Microscope Stage Positioning Feedback Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
In multi-point time lapse photography, achieving high positional accuracy for a microscope stage is challenging, leading to image shaking and prolonged setup times due to hunting issues, especially at high magnifications.
Innovation Solution
A microscope system with a drive unit, position detection unit, and correction unit that performs trimming corrections on photographic images to ensure they represent the same observation region, using feedback control to maintain accuracy and prevent hunting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If feedback control with linear encoder is employed to achieve high position setting accuracy, then positioning precision is improved, but hunting occurs and setup time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs feedback control using a linear encoder to detect stage position and compare it with the target position. The control unit adjusts the drive unit based on the position difference to achieve accurate positioning. This feedback mechanism resolves the contradiction by enabling high positioning precision while preventing infinite hunting through practical convergence control.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the control parameter from open-loop fixed positioning to closed-loop feedback positioning. By dynamically adjusting the drive based on real-time position detection, the system achieves both high accuracy and reduced setup time compared to traditional fixed positioning methods.
2Manufacturing precision
If high position setting accuracy is demanded for high magnification, then imaging precision is improved, but hunting occurs causing prolonged setup
Solution Approach 1:
For high magnification imaging, the patent uses feedback control with linear encoder to precisely position the stage. The feedback mechanism allows the system to achieve the required imaging precision while minimizing setup time by efficiently converging on the target position rather than requiring extended manual adjustment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical positioning with automated feedback-controlled positioning. This substitution eliminates the need for prolonged manual setup while achieving the high precision required for high magnification imaging through electronic control and position detection.
3Productivity
If stage positioning error occurs in multi-point time lapse photography, then productivity is maintained, but image shaking occurs making replay unnatural
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses feedback control to detect and correct stage positioning errors between photographic points. By continuously monitoring position and adjusting the stage location, the system maintains image stability during multi-point time lapse photography while preserving productivity through automated correction rather than manual intervention.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the positioning parameter from fixed target coordinates to dynamically adjusted coordinates based on detected errors. This parameter adjustment allows the system to maintain both high productivity in multi-point photography and image stability by compensating for positioning variations in real-time.
Data Source
AI summary
A microscope system that shifts a plurality of observation locations that are set upon an observation subject in order onto an optical axis of an objective optical system, and for each of the observation locations, performs photography with an image-capturing device of an observation image of the observation subject a plurality of times as time elapses, includes: a drive unit that drives a stage upon which the observation subject is mounted, and the objective optical system, relative to one another two dimensionally in directions orthogonal to the optical axis; a position detection unit that detects at least one of positions of the stage and the objective optical system; and a correction unit that, based upon position information detected by the position detection unit, performs trimming correction upon a plurality of photographic images that have been photographed at each observation location as time elapses, so that the plurality of photographic images become images of a same observation region that includes the observation location.