JPH11271645A - Microscopic image display device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To display a microscopic image of a view angle designated by an operator lens on a monitor without being affected by the power of an objective lens by forming the microscopic image of the designated view angle by putting plural microscopic images together. SOLUTION: A microscopic image obtained by picking up a sample by a camera 103 is displayed on the monitor 120A through the image input/output part 114A of a transmission-side image transmission device 110A. Then the operator sets a view angle by an operation means 104A to designate the view angle. A control part 112A moves a scanning stage 101 so that the image of a microscope 110 is at the center position of an objective lens view angle. Further, the objective lens is switched. After the movement and switching, the control part 112A inputs the microscopic image outputted by the camera 103 and stores it in an image memory 113A. Then the control part 112A puts stored images of objective lens view angles together to form the image of the designated view angle.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention is suitable for displaying a microscope image captured by a camera on a monitor, regardless of the magnification of an objective lens, with a microscope angle of view designated by an operator. The present invention relates to a microscope image display device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In the prior art, when a microscope image captured by a camera is displayed on a monitor, the angle of view (display size) of the microscope image on the monitor is determined by the magnification of the objective lens. That is, in the prior art, in a state where a microscope macro image captured using a camera from a microscope is displayed on a monitor, an operator uses an operating unit such as a mouse to delete a partial area of the microscope macro image displayed on the monitor. specify. Specifically, the contents specified by the operation means are the position and the angle of view of the microscope micro image to be displayed.

The microscope switches to an objective lens having an appropriate magnification so that the angle of view of the designated area can be displayed, and projects a microscope micro image in which the designated area is enlarged. The microscope micro image is captured by a camera and displayed on a monitor. Here, the microscope micro image displayed on the monitor is an angle of view determined by the magnification of the objective lens with respect to the designated area of the microscope macro image. The magnification of the objective lens is 10x, 20x, 40x
It is composed of double and stepwise. Therefore, the angle of view of the microscope micro image that the operator desires to specify by the operation means is generally different from the angle of view of the microscope micro image actually displayed on the monitor. As a result, the operator specifies a wide angle of view including the target portion, and an image portion other than the angle of view desired by the operator is displayed.

[0004]

As described above, in the prior art, the angle of view that the operator desires to specify based on the microscope macro image is different from the angle of view of the microscope micro image actually displayed on the monitor. As a result, the microscope micro image actually displayed on the monitor displays an image portion other than the angle of view that the image operator has desired to specify.

[0005] For this reason, even if the operator desires to specify a microscope macro image, the angle of view cannot be specified as desired. Therefore, the microscope micro image of the desired angle of view is different from the actually displayed microscope micro image. There is a problem that it is difficult to recognize a micro image. Also,
Since the magnification change of the objective lens is stepwise, such as 10 times, 20 times, or 40 times, an image with a designated angle of view may be displayed small. Therefore, there is a problem that it is difficult for the operator to recognize the microscope micro image.

In the prior art, when a microscope macro image designated by an operator is transmitted to a remote place, a microscope micro image having an angle of view wider than the angle of view designated by the operator must be transmitted. Therefore, there is a problem that extra time is required for transmitting the microscope image. A first object of the present invention is to enable a microscope micro image having an angle of view designated by an operator to be displayed on a monitor without being influenced by the magnification of an objective lens, and the operator can easily recognize the microscope micro image. It is an object of the present invention to provide a microscope image display device capable of performing the above.

A second object of the present invention is to enable a microscope micro image having an angle of view designated by an operator to be displayed in an appropriate size on a monitor without being affected by the magnification of an objective lens. An object of the present invention is to provide a microscope image display device that allows an operator to easily recognize a microscope micro image. A third object of the present invention is to enable a microscope micro image having an angle of view designated by an operator to be displayed on a monitor without being influenced by the magnification of an objective lens, and to display an extra image area in a microscope macro image. It is an object of the present invention to provide a microscope image display device capable of shortening the time required for transmission when a microscope macro image is transmitted to a remote place.

