DE10249177A1 - microscope - Google Patents

Abstract

Manually operable operating unit for a microscope, with at least one operating element, in particular an operating wheel (50, 51, 54), an operating button (52a to 52h) and / or an operating ball (63), via which a microcontroller of the operating unit with control commands for control or Control of a number of microscope functional units can be acted upon, a memory device assigned to the microcontroller having a first memory area which is equipped with a custom boot loader, using which software, in particular software defining a function of the at least one control element, is integrated into a further memory area of the memory unit can be loaded.

Description

The present invention relates to an operating unit for a microscope according to the preamble of Claim 1.

Motorized microscopes in which system components or functional units for performing at least one motor-operated function are provided on a microscope body are known. As an example, reference is made to the applicant's commercially available product "Leica DMLA ^® ". This is a motorized microscope in which important microscope functions, such as, for example, changing the magnification, adjusting the lighting or focusing, are motorized and optimally via a microprocessor control The motorized functions can be controlled via a PC or central control electronics, and the microscope can also be controlled by means of an operating device which is separate from the actual microscope body and has sensors which can supply analog signals to the control electronics mentioned above via a line Because of the spatial separation of the operating device from the microscope, it can be freely positioned and thus, for example, adapted to the individual body size of the user, for example the MZ16A microscope from the applicant with a CAN bus and a decentralized one n Intelligence equipped. That is, both in the functional units and in the operating unit, microprocessors are installed, each of which is loaded with specially assigned software, which ensures both the actuation of the actuators assigned to the respective functional units and communication between the units. In order to replace the software in such functional units, the microprocessor must be set to a loading mode by actuating a jumper, ie in terms of hardware. Then the new software is loaded via a serial interface and then the jumper is reset. There is no control as to whether the loaded software belongs to the functional unit or not. In order to change the software, the device must be opened and there is a risk of damage to the device. If the wrong software is loaded, the microscope malfunctions and, if necessary, a complex search for errors. In contrast, the software is burned onto the processor in the control unit. A software change requires the removal of the processor, its deletion and a new burning.

It is also known such to equip motorized microscopes with bus systems via which communication both between the functional units to carry out and Coordination of the respective microscope functions, as well as between the functional units and the control element in a simple manner is feasible.

The individual functional units of such a motorized microscope usually have one Actuator or a command input device and one with the actuator or the microcontroller communicating with the command input unit on, which is formed with a corresponding storage device is or cooperates. In this storage unit is usually a software or firmware controlling the respective function is stored which of the microcontrollers to control the actuator assigned to it accesses. In conventional Systems is a change this software or firmware, for example as part of an update, so not without a time-consuming opening of the respective functional unit possible, the microcontroller must be removed and burned again, or at least by means of a hardware change is made to a jumper setting got to.

The object of the invention is to create a motorized microscope, its operability and manageability across from usual solutions is improved.

This task is solved by an operating unit with the features of claim 1.

The control unit according to the invention stands out in that they have a microcontroller and a memory area in which a bootstrap loader software or a custom boot loader, is saved.

According to the invention, using the provided bootstrap loader software, an installation software downloaded in a simple manner to the microcontroller of the control unit become. This installation software then enables in simple way one - pure software - update the software or firmware of the microcontroller of the control unit, whereby in particular an assignment or a definition of the control elements, especially the control wheels or the control buttons or the control ball, can be carried out.

The control unit according to the invention stands out especially from the fact that they are directly connected via a bus system, i.e. in particular without the interposition of signal processing units, with communicates with the other (motorized) functional units of the microscope, so that control commands given to the control element roll directly into the Mikrocont of the respective functional units can be executed. There the control unit according to the invention programmable in a particularly simple manner or with regard to their Control elements is adjustable, is an individualized use the control unit by a number of users in a simple manner possible.

Advantageous embodiments of the each control unit according to the invention are the subject of the subclaims.

The Mi can be operated via the control unit koskop has, for example, a motorized zoom unit, a motorized filter wheel, a motorized iris diaphragm, a motorized shutter, a motorized focus, in particular fine focus, a motorized diaphragm, a motorized transmitted light base, a motorized incident light source, a motorized XY table and / or a motorized fluorescence module , The optional combination of such functional units enables the optimal functionality of the microscope according to the invention, wherein all functional units can be controlled in a simple manner by means of the operating unit according to the invention.

The control unit according to the invention is expedient laterally with at least one manually operated wheel, and on the top with at least one manually operable Push button trained. By means of such a configuration Operating unit ensures high ergonomics (one-hand operation) being all functionality of the microscope can be brought together in a single control unit can. According to the invention, the control unit is, as already mentioned, directly on the bus over which the functional units of the microscope communicate with each other, tethered. The combination of rotary wheels and buttons is a free Configurability of all functional units and the possibility the multiple saving of configurations, for example personal configurations, easily possible. It For example, the fine movement of a zoom or one is conceivable Focus by means of respective first and second rotary wheels, and the Coarse movement to be accomplished using push buttons. Let her through continuous movements or constant movements in a simple manner Speeds as well as constantly accelerated movements in the frame focusing or zooming realize. With a simple push of a button, standardized Positions are approached, or, for example, by pressing a double button to a desired one End position to be approached. In addition, it is possible that by pressing certain key combinations when switching on default assignments be activated (e.g. right / left switching). Furthermore, a shortcut to save and recall one a system state assigned to a specific user is used from a ring buffer become. Such key combinations are especially for Identification of individual users can be used.

