Observation System With Position-Based Oblique Illumination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing observation devices struggle to maintain oblique illumination over a large area of a culture container, leading to reduced contrast in images due to the limited range of oblique illumination and increased complexity when shifting both observation and illumination systems.
Innovation Solution
The system employs a control device to adjust the light emission pattern based on the observation position, using a surface light source and a conveyance mechanism to maintain oblique illumination across different positions, and switches between periodic light emission patterns to ensure high-contrast imaging regardless of the observation position.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If both observation and illumination systems are shifted to maintain oblique illumination over large area, then imaging contrast is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The illumination system is segmented into multiple independent light sources positioned at different locations. Each light source can be independently controlled to provide oblique illumination from different angles, eliminating the need to mechanically shift the entire illumination system while maintaining high-contrast imaging across the large-area sample container.
2Area of stationary object
If observation position is changed to cover large area, then observation coverage is improved, but maintaining oblique illumination becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically selects and activates appropriate light sources based on the current observation position. As the observation position changes across the large-area container, the controller dynamically adjusts which light sources are active and at what intensity levels, ensuring that oblique illumination is consistently maintained regardless of the observation location.
3Device complexity
If mechanical shifting of illumination system is avoided, then device complexity is reduced, but illumination uniformity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The mechanical shifting mechanism is replaced with an optical control system consisting of multiple fixed light sources and a controller. Instead of mechanically moving the illumination system to maintain uniformity, the system uses electronic control to adjust the intensity and activation of different light sources, achieving illumination uniformity through optical control rather than mechanical movement.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach allows for high-contrast imaging over a large area of the culture container by dynamically adjusting the light emission pattern, ensuring consistent oblique illumination and reducing mechanical complexity.
Implementation Method 1
a lenticular lens that is disposed between the mounting table and the surface light source and is provided with a plurality of cylindrical lens elements
Data Source
AI summary
An observation system includes a mounting table on which a sample container is placed, a surface light source that is disposed in one of two regions divided by the mounting table and has a light emitting plane, an observation optical system disposed in the other thereof, a conveyance mechanism moving the observation optical system in a direction orthogonal to an optical axis of the observation optical system to change an observation position, and a controller controlling a light emission pattern defined by a light emitting region where light is emitted on the light emitting plane. The controller executes first light emission pattern control in which the light emission pattern is changed according to the observation position, or, alternatively, second light emission pattern control in which the light emission pattern is switched between a plurality of periodic light emission patterns having phases different from each other.