TEM Laser Illumination Timing Matched to Camera Exposure
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Solution Overview
Problem
In transmission electron microscopes, illuminating a specimen with a pulse train of a laser beam causes periodic changes, making it difficult to evaluate images correctly due to differing state changes during exposure durations, as the camera's operation is not synchronized with the laser beam's pulse period.
Innovation Solution
A transmission electron microscope design that synchronizes the pulse period of the laser beam with the camera's exposure period, using an illumination control section to ensure consistent state changes during each exposure duration, and includes a camera control section to manage pulse illumination durations within exposure durations, thereby allowing for accurate image evaluation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the camera is periodically operated to capture images during laser beam illumination, then a sequence of camera images can be generated, but the specimen undergoes different state changes for each exposure duration making it difficult to correctly evaluate the images
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies periodic action by synchronizing the laser beam pulse train with the camera's periodic exposure operation. Both the laser beam and camera operate in synchronized periodic cycles, ensuring that each exposure captures the specimen at the same relative state change point, thereby enabling correct image evaluation while maintaining continuous image capture capability
2Adaptability or versatility
If the pulse period of the laser beam and the exposure period of the camera are set independently, then operational flexibility is maintained, but the specimen experiences inconsistent state changes during exposure making image comparison difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements synchronized periodic action where the laser beam pulse period is set to match the camera's exposure period. This synchronization ensures that the specimen undergoes identical state changes during each exposure duration, making image comparison reliable while still allowing independent adjustment of the overall exposure period to maintain operational flexibility
3Adaptability or versatility
If a pulse train of laser beam is illuminated onto the specimen, then heating effects or photoreactions can be observed, but periodic changes in the specimen make it difficult to correctly evaluate images
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies periodic action by synchronizing the laser beam pulse train with the camera exposure cycle. This ensures that the specimen is illuminated by the laser at the same phase point during each exposure, causing consistent periodic changes that can be reliably evaluated and compared across the image sequence, thereby maintaining observation capability while improving measurement precision
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 synchronization enables the correct evaluation of camera images by maintaining a constant state change of the specimen during each exposure, allowing for reliable comparison of images taken at different times and reducing issues like signal saturation and noise.
Implementation Method 1
Electrons are converted to photons in the scintillator panel, and the photons are detected by the two-dimensional detector
Implementation Method 2
When it is desired to observe a change of the specimen due to heating or to observe a photoreaction caused in the specimen, a laser beam is illuminated onto the specimen
Data Source
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AI summary
A laser beam illumination equipment (30) has a laser beam generation section (32) and a mirror unit (34). An image generation section (90) has a camera (92) and a camera controller (94). A laser beam illumination control section (38) sets a pulse period of a laser beam to the same period as an exposure period of the camera (92). With this configuration, a state change of a specimen can be set uniform over exposure durations. A pulse train of the laser beam may be generated based on a synchronization signal which is output from the camera controller.