Microscope Housing and Pinhole for Noise Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional microscope systems face challenges in performing high-accuracy observations of specimens like cells in culture while minimizing distortion and noise from external light and temperature differences.
Innovation Solution
A microscope system with a culture unit for maintaining constant temperature and humidity, a stage for holding the culture unit, and a housing that encloses the optical components to prevent external light and temperature fluctuations, along with a light-converging optical system and a transmitted-light pinhole to reduce noise and distortion, enabling high-accuracy observation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the microscope system uses a conventional transmission-type stage-scanning design with fixed illumination light, then the structure is simple and easy to operate, but external light causes noise and temperature differences cause optical distortion
Solution Approach 1:
The optical system is divided into separate illumination and detection paths with distinct optical components. The illumination light path includes a light source and illumination optics, while the detection path includes the detector and detection optics, allowing independent optimization of each path to reduce external light interference and improve measurement precision
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts and isolates the detection system from environmental interference by enclosing it in a temperature-controlled housing and using optical filters to remove external light wavelengths. This separation allows the detection system to operate independently from external light conditions, reducing noise and improving observation accuracy
2Duration of action of moving object
If the microscope system observes specimens for prolonged periods, then comprehensive data can be collected, but temperature differences cause optical system distortion and observation position displacement
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary thermal equilibration by pre-heating the housing and optical components to the target temperature before beginning observation. This preliminary action ensures that all components are already at the correct temperature when observation starts, preventing thermal drift during prolonged observation and maintaining observation position accuracy
Solution Approach 2:
The patent actively controls and maintains temperature as a critical parameter using heating elements and temperature sensors within the housing. By continuously adjusting the temperature parameter to match the culture conditions, the system prevents thermal expansion and contraction of optical components, eliminating distortion during prolonged observation
3Reliability
If the culture unit maintains constant temperature and humidity for specimen cultivation, then specimen health is preserved, but the optical system outside the culture unit experiences temperature differences causing distortion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the temperature control systems of the culture unit and the optical housing into a single integrated thermal management system. By combining these previously separate systems, the optical components and culture medium are maintained at the same temperature, eliminating thermal gradients that would cause optical distortion while preserving specimen cultivation stability
Solution Approach 2:
The housing acts as an intermediary thermal buffer between the culture unit and the external environment. It isolates the optical system from external temperature fluctuations while allowing thermal coupling with the culture unit, mediating the temperature relationship to ensure both specimen health and optical stability
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
The system achieves high-accuracy observation by reducing noise from external light and minimizing optical distortion caused by temperature differences, allowing for precise imaging of specimens during prolonged observation.
Implementation Method 1
a first light-converging optical system for converging illumination light emitted from a light source on the specimen
Implementation Method 2
a second light-converging optical system for converging transmitted light that has passed through the specimen irradiated with illumination light converged by the first light-converging optical system
Implementation Method 3
a transmitted-light pinhole provided at a position optically conjugate to a light-converging position of illumination light on the specimen to cut off part of transmitted light converged by the second light-converging optical system
Implementation Method 4
a transmitted-light detector that detects transmitted light that has passed through the transmitted-light pinhole
Implementation Method 5
a housing that encloses the culture unit, the stage, the first light-converging optical system, the second light-converging optical system, the transmitted-light pinhole, the transmitted-light detector, and the moving system and cuts off external light
Implementation Method 6
a temperature control unit for controlling temperature in the housing
Data Source
AI summary
A microscope system includes a culture unit for holding and cultivating a specimen while maintaining constant temperature and humidity; a stage for holding the culture unit; a first light-converging optical system for converging illumination light emitted from a light source on the specimen; a second light-converging optical system for converging transmitted light that has passed through the specimen; a transmitted-light pinhole provided at a position optically conjugate to the light-converging position of illumination light on the specimen to cut off part of transmitted light converged by the second light-converging optical system; a transmitted-light detector that detects transmitted light that has passed through the transmitted-light pinhole; a moving system for moving the first and second light-converging optical systems, the transmitted-light pinhole, and the transmitted-light detector and the stage relative to each other; a housing that encloses these components and cuts off external light; and a control unit.