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If full resolution mode is used to generate individual images, then image quality is improved, but processing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adapts the resolution mode based on the selected area of interest. When a small area is selected, full resolution mode is used to maximize image quality. When a large area is selected, reduced resolution mode is automatically switched to reduce processing time. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction by making resolution quality conditional on the spatial scope of the analysis.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the resolution parameter (number of image pixels) based on the area of interest. By adjusting this critical parameter dynamically, the system optimizes the balance between image quality and processing speed, allowing users to obtain high-quality images for small areas while maintaining efficiency for larger areas.
2Productivity
If reduced resolution mode is used to generate individual images, then processing speed is improved, but image quality deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically switches between reduced resolution mode and full resolution mode based on the area of interest selection. For large areas, reduced resolution mode provides fast processing. For small areas, the system automatically transitions to full resolution mode to ensure high image quality, thus resolving the quality-speed tradeoff dynamically.
Solution Approach 2:
The resolution parameter is changed adaptively based on the spatial extent of the area of interest. This parameter adjustment allows the system to optimize processing speed for large areas while preserving image quality for small areas, eliminating the need for users to manually choose between speed and quality.
3Area of stationary object
If the stage scans a large area to capture the entire sample, then complete sample coverage is achieved, but scanning time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the sample analysis into a preview phase and a detailed analysis phase. During preview, a reduced resolution scan covers the entire sample area quickly. After user selection of the area of interest, only the selected region is scanned in full resolution mode. This segmentation of the scanning process resolves the contradiction between complete coverage and scanning time.
Solution Approach 2:
A preliminary reduced resolution scan is performed to provide an overview of the entire sample before the user selects the area of interest. This preliminary action allows rapid sample coverage to identify regions of interest, after which detailed full resolution scanning is performed only on the selected areas, significantly reducing total scanning time while maintaining complete coverage capability.
4Area of stationary object
If the digital microscope performs row-wise or column-wise scanning to assemble images, then large area coverage is achieved, but operation complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The scanning operation is segmented into an automatic preview phase that quickly covers the entire sample area in reduced resolution, followed by a user-guided detailed scanning phase. The system automatically determines the scanning path and parameters, simplifying the user interface while maintaining the ability to cover large areas through systematic scanning of selected regions.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of providing an assembled image using a digital microscope, the digital microscope having an optical system, an image sensor having a predefined number of image pixels, and a stage, the stage being movable in relation to the optical system and the image sensor, includes receiving a user selection regarding an area of interest of the sample, the user selection indicating the position and extension of the area of interest, selecting one of a full resolution mode or and a reduced resolution mode, wherein individual images with a reduced number of image pixels are generated, moving the stage with respect to the optical system and the image sensor, and generating individual images of the area of interest in accordance with the selected one of the full resolution mode or the reduced resolution mode, and combining the individual images into the assembled image, representing the area of interest.