CA2048422A1 - Interface module for video microscope system - Google Patents
Interface module for video microscope systemInfo
- Publication number
- CA2048422A1 CA2048422A1 CA 2048422 CA2048422A CA2048422A1 CA 2048422 A1 CA2048422 A1 CA 2048422A1 CA 2048422 CA2048422 CA 2048422 CA 2048422 A CA2048422 A CA 2048422A CA 2048422 A1 CA2048422 A1 CA 2048422A1
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- adaptor
- interface module
- video
- sensing
- microscope
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
Links
Landscapes
- Microscoopes, Condenser (AREA)
Abstract
ABSTRACT
The invention disclosed herein is primarily directed to an interface module that permits a video image sensor to be installed on microscopes.
This interface module includes a solid-state sensor electrically connected by a cable to a video processing circuit capable of generating video images for real time viewing on a television monitor and/or recording by a video recorder. The interface module is made to replace the microscope eyepiece, making it adaptable to almost any kind of microscope, but also to telescopes and other optical instruments.
The invention disclosed herein is primarily directed to an interface module that permits a video image sensor to be installed on microscopes.
This interface module includes a solid-state sensor electrically connected by a cable to a video processing circuit capable of generating video images for real time viewing on a television monitor and/or recording by a video recorder. The interface module is made to replace the microscope eyepiece, making it adaptable to almost any kind of microscope, but also to telescopes and other optical instruments.
Description
-BACKGROUND OF TH~ INVE~NTION s This invention relates to a video microscope system and has particular reference to a novel interface module for connecting a video image sensor to existing microscope, replacing the microscope eyepiece by the interface module.
Trinocular research microscopes, i.e. microscopes with two eyepieces for direct viewing and a third one for accepting a camera, can be equipped with a video camera for the purpose of viewing on a television screen microscopic specimens by several persons at the same time. This is particularly handy in research groups or in teaching classes during biology laboratories. However, these research microscopes are expensive and are not commonly found in students laboratories of our schools and universities.
Moreover, most existing video cameras are bulky and heavy which makes them very difficult to adapt to simple microscope like the ones found in students laboratories.
Advances in the microminiaturization of video image sensors, often referred to as charge coupled device (CCD), and similar solid state imaging hardware have made possible the reduction in size of video cameras. For most of these newer small cameras, the image sensor is directly soldered to the electronic circuit processing the video signal. For some cameras, the imaging device is remotely located from the video processor and linked to it by a cable, rendering the image pick-up device, the camera head, small, light and easily manoeuvrable.
The video imaging equipment includes various processing devices, a video monitor, and/or a video recorder, which are capable of presenting video information ~eceived from the imaging device to viewers. Thus, a video image of microscopic specimens could be viewed if the imagin~ device is mounted on a microscope, replacing its existing eyepiece, or one of its existing eyepieces if the microscope is a binocular or trinocular, since the remaining optics in the microscope, mainly the objectives, will magnify and form an image on the faceplate of the image sensor which would detect it, transmit it to the processor and then to a video monitor or television screen where it could be seen.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Thus, there is a present need in the art for a small, lightweight, video microscope interface moduie capable of being easily installed on any microscope, or on any other optical instruments such as telescopes, to provide video images of observed specimens. The interface module replaces the microscope eyepiece (or ocular) and consists of a sotid state imaging device mounted on a plate affixed to an adaptor that could be inserted in, or over, the eyepiece tube of a microscope. The eyepiece adaptor could vary in dimensions so that it could be adapted to various makes of microscopes or to other type of optical instruments such as telescopes.
The imaging device is connected by an electric cable to a processor: it is driven by signals received from the processor and it transmits video signals back to the processor. The processor transforms the signals coming from the sensor into video signals that can be observed in real-time on a video monitor and/or recorded on a video recorder.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
Fi~. 1 is a perspective view of a video microscope system which employs the invention.
Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a video microscope interface module of the invention Fig. 3 is a bottom view of an imaging device plate.
Fig. 4 is a side section view taken substantially alony line lll - lll of fig. 3.
Fig. 5 is a composite front sectional view of an imaging device plate adjacent to an eyepiece adaptor; mounting holes are shown to illustrate a way to assemble the unit.
Fig. 6 is a composite front sectional view of an assembled interface module;
fasteners are shown to illustrate a way to assemble the unit.
Fig. 7 is a bottom view of the interface module shown in fig. 6.
Fig. 8 is a composite sectional view ~f another embodiment of an assembled interface module.