[0008]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a microscope image display device for displaying a microscope image captured from a camera on a monitor, wherein the partial area of the microscope image displayed on the monitor is provided. A designated angle of view indicating a designated angle of view by designating a designated angle of view; an objective lens angle of view display means for displaying an objective lens angle of view including the designated angle of view on a monitor; Microscope control means for dividing a designated angle of view into a plurality of microscope images and sequentially photographing them by using an objective lens having a magnification one or more steps higher than the objective lens, and image storage means for taking in and storing a plurality of microscope images from a camera And a designated angle-of-view display means for joining together a plurality of microscope images stored in the image memory and displaying a microscope image of a designated angle of view on a monitor.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided the microscope image display apparatus according to the first aspect, wherein the designated angle-of-view designating means is configured to select one fixed angle of view from a plurality of fixed size angles of view determined in advance. An angle of view is selected, and the selected one fixed image is displayed as a designated angle of view. The microscope image display device according to the third aspect is the first aspect of the invention.
In the microscope image display device described above, the plurality of microscope images have image regions overlapping each other.

A microscope image display device according to a fourth aspect of the present invention is a microscope image display device for displaying a microscope image captured from a camera on a monitor, by designating a partial area of the microscope image displayed on the monitor. A designated angle of view designating means as an angle, an objective lens angle of view display means for displaying an objective lens angle of view including the designated angle of view on a monitor, and an external area of the designated angle of view is deleted to display the designated angle of view on the monitor. And a designated angle-of-view display means for displaying.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the microscope image display apparatus according to the fourth aspect, the designated angle of view designating means sets the designated angle of view while freely changing the vertical size and the horizontal size. Are configured to be possible. A microscope image display device according to a sixth aspect of the present invention is a microscope image display device that displays a microscope image captured from a camera on a monitor, and designates a partial area of the microscope image displayed on the monitor as a designated angle of view. Designated angle-of-view designating means, objective lens angle-of-view display means for displaying the objective angle of view including the specified angle of view on a monitor, and one or more steps higher than the objective lens of the objective lens angle of view including the designated angle of view A microscope control unit that divides a designated angle of view into a plurality of microscope images and sequentially captures the designated angle of view using an objective lens with a magnification; an image storage unit that captures and stores a plurality of microscope images from a camera; The microscope image of the angle of view in which the microscope images are stuck together is displayed on the monitor, and the external area of the designated angle of view is deleted from the stuck angle of view, and only the designated angle of view is monitored by the monitor. Characterized in that it is composed of a specified angle display means for displaying.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the microscope image display apparatus of the sixth aspect, the designated angle of view designating means sets the designated angle of view while freely changing the vertical size and the horizontal size. Are configured to be possible.

(Function) According to the microscope image display apparatus of the first aspect, since a plurality of microscope images are stuck together to form a microscope image having a specified angle of view, an operator can operate without being affected by the magnification of the objective lens. It becomes possible to display a microscope micro image of a designated angle of view on a monitor. Therefore, the operator can easily recognize the microscope micro image.

Further, since a plurality of microscope images are stuck together to form a microscope image having a specified angle of view, it is possible to display the image on the monitor in an appropriate size, and the operator can easily recognize the microscope micro image. It becomes possible. In addition, since an extra image area other than the designated angle of view is not displayed on the microscope image, when the microscope macro image is transmitted to a remote place, the time required for transmission can be shortened.

According to the microscope image display device of the second aspect, the designated angle of view instructing means selects and displays one fixed angle of view from a plurality of predetermined fixed angles of view. Therefore, when laminating multiple images,
The bonded image can be made to match the size of the designated angle of view.

According to the microscope image display device of the present invention, even when the plurality of microscope images attached to each other have overlapping image areas, the microscope image of the designated angle of view designated by the operator is displayed on the monitor. It can be displayed properly. According to the microscope image display device of the fourth aspect, since the external area of the designated angle of view is deleted, only the designated angle of view can be displayed on the monitor. Therefore, the operator can easily recognize the microscope micro image.

Further, the designated angle of view can be displayed in an appropriate size on the monitor, and the operator can easily recognize the microscope micro image. In addition, since an extra image area other than the designated angle of view is not displayed on the microscope image, when the microscope macro image is transmitted to a remote place, the time required for transmission can be shortened.

According to the microscope image display device of the fifth aspect, the operator can freely set the size of the designated angle of view. Therefore, the designated angle of view can be displayed in an appropriate size on the monitor, and the operator can easily recognize the microscope micro image. According to the microscope image display device of the present invention, after pasting a plurality of microscope images, the external area of the designated angle of view is deleted, so that only the designated angle of view can be displayed on the monitor.

Therefore, the operator can easily recognize the microscope micro image of the designated angle of view. Further, the designated angle of view can be displayed on the monitor in an appropriate size, and the operator can easily recognize the microscope micro image. In addition, since an extra image area other than the designated angle of view is not displayed on the microscope image, when the microscope macro image is transmitted to a remote place, the time required for transmission can be shortened.

