JP2001083091A - Image-reading device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image-reading device, using a two-dimensional area sensor for generating an image where shading has been corrected, without correcting the shading through data processing. SOLUTION: This image-reading device is provided with an excitation light source 20 having a plurality of regularly arranged LED light source 27, a two-dimensional area sensor 6 where a fluorescent substance is excited by excitation light generated from an excitation light source, the generated fluorescence is detected photoelectrically via a camera lens 17, and image data is generated, and an A/D conversion means 10 for digitizing image data being generated by the two-dimensional area sensor. The image-reading device is also provided with a light source control means, for independently controlling each quantity of generated light of a plurality of LED light sources.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image reading apparatus using a two-dimensional area sensor, and more particularly, to generating an image in which shading is corrected without correcting shading by data processing. The present invention relates to an image reading apparatus using a two-dimensional area sensor that can perform the reading.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A fluorescence detection system using a fluorescent substance as a labeling substance is known.
According to this fluorescence detection system, by reading a fluorescence image, it is possible to perform gene sequence, gene expression level, protein separation and identification, or molecular weight and property evaluation. After adding a fluorescent dye to the solution containing the DNA fragment of
A plurality of DNA fragments are electrophoresed on a gel support, or a plurality of DNA fragments are placed on a gel support containing a fluorescent dye.
After the NA fragment is subjected to electrophoresis, or a plurality of DNA fragments are subjected to electrophoresis on a gel support, the gel support is immersed in a solution containing a fluorescent dye, etc. By labeling, exciting a fluorescent dye with excitation light, and detecting the generated fluorescence, an image is generated, and the distribution of DNA on the gel support is detected. After electrophoresis on a support, the DNA is denaturated and then
A probe prepared by transferring at least a portion of a denatured DNA fragment onto a transfer support such as nitrocellulose by Southern blotting, and labeling DNA or RNA complementary to the target DNA with a fluorescent dye D
An image is generated by hybridizing with an NA fragment, selectively labeling only a DNA fragment complementary to a probe DNA or a probe RNA, exciting a fluorescent dye with excitation light, and detecting generated fluorescence. Then, the distribution of the target DNA on the transcription support can be detected. Further, a DNA probe complementary to the DNA containing the target gene labeled with the labeling substance is prepared, hybridized with the DNA on the transcription support, and the enzyme is reacted with the complementary DNA labeled with the labeling substance. After binding, the fluorescent substance is brought into contact with a fluorescent substrate, the fluorescent substrate is changed into a fluorescent substance that emits fluorescence, and the generated fluorescent substance is excited by excitation light, and the generated fluorescence is detected.
An image can be generated to detect the distribution of the target DNA on the transfer support. This fluorescence detection system has an advantage that a gene sequence or the like can be easily detected without using a radioactive substance.

[0003]

In such a fluorescence detection system, a sample carrying a fluorescence image is irradiated with excitation light from a light source, and the generated fluorescence is transmitted to a sample by a lens.
When condensing light on the light receiving element surface of a two-dimensional area sensor such as a CD camera and photographing a fluorescent image, the two-dimensional area sensor is caused by uneven irradiation of excitation light and a decrease in the amount of transmitted light around the lens. The images taken by
Shading occurs, and it is necessary to correct the generated shading by data processing. A similar problem occurs in a digitizer or the like using a transmission light source.

However, since shading occurs two-dimensionally, the correction data for correcting shading also becomes two-dimensional data, and there is a problem that the capacity of the correction data becomes large and a large-capacity memory is required. .

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an image reading apparatus using a two-dimensional area sensor capable of generating an image in which shading has been corrected without correcting shading by data processing. Things.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The object of the present invention is as follows.
An excitation light source having a plurality of LED light sources arranged regularly, and an excitation light emitted from the excitation light source excites a fluorescent substance, and the generated fluorescence is photoelectrically detected through a camera lens. An image reading apparatus comprising: a two-dimensional area sensor for generating image data; and A / D conversion means for digitizing the image data generated by the two-dimensional area sensor, wherein each of the plurality of LED light sources Is achieved by an image reading apparatus provided with a light source control means capable of controlling the amount of emitted light independently.

[0007] According to the present invention, since the light source control means capable of independently controlling the amount of light emitted from each of the plurality of LED light sources is provided, the amount of light emitted from each LED light source is controlled by a plurality of LEs.
By controlling so that shading due to irradiation unevenness of the D light source and shading due to a decrease in the amount of transmitted light in the peripheral portion of the camera lens do not occur, shading is corrected by data processing without correcting shading. Image can be generated.

[0008] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the image reading apparatus further comprises: a two-dimensional memory for two-dimensionally expanding and storing the digitized image data by the A / D conversion means; In the two-dimensional memory,
It is two-dimensionally developed and includes a light emission amount determining unit that determines a light emission amount of each of the plurality of LED light sources based on a distribution of density signal levels of the stored image data. The light emission amount of each of the plurality of LED light sources determined by the light emission amount determination means is controlled.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a plurality of LEDs are two-dimensionally expanded and stored in a two-dimensional memory based on a distribution of density signal levels of stored image data.
Since light emission amount determining means for determining the light emission amount of each light source is provided, and the light source control means is configured to control the light emission amount of each of the plurality of LED light sources determined by the light emission amount determination means, Excitation light is emitted from each of the plurality of LED light sources, with a light emission amount capable of preventing shading caused by irradiation unevenness of the plurality of LED light sources and shading caused by a decrease in the amount of transmitted light in the peripheral portion of the camera lens, Therefore, it is possible to generate an image in which shading is corrected by data processing without correcting shading.

