Microscope Light Source Temperature Stabilization

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing microscope devices experience temperature fluctuations in light emitting diodes, leading to color unevenness in images due to changes in wavelength peak and intensity, especially when capturing multiple specimens continuously, as the light is turned off during standby periods, causing instability in image acquisition.

Innovation Solution

An image acquisition device with a heat dissipator and a control unit that maintains light emission during standby periods between image captures, ensuring stable temperature and consistent illumination for continuous and quick image capturing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of energy

If the light emitting device is turned off during standby periods between image acquisition periods, then power consumption is reduced and specimen fading is minimized, but the temperature of the light emitting device decreases causing wavelength peak and intensity changes that lead to color unevenness in continuously captured images

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidimaging condition stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The light emitting device operates in periodic cycles, being turned on during image acquisition periods and turned off during standby periods. This periodic operation reduces power consumption and specimen fading while maintaining imaging quality through temperature management

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

2Reliability

If the light emitting device is turned on continuously to maintain stable temperature, then imaging condition stability is improved, but power consumption increases and specimen fading worsens

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimaging condition stabilityVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses periodic on-off cycles of the light emitting device, balancing the need for stable temperature (improved by continuous operation) with power consumption and specimen preservation (improved by intermittent operation)

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The light emitting device is turned on in advance before image acquisition to preheat and stabilize the temperature, ensuring consistent imaging conditions from the start of each acquisition period

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Productivity

If the light emitting device is turned off during standby periods, then power saving is achieved, but the temperature decreases causing wavelength peak and intensity changes that result in color unevenness

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower savingVSAvoidcolor uniformity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The light emitting device operates periodically with on-off cycles that balance power saving during standby periods with maintaining color uniformity during image acquisition through preheating and temperature stabilization

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

4Manufacturing precision

If the light emitting device operates continuously, then temperature stability is maintained preventing color unevenness, but specimen fading increases and power consumption rises

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecolor uniformityVSAvoidspecimen fading

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements periodic operation of the light emitting device, turning it on only during image acquisition periods to minimize specimen fading while maintaining color uniformity through temperature preheating and stabilization during active periods

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

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 allows for stable and quick continuous image acquisition of specimens by maintaining a consistent temperature of the light emitting device, reducing color unevenness and ensuring consistent imaging conditions.

Implementation Method 1

an illumination device having a light emitting device and a heat dissipator for dissipating heat generated by the light emitting device

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHeat dissipation: Heat Sink

Data Source

PatentUS10151908B2Image acquisition device and image acquisition method

Publication Date: 2018.12.11 HAMAMATSU PHOTONICS KK

AI summary

This image acquisition device comprises: a specimen stage on which a specimen as a target of image acquisition is to be mounted; a micro-use light source having a light emitting device and a heat dissipator for dissipating heat generated by the light emitting device, and emitting light to the specimen; an objective arranged so as to be opposed to the specimen on the stage, as a light-guide optical system for guiding an optical image of the specimen; a micro image acquisition unit configured to capture the optical image of the specimen thus guided; and a micro-use light source controller configured to control the light emitting device so as to implement the emission of light by the micro-use light source, during a standby period between image acquisition periods of capturing optical images of a plurality of specimens.