Microscope Objective Focus Mapping for Field Curvature Correction

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing microscopy systems suffer from focal aberrations such as field curvature, which cause peripheral portions of the image to be out of focus despite the central portion being in focus, and existing solutions like additional lenses increase costs or negatively impact other system performance.

Innovation Solution

A system and method to develop a focus-corrected image by using an image sensor and a lens moveable relative to the sample between a first position and a second position, comprising an image acquirer and an image generator, which generates a two-dimensional array of pixels.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If additional lenses are included in the compound objective lens to correct focal aberrations, then image focus quality is improved, but device complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimage focus qualityVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a digital copy or model of the focal aberration characteristics through a characteristic map that stores the relationship between field coordinates and optimal focus positions. This digital representation allows the system to correct focal aberrations through software processing rather than adding physical lenses, thereby maintaining image quality while reducing device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical/optical solution (additional lenses) with a computational approach. By using a characteristic map and processing images through software algorithms, the system substitutes physical lens elements with digital processing to achieve focal aberration correction, reducing both device complexity and cost.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Manufacturing precision

If additional lenses are included in the compound objective lens to correct focal aberrations, then image focus quality is improved, but system cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimage focus qualityVSAvoidsystem cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a digital copy or model of the focal aberration characteristics through a characteristic map that stores the relationship between field coordinates and optimal focus positions. This digital representation allows the system to correct focal aberrations through software processing rather than adding physical lenses, thereby maintaining image quality while reducing device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical/optical solution (additional lenses) with a computational approach. By using a characteristic map and processing images through software algorithms, the system substitutes physical lens elements with digital processing to achieve focal aberration correction, reducing both device complexity and cost.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Manufacturing precision

If additional lenses are included in the compound objective lens to correct focal aberrations, then image focus quality is improved, but light throughput is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimage focus qualityVSAvoidlight throughput

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical/optical solution (additional lenses) with a computational approach. By using a characteristic map and processing images through software algorithms, the system substitutes physical lens elements with digital processing to achieve focal aberration correction, reducing both device complexity and cost.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent performs preliminary characterization of the lens's focal aberration properties by creating a characteristic map that stores the relationship between field coordinates and optimal focus positions. This pre-acquired information is then used during image processing to correct focal issues without requiring additional optical elements that would reduce light throughput.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3977192B1System and method to correct for variation of in-focus plane across a field of view of a microscope objective

Publication Date: 2025.11.05 MOLECULAR DEVICES LLC

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AI summary

A computer implemented system and method for generating a focus corrected image of a sample disposed on a sample holder of an imaging system is disclosed. The imaging system includes an image sensor and a lens moveable relative to the image sensor. A characteristic map of the lens is developed that associates coordinates of each pixel of an image with locations of the lens. An image generator develops an output pixel of a focus- corrected image of a sample from a plurality of images of the sample acquired when the lens is positioned at corresponding locations of the lens. The image generator selects a second location in accordance with the characteristic map, an image from the images of the sample associated with the second location, and determines a value of the output pixel in accordance with a value of a pixel of the selected image that corresponds to the output pixel.