[0010] In a further preferred aspect of the present invention, the light emission amount determining means is configured to two-dimensionally expand and store the image data stored in the two-dimensional memory into the plurality of regularly arranged image data. To correspond to LED light source,
The image data area is divided into image data areas, and the integrated value of the density signal level of each of the image data areas is two-dimensionally expanded in the two-dimensional memory, and the integrated value of the image data area located at the center of the stored image data is obtained. The light emission amount of each of the plurality of LED light sources is determined so as to be equal to the integrated value of the density signal level.

According to a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, the light emission amount determining means is provided with a plurality of LED light sources arranged two-dimensionally in a two-dimensional memory and storing the stored image data in a regular arrangement. Is divided into image data areas, and the integrated value of the density signal level of each image data area is two-dimensionally expanded in a two-dimensional memory and located at the center of the stored image data. A plurality of LEs are set to be equal to the integrated value of the density signal level of the image data area.
Since the configuration is such that the amount of light emitted from each of the D light sources is determined, it is possible to prevent shading caused by uneven irradiation of the plurality of LED light sources and shading caused by a decrease in the amount of transmitted light around the camera lens. Excitation light is previously emitted from each of the plurality of LED light sources with a small amount of emitted light. Therefore, it is possible to generate an image in which shading has been corrected by data processing without correcting shading.

[0012] In a further preferred aspect of the present invention, the light emission amount determining means stores the image data which is two-dimensionally expanded and stored in the two-dimensional memory and which is regularly arranged. To correspond to LED light source,
The image data area is divided into image data areas, and the integrated value of the density signal level of each of the image data areas is two-dimensionally expanded in the two-dimensional memory, and the integrated value of the image data area located at the center of the stored image data is obtained. A drive current value to be supplied to each of the plurality of LED light sources is determined so as to be equal to the integrated value of the density signal level, and the light source control unit determines the drive current value according to the drive current value determined by the light emission amount determination unit. ,
The driving current value supplied to each of the plurality of LED light sources is controlled to control the amount of light emitted from each of the plurality of LED light sources.

[0013] According to a further preferred aspect of the present invention, the light emission amount determining means includes a plurality of LED light sources arranged two-dimensionally in a two-dimensional memory and storing the stored image data in a regular arrangement. Is divided into image data areas, and the integrated value of the density signal level of each image data area is two-dimensionally expanded in a two-dimensional memory and located at the center of the stored image data. A plurality of LEs are set to be equal to the integrated value of the density signal level of the image data area.
A drive current value to be supplied to each of the D light sources is determined, and the light source control unit controls a drive current value to be supplied to each of the plurality of LED light sources according to the drive current value determined by the emission light amount determination unit. Is configured to control the amount of light emitted from each of the plurality of LED light sources.
Exciting light is emitted from each of the plurality of LED light sources in advance with a light emission amount that can prevent shading caused by irradiation unevenness of the D light source and shading caused by a decrease in the transmitted light amount in the peripheral portion of the camera lens, Therefore, it is possible to generate an image in which shading is corrected by data processing without correcting shading.

In a further preferred aspect of the present invention, when the image data expanded and stored in the two-dimensional memory in two dimensions is excited by the same amount of excitation light, uniform fluorescence is emitted. It is generated by irradiating a fluorescent plate having the property of emitting light with excitation light.

According to a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, when excited by the same amount of excitation light, a fluorescent plate having a property of emitting uniform fluorescence is irradiated with the excitation light, and the two-dimensional memory is stored in the two-dimensional memory. Since the image data that has been developed and stored is generated, based on the generated image data under the same conditions as when the fluorescent light image is generated, each of the plurality of LED light sources The amount of emitted light is determined.Therefore, a plurality of emitted light amounts that can prevent shading caused by uneven irradiation of the plurality of LED light sources and shading caused by a decrease in the amount of transmitted light in the peripheral portion of the camera lens are generated in advance. LE
Since it is possible to control the excitation light to be emitted from each of the D light sources, it is possible to generate an image in which shading is corrected by data processing without correcting shading.

In a further preferred aspect of the present invention, the light source control means is configured to be able to switch the wavelength of the excitation light emitted from the plurality of LED light sources. According to a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, since the fluorescent substance can be excited with excitation light having a wavelength suitable for exciting the fluorescent substance, a fluorescent image can be generated with high sensitivity.

In a further preferred aspect of the present invention, the excitation light source cuts light other than light having a wavelength near the excitation light emitted from the plurality of LED light sources, and the excitation light source emits the excitation light emitted from the plurality of LED light sources. It has a removable filter that transmits only light of a wavelength near the light.

According to a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, the excitation light source cuts light other than light having a wavelength near the excitation light emitted from the plurality of LED light sources, and the plurality of LED light sources.
Since it has a removable filter that transmits only light of a wavelength near the excitation light emitted from the light source, according to the wavelength of the excitation light emitted from the plurality of LED light sources, cuts light of the desired wavelength, Since the fluorescent substance can be excited with excitation light having a wavelength suitable for exciting the fluorescent substance, a fluorescent image can be generated with high sensitivity.

In a further preferred aspect of the present invention, the excitation light source includes a diffusion plate for uniformly diffusing excitation light emitted from the plurality of LED light sources. According to a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to more evenly irradiate the excitation light, and it is possible to reliably prevent shading caused by irradiation unevenness of a plurality of LED light sources.

[0020] In a further preferred aspect of the present invention, a removable filter is provided on the front surface of the camera lens for cutting light having a wavelength near the excitation light emitted from the plurality of LED light sources.

