Microscope Light Engine Control for Precise Color and Intensity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing illumination systems for microscopes lack effective control over color and intensity of light engines, limiting the ability to achieve high-quality viewing.
Innovation Solution
An illumination system for microscopes that includes multiple light engines, a computer, and a graphical user interface, allowing for precise control of color and intensity through a computer system that generates illumination instructions based on user input, and utilizes beam directors to direct light along optical pathways for coaxial and oblique illumination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple light engines are used to provide illumination, then illumination quality and versatility are improved, but control complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The illumination system is divided into multiple independent light engines, each capable of being controlled individually. This segmentation allows the system to provide diverse illumination qualities (coaxial, oblique, differential interference contrast) while maintaining manageable control through a computer system that processes illumination requests and generates appropriate control signals for each light engine based on its maximum intensity characteristics.
2Manufacturing precision
If precise control of color and intensity is implemented, then illumination quality is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system achieves precise control of illumination by adjusting key parameters (intensity and color) of multiple light engines. The computer receives illumination requests specifying desired color and intensity, then calculates appropriate intensity inputs for each light engine based on its maximum intensity, enabling precise illumination control through parameter adjustment rather than complex hardware modifications.
3Stability of the object's composition
If intensity normalization is performed for each light engine, then illumination uniformity is improved, but calculation complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary normalization by determining the maximum intensity of each light engine in advance. This pre-characterization allows the computer to calculate appropriate intensity inputs for each light engine based on its specific maximum intensity, ensuring uniform illumination output without requiring complex real-time adjustments during operation.
Data Source
AI summary
In certain embodiments, an illumination system for a microscope includes an illumination source and a computer. The illumination source comprises light engines. The computer receives an illumination request comprising a color request and an intensity request. The color request includes color selections, where each color selection requests a color output for at least a subset of the light engines. The intensity request includes intensity selections, where each intensity selection requests an intensity output for at least a subset of the light engines. The computer determines intensity inputs according to the intensity request, where each intensity input provides an illumination instruction to a light engine. The computer determines color inputs according to the color request, where each color input provides a color instruction to a light engine. The computer generates light engine inputs from the intensity inputs and the color inputs and sends the light engine inputs to the light engines.