According to the microscope image display device of the present invention, the operator can freely set the size of the designated angle of view. Therefore, the designated angle of view can be displayed in an appropriate size on the monitor, and the operator can easily recognize the microscope micro image.

[0021]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a microscope image transmission / display system. This embodiment corresponds to all the inventions described in claims 1 to 7.

As shown in FIG. 1, this embodiment comprises a microscope 100 having a scanning stage 101 and a camera 103, a scanning stage controller 102 for controlling the scanning stage 101, and a monitor 120A for displaying a microscope image. A transmitting-side image transmitting apparatus 110A for displaying a microscope image on a monitor 120A or transmitting a microscope image to a remote place; an operating unit 104A for an operator to input a command to the transmitting-side image transmitting apparatus 110A; A communication network 130 for transmitting the microscope image transmitted from the communication network 110A to the reception-side image transmission device 110B; a microscope image transmitted via the communication network 130;
B and an image transmission device 110B for displaying the image on the monitor 12
0B and operation means 104B for the operator to input a command to the image transmitting apparatus 110B on the receiving side.

Here, the operating means 104A, 104B
Consists of a keyboard and mouse. It is assumed that the communication network 130 includes ISDN, an analog line, a dedicated line, and the like. In the above configuration, the transmission-side image transmission device 110A and the reception-side image transmission device 110B have the same configuration. That is, the transmission-side image transmission device 1
As shown in the figure, 10A includes an image transmission unit 111A, a control unit 112A, an image memory 113A, and an image input / output unit 114A.

Similarly, the receiving-side image transmission device 110B
As shown, the image transmission unit 111B and the control unit 112
B, an image memory 113B, and an image input / output unit 114B. Here, the transmission-side image transmission device 11
The operating unit 104A is connected to the control unit 112A of 0A. Further, the control unit 112A of the transmission-side image transmission device 110A is connected to the microscope 100 by communication means such as RS232C and GPIB.

Similarly, the control unit 1 of the image transmission device 110A
12A is connected to the scanning stage controller 102 by communication means such as RS232C and GPIB. Therefore, the operator operates the operation unit 104.
By inputting a command from A, the magnification setting of the objective lens in the microscope 100 can be remotely controlled. Further, the operator operates the operation unit 104.
By inputting a command from A, the scanning stage 101 can be positioned. As is well known, the scanning stage 101 is used for scanning an arbitrary position on a specimen in the microscope 100.
Therefore, the scanning stage 10 of the microscope 100
The position of the sample placed on the sample 1 is accurately controlled, and a microscope image of a target sample position can be captured by the camera 103.

The operator operates the operation means 1 on the receiving side.
04B, the control unit 112B
, Image transmission unit 111B, communication network 130, and image transmission unit 11
The setting of the magnification of the objective lens in the microscope 100 can be remotely controlled via the controller 1A and the controller 112A. In addition, the operator inputs a command from the operation unit 104B on the receiving side, so that the
B, image transmission unit 111B, communication network 130, and image transmission unit 1
The scanning stage 101 can be positioned via the control unit 11A and the control unit 112A.

The receiving operator operates the microscope 100
Can be commanded. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the designated angle-of-view instructing means described in claims 1, 4 and 6 mainly includes operating means 104A and 104B, control units 112A and 112B, and image memories 113A and 113B.
B. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the objective lens angle-of-view display means according to claims 1, 4 and 6 mainly includes the control units 112A and 112B and the image memory 11
3A and 113B.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the microscope control means according to the first and sixth aspects mainly includes a control unit 1
12A and 112B, a scanning stage controller 102, and a scanning stage 101.
Further, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the image storage means according to the first and sixth aspects is provided with image memories 113A and 113B.
Consists of

Further, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the designated angle-of-view display means according to the first, fourth and sixth aspects mainly includes the control units 112A and 112B and the image memories 113A and 113B.
B. Next, the operation of the embodiment having the above configuration will be described. First, the image memory 113
A, The processing of storing a microscope image in 113B will be described.

First, the transmitting side operator outputs a request to display a microscope image to be observed on the monitor 120A, stores the microscope image in the image memory 113A based on the request, and displays the microscope image on the monitor 120A. Will be described. The operator on the transmitting side sets the image to be observed next using the operation unit 104A based on the already displayed microscope image (for example, a microscope macro image). This setting is performed by using a mouse or the like as the operation unit 104A and designating (position and angle of view) a partial area of the displayed microscope image.