Shutters provided under a microscope can also operated by push button become. Furthermore, continuous pressure on such a push button can be “dimmer-like” for controllable ones Light sources (increase or decrease in intensity) are used become. A filter turret actuation can in a simple manner by means of two push buttons provided for this purpose carried out become.

A current status (focus, zoom, Filter, iris position, shutter, etc.) can for example can be saved with just one button using a ring buffer, expediently up to five possible Positions can be saved simultaneously (for example in an EEPROM) are.

Also an iris of a microscope can be adjusted electronically using a rotary wheel, whereby for this Function in particular, a third rotary wheel can be provided.

A software-supported adaptation is expedient the focusing speed to a current magnification of the Microscope provided.

It is preferred to use the rotary wheels a device to support inertia To provide movement, such as focus or zoom be operated with inertia can. at correspondingly heavy wheels this can be achieved by having a strong Move impetus independently.

It is advantageous if the ratio between the travel speed of the X-Y table and the actuation speed of the control element depends on the currently set zoom magnification.

The control unit according to the invention can be equipped with a built-in magnetic holder in the base plate for possible rest positions on the microscope itself be trained. This makes positioning particularly easy or fastening the control unit to a microscope.

According to a particularly preferred embodiment of the microscope according to the invention the control unit is designed to be illuminated. The training of the control unit for example with a luminous element (its power supply, for example, via the Bus system can be implemented) is especially for dark room applications useful.

According to a preferred embodiment of the control unit according to the invention is at least one control element in a control unit floor area arranged that a displacement of the control unit over a Document an actuation of this Control element causes.

For example, it is conceivable to use a relative movement in a base plate of the operating unit with respect to a base, for example a laboratory table, to control an XY table of the microscope, this function being performed by a general switch (proximity sensor, capacitive) built into the base plate of the operating unit Switch or the like) or by means of a "mouse-like" ball, which is embedded in the base plate of the control unit and interacts with it when the control unit moves over a base. It is particularly advantageous here to provide, for example, one of the control buttons as a means by means of which a movement the control unit can be coupled or uncoupled with or from the corresponding movement of the XY table via a support. This simplifies the handling of the operating unit according to the invention, since this ensures that the user can set the operating unit in such a way that not every movement of the operating unit via the base leads to a corresponding movement of the XY table of the microscope. This measure can be implemented in particular by simply pressing a button. For this purpose, it can also be expedient to provide a manually operated proximity sensor or proximity switch.

According to another preferred embodiment of the control unit according to the invention this a magnetic mounting device, by means of which it can be fixed on a microscope. Such a mounting device, with which a particularly simple attachment to a microscope is realized proves to be very advantageous, particularly in everyday laboratory work. The control unit according to the invention is characterized in particular by the fact that all control elements are manually, i.e. can be operated without removing a hand from the control element. For the first time, this means that all of them are essentially fully operated motorized functional units of a microscope over a one-handed Operable control unit implemented.

The invention is now based on the attached Drawing further described.

In this shows

1 2 shows a schematic block diagram of a preferred embodiment of a microscope to which the control unit according to the invention is assigned,

2 a block diagram of the individual, via a bus system communicating with each other functional units of a microscope 1 , and

3 a preferred embodiment of an operating unit according to the invention in plan view, and

4 the control unit according to the invention 3 in a bottom view.

A preferred embodiment of a microscope that can be controlled with the operating unit according to the invention is shown in FIG 1 overall with 10 designated. The microscope 10 has an optics carrier 12 on, which carries an optical system designated overall by 14.

The microscope 10 has a base 13 on which with a motorized xy table 13a is provided.

The optical system 14 is by means of a motorized focus device 16 on a tripod 17 traversable.

The optical system 14 has an eyepiece 20 , one in particular as a fluorescence module 22 trained incident light with a motorized shutter and a motorized adjustable filter wheel, here especially for holding at least one fluorescence filter, a motorized zoom 24 and a lens changer 26 on, which in the present case two optional lenses 28 . 30 wearing. Even the lens changer 26 can optionally be operated with a motor.

Instead of the incident light source of the fluorescence module 22 or in addition to this, further incident light can be used 32 or a transmitted light base (not shown) below the base 13 be arranged with motor intensity setting.

The components shown 13 . 16 . 20 . 22 . 24 . 26 . 32 represent functional units of the microscope 10 represents.

