Urine Analysis Focusing via Phase Difference Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for imaging tangible components in urine specimens, such as blood cells and crystals, face challenges with low contrast and small object sizes, leading to reduced focusing accuracy when using autofocus methods like contrast-based focusing.
Innovation Solution
An analysis apparatus and method that utilize a focal point adjusting mechanism, including a camera, light source, and flow cell unit, where a test specimen is used to adjust the focus, allowing the sheath liquid and specimen to flow through a flow cell, and the image pickup position is optimized by detecting focusing points in both the Y and Z axes to ensure high accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the contrast method is used for autofocus control, then the focusing method is simple to implement, but the focusing accuracy is lowered when the object has low contrast and small size
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a phase difference detection mechanism as an intermediary method between simple contrast detection and complex multi-point focusing. By detecting phase differences in light reflected from the object, the system achieves high focusing accuracy for low-contrast, small objects without requiring complex mechanical adjustments or multiple image sensors.
2Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If the image pickup position is adjusted to capture small sediment components, then the detection capability is improved, but the focusing accuracy deteriorates due to low object contrast
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the detection parameter from intensity-based contrast (which fails for low-contrast objects) to phase-based detection. By measuring the phase difference of light waves reflected from the object, the system can accurately detect and focus on small sediment components with low contrast against the urine background.
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 enables high-focusing accuracy for imaging small, low-contrast objects in urine specimens, overcoming the limitations of traditional autofocus methods by precisely adjusting the focus based on the distribution and flow of the specimen within the flow cell.
Implementation Method 1
a light source 12 for image pickup
Implementation Method 2
a phase difference detection unit (14) for detecting phase differences in light
Data Source
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AI summary
An analysis apparatus comprises a flow cell which has a flow passage for a liquid containing a tangible component; an image pickup unit which picks up images of the liquid flowing through the flow passage; an adjusting unit which adjusts a relative position of the flow cell with respect to the image pickup unit in relation to an optical axis direction of the image pickup unit and a direction in which the liquid flows through the flow passage; and a control unit which determines an image pickup position of the flow cell in at least one of the optical axis direction and the direction in which the liquid flows, on the basis of a number of pieces of the tangible component in focusing states existing in the images of the liquid picked up by the image pickup unit at a plurality of positions at which the relative position differs.