The controller 112A outputs an objective lens switching command to the microscope 100 in response to the received image request. Further, the control unit 112A outputs to the scanning stage controller 102 a command to move the position of the scanning stage 101 on which the sample is placed. Switching of objective lens and scanning stage 101
When the movement of the camera is completed and the preparation for capturing the microscope image is completed, the microscope image captured by the camera 103 is transmitted to the transmission-side image transmission device 110 by the operation of the control unit 112A.
A is input to the image input / output unit 114A in A. The microscope image captured by the image input / output unit 114A is transmitted to the control unit 11
By the action of 2A, it is displayed on the monitor 120A and stored in the image memory 113A.

When the operation of storing the microscope image in the image memory 113A is completed, the control unit 112A
The microscope image stored in 13A is output to the image transmission unit 111A. The image transmission unit 111A transmits the microscope image to the communication network 130. Receiving-side image transmission device 110B
Receives the microscope image via the image transmission unit 111B. As a result, the control unit 112B stores the received microscope image in the image memory 113B and displays it on the monitor 120B via the image input / output unit 114B.

With the above operation, the transmission-side image transmission device 1
10A image memory 113A and receiving-side image transmission device 11
The same microscope image is stored in both of the image memories 113B of 0B. In the above description, the case where the microscope images are stored in the image memories 113A and 113B and displayed are described. However, according to the present invention, the image currently observed by the microscope is transmitted in real time to the transmission-side image transmission device 110A.
From the monitor 12 to the receiving side image transmitting apparatus 110B.
In addition to 0A, it is also possible to display on the monitor 120B. In this case, the receiving-side image transmission device 11 shown in FIG.
0A, the image transmission unit 111A and the image input / output unit 1
14B is directly connected. Also, in the receiving-side image transmission device 110B shown in FIG.
And the image input / output unit 114B are directly connected.

Next, the case where the receiving operator outputs a request to store a microscope image to be observed in the image memory 113B and, based on the request, stores the microscope image in the image memory 113B will be described. The operator on the receiving side sets the next image to be observed using the operation unit 104B based on the already transmitted and displayed microscope image (for example, a microscope macro image). This setting is performed by using a mouse or the like as the operation means 104B and designating a partial area (position and angle of view) of the displayed microscope image. The control unit 112B, the image transmission unit 111B, the communication network 130, and the image transmission unit 111
A is sent to the control unit 112A via A.

The controller 112A outputs an objective lens switching command to the microscope 100 in accordance with the received image request and information on the position and the angle of view. Also, the control unit 112
A outputs a command to move the position of the scanning stage 101 on which the sample is placed to the scanning stage controller 102 in accordance with the received image request and the information on the position and the angle of view.

When the switching of the objective lens, the movement of the scanning stage 101, and the like are completed, and the preparation for capturing the microscope image is completed, the control unit 112A stores the microscope image in the image memory 113A according to the same procedure as described above. . Further, the control unit 112A transmits the microscope image information to the reception-side image transmission device 110B according to the above-described procedure. As a result, the microscope image requested by the receiving-side operator is stored in the image memory 113B of the receiving-side image transmission device and displayed on the monitor 120B by the same procedure as described above.

When there are a plurality of microscope images required by the operator on the receiving side, the above operation is repeatedly executed. Next, a process of reading a microscope image from the image memories 113A and 113B and a process of displaying the microscope image will be described. Reading of the image memory 113A in the transmission-side image transmission device 110A is executed by a transmission-side operator inputting a read command using the operation unit 104A. The control unit 112A controls the image memory 11 in response to the read command.
3A, a target image is read from the image input / output unit 114A.
Via the monitor 120A.

The reading of the image memory 113B in the receiving-side image transmission apparatus 110B is executed by the receiving-side operator inputting a read command using the operating means 104B. The control unit 112B reads a target image from the image memory 113B in response to the read command, and displays the target image on the monitor 120B via the image input / output unit 114B.

Next, a description will be given of a process of appropriately displaying an image of a designated angle of view designated by an operator on a monitor. Here, the operation means 104A, 104 shown in FIG.
As described above, B is configured to be able to specify the position and angle of view of the target microscope micro image on the screens of the monitors 120A and 120B by the operation of the control units 112A and 112B.

As a method of displaying a microscope micro image having a designated angle of view using the operation means 104A and 104B, there are the following three processing methods. (1) A method of obtaining an image having the specified angle of view by combining a plurality of images captured at a magnification of an objective lens. This method corresponds to the first to third aspects of the present invention. (2) Of the images captured at a certain objective lens magnification,
A method of obtaining an image having the designated angle of view by deleting an area that extends beyond the designated angle of view. This method corresponds to the fourth and fifth aspects of the present invention.