Fig. 9 is another embodiment of the video microscope interface module.
Fig. 10 is still another embodiment of the invention.
P~ETALLLED DEscRlpTLo--N- OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Fig. 1 depicts a video microscope system comprising a video monitor or television receiver 10 in communication with a video image processor 12 through a connecting cable 14. A video microscope interface module 16 is to be fitted to the eyepiece tube of a binocular microscope 18 ( of which one of the eyepieces has been removed) and the interface module 16 is connected to a video image processor 12 by a suitable cabie 20. The image of th~
specimen formsd by the microscope 18 is focalised on the image sensor of the interFace module 16 which sends a video signal through a cable 20 to a video processor 12 which itself sends a transformed signal through a cable 14 to a video monitor 10 for display.
Fi~. 2 depicts a specific embodiment of the video microscope interface module 16. This interface module 16 includes a housing 22 which can, in a preferred embodiment, be comprised of aluminum. In or on the housing 22 is an imaging sensing device 26 which in a preferred embodiment can be comprised of a charge coupled device (CCD) appropriately mounted in or on housing 22. A video image and control cable 20 pr~vides communication to the video processor 12 from the image sensing device 26. An eyepiece adaptor 24 which can, in a preferred embodiment, be comprised of aluminum and/or plastic, is detachably secured to the housing 22 by appropriate means which can include, in a preferred embodiment, screws or other types of fasteners to be installed in mounting holes 28. Part of the eyepiece adaptor 24 is a short tubular extension 25 which is meant, in a preferred embodiment, to be inserted in place of a microscope eyepiece. The tubular extension 25 has, in a preferred embodiment, the same outsids diameter as the eyepiece it is to replace.
Fig. 3 depicts a bottom view of a video imaging device 26 mounted in its housing 22.
Fig. 4 depicts a side section view showing, in a preferred embodiment, the mounting of the video imaging device 26 in its housing 22 linked to a cable 20 Hself in communication with a video processor 12.
Fig. 5 depicts a compos~e front sectional view of an imaging device 26 in its housing 22 adjacent to an eyepiece adaptor 24. In a preferred embodimsnt, mounting holes 28, shown here for clarity, would allow the passage of fasteners and thus the assembly of housing 22 to adaptor 28 rasultin~ in an assembled video microscope interface module 16 as depicted in fig. 6. A~ain, in fig. 6, fasteners 30 are shown to illustrate a w~y to assem~le, in a preferred embodiment, housing 22 to an eyepiece adaptor 24.
Fig. 7 depicts a bottom view of an assembled video microscope interFace module 16, showing a video imaging deviGe 26 positionned in the module in such a way that a !uminous image formed by a microscope could be ~ocwsed on its surface, allowing the imaging deviGe 26 to transform this luminous image into a video signal to be transrnitted to the video processor 12 through a cable 20.
Fi~. 8 depicts another embodiment of the video microscope interface module where a lens and/or filter 32 are mounted, in this preferred embodiment, inside the eyepiece adaptor tubular extension 25. This lens and/or filter could permit to better focus and/or ma~nify andfor reduce and/or filter the luminous image formed by the microscope on the faceplate of the video ima~ing device 2~.
Fig. 9 depicts another embodiment of the video microscope interface module where a diaphra~m 34, with a fixed or adjustable aperture, is mounted, in this preferred embodiment, inside tha eyepiece adaptor tubular extension 25. This diaphragm 34 could permit to reduce li~ht reflections andtor to adjust the intensity of the luminous image forrned by the microscope on the faceplate of the video ima~ing device 26.
Fi~. 10 depicts still another embodiment of the invention where a lens 32 and a diaphra~m 34 are mour~ed, in this preferred embodiment, inside the eyepiece adaptor tubular extension 2~ for the same purposes described above. In another embodiment not shown, a lens, a filter and a diaphragm could be mounted, In a preferred embodiment, inside the eyepiece adaptor tubular extension.
Trinocular research microscopes, i.e. microscopes with two eyepieces for direct viewing and a third one for accepting a camera, can be equipped with a video camera for the purpose of viewing on a television screen microscopic specimens by several persons at the same time. This is particularly handy in research groups or in teaching classes during biology laboratories. However, these research microscopes are expensive and are not commonly found in students laboratories of our schools and universities.
Moreover, most existing video cameras are bulky and heavy which makes them very difficult to adapt to simple microscope like the ones found in students laboratories.
