Microscope Relay-Position Control for Precise Cell Focusing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing microscope observation systems face challenges in accurately focusing on cells or cell masses due to mechanical issues such as backlash and lost motion in the drive mechanism, leading to complications and increased costs when multiple devices are operated in parallel.
Innovation Solution
A microscope observation system with a conveying apparatus that temporarily moves from a current position to a relay position and then to a target position, eliminating backlash by ensuring the first distance is sufficient for actuator operation and the second distance is shorter, allowing precise focusing and integration of focusing and conveyance functions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a common moving mechanism with speed reducer is used to move the microscope device by several tens of microns, then the device can be moved, but mechanical backlash and lost motion prevent precise focusing
Solution Approach 1:
The moving mechanism is divided into two independent parts: a rough moving mechanism for coarse positioning and a fine moving mechanism for precise focusing. This segmentation allows each mechanism to be optimized for its specific function, eliminating the backlash problem in the fine moving mechanism while maintaining ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
A relay position is introduced as an intermediary step between the current position and the target position. The controlling unit first moves the microscope device to the relay position using the rough moving mechanism, then uses the fine moving mechanism to adjust to the exact target position. This intermediary approach eliminates backlash effects.
2Productivity
If multiple cell production devices are operated in parallel, then productivity increases, but device complexity and coordination difficulties increase
Solution Approach 1:
The conveying apparatus is designed with multi-functionality to serve multiple cell production devices. A single conveying apparatus can transport the microscope device between different cell production devices, reducing the need for separate conveying systems for each device and thereby reducing overall system complexity while maintaining high productivity.
3Ease of operation
If the microscope device is moved directly to the target position, then operation is simple, but mechanical lost motion prevents accurate focusing
Solution Approach 1:
The focusing function is extracted from the rough moving mechanism and assigned to a separate fine moving mechanism. This extraction allows the fine moving mechanism to operate independently with high precision without being affected by the mechanical imperfections of the rough moving mechanism, while the overall operation remains simple through automated coordination.
Solution Approach 2:
The rough moving mechanism performs preliminary action by moving the microscope device to the relay position, which is close to but not exactly at the target position. This preliminary action eliminates the need for the fine moving mechanism to handle the entire distance, allowing it to focus precisely on the remaining short distance without mechanical interference.
Data Source
AI summary
A microscope observation system comprises a cell production device provided with a culture vessel in which cells or cell masses are cultured, a microscope device capable of observing an object including cells or cell masses, a conveying apparatus that conveys the microscope device to the cell production device, and an operating control section that sends a command to the conveying apparatus to temporarily move the conveying apparatus from a current position to a relay position and then to move the conveying apparatus to a target position when focusing the microscope device onto the object, wherein a first distance from the current position to the relay position is a distance necessary to drive an actuator by at least a predetermined amount in order to actuate a rotation shaft or a translation shaft of the conveying apparatus, and a second distance from the current position to the target position is a shorter distance than the first distance.