(3) An image is generated by combining a plurality of images captured at a magnification of a certain objective lens, and furthermore, an area of the generated image which is outside the specified angle of view is deleted, and How to get an image. This method corresponds to the invention described in the sixth and seventh aspects. Which of the above three methods is selected depends on the size of the designated angle of view and the angle of view of the magnification of the objective lens.

The above three methods will be sequentially described below. In the following description, the transmission-side image transmission device 11
The image display in the transmission-side image transmission apparatus 110A will be described.
Can be performed in the same manner as in the image display in. FIGS. 2 to 6 are diagrams showing a process of obtaining an image having a designated angle of view by combining the images described in the above (1).

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the display contents of the microscope macro image displayed on the monitor 120A. As illustrated, an area including a part of the microscope macro image showing the specimen 200 is set as the designated angle of view 201 by the operation unit 104A. Here, as the designated angle of view 201, one fixed angle of view may be selected from a plurality of fixed angles of view having different sizes and displayed.

FIG. 3 shows that the control unit 112A controls the microscope 10 based on the designated angle of view 201 of the microscope macro image shown in FIG.
0 and issues a command to the scanning stage controller 102 so that the objective lens angle of view 202 encompasses the designated angle of view 201.
Is displayed. Next, the control unit 112A determines whether the method (1) is good, the method (2) is good, or the method (3) is good.

FIG. 4 (a) shows an objective lens angle of view 203 which is one or more steps higher than the objective lens angle of view 202 shown in FIG.
FIG. The method (1) is a method in which the objective lens angle of view 203 is bonded to four images.

Also, in FIG.
The method of (2) is to delete the area within the designated angle of view 201 within the designated angle of view 201. In the case of the example shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, as shown in FIG. 4B, when four objective lens angles of view 203 a to 203 d are laminated, the image size becomes exactly the designated angle of view 201. Therefore, since there is no area to be deleted in the combined image, the method (3) cannot necessarily be applied.

It should be noted that in the present embodiment, the four images are stuck together, so that the designated angle of view 20
The size of the fixed angle of view is determined so that the image size becomes one. Further, when comparing the method of laminating a plurality of images described in the above (1) with the method of deleting a part of the image from the objective lens angle of view 202 described in the above (2), Is better in terms of image quality and processing speed.

Therefore, in this case, the method (1) is automatically selected. As a result of the selection of the method (1), the control unit 112A outputs a command to the microscope 100 and the scanning stage controller 102, and sequentially displays images of the objective lens angles of view 203a to 203d shown in FIG. The image data is taken into the image memory 113A, and a process of attaching the image is performed.

Next, an outline of the above-mentioned bonding process will be described. As described above, the microscope image obtained by capturing the specimen (200) by the camera 103 is displayed on the monitor 120A via the image input / output unit 114A of the transmission-side image transmission device 110A (see FIG. 2). Next, the operator sets the angle of view using the operation unit 104A, and sets the designated angle of view 2
01 (see FIG. 2). The control unit 112A compares the designated angle of view 201 with the angle of view 202 of the objective lens including the designated angle of view 201 (see FIG. 3), and selects the method (1) as described above.

Next, the control unit 112A transmits a position movement command to the scanning stage controller 102 so that the image of the microscope 100 is located at the center of the objective lens angle of view 210a shown in FIG. The stage 101 is moved. Further, the control unit 112 transmits a command to switch the objective lens to the microscope 100.

When the movement of the scanning stage 101 and the switching of the objective lens are completed, the control section 112A fetches the microscope image output from the camera 103 and stores it in the image memory 113A. The image memory 113A
The storage of the microscope image in the
b, 203c, and 203d are sequentially performed.

Thereafter, the control unit 112A operates the image memory 1
Objective lens angles of view 203a to 203d stored in 13A
To form an image having the designated angle of view 201 shown in FIG. In the example of laminating a plurality of images shown in FIGS. 2 to 5, four objective lens angles of view 203a to 204
In the microscope image d, there is shown an example in which there are no overlapping portions and four images are stuck together.

However, the present invention is not limited to this, and as shown in FIG.
When each of the images 204 to 204d has an overlapping portion, the overlapping portion may be overlapped and stuck. The four images of the objective lens angles of view 204a to 204d shown in FIG. 6 are images using an objective lens having a magnification one or more steps higher than the objective lens angle of view 202 including the designated angle of view 201 shown in FIG.

