Microscope Retain Focus Control Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing microscopes require continuous focus adjustment to maintain the focal position over long periods, causing mechanical stress on the motion unit and potentially disrupting long-term experiments due to frequent small movements.
Innovation Solution
The control unit adjusts the focal position only before and after examinations, and during temporally spaced control intervals, minimizing mechanical stress on the motion unit while ensuring the predetermined focal position is maintained during examinations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If continuous focus adjustment is performed to maintain the focal position, then the focal position retention is improved, but the mechanical stress on the motion unit increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic focus measurements at predetermined time intervals and performs focus adjustments only when deviations are detected during these periodic control cycles, rather than continuous adjustment. This periodic action maintains focal position reliability while significantly reducing mechanical stress on the motion unit by eliminating unnecessary continuous small movements.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously measures the actual focal position using a focus measurement unit and compares it with the predetermined focal position. The control unit receives focus measurement signals and derives deviations, then performs adjustments only when needed based on this feedback, optimizing the balance between focal position retention and motion unit stress.
2Reliability
If continuous focus adjustment is performed, then the focal position is maintained, but the examination process is disrupted
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit is configured to perform focus adjustments only during temporally spaced control intervals and never during the actual examination periods. This periodic scheduling ensures that examinations proceed without disruption from motion unit movements, while focal position is maintained through periodic control actions before and after examinations.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs focus adjustments immediately before examinations to ensure the predetermined focal position is established prior to the examination process. This preliminary action prevents focus drift from affecting examination quality while avoiding disruptions during the examination itself.
Data Source
AI summary
A microscope including an imaging optical unit, a sample stage for supporting a sample to be examined, a movement unit, by which the distance between sample stage and imaging optical unit can be altered, a focus measuring unit, which measures the present focus position and outputs a focus measurement signal, a control unit for maintaining a predetermined focus position for examinations of the sample that are separated from one another in time. The control unit receives the focus measurement signal and derives a deviation of the present focus position from the predetermined focus position. Dependent on the deviation derived the movement unit, changes the distance between sample stage and imaging optical unit so that the predetermined focus position is maintained. The control unit drives the movement unit (9) for maintaining the predetermined focus position only before and/or after at least one of the examinations, but never during the examinations.