Microscope Auto Focusing During Stage Vibration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Automatic microscopes face processing speed limitations due to residual vibration after stage position adjustment, requiring a wait for vibration convergence before auto focusing can reliably focus on specimens, which slows down blood cell analysis.
Innovation Solution
A microscope system with an optical detector and controller that estimates the focus position during vibration and adjusts the focus accordingly, using two sensors to determine the optimal focusing direction and averaging vibration data to initiate auto focusing before convergence.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If auto focusing is performed after residual vibration converges, then focusing reliability is improved, but processing speed deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by estimating the focus position during the vibration period rather than waiting for vibration to converge. The position estimator calculates where the focus will be when vibration stops, and the controller pre-adjusts the optical system to this estimated position, enabling focusing to occur before vibration naturally converges.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical waiting approach (passively waiting for vibration to converge) with an estimation and control system. Instead of mechanically waiting for the vibration to stop, the system uses a position estimator to calculate the future focus position and a controller to actively adjust to that position, substituting passive mechanical behavior with active computational control.
2Productivity
If auto focusing is performed during vibration, then processing speed is improved, but focusing reliability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The controller performs preliminary adjustment by moving the optical system to the estimated focus position during vibration. This preliminary action accounts for the vibration displacement, positioning the optical system where it needs to be relative to the specimen when vibration stops, thereby maintaining focusing reliability while enabling faster processing.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from the position estimator to guide the controller's adjustment actions. The position estimator continuously monitors the vibration state and calculates the appropriate compensation, providing feedback to the controller which then adjusts the optical system accordingly, creating a closed-loop control system that maintains reliability during accelerated focusing.
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 approach reduces the time required for auto focusing and enhances processing speed by allowing auto focusing during ongoing vibration, eliminating the need for waiting for residual vibration to converge, thus accelerating the analysis of blood cell specimens.
Implementation Method 1
an optical system for magnifying a sample
Implementation Method 2
an optical detector for detecting light through the optical system
Data Source
AI summary
A microscope which comprises: an optical system for magnifying a sample; a focus adjuster for adjusting a focus of the optical system on the sample; an optical detector for detecting light through the optical system; a position estimator for estimating a position of the focus of the optical system, which stays with respect to the sample, based on the light detected by the optical detector while the optical system is vibrating with respect to the sample; and a controller for controlling the focus adjuster based on the position of the focus estimated by the position estimator, is disclosed. An auto focusing method for a microscope is also disclosed.