In the case of the example shown in FIG. 6, it is not possible to form an image having the designated angle of view 201 by simply pasting the four images. However, an image having the designated angle of view 201 can be formed by overlapping and overlapping the overlapping portions of the four images.

As described above, the images of the designated angle of view shown in FIG.
A can be displayed. Here, the method of laminating the four microscope images is described in, for example, JP-A-5-313.
No. 071.

In the above embodiment, 4
Although the description has been made of an example in which two images are combined, the present invention is not limited to this, and the number of images to be combined is arbitrary. FIG. 7 to FIG. 10 are diagrams showing a process of obtaining an image of the designated angle of view by deleting an external region that extends beyond the designated angle of view described in (2).

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the display contents of the microscope macro image displayed on the monitor 120A. As illustrated, an area including a part of the microscope macro image showing the specimen 300 is set as the designated angle of view 301 by the operation unit 104A. Here, the designated angle of view 301 is a free angle of view that allows the operator to freely set the vertical size and the horizontal size.

FIG. 8 shows that the control unit 112A operates the microscope 10 based on the designated angle of view 301 of the microscope macro image shown in FIG.
0 and issues a command to the scanning stage controller 102, and the objective lens angle of view 302 including the designated angle of view 301
Is displayed. FIG. 9 is a view showing the objective lens angle of view 302 shown in FIG. In this embodiment, since the objective lens angle of view 302 is very close to the designated angle of view, the method of deleting the item (2) is automatically selected. As a result, the external area of the designated angle of view 301 and the internal area of the objective lens angle of view 302 are deleted. As a result, an image having the designated angle of view 301 shown in FIG. 10 is obtained.

Next, an outline of the process of performing the deletion will be described. In FIG. 1, a specimen (300) is
The microscope image captured in step 3 is transmitted to the transmission-side image transmission device 11.
The image is displayed on the monitor 120A via the 0A image input / output unit 114A (see FIG. 7). Next, the operator sets the angle of view using the operation unit 104A, and forms the designated angle of view 301 (see FIG. 7). The control unit 112 </ b> A
Is compared with the angle of view 302 of the objective lens including it (see FIG. 8), and the method (2) is selected as described above.

Next, the control unit 112 A controls the microscope 100 so that the image of the microscope 100 is located at the center of the angle of view 302 of the objective lens.
A position movement command is transmitted to the scanning stage controller 102 to move the scanning stage 101. Further, the control unit 112A transmits a command to switch the objective lens to the microscope 100.

When the movement of the scanning stage 101 and the switching of the objective lens are completed, the control section 112A fetches the microscope image output from the camera 103 and stores it in the image memory 113A. Next, the control unit 112A
Deletes the area outside the designated angle of view 301 and the area inside the objective lens angle of view 302 among the images stored in the image memory 113.

After that, the control unit 112A displays the generated image on the monitor 120A, and displays the designated view angle 3 shown in FIG.
Get 01. FIGS. 11 to 13 show an example in which an image is generated by combining a plurality of images captured at a magnification of a certain objective lens as described in the above (3), and furthermore, an area outside the specified angle of view is deleted from the generated image. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a specific example of a method for obtaining an image having the designated angle of view.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing display contents of the microscope macro image displayed on the monitor 120A. As shown in the figure, an area including a part of the microscope macro image showing the specimen 400 is set as the designated angle of view 401 by the operation unit 104A. Here, the designated angle of view 401 is a free angle of view that allows the operator to freely set the vertical size and the horizontal size.

FIG. 12 is a view showing the objective lens angle of view including the designated angle of view 401 when the control unit 112A issues a command to the microscope 100 and the scanning stage controller 102 based on the designated angle of view 401 of the microscope macro image shown in FIG. 4
02 is an example displayed. (A) of FIG.
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an objective lens angle of view 403 which is one step higher than the objective lens angle of view 402 shown in FIG. The method (3) is
The objective lens angle of view 403 is stuck for four images, and an extra area outside the designated angle of view 401 is deleted.

The angle of view 410 shown in FIG. 13B is such that the objective lens angles of view 403 a to 403 a to 4
It is a figure which shows the image which stuck four sheets of 03d. FIG.
An angle of view 410 shown in (c) is a diagram showing a state in which the external area of the designated angle of view 401 has been deleted. (D) of FIG.
The image 420 shown in FIG.
It is a figure showing the state where 01 was obtained.

