Microscope Imaging Plane Tracking for High-Throughput Scanning
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing microscopes face limitations in imaging large objects or multiple objects efficiently due to movement artifacts caused by the speed constraints of the object stage, which are necessary to avoid during image exposure, and the field of view limitations of scan mirrors, leading to reduced throughput.
Innovation Solution
A microscope with a motorized object stage and optical scanning unit that synchronizes the movement of the object and the imaging plane relative to the optical imaging system, allowing continuous movement without stopping, thus avoiding movement artifacts and enabling efficient imaging of laterally extended objects or multiple objects.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the object stage is operated at high speed to increase throughput, then productivity is improved, but movement artifacts occur during image exposure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the imaging plane movable through an optical scanning unit that can dynamically adjust and track the position of the imaging plane. This allows the system to adapt to the moving object by continuously repositioning the imaging plane to match the object's movement, thereby maintaining image quality while enabling high-speed operation of the object stage.
Solution Approach 2:
The controller receives information about the object's position and movement from the motorized object stage and uses this feedback to adjust the position of the imaging plane through the optical scanning unit. This closed-loop feedback system ensures that the imaging plane remains aligned with the object throughout the exposure time, eliminating movement artifacts while allowing high-speed operation.
2Reliability
If the object stage is stopped during light exposure to avoid movement artifacts, then image quality is improved, but productivity deteriorates due to reduced throughput
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of stopping the object stage, the system dynamically repositions the imaging plane during exposure to track the moving object. This dynamic tracking approach maintains image quality without requiring the object stage to stop, thereby preserving high throughput and productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The controller continuously monitors the object's position and adjusts the imaging plane position in real-time during exposure based on feedback from the motorized object stage. This real-time feedback mechanism allows the system to compensate for object movement during exposure, maintaining image quality while keeping the object stage in motion for high productivity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the field of view is increased to image larger objects, then adaptability is improved, but measurement precision deteriorates due to scan mirror limitations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the imaging process by using the optical scanning unit to divide the large field of view into multiple smaller imaging planes that are sequentially captured. Each individual plane is imaged with high precision, and the controller synthesizes these segmented images to form a complete high-resolution image of the entire large object, thereby maintaining measurement precision while achieving a large effective field of view.
Solution Approach 2:
The system adds a temporal dimension to the imaging process by sequentially capturing multiple planes over time. The optical scanning unit sweeps through different planes in the lateral direction, and the controller reconstructs the complete three-dimensional or large-area image from these sequential two-dimensional planes, effectively extending the field of view without sacrificing precision in each individual plane.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A microscope comprises a motorized object stage (108) configured to move an object (110); an optical imaging system (104, 106) configured to form an optical image of a plane in which said object is to be optically imaged; an optical scanning unit (124) configured to move said plane to be optically imaged by said optical imaging system relative to said optical imaging system; an image sensor (132) configured detect said optical image of said plane formed by said optical imaging system; and a controller (138) configured to control said motorized object stage and said optical scanning unit for simultaneously moving said object and said plane in the same direction relative to said optical imaging system while said optical image being detected by said image sensor.