Scanning Microscope Dynamic Focal Surface Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional scanning microscopes introduce curvature in the focal surface due to rotational scanning, which is undesirable for imaging thin structures and stitching multiple image frames, requiring expensive custom optics and limiting flexibility in focal surface shape.
Innovation Solution
A scanning microscope with a scanning module that includes micro-electromechanical system (MEMS) mirrors capable of rotating and translating along multiple axes, allowing dynamic shaping of the focal surface through coordinated control by a controller, enabling the generation of flat or arbitrary focal surfaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a scanning mirror rotates to scan the illumination beam across the focal plane, then the scanning function is achieved, but curvature is introduced in the focal surface
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by transitioning from a static rotation-only scanning mirror to a dynamic system where the scanning mirror can both rotate and translate. This dynamic capability allows the mirror to compensate for the curvature introduced by rotation, maintaining a flat focal surface while preserving the scanning function. The controller dynamically adjusts the translation amount based on the rotation angle to achieve this compensation.
2Manufacturing precision
If custom optics are used to correct focal surface curvature, then imaging quality improves, but system cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the optical correction approach (using custom optics) with a mechanical correction approach (using mirror translation). Instead of designing complex custom optical elements to correct focal surface curvature, the system uses the mechanical degree of freedom of the scanning mirror's translation to achieve the same correction effect, thereby reducing optical complexity and cost.
3Device complexity
If the focal surface is curved, then the scanning microscope can be simpler, but stitching multiple image frames becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
By making the scanning mirror dynamic (capable of both rotation and translation), the system can adapt its focal surface shape based on the imaging requirements. For image stitching applications, the controller can maintain a flat focal surface throughout the scanning range, ensuring that multiple image frames lie on the same plane and can be easily stitched together without complex warping corrections.
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 flexible and accurate imaging of thin structures and efficient stitching of images by maintaining a flat focal surface, improving image quality and simplifying the design of the microscope system.
Implementation Method 1
The one or more scanning elements may include a micro-electromechanical (MEMS) mirror. The MEMS mirror may perform the rotation about the first axis and the translation along the second axis.
Data Source
AI summary
Apparatuses, systems, and methods for dynamically shaped focal surface with a scanning microscope. A microscope (e.g., a scanning confocal microscope) may use a scanning element to scan an illumination beam to generate a focal region. The scanning element may include multiple degrees of freedom, such as rotation and translation along orthogonal axes. For example, if the illumination beam is a line focus, rotation along a first axis and translation along a second orthogonal axis may sweep the line focus across a focal surface which is substantially flat and normal to the second axis. In some embodiments, the microscope may be a dual-axis handheld microscope, where a single objective in a handheld housing is used to both direct the scanned illumination beam and receive the collected light.