Next, after laminating the above four images,
An outline of a process for deleting an extra area will be described. As described above, the microscope image obtained by capturing the specimen (400) by the camera 103 is displayed on the monitor 120A via the image input / output unit 114A of the transmission-side image transmission device 110A (see FIG. 11). Next, the operator operates the operation unit 104.
The angle of view is set by A to form the designated angle of view 401 (see FIG. 12). The controller 112A compares the designated angle of view 401 with the objective lens angle of view 402 that includes the designated angle of view 401 (see FIG. 12), and selects the method (3) described above.

Next, the control unit 112A transmits a position movement command to the scanning stage controller 102 so that the image of the microscope 100 is at the center position of the objective lens angle of view 403a shown in FIG. The stage 101 is moved. Further, the control unit 112A transmits a command to switch the objective lens to the microscope 100.

When the movement of the scanning stage 101 and the switching of the objective lens are completed, the controller 112A fetches the microscope image output from the camera 103 and stores it in the image memory 113A. The image memory 113A
The microscope image is stored in the objective lens angle of view 403.
b, 403c, and 403d are sequentially performed.

Thereafter, the control unit 112A operates the image memory 1
Objective lens angles of view 403a to 403d stored in 13A
Are combined, and the angle of view 410 shown in FIG.
Is formed. Next, the control unit 112A deletes the area outside the designated angle of view 401 and inside the area of the angle of view 410, and creates an image of the angle of view 410 shown in FIG.

Next, the control section 112A deletes the angle of view 410 and forms an image with the angle of view 401 shown in FIG. In the above-described embodiment, a case where four images are combined has been described as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the number of images to be combined is arbitrary.

As is clear from the above description, according to the above embodiment, it is possible to display an image having an arbitrary designated angle of view, which is not affected by the magnification of the objective lens (angle of view of the objective lens). .

[0072]

According to the microscope image display device of the present invention, a plurality of microscope images are stuck together to form a microscope image having a specified angle of view, so that the operator can specify the microscope image regardless of the magnification of the objective lens. It becomes possible to display the microscope micro image of the angle of view on the monitor.

Further, since a plurality of microscope images are attached to each other to form a microscope image having a designated angle of view, it is possible to display the image on the monitor in an appropriate size, and the operator can easily recognize the microscope micro image. It becomes possible. In addition, since an extra image area other than the designated angle of view is not displayed on the microscope image, when the microscope macro image is transmitted to a remote place, the time required for transmission can be shortened.

According to the microscope image display device of the second aspect, the designated angle of view designating means selects and displays one fixed angle of view from a plurality of fixed angles of view determined in advance. Therefore, when laminating multiple images,
The bonded image can be made to match the size of the designated angle of view. According to the microscope image display device of the third aspect,
Even when a plurality of microscope images attached to each other have overlapping image regions, a microscope micro image having an angle of view specified by the operator can be displayed on the monitor.

According to the microscope image display device of the fourth aspect, since the external area of the designated angle of view is deleted, only the designated angle of view can be displayed on the monitor. Therefore, the operator can easily recognize the microscope micro image. Further, the designated angle of view can be displayed on the monitor in an appropriate size, and the operator can easily recognize the microscope micro image.

Further, since the display of the extra image area other than the designated angle of view in the microscope image is eliminated, the time required for transmission when transmitting the microscope macro image to a remote place can be shortened.

According to the microscope image display apparatus of the fifth aspect, the operator can freely set the size of the designated angle of view. Therefore, the designated angle of view can be displayed in an appropriate size on the monitor, and the operator can easily recognize the microscope micro image. According to the microscope image display device of the present invention, after pasting a plurality of microscope images, an external area of the designated angle of view is deleted to form the designated angle of view, so that only the designated angle of view is displayed on the monitor. Becomes possible.

Therefore, the operator can easily recognize the microscope micro image of the designated angle of view. Further, the designated angle of view can be displayed on the monitor in an appropriate size, and the operator can easily recognize the microscope micro image. In addition, since an extra image area other than the designated angle of view is not displayed on the microscope image, when the microscope macro image is transmitted to a remote place, the time required for transmission can be shortened.

According to the microscope image display device of the present invention, the designated angle of view can be displayed in an arbitrary size on the monitor, and the operator can easily recognize the microscope micro image. become.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a microscope image transmission / display system.

FIG. 2 is a view showing display contents of a microscope macro image displayed on a monitor shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an objective lens angle of view including a designated angle of view of the microscope macro image shown in FIG. 2;

4 (a) is a view showing the angle of view of the objective lens at one step higher magnification than the angle of view of the objective lens shown in FIG. 3, and FIG. 4 (b) is the view angle of four objective lenses. FIG.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an image of a designated angle of view.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing images of four objective lens angles of view having overlapping portions with each other.

FIG. 7 is a view showing display contents of a microscope macro image displayed on the monitor shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an objective lens angle of view including a designated angle of view of the microscope macro image shown in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a view showing the angle of view of the objective lens shown in FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an image of a designated angle of view.

FIG. 11 is a view showing display contents of a microscope macro image displayed on the monitor shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 12 is a view showing an objective lens angle of view including a designated angle of view of the microscope macro image shown in FIG. 11;

13 (a) is a diagram showing the angle of view of the objective lens at one step higher than the angle of view of the objective lens shown in FIG. 12, and FIG.
3 (b) is a diagram in which images of four angles of view of the objective lens are stuck together, FIG. 13 (c) is a diagram showing an image in which an image area outside the designated angle of view shown in FIG. 13 (b) is deleted, and FIG. FIG. 14D is a diagram illustrating an image in which the view angle including the designated view angle illustrated in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 100 Microscope 101 Scanning stage 102 Scanning stage controller 103 Camera 104A, 104B Operating means 110A Transmitting image transmitting device 110B Receiving image transmitting device 111A, 111B Image transmitting unit 112A, 112B Control unit 113A, 113B Image memory 114A, 114B Image input / output Unit 120A, 120B monitor 130 communication network 200, 300, 400 sample 201, 301, 401 designated angle of view 202, 203, 203a, 203b, 203c, 20
3d, 204a, 204b, 204c, 204d, 30
2,402,403,403a, 403b, 403c,
403d Objective lens angle of view

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A microscope image display device for displaying a microscope image captured from a camera on a monitor, comprising: a designated angle of view designating means for designating a partial area of the microscope image displayed on the monitor to designate a designated angle of view; An objective lens angle-of-view display means for displaying, on the monitor, an objective lens angle of view including the designated angle of view; and an objective having a magnification higher by one or more steps than the objective lens of the objective lens angle of view including the designated angle of view. Microscope control means for dividing the designated angle of view into a plurality of microscope images by using a lens, and sequentially capturing the plurality of microscope images; image storage means for capturing and storing the plurality of microscope images from a camera; A designated angle-of-view display means for displaying the microscope image of the designated angle of view on the monitor by laminating the microscope images of the above. . 2. The microscope image display device according to claim 1, wherein the designated angle of view instructing means selects one fixed angle of view from a plurality of fixed angles of view determined in advance.
A microscope image display device, wherein the one selected fixed image is displayed as a designated angle of view. 3. The microscope image display device according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of microscope images have mutually overlapping image regions. 4. A microscope image display device for displaying a microscope image captured from a camera on a monitor, comprising: a designated angle of view designating means for designating a partial area of the microscope image displayed on the monitor to designate a designated angle of view; An objective lens angle-of-view display means for displaying an objective lens angle of view including the specified angle of view on the monitor; and a designated image for displaying the designated angle of view on the monitor by deleting an external region of the designated angle of view. A microscope image display device, comprising: a corner display unit. 5. The microscope image display device according to claim 4, wherein said designated angle of view designating means is capable of setting said designated angle of view while freely changing a vertical size and a horizontal size. A microscope image display device, characterized in that: 6. A microscope image display device for displaying a microscope image captured from a camera on a monitor, comprising: a designated angle of view designating means for designating a partial area of the microscope image displayed on the monitor to designate a designated angle of view; An objective lens angle-of-view display means for displaying, on the monitor, an objective lens angle of view including the designated angle of view; and an objective having a magnification higher by one or more steps than the objective lens of the objective lens angle of view including the designated angle of view. Microscope control means for dividing the designated angle of view into a plurality of microscope images by using a lens, and sequentially capturing the plurality of microscope images; image storage means for capturing and storing the plurality of microscope images from a camera; and a plurality of images stored in the image memory. The monitor displays the microscope image of the angle of view obtained by laminating the microscope images of the above, and deletes the external area of the designated angle of view from the angle of view of the lamination, and Microscope image display device only corner, characterized in that it is composed of a specified angle display means for displaying on said monitor. 7. The microscope image display device according to claim 6, wherein the designated angle of view designating means is configured to be able to set the designated angle of view while freely changing a vertical size and a horizontal size. A microscope image display device, characterized in that: