Scanning Microscope Automatic Pixel Pitch Control for Super-Resolution
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing super-resolution techniques in scanning microscope apparatuses lack a method for generating a driving signal to achieve the appropriate pixel pitch, making the image acquisition process complicated for users.
Innovation Solution
A scanning microscope apparatus that includes an objective lens, an image acquisition portion, a condition calculating portion, and a control unit to calculate and control the pixel resolution and zoom magnification, allowing for automatic adjustment of the image acquisition to achieve the desired pixel pitch and field-of-view area.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a user manually sets the pixel pitch and acquisition conditions to achieve super-resolution imaging, then the image resolution can be optimized, but the operation complexity increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically calculates and sets the optimal pixel pitch and acquisition conditions based on the objective lens magnification, enabling the system to self-configure for super-resolution imaging without requiring manual user intervention. The control unit computes the appropriate pixel pitch (e.g., 100nm or 50nm) and adjusts scanning parameters automatically.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts acquisition parameters including pixel pitch, number of pixels, and zoom magnification based on the objective lens magnification. The control unit modifies these parameters automatically to satisfy the Nyquist sampling theorem requirements for super-resolution imaging, changing system parameters adaptively rather than requiring fixed manual configuration.
2Measurement precision
If the pixel pitch is reduced to achieve higher resolution, then the super-resolution image quality improves, but the image acquisition time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the number of pixels and zoom magnification based on the selected pixel pitch and objective lens magnification. When a smaller pixel pitch is chosen for higher resolution, the control unit automatically increases the number of pixels and adjusts zoom accordingly, optimizing the balance between resolution and acquisition time rather than using fixed parameters.
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit modifies multiple acquisition parameters simultaneously - pixel pitch, number of pixels, and zoom magnification - based on the objective lens magnification. This coordinated parameter adjustment ensures that higher resolution requirements are met while minimizing the increase in acquisition time through optimized scanning configurations.
3Area of stationary object
If the zoom magnification is increased to maintain field-of-view area, then the user's observation requirements are satisfied, but the pixel pitch may no longer satisfy the desired resolution
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit performs coordinated adjustment of multiple parameters - zoom magnification, number of pixels, and pixel pitch - based on the objective lens magnification. When zoom is increased to maintain field-of-view, the system simultaneously adjusts the number of pixels and recalculates pixel pitch to ensure the Nyquist sampling theorem is still satisfied, maintaining resolution requirements while preserving the desired field-of-view area.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the objective lens magnification as feedback to automatically determine the appropriate acquisition parameters. The control unit continuously adjusts pixel pitch, number of pixels, and zoom magnification based on feedback from the lens specification, ensuring that both field-of-view and resolution requirements are met without requiring manual trial-and-error adjustment.
4Adaptability or versatility
If manual configuration of acquisition parameters is required for super-resolution imaging, then flexibility is maintained, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs self-configuration by automatically calculating optimal pixel pitch and acquisition parameters based on the objective lens magnification. The control unit computes and sets these parameters without requiring manual user input, reducing device complexity while maintaining adaptability to different lens configurations and super-resolution requirements.
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
Enables easy acquisition of an original image with a pixel pitch that satisfies the necessary conditions for generating a super-resolution image, simplifying the process and maintaining user-defined field-of-view and image acquisition time.
Implementation Method 1
an objective lens that irradiates a specimen with laser light emitted from a light source
Implementation Method 2
laser light emitted from a light source
Implementation Method 3
a scanner that deflects the laser light with swivel mirrors capable of swiveling about predetermined swiveling shafts
Implementation Method 4
a pinhole that allows return light from a focal position of the objective lens to pass therethrough
Data Source
AI summary
It is possible to easily acquire an original image of a specimen that satisfies necessary conditions for generating a super-resolution image. The present invention provides a scanning microscope apparatus that includes an objective lens that irradiates a specimen with laser light emitted from a laser light source; a scanning portion that scans the laser light irradiated onto the specimen via the objective lens; and a PC that acquires an original image of the specimen, calculates, from the magnification of the objective lens, information about the number of pixels of the original image or information about the zoom magnification of the original image that achieves the per-pixel pixel resolution needed to generate a super-resolution image, and controls the scanning portion or image acquisition according to the calculated information about the number of pixels or information about the zoom magnification.