Rolling Readout Image Acquisition for High Magnification Focus
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional image acquisition devices face challenges in acquiring focus information of samples at high magnification, resulting in a small depth of field and complex operations due to the need for moving the microscope optical system, which complicates the process of obtaining focal position information for the entire sample.
Innovation Solution
An image acquisition device that employs a dynamic prefocus scheme with a two-dimensional image pickup element performing rolling readout, synchronized with the movement of the stage and objective lens, allowing for rapid and accurate acquisition of focus information by scanning the field of the objective lens across divisional regions and adjusting the focal position accordingly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If high magnification imaging (20x to 40x) is employed to capture detailed sample information, then image resolution is improved, but the depth of field becomes very small resulting in out-of-focus regions
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary focus detection by capturing images at multiple focal positions before final image acquisition. The focus detection unit acquires focus information by analyzing images captured at different focal positions, allowing the system to pre-determine the optimal focal position for each region before capturing the final high-resolution image, thereby resolving the depth of field limitation at high magnification
Solution Approach 2:
The imaging field is divided into multiple divisional regions, and focus detection is performed separately for each region. The stage moves to different positions to capture images of different divisional regions, allowing independent focus optimization for each region while maintaining high magnification imaging
2Area of stationary object
If the field of the microscope optical system is moved to acquire focal position information of the entire sample, then coverage of the sample is improved, but operational complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically performs focus detection and stage positioning without requiring manual intervention. The focus detection unit and stage control unit work together to automatically capture images at multiple focal positions and calculate optimal focal positions for all divisional regions, eliminating the need for complex manual operations while achieving complete sample coverage
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously captures images at multiple focal positions while moving the stage through different divisional regions. The focus detection process is integrated into the imaging workflow, with the stage continuously moving and the focus detection continuously performed, allowing efficient coverage of the entire sample without interrupting the imaging process
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
Enables rapid and accurate acquisition of focus information for samples, simplifying the process by synchronizing the movement of the sample within the field of the objective lens with the rolling readout of the image pickup element, ensuring each pixel column captures an in-focus image, thereby improving operational efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
an image pickup element (6) for capturing an optical image of the sample (S) guided by the lightguide optical system (5)
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2(a)~2(b)
Figure 3
AI summary
An image acquisition device 1 uses as as an image pickup element 6 a two-dimensional image pickup element which is adapted to perform rolling readout while having a plurality of pixel columns 31. By utilizing a delay in image data readout timings among the pixel columns 31 in rolling readout, movement of a predetermined part Sa of a sample S within a field V of an objective lens 25 is synchronized with the rolling readout such that each pixel column 31 of the image pickup element 6 is exposed to an optical image of the predetermined part Sa in the sample S, while changing a focal position of the objective lens 25. As a consequence, image data from each pixel column 31 includes contrast information obtained when the focal position of the objective lens 25 is changed in the same part of the sample S, whereby focus information can be calculated rapidly and accurately according to the contrast information.