According to a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, a removable filter for cutting light having a wavelength near the excitation light emitted from the plurality of LED light sources is provided on the front surface of the camera lens. Even when the fluorescent substance is excited by the excitation light of the wavelength, only the fluorescence emitted from the fluorescent substance can be photoelectrically detected by the two-dimensional area sensor via the camera lens, and with high sensitivity,
A fluorescent image can be generated.

In a further preferred aspect of the present invention, the two-dimensional area sensor is constituted by a cooled CCD camera. According to a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to generate a fluorescent image with high sensitivity even when the amount of fluorescent light emitted from the fluorescent substance is weak.

[0023]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic front view of an image generation system including an image reading device according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, the image generating system includes a cooled CCD camera 1, a dark box 2, and a personal computer 4. As shown in FIG. 1, the personal computer 3 includes a CRT 4 and a keyboard 5.

FIG. 2 is a schematic vertical sectional view of the cooled CCD camera 1. As shown in FIG. 2, the cooled CCD camera 1
A CCD 6, a heat transfer plate 7 made of metal such as aluminum, a Peltier element 8 for cooling the CCD 6, a shutter 9 arranged on the front of the CCD 6,
An A / D converter 10 for converting the analog image data generated by D6 into digital image data, and an A / D converter 10
An image data buffer 11 for temporarily storing image data digitized by the digital camera 1 and a camera control circuit 12 for controlling the operation of the cooled CCD camera 1 are provided. An opening formed between the dark box 2 and the dark box 2 is closed by a glass plate 15, and a radiating fin 1 for radiating heat generated by the Peltier element 8 is provided around the cooled CCD camera 1.
6 are formed over almost the entire surface in the longitudinal direction. A camera lens 17 having a lens focus adjustment function is mounted in the dark box 2 on the front surface of the glass plate 15.

FIG. 3 is a schematic vertical sectional view of the dark box 2. FIG.
As shown in FIG. 2, an excitation light source 20 that emits excitation light is provided in the dark box 2. The excitation light source 20 includes a filter 21 that is detachably provided and a diffusion plate that is provided on the upper surface of the filter 21. 23, and through the diffusion plate 23,
The excitation light is irradiated onto an image carrier (not shown) mounted thereon, thereby ensuring that the image carrier is evenly illuminated. The filter 21 has a property of cutting light harmful to excitation of the fluorescent substance other than the wavelength near the excitation light and transmitting only light having a wavelength near the excitation light. On the front surface of the camera lens 17, a filter 22 that cuts off light having a wavelength near the excitation light is detachably provided.

FIG. 4 is a schematic plan view of the excitation light source 20,
For simplification, the filter 21 and the diffusion plate 23 are omitted. As shown in FIG. 4, the excitation light source 20
N × M LED light sources 2 (N and M are each an integer of 2 or more) provided regularly on a substrate 25
7 is provided.

Each of the LED light sources 27 has a driver circuit (not shown), and can independently emit light at a desired light amount by controlling a drive current supplied to the driver circuit. Is configured. Each LED light source 27 is configured to selectively emit blue, red or green light by operating a switch (not shown) of a driver circuit.
A filter 21 is detachably provided above the N × M LED light sources 27, and a diffusion plate 23 is provided above the filter 21.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram around the personal computer 3. As shown in FIG. 5, the personal computer 3 includes a cooled CCD camera 1
, An image data transfer unit 31 for reading out image data generated by the cooled CCD camera 1 from the image data buffer 11, an image data storage unit 32 for storing image data, and an image data storage unit 32. Image processing device 3 that performs image processing on the processed image data
3 and an image display means 34 for displaying a visible image on the screen of the CRT 4 based on the image data stored in the image data storage means 32. The N × M LED light sources 27 constituting the excitation light source 20 are individually
The light source control means 35 is configured to receive an instruction signal from the keyboard 5 via the CPU 30. The personal computer 3 further receives N × M LEs from the light source control unit 35.
A drive current determining means 36 for determining a drive current value supplied to the D light source 27 and a RAM 37 are provided. CPU 30
Are configured to be able to output various signals to the camera control circuit 12 of the cooled CCD camera 1.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram around the CCD 6. As shown in FIG. 6, the CCD 6 includes a photoelectric sensor 40 and an output amplifier 42, and the electric charge accumulated in the photoelectric sensor 40 is transferred through a charge transfer path 44.
It is configured to be sent to the output amplifier 42 and output. The transfer of charges from the charge transfer path 44 is controlled by the read control circuit 46, and the read control circuit 46
Are controlled by the camera control circuit 12.

The image generation system according to the present embodiment
Image carrier carrying image of fluorescent substance (not shown)
Then, the excitation light is irradiated from the excitation light source 20 and the fluorescence generated from the image carrier is passed through the camera lens 17 to the cooled CCD.
The fluorescent image is generated by detecting the image by the CCD 6 of the camera 1. Here, the image carrier carries an image of a fluorescent substance means that the image carrier carries an image of a sample labeled with a fluorescent dye, and that the enzyme is combined with the labeled sample before the enzyme is fluoresced. Contacting with a substrate to change the fluorescent substrate into a fluorescent substance that emits fluorescence, and carrying an image of the obtained fluorescent substance.

In the image generation system configured as described above, prior to generation of the fluorescent light image, N × M LEDs are used for shading correction as follows.
The light amount of the light source 27 is adjusted.

First, a fluorescent plate (not shown) having a property of emitting uniform fluorescent light when excited by the same amount of excitation light is placed on the diffusion plate 23.

