Microscope Shading Correction via Background Luminance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing microscope systems require the specimen to be removed from the optical axis for shading correction, which is inconvenient and inefficient, as they rely on calibration data from a background region captured without the specimen, necessitating repeated adjustments.
Innovation Solution
A microscope system with an image-acquisition portion, a background identifying portion, a calibration-data generating portion, and a shading correcting portion that identifies background regions within the image, generates calibration data based on luminance distribution, and corrects shading without removing the specimen, allowing for precise and simple shading correction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the specimen is removed from the optical axis to capture calibration image data for shading correction, then the shading correction can be performed, but the operation becomes complicated and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs shading correction using the specimen image itself by automatically identifying background regions within the image and extracting luminance distribution from those regions. This self-service approach eliminates the need for separate calibration shots without the specimen, allowing the image to correct its own shading artifacts while maintaining operational simplicity
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary identification of background regions and extraction of luminance distribution from the captured image before final shading correction is applied. This preliminary action prepares the necessary correction data from the actual specimen image, ensuring accurate shading removal without requiring preliminary calibration shots without the specimen
2Measurement precision
If the specimen is removed from the optical axis for each calibration, then shading correction can be achieved, but productivity decreases due to repeated adjustments
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables continuous useful action by performing shading correction directly on specimen images without interrupting the observation workflow. The automatic background region identification and luminance distribution extraction allow shading correction to be applied continuously to each captured image, maintaining productivity while achieving accurate correction results
Solution Approach 2:
Each specimen image automatically performs its own shading correction by identifying background regions and extracting luminance distribution from itself. This self-service mechanism eliminates the need for repeated external calibration operations, maintaining both high productivity and correction precision throughout continuous observation
3Loss of information
If calibration image data are captured without the specimen, then shading information can be obtained, but the process becomes inconvenient and requires specimen removal
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts luminance distribution information directly from background regions within the specimen image itself, rather than requiring separate calibration images. This extraction approach obtains the necessary shading correction data while keeping the specimen in place, eliminating inconvenient specimen handling operations
Solution Approach 2:
The specimen image provides its own luminance distribution information through automatic background region identification. The system extracts the necessary calibration data from the image itself without requiring external calibration shots, maintaining specimen position and simplifying operation while preserving information quality
Data Source
AI summary
A microscope system including an imaging portion, an image-acquisition portion that captures an image of a specimen formed by the imaging portion, a background identifying portion that identifies a background region other than a region containing the specimen in the image acquired by the image-acquisition portion, calibration-data generating portions that generate calibration data for correcting shading contained in the image on the basis of a luminance distribution of the background region, and a shading correcting portion that corrects the luminance of the image by using the calibration data.