Microscopy Object Rotation and Translation Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional microscopy systems can only image from one fixed direction, leading to incomplete information and loss of data as other surfaces of the sample object are not imaged, which limits the ability to fully reflect the object's properties.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that rotate the object into multiple angular positions, capture images, and determine the necessary translation to align it within the field of view of the imaging device, using a triple-image alignment strategy and a rotation and translation assembly to maintain the object within the field of view, enabling full-orientation imaging.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If the object is rotated into multiple angular positions for imaging, then the completeness of object information is improved, but the object may move out of the field of view
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary alignment by capturing images at multiple angular positions and calculating the required translation before actual imaging. This preliminary calculation of translation parameters ensures the object remains within the field of view during rotation while still capturing complete object information from multiple angles.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from captured images at different angular positions to dynamically calculate and adjust the translation required to keep the object centered in the field of view. The image data provides feedback about object position, which is used to compute corrective translation parameters that maintain the object within the imaging area throughout rotation.
2Measurement precision
If high magnification is used to image micro- or nano-sized objects, then the resolution is improved, but the field of view area is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from a single 2D field of view constraint to a 3D solution space by introducing translation along the optical axis and angular rotation as additional dimensions. This allows the object to be imaged from multiple angular positions while maintaining high magnification, effectively increasing the total viewable area without sacrificing resolution by utilizing the angular dimension.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary calculation of translation parameters based on the object's position in captured images before executing the imaging sequence. This preliminary action determines the exact translation needed to keep the object centered at high magnification across multiple angular positions, enabling resolution maintenance while expanding the effective field of view through angular sampling.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the object is rotated about an axis perpendicular to the imaging axis, then multi-orientation imaging is achieved, but the object position shifts out of the field of view
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses feedback from the object's detected position in images captured at different angular positions to calculate the precise translation required. This feedback loop continuously monitors object position and computes corrective translation parameters, maintaining high alignment precision even as the object rotates through multiple orientations, thus preserving manufacturing precision while enabling multi-orientation imaging.
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces mechanical alignment procedures with computational methods. Instead of physically adjusting the object's position through mechanical means, the system uses image processing and mathematical calculations to determine the required translation, substituting mechanical precision requirements with computational precision that can be achieved through software algorithms.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for manipulating an object for imaging by an imaging device includes the steps of rotating the object about a rotation axis into a plurality of angular positions; capturing an image of the object at each of the plurality of angular positions; and determining a respective translation required of the object for the plurality of angular positions, the translation being along a plane substantially orthogonal to the rotation axis; wherein the respective translation is arranged to align the object to the rotation axis so as to maintain the object within a field of view of the imaging device.