Advances in the microminiaturization of video image sensors, often referred to as charge coupled device (CCD), and similar solid state imaging hardware have made possible the reduction in size of video cameras. For most of these newer small cameras, the image sensor is directly soldered to the electronic circuit processing the video signal. For some cameras, the imaging device is remotely located from the video processor and linked to it by a cable, rendering the image pick-up device, the camera head, small, light and easily manoeuvrable.
The video imaging equipment includes various processing devices, a video monitor, and/or a video recorder, which are capable of presenting video information ~eceived from the imaging device to viewers. Thus, a video image of microscopic specimens could be viewed if the imagin~ device is mounted on a microscope, replacing its existing eyepiece, or one of its existing eyepieces if the microscope is a binocular or trinocular, since the remaining optics in the microscope, mainly the objectives, will magnify and form an image on the faceplate of the image sensor which would detect it, transmit it to the processor and then to a video monitor or television screen where it could be seen.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Thus, there is a present need in the art for a small, lightweight, video microscope interface moduie capable of being easily installed on any microscope, or on any other optical instruments such as telescopes, to provide video images of observed specimens. The interface module replaces the microscope eyepiece (or ocular) and consists of a sotid state imaging device mounted on a plate affixed to an adaptor that could be inserted in, or over, the eyepiece tube of a microscope. The eyepiece adaptor could vary in dimensions so that it could be adapted to various makes of microscopes or to other type of optical instruments such as telescopes.
The imaging device is connected by an electric cable to a processor: it is driven by signals received from the processor and it transmits video signals back to the processor. The processor transforms the signals coming from the sensor into video signals that can be observed in real-time on a video monitor and/or recorded on a video recorder.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
Fi~. 1 is a perspective view of a video microscope system which employs the invention.
Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a video microscope interface module of the invention Fig. 3 is a bottom view of an imaging device plate.
Fig. 4 is a side section view taken substantially alony line lll - lll of fig. 3.
Fig. 5 is a composite front sectional view of an imaging device plate adjacent to an eyepiece adaptor; mounting holes are shown to illustrate a way to assemble the unit.
Fig. 6 is a composite front sectional view of an assembled interface module;
fasteners are shown to illustrate a way to assemble the unit.
Fig. 7 is a bottom view of the interface module shown in fig. 6.
Fig. 8 is a composite sectional view ~f another embodiment of an assembled interface module.
Fig. 9 is another embodiment of the video microscope interface module.
Fig. 10 is still another embodiment of the invention.
P~ETALLLED DEscRlpTLo--N- OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Fig. 1 depicts a video microscope system comprising a video monitor or television receiver 10 in communication with a video image processor 12 through a connecting cable 14. A video microscope interface module 16 is to be fitted to the eyepiece tube of a binocular microscope 18 ( of which one of the eyepieces has been removed) and the interface module 16 is connected to a video image processor 12 by a suitable cabie 20. The image of th~
specimen formsd by the microscope 18 is focalised on the image sensor of the interFace module 16 which sends a video signal through a cable 20 to a video processor 12 which itself sends a transformed signal through a cable 14 to a video monitor 10 for display.
Fi~. 2 depicts a specific embodiment of the video microscope interface module 16. This interface module 16 includes a housing 22 which can, in a preferred embodiment, be comprised of aluminum. In or on the housing 22 is an imaging sensing device 26 which in a preferred embodiment can be comprised of a charge coupled device (CCD) appropriately mounted in or on housing 22. A video image and control cable 20 pr~vides communication to the video processor 12 from the image sensing device 26. An eyepiece adaptor 24 which can, in a preferred embodiment, be comprised of aluminum and/or plastic, is detachably secured to the housing 22 by appropriate means which can include, in a preferred embodiment, screws or other types of fasteners to be installed in mounting holes 28. Part of the eyepiece adaptor 24 is a short tubular extension 25 which is meant, in a preferred embodiment, to be inserted in place of a microscope eyepiece. The tubular extension 25 has, in a preferred embodiment, the same outsids diameter as the eyepiece it is to replace.
Fig. 3 depicts a bottom view of a video imaging device 26 mounted in its housing 22.
Fig. 4 depicts a side section view showing, in a preferred embodiment, the mounting of the video imaging device 26 in its housing 22 linked to a cable 20 Hself in communication with a video processor 12.
Fig. 5 depicts a compos~e front sectional view of an imaging device 26 in its housing 22 adjacent to an eyepiece adaptor 24. In a preferred embodimsnt, mounting holes 28, shown here for clarity, would allow the passage of fasteners and thus the assembly of housing 22 to adaptor 28 rasultin~ in an assembled video microscope interface module 16 as depicted in fig. 6. A~ain, in fig. 6, fasteners 30 are shown to illustrate a w~y to assem~le, in a preferred embodiment, housing 22 to an eyepiece adaptor 24.
Fig. 7 depicts a bottom view of an assembled video microscope interFace module 16, showing a video imaging deviGe 26 positionned in the module in such a way that a !uminous image formed by a microscope could be ~ocwsed on its surface, allowing the imaging deviGe 26 to transform this luminous image into a video signal to be transrnitted to the video processor 12 through a cable 20.
Fi~. 8 depicts another embodiment of the video microscope interface module where a lens and/or filter 32 are mounted, in this preferred embodiment, inside the eyepiece adaptor tubular extension 25. This lens and/or filter could permit to better focus and/or ma~nify andfor reduce and/or filter the luminous image formed by the microscope on the faceplate of the video ima~ing device 2~.
Fig. 9 depicts another embodiment of the video microscope interface module where a diaphra~m 34, with a fixed or adjustable aperture, is mounted, in this preferred embodiment, inside tha eyepiece adaptor tubular extension 25. This diaphragm 34 could permit to reduce li~ht reflections andtor to adjust the intensity of the luminous image forrned by the microscope on the faceplate of the video ima~ing device 26.
Fi~. 10 depicts still another embodiment of the invention where a lens 32 and a diaphra~m 34 are mour~ed, in this preferred embodiment, inside the eyepiece adaptor tubular extension 2~ for the same purposes described above. In another embodiment not shown, a lens, a filter and a diaphragm could be mounted, In a preferred embodiment, inside the eyepiece adaptor tubular extension.
Claims (15)
1. A video microscope interface module comprising a body; sensing means for sensing an image! which sensing means is mounted in or on said body; adaptor means, comprising a tubular extension, for mounting the said interface module to microscope eyepiece tube; electrical connector means to connect said sensing means to processor circuitry.
2. A device according to claim 1 in which said body and said adaptor means are unitary.
3. A device according to claim 1 in which said sensing means comprises a charge coupled device.
4. A device according to claim 1 in which said sensing means comprises a Mos device.
5. A device according to claim 1 in which said sensing means comprises an image sensor, such as a charge coupled device, and the processor circuitry adjacent to the said image sensor or integrated into the same chip ("camera on a chip").
6. A device according to claim 1 in which said body and said adaptor means comprise connector means for detachably connecting said adaptor means to said body.
7. A device according to claim 1 in which said adaptor means and said tubular extension are unitary.
8. A device according to claim 1 in which said adaptor means ans said tubular extension comprise connector means for detachably connecting said tubular extension to said adaptor means.
9. A device according to claim 1 in which said interface module comprises adaptor means for mounting said module onto eyepiece tube of other types of optical instruments such as telescopes or borescopes.
10. A device according to claim 1 in which said adaptor means comprises a lens, or a combination of lenses, mounted in or on said adaptor means.
11. A device according to claim 1 or 10 in which said adaptor means comprises a diaphragm, or a combination of diaphragms, with fixed and/or variable aperture mounted in or on said adaptor means.
12. A device according to claim 1, 10 or 11 in which said adaptor means comprises a filter, or a combination of filters, mounted in or on said adaptor means.
13. A device according to claim 1 in which electrical connector means consists of an electrical cable connecting directly the said sensing means to said processor circuitry.
14. A device according to claim 1 in which electrical connector means consists of short electrical connections between the said sensing means and a connector plug or socket into which one end of an electrical cable is connected while the other end is connected to processor circuitry.
15. A device according to claim 1, 13 or 14 in which said sensing means is plugged into a socket which is itself connected to said electrical connector means.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2048422 CA2048422A1 (en) | 1991-08-02 | 1991-08-02 | Interface module for video microscope system |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2048422 CA2048422A1 (en) | 1991-08-02 | 1991-08-02 | Interface module for video microscope system |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2048422A1 true CA2048422A1 (en) | 1993-02-03 |
Family
ID=4148127
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2048422 Abandoned CA2048422A1 (en) | 1991-08-02 | 1991-08-02 | Interface module for video microscope system |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA2048422A1 (en) |
-
1991
- 1991-08-02 CA CA 2048422 patent/CA2048422A1/en not_active Abandoned
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| EEER | Examination request | ||
| FZDE | Dead |