Next, after the lens focus is adjusted by the user and the dark box 2 is closed, the user inputs an instruction signal to execute shading correction to the keyboard 5. A control signal is output, and N × M LED light sources 2
7 are all turned on, and the excitation light is emitted toward the fluorescent plate mounted on the diffusion plate 23. At the same time, the instruction signal is input to the camera control circuit 12 of the cooled CCD camera 1 via the CPU 30, and the camera control circuit 12 opens the shutter 9 and starts the exposure of the CCD 6.

The excitation light emitted from the N × M LED light sources 27 has wavelength components other than light near the excitation light cut off by the filter 21, and as a result, the light having the wavelength near the excitation light is The fluorescent plate is excited, and emits fluorescence uniformly.

The fluorescent light thus emitted from the fluorescent plate passes through the filter 22 and the camera lens 17 to the CCD 6.
An image is formed on the photoelectric surface of the photoelectric sensor 40 of FIG. CCD6
The photoelectric sensor 40 receives light of the image thus formed and accumulates it in the form of electric charges. By the filter 22,
Since light having a wavelength near the excitation light is cut off, only the fluorescence emitted from the fluorescent plate is received by the CCD 6.

After a predetermined time has elapsed, the CPU 30
An instruction signal for completing the shading correction is output to the camera control circuit 12 of the cooled CCD camera 1. Upon receiving such an instruction signal from the CPU 30, the camera control circuit 12 causes the CCD 6 to transfer the analog data accumulated in the form of electric charges to the A / D converter 10, digitize the analog data into digital data, and convert the digital image data. It is generated and temporarily stored in the image data buffer 11.

Next, the CPU 30 outputs a data transfer signal to the image data transfer means 31 to read out the digital image data temporarily stored in the image data buffer 11 of the cooled CCD camera 1 and determine the drive current. Input to the means 36.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of the drive current determining means 36. As shown in FIG. 7, the drive current determination unit 36 photoelectrically detects the fluorescence emitted from the fluorescent plate transferred from the image data transfer unit 31, and converts the image data obtained by digitization into a two-dimensional image. The two-dimensional memory 50 to be developed and stored, and the image data of the fluorescent plate stored in the two-dimensional memory 50 are converted to N ×
A density signal level calculation unit 51 that divides the image data area into an N × M matrix of image data areas corresponding to the M LED light sources 27 and calculates an integrated value of density signal levels in each image data area; The integrated value of the density signal level in each image data area calculated by the calculation unit 51 is supplied to each LED light source 27 so that the integrated value of the density signal level in the image data area at the center of the image data becomes equal. A drive current calculator 52 for calculating a drive current value to be used is provided.

The image data obtained by photoelectrically detecting the fluorescence emitted from the fluorescent plate and digitizing the image is input from the image data transfer means 31 to the two-dimensional memory 50, expanded two-dimensionally, and stored. You.

The density signal level calculation unit 51 converts the image data of the fluorescent plate, which has been two-dimensionally expanded and stored in the two-dimensional memory 50, into N × M LED light sources 27 corresponding to N × M LED light sources 27.
The image data is divided into image data areas in a matrix of × M, and the integrated value of the density signal levels in each image data area is calculated.
The integrated value of the density signal levels in the image data area obtained in this manner is due to shading caused by irradiation unevenness of the N × M LED light sources 27 and shading caused by a decrease in the amount of transmitted light around the camera lens 17. In the two-dimensional memory 50, the image data area located at the center of the two-dimensionally expanded image data is higher, and the image located at the peripheral part of the two-dimensionally expanded image data in the two-dimensional memory 50 is higher. The lower the data area, the lower.

Therefore, the drive current calculation unit 52 calculates the integrated value of the density signal level in each image data area input from the density signal level calculation unit 51 into the two-dimensional memory A drive current value to be supplied to each LED light source 27 is calculated so as to be equal to the integrated value of the density signal level in the image data area located at the center of the data.

The drive current value to be supplied to each LED light source 27 calculated by the drive current calculation unit 52 is
And stored in the RAM 37 to complete the shading correction.

When the shading correction is completed, the excitation light source 2 is placed on an image carrier (not shown) such as a gel support or a transfer support carrying an image of a fluorescent substance.
By irradiating excitation light from zero, it becomes possible to generate a fluorescence image.

In generating a fluorescent image, first, an image carrier carrying a fluorescent image is placed on the diffusion plate 23 by a user. Next, lens focus adjustment is performed by the user using the camera lens 17,
The dark box 2 is closed. After that, the user
When an exposure start signal is input to the
The controller reads out the drive current value to be supplied to each LED light source 27 stored in 7, outputs a control signal to the light source control unit 35, and controls the drive current value to be supplied to each LED light source 27.

As a result, the N × M LED light sources 27 are turned on, and excitation light is emitted toward the image carrier. At the same time, the exposure start signal is sent to the cooling CC via the CPU 30.
The signal is input to the camera control circuit 12 of the D camera 1, the shutter 9 is opened by the camera control circuit 12, and the exposure of the CCD 6 is started.

The excitation light emitted from the N × M LED light sources 27 is cut by the filter 21 into wavelength components other than light having a wavelength in the vicinity of the excitation light, and is made uniform by the diffusion plate 23. Illuminated on the image carrier. As a result, the fluorescent substance in the image carrier is excited by light having a wavelength near the excitation light, and emits fluorescence.

The fluorescent light emitted from the fluorescent substance in the image carrier enters the photoelectric surface of the CCD 6 of the cooled CCD camera 1 via the filter 22 and the camera lens 17, and forms an image on the photoelectric surface. The photoelectric sensor 40 of the CCD 6 receives the light of the image thus formed on the photoelectric surface and accumulates the light in the form of electric charges. Since light having a wavelength near the excitation light is cut off by the filter 22, only the fluorescence emitted from the fluorescent substance in the image carrier is received by the photoelectric sensor 40 of the CCD 6.

When a predetermined exposure time has elapsed, the CPU 30
Outputs an exposure completion signal to the camera control circuit 12 of the cooled CCD camera 1. The camera control circuit 12 includes a CPU 30
When the exposure completion signal is received from the CPU, the read control circuit 46 is driven, and the analog image data accumulated in the form of electric charges by the photoelectric sensor 40 of the CCD 6 is transferred through the electric charge transfer path 44.
At a low speed of less than 10 frames / sec, the signal is sent to the output amplifier 42, further transferred to the A / D converter 10, digitized, and temporarily stored in the image data buffer 11.

At the same time, the CPU 30 outputs an exposure completion signal
The image data output to the image data transfer unit 31 and temporarily stored in the image data buffer 11 are stored in the image data storage unit 32.

Thereafter, when the user inputs an image generation signal to the keyboard 5, the image display means 34 reads out the image data stored in the image data storage means 32, and displays the fluorescent light in the image carrier on the screen of the CRT 4. A fluorescence image obtained by photoelectrically detecting fluorescence emitted from the substance is displayed.

According to the present embodiment, a fluorescent plate having a property of emitting uniform fluorescence when excited by the same amount of excitation light is irradiated with excitation light from N × M LED light sources 27.
The fluorescent light emitted from the fluorescent plate is photoelectrically detected, and the image data of the fluorescent plate obtained by digitizing the fluorescent light is converted into N × M LEDs.
The image signal is divided into N × M image data areas so as to correspond to the light source 27, the density signal level calculation unit 51 calculates the integrated value of the density signal levels in each image data area, and the drive current calculation unit 52 The integrated value of the density signal level in each image data area becomes equal to the integrated value of the density signal level in the image data area located at the center of the image data two-dimensionally expanded in the two-dimensional memory 50. As in each LE
A drive current value to be supplied to the D light source 27 is calculated, and each LED light source 27 is turned on in accordance with the drive current value thus obtained to generate a predetermined amount of excitation light. Therefore, prior to the generation of the fluorescent image, shading caused by uneven irradiation of the N × M LED light sources 27 in the fluorescent image data to be generated and shading caused by a decrease in the amount of transmitted light in the periphery of the camera lens 17 occur. As previously corrected, N × M
Since the light emission amounts of the LED light sources 27 are individually controlled, the image data obtained by reading the fluorescent image carried by the image carrier is not subjected to data processing, and N × M L
A fluorescent image in which shading caused by uneven irradiation of the ED light source 27 and shading caused by a decrease in the amount of transmitted light in the peripheral portion of the camera lens 17 are corrected is converted into a CR image.
It can be displayed on the screen of T4.

According to the present embodiment, each LED light source 27 is provided with a switch (not shown) of a driver circuit.
By operating the, blue, red or green light is configured to be able to selectively emit, with light of a wavelength suitable for exciting the fluorescent substance contained in the image carrier,
It is possible to excite the fluorescent substance, to be efficient, and to improve the detection sensitivity at low cost.

FIG. 9 is a schematic sectional view of a dark box of an image reading apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 9, the image reading apparatus according to the present embodiment includes a dark box 2 instead of the excitation light source 20 provided at the bottom of the dark box 2.
And a pair of excitation light sources 60 and 61 provided diagonally above.

FIG. 10 is a schematic plan view of the excitation light source 60. As shown in FIG. 10, similarly to the excitation light source 20, the excitation light source 60 has
× L (K and L are integers of 2 or more) LED light sources 63 are provided.

Each of the LED light sources 63 has a driver circuit (not shown), and can independently emit light at a desired light amount by controlling a drive current supplied to the driver circuit. Is configured. Each LED light source 63 is configured to selectively emit blue, red or green light by operating a switch (not shown) of a driver circuit.

Above the K × L LED light sources 63, light harmful to the excitation of the fluorescent substance other than the wavelength near the excitation light is cut off, and only light having a wavelength near the excitation light is transmitted. A filter 64 is detachably provided, and a diffusion plate 65 for uniformly diffusing the excitation light emitted from the K × L LED light sources 63 is provided above the filter 64.

The excitation light source 61 has exactly the same structure as the excitation light source 60. At the bottom of the dark box 2, a sample table 66 on which an image carrier (not shown) is placed is provided.

In the image reading apparatus according to the present embodiment configured as described above, shading correction is executed before reading the fluorescent image. That is, first, a fluorescent plate (not shown) having a property of emitting uniform fluorescence when excited by the same amount of excitation light is placed on the sample table 66.

Next, after the lens is focused by the user and the dark box 2 is closed, the user inputs an instruction signal to execute shading correction to the keyboard 5. A control signal is output, and a pair of excitation light sources 60,
All of the K × L LED light sources 63 constituting 61 are turned on, and excitation light is emitted toward the fluorescent plate placed on the sample table 66. At the same time, the indication signal is CP
The signal is input to the camera control circuit 12 of the cooled CCD camera 1 via U30, the shutter 9 is opened by the camera control circuit 12, and the exposure of the CCD 6 is started.

Excitation light emitted from the K × L LED light sources 63 has wavelength components other than light having a wavelength near the excitation light cut off by the filter 62, and as a result, light having a wavelength near the excitation light is reduced by the filter 62. The fluorescent plate is excited, and emits fluorescence uniformly.

The fluorescent light thus emitted from the fluorescent plate passes through the filter 22 and the camera lens 17 to the CCD 6.
An image is formed on the photoelectric surface of the photoelectric sensor 40 of FIG. CCD6
The photoelectric sensor 40 receives light of the image thus formed and accumulates it in the form of electric charges. By the filter 22,
Since light having a wavelength near the excitation light is cut off, only the fluorescence emitted from the fluorescent plate is received by the CCD 6.

After a predetermined time has elapsed, the CPU 30
An instruction signal for completing the shading correction is output to the camera control circuit 12 of the cooled CCD camera 1. Upon receiving such an instruction signal from the CPU 30, the camera control circuit 12 causes the CCD 6 to transfer the analog data accumulated in the form of electric charges to the A / D converter 10, digitize the analog data into digital data, and convert the digital image data. It is generated and temporarily stored in the image data buffer 11.

Next, the CPU 30 outputs a data transfer signal to the image data transfer means 31 to read out the digital image data temporarily stored in the image data buffer 11 of the cooled CCD camera 1 and determine the drive current. Input to the means 36.

The image data of the fluorescent plate is used as the drive current determining means 3
6, the drive current determining means 36 determines the drive current value to be supplied to each LED light source 63 based on the image data of the fluorescent screen, in exactly the same manner as in the embodiment shown in FIGS. The drive current value to be calculated, output to the CPU 30 and supplied to each LED light source 63 is stored in the RAM 37.

In generating a fluorescent image, first, an image carrier carrying a fluorescent image is placed on a sample table 66 by a user. Next, the lens focusing is performed by the user using the camera lens 17, and the dark box 2 is closed. Thereafter, when the user inputs an exposure start signal to the keyboard 5, the CPU 30
The drive current value to be supplied to each LED light source 63 stored in M37 is read out, a control signal is output to the light source control means 35, and the drive current value is controlled so as to be supplied to each LED light source 63.

As a result, the K × L LED light sources 63 are turned on, and excitation light is emitted toward the image carrier. At the same time, the exposure start signal is sent to the cooling CC via the CPU 30.
The signal is input to the camera control circuit 12 of the D camera 1, the shutter 9 is opened by the camera control circuit 12, and the exposure of the CCD 6 is started.

The excitation light emitted from the K × L LED light sources 63 is cut by a filter 64 into wavelength components other than light having a wavelength near the excitation light, and is made uniform by a diffusion plate 65. Illuminated on the image carrier. As a result, the fluorescent substance in the image carrier is excited by light having a wavelength near the excitation light, and emits fluorescence.

The fluorescent light emitted from the fluorescent substance in the image carrier enters the photoelectric surface of the CCD 6 of the cooled CCD camera 1 via the filter 22 and the camera lens 17, and forms an image on the photoelectric surface. The photoelectric sensor 40 of the CCD 6 receives the light of the image thus formed on the photoelectric surface and accumulates the light in the form of electric charges. Since light having a wavelength near the excitation light is cut off by the filter 22, only the fluorescence emitted from the fluorescent substance in the image carrier is received by the photoelectric sensor 40 of the CCD 6.

When a predetermined exposure time has elapsed, the CPU 30
Outputs an exposure completion signal to the camera control circuit 12 of the cooled CCD camera 1. The camera control circuit 12 includes a CPU 30
When the exposure completion signal is received from the CPU, the read control circuit 46 is driven, and the analog image data accumulated in the form of electric charges by the photoelectric sensor 40 of the CCD 6 is transferred through the electric charge transfer path 44.
At a low speed of less than 10 frames / sec, the signal is sent to the output amplifier 42, further transferred to the A / D converter 10, digitized, and temporarily stored in the image data buffer 11.

At the same time, the CPU 30 outputs an exposure completion signal
The image data output to the image data transfer unit 31 and temporarily stored in the image data buffer 11 are stored in the image data storage unit 32.

Thereafter, when the user inputs an image generation signal to the keyboard 5, the image display means 34 reads out the image data stored in the image data storage means 32, and displays the fluorescent light in the image carrier on the screen of the CRT 4. A fluorescence image obtained by photoelectrically detecting fluorescence emitted from the substance is displayed.

According to this embodiment, as in the previous embodiment, prior to the generation of a fluorescent image, K × L LED light sources constituting a pair of excitation light sources 60 and 61 in the fluorescent image data to be generated The amounts of light emitted from the K × L LED light sources 63 are individually controlled so that shading caused by the irradiation unevenness of 63 and shading caused by a decrease in the amount of transmitted light in the periphery of the camera lens 17 are corrected in advance. Therefore, without performing data processing on the image data obtained by reading the fluorescent image carried by the image carrier, the image data is caused by the irradiation unevenness of the K × L LED light sources 63 constituting the pair of excitation light sources 60 and 61. A fluorescent image in which shading and shading caused by a decrease in the amount of transmitted light in the peripheral portion of the camera lens 17 have been corrected,
It can be displayed on the screen of the CRT 4.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and various changes can be made within the scope of the invention described in the claims, and they are also included in the scope of the present invention. It goes without saying that it is a thing.

For example, in the above embodiment, the excitation light source 20 or the pair of excitation light sources 60, 6
1, the excitation light source 20 is provided with the diffusion plate 23, and the pair of excitation light sources 60 and 61 are respectively provided with the diffusion plate 65 in order to uniformly irradiate the excitation light and prevent the occurrence of irradiation unevenness. However, in the above embodiment, the N × M LED light sources 27 constituting the excitation light source 20 or
K × L LEDs constituting a pair of excitation light sources 60 and 61
The amount of light emitted from the light source 63 is controlled individually to
0 × N × M LED light sources 27 constituting a pair of excitation light sources 60 and 61
3 prevents shading caused by the irradiation unevenness and shading caused by a decrease in the amount of transmitted light in the peripheral portion of the camera lens 17 in the image data. It is not necessary that each of the light sources 60 and 61 include the diffusion plate 65.

Further, in the above embodiment, when excited by the same amount of excitation light, a fluorescent plate having a property of emitting uniform fluorescent light is irradiated with the excitation light, and the fluorescent light emitted from the fluorescent plate is photoelectrically emitted. And the image data obtained by digital conversion is two-dimensionally expanded in a two-dimensional memory 50,
The image data of the fluorescent plate is stored in N × M LEs.
N × M matrix image data area corresponding to the D light source 27 or K corresponding to the K × L LED light sources 63
The image data area is divided into a matrix image data area of × L, and an integrated value of density signal levels in each image data area is calculated.
The integrated value of the density signal level in each image data area is equal to the integrated value of the density signal level in the image data area located at the center of the two-dimensionally expanded image data in the two-dimensional memory 50. Each LED light source 27 or each L
A drive current value to be supplied to the ED light source 63 is calculated, and each LE is calculated.
By controlling the drive current value to be supplied to the D light source 27 or each LED light source 63, the N × M LED light sources 27 or the pair of excitation light sources 6 constituting the excitation light source 20 are controlled.
Although the shading caused by the irradiation unevenness of the K × L LED light sources 63 constituting 0 and 61 and the shading caused by the decrease in the amount of transmitted light in the peripheral portion of the camera lens 17 are prevented from occurring in the image data. , The image data of the fluorescent plate is converted into an N × M matrix image data area corresponding to the N × M LED light sources 27 or K
Each of the LED light sources 27 is divided into K × L matrix image data areas corresponding to × L LED light sources 63, and the integrated value of the density signal level in each image data area is calculated.
Alternatively, it is not always necessary to determine the drive current value to be supplied to each LED light source 63, and it is necessary to determine the drive current value to be supplied to each LED light source 27 or each LED light source 63 based on the image data of the fluorescent screen. An arbitrary method can be selected as software.

Further, in the above embodiment, when excited by the same amount of excitation light, a fluorescent plate having a property of emitting uniform fluorescence is irradiated with the excitation light to photoelectrically emit the fluorescent light emitted from the fluorescent plate. The detected and digitally converted image data is expanded two-dimensionally in a two-dimensional memory 50,
The drive current value to be supplied to each LED light source 27 or each LED light source 63 is determined based on the image data of the fluorescent plate by storing the image data. Then, image data is generated using a fluorescent plate having a property of emitting uniform fluorescent light, and a drive current value to be supplied to each LED light source 27 or each LED light source 63 is determined based on the image data of the fluorescent plate. It is not always necessary to remove the filter 22 and remove each L
The excitation light emitted from the ED light source 27 or each LED light source 63 is photoelectrically detected and converted into digital data to generate image data of the LED light source 27 or the LED light source 63. Based on the image data, for example, two-dimensional Memory 50
So that the integrated value of the density signal level of each image data area of the stored image data is equal to the integrated value of the density signal level in the image area located at the center of the image data. Each LED light source 27 or each LE
A drive current value to be supplied to the D light source 63 may be determined.

Also, in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 8, a single excitation light source 20 is provided at the bottom of the dark box 2, and in the embodiment shown in FIGS.
A pair of excitation light sources 60 and 61 are provided diagonally above the dark box 2. The excitation light source 20 is provided at the bottom of the dark box 2, and a pair of excitation light sources 60 and 61 are further provided diagonally above the dark box 2. You may do so.

Further, in the above embodiment, the cooling C
Although the CD camera 1 is used, a CCD camera without cooling means can be used depending on the intensity of the fluorescence emitted from the fluorescent substance, and a two-dimensional area sensor other than the CCD camera can be used.

In the above embodiment, the driver circuit (not shown) of the driver circuit of the N × M LED light sources 27 or the K × L LED light sources 63 is operated, so that blue, red or green light is emitted. Accordingly, in the image reading apparatus, the filter 22 for cutting off the excitation light is provided detachably on the front surface of the camera lens 17, and the N × M
In accordance with the wavelength of the excitation light emitted from the LED light sources 27 or the K × L LED light sources 63, a desired filter 2
2 can be selected and attached to the front of the camera lens 17, for example, N × M
When only the blue, red or green excitation light is generated from the LED light sources 27 or the K × L LED light sources 63, the filter 22 may be fixedly provided on the front surface of the camera lens 17.

Further, in the above embodiment, when an exposure start signal is input to the keyboard 5, the light source control means 3
5, N × M LEDs constituting the excitation light source 20
The light source 27 or the K × L LED light sources 63 constituting the pair of excitation light sources 60 and 61 are configured to be turned on, but the N × M LED light sources 27 or the K × L LED light sources It is not always necessary to configure the ON / OFF of the 63 to be controlled by the personal computer 3. By manually operating the light source control means 35, the N × M LED light sources 27 or the K × L LEDs On / off of the light source 63 may be controlled.

In the above embodiment, the radiation fins 14 for radiating the heat generated by the Peltier element 8 are formed around the CCD camera 1 over almost half of the longitudinal direction. Over all of
The radiation fins 14 may be provided, and the extent to which the radiation fins 14 are provided around the CCD camera 1 can be arbitrarily determined.

Further, in the present invention, means does not necessarily mean physical means, but also includes a case where the function of each means is realized by software. Further, the function of one unit may be realized by two or more physical units, or the function of two or more units may be realized by one physical unit.