These functional units are via a (in 1 not shown in detail) Bus system connected to each other, as well as to external devices or functional units. One recognizes as external institutions in the 1 in particular a manually operable control unit 29 and one with a universal interface 34 or various interfaces, eg USB1, USB2 or IEEE 1394 or RS 232, trained computers 33 , Both via the control unit 29 as well as the computer 33 is a control of the functional units of the microscope 10 feasible. A controller is also simultaneously with both units 29 . 33 feasible.

As already mentioned, the individual functional units of the microscope 10 as well as the external elements 29 . 33 connected to each other via a bus system. The bus system can, for example, be a CAN system. Such a bus system is in 2 shown and overall with 40 designated. Using such a bus system, standardized transmission of information between the individual functional units of the microscope can be implemented in a simple manner. The bus system can be designed as a simple bus system in which various types of information, such as data, control signals or addresses, are successively (serially) transmitted over the same lines. Implementation as a multiple bus system with several individual bus systems is also conceivable, via which only information of the same type is transmitted in each case.

In 2 one recognizes in particular those already in 1 functional units shown motor focus 16 , Fluorescence module 22 and motor zoom 24 , The control element can also be seen as a further functional unit 29 , which, as already mentioned, is also connected to the bus system.

As further components, which are connected to the bus system 40 a functional unit for adjusting the diaphragm and a handwheel ("hand wheel") can be mentioned as an example. In 1 A function unit "display" for displaying system-specific data can also be connected, not shown. To illustrate the possibility of any equipment of a microscope with such functional units are in 2 two further functional units are shown, each with reference numerals 21 are provided.

The control element that communicates directly with the bus system 29 enables a particularly simple and effective control of all functional units with one hand. In contrast to conventional solutions, multiple controls are not necessary. As a result, the number of microscope components can be effectively reduced compared to conventional solutions.

In 2 the structure of the individual functional units is also shown schematically. A denotes a microcontroller, and b denotes a memory device b assigned to microcontroller a. The respective functional units also have an actuator, which is shown purely schematically as the frame surrounding the microcontroller and the memory device and is designated by c. It is also possible to connect the functional units to other applications, not shown, via further bus systems. This is in 2 exemplary using the double arrows 41-44 illustrates, which may be, for example, a universal serial bus (USB) or an IEEE bus ("Firewire ^" ), in particular using an R5232 interface.

The structure shown is based on the example of the motor focus 16 explained in detail. The motor focus 16 has a microcontroller 16a and a storage device 16b on. The storage device 16b is divided into a first area 16b ' in which a bootstrap software and possibly an operating system is stored. A second area 16b ' contains control software for motor focus in a current version. Finally, the third area contains 16b ' Calibration data which are necessary or expedient for operating the motor focus within the scope of the microscope according to the invention.

The other functional units shown have a similar structure, so that a detailed description of the respective microcontrollers or memory devices is omitted here. For the control unit 29 are the microcontroller 29a , the storage device 29b including the memory areas 29b ' , b '', b '''and the actuator 29c each explicitly designated.

According to the invention, it is particularly simple to download an update of the control software of the functional units into the respective memory areas b ". This in turn is based on the motor focus 16 explained.

The in the storage area 16b ' included bootstrap loader software is a relatively small program, by means of which more extensive software applications in their respective memory areas, in the present case the control software area 16b ' , can be loaded. To do this, it is only necessary to run the bootstrap loader program using an appropriate input command, for example, via the computer 33 can be fed into the system to activate. Following this, one can, for example, also on the computer 33 Loaded updated version of the motor focus control software 16 in the area 16b ' the storage device 16b can be downloaded.

In contrast to conventional ones Solutions is the opening a function control unit for software updates is no longer required.

One related to the one described Bootstrap loader software The installation software used is able to automatically create a to recognize the respective motorized functional unit of the microscope. By means of the used according to the invention customized boot loaders and over the relevant application software, or a required or desired Update carried out be, which can be done automatically or interactively.

The areas b 'and b' '' are preferred as protected Storage areas formed.

A preferred embodiment of the control element according to the invention 29 is in 3 shown.

You can see two control wheels 50 . 51 as well as a number of control buttons or buttons 52a to 52h , Although these control wheels or buttons can be assigned functions in any way, reference is made below to a preferred assignment option. The control wheels 50 . 51 . 52 are easily accessible from above for a user in the side sections of the control element 29 educated. It is preferred that the control wheel 50 for fine adjustment of the motor focus 16 serves. A possibly appropriate rough setting can be done by actuating at least one of the buttons 52a to 52h respectively. The control wheel 51 is useful for adjusting the motor zoom 24 used, here also expediently by means of the control wheel 51 a fine adjustment and a corresponding key operation of at least one of the keys 52a to 52h a corresponding rough setting is carried out.

Finally one recognizes in 3 a third control wheel 54 , which is arranged in the rear area of the control element. This control wheel 54 is preferably used for incremental control of an iris diaphragm.

By means of at least