[0084]

According to the present invention, by data processing,
It is possible to provide an image reading device using a two-dimensional area sensor that can generate an image in which shading has been corrected without correcting shading.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic front view of an image generation system including an image reading device according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic vertical sectional view of a cooled CCD camera.

FIG. 3 is a schematic vertical sectional view of a dark box.

FIG. 4 is a schematic plan view of an excitation light source.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of the periphery of a personal computer.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram around a CCD.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a drive current determining unit.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an image data of a fluorescent plate stored in a two-dimensional memory, which is converted into N × M image data corresponding to N × M LED light sources.
3 is a drawing conceptually showing a state where the image data area is divided into matrix image data areas.

FIG. 9 is a schematic sectional view of a dark box of an image reading apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a schematic sectional view of one of a pair of excitation light sources used in an image reading apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Cooling CCD camera 2 Dark box 3 Personal computer 4 CRT 5 Keyboard 6 CCD 7 Heat transfer plate 8 Peltier element 9 Shutter 10 A / D converter 11 Image data buffer 12 Camera control circuit 15 Glass plate 16 Heat radiation fin 17 Camera lens 20 Excitation light source Reference Signs List 21 filter 22 filter 23 diffusion plate 25 substrate 27 LED light source 30 CPU 31 image data transfer means 32 image data storage means 33 image processing means 34 image display means 35 light source control means 36 drive current determination means 37 RAM 40 photoelectric sensor 42 output amplifier 44 Charge transfer path 46 Read control circuit 50 Two-dimensional memory 51 Concentration signal level calculator 52 Drive current calculator 60, 61 Excitation light source 62 Substrate 63 LED light source 64 Filter 65 Diffusion plate 66 Sample table

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) 2G043 AA03 BA16 CA03 DA02 DA05 EA01 EA19 FA01 FA06 GA02 GB10 GB11 GB18 HA01 JA03 LA03 MA11 NA01 NA06 2G054 AA03 AB03 CA22 CE02 EA03 EB02 FA12 FA17 FA32 FA33 FB02 GA04 GB02 JA11

Claims (10)

[Claims] An excitation light source having a plurality of LED light sources arranged regularly, and an excitation light emitted from the excitation light source excites a fluorescent substance, and generates generated fluorescence through a camera lens. A two-dimensional area sensor for photoelectrically detecting and generating image data, and an A / D for digitizing the image data generated by the two-dimensional area sensor
An image reading apparatus provided with a D conversion means, comprising: a light source control means capable of independently controlling a light emission amount of each of the plurality of LED light sources. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said A / D conversion means includes:
A two-dimensional memory that expands and stores the digitized image data two-dimensionally, and a two-dimensional memory that is two-dimensionally expanded and stored in the two-dimensional memory based on a density signal level distribution of the stored image data. A light emission amount determining unit that determines an emission light amount of each of the plurality of LED light sources, wherein the light source control unit controls an emission light amount of each of the plurality of LED light sources determined by the emission light amount determination unit. The image reading device according to claim 1, wherein the image reading device is configured as described above. 3. The light emission amount determining means is configured to two-dimensionally develop and store image data in the two-dimensional memory so as to correspond to the plurality of LED light sources arranged regularly. The image data area is divided into image data areas, and the integrated value of the density signal level of each of the image data areas is two-dimensionally expanded in the two-dimensional memory, and the integrated value of the image data area located at the center of the stored image data is obtained. 3. The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the light emission amount of each of the plurality of LED light sources is determined so as to be equal to the integrated value of the density signal level. 4. The light emission amount determining means is configured to two-dimensionally develop and store image data in the two-dimensional memory so as to correspond to the plurality of LED light sources arranged regularly. The image data area is divided into image data areas, and the integrated value of the density signal level of each of the image data areas is two-dimensionally expanded in the two-dimensional memory, and the integrated value of the image data area located at the center of the stored image data is obtained. A drive current value to be supplied to each of the plurality of LED light sources is determined so as to be equal to the integrated value of the density signal level, and the light source control unit includes:
According to the drive current value determined by the light emission amount determination means, a drive current value supplied to each of the plurality of LED light sources is controlled to control the light emission amount of each of the plurality of LED light sources. The image reading device according to claim 4, wherein: 5. An excitation light is applied to a fluorescent plate having a property of emitting uniform fluorescence when the image data expanded and stored two-dimensionally in the two-dimensional memory and excited by the same amount of excitation light. The image reading device according to claim 1, wherein the image reading device generates the image reading device. 6. The light source control unit includes a plurality of LEDs.
6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a wavelength of the excitation light emitted from the light source is switchable.
An image reading device according to the item. 7. The excitation light source cuts light other than light having a wavelength near the excitation light emitted from the plurality of LED light sources, and only light having a wavelength near the excitation light emitted from the plurality of LED light sources is provided. A filter according to any one of claims 1 to 6, further comprising a removable filter that transmits light.
An image reading device according to the item. 8. The image according to claim 1, wherein the excitation light source includes a diffusion plate for uniformly diffusing excitation light emitted from the plurality of LED light sources. Reader. 9. A camera according to claim 1, further comprising a removable filter on a front surface of said camera lens for cutting light having a wavelength near an excitation light emitted from said plurality of LED light sources. 2. The image reading device according to claim 1. 10. The cooling CC according to claim 2, wherein the two-dimensional area sensor is a cooling CC.
2. The camera according to claim 1, wherein the camera comprises a D camera.
10. The image reading device according to any one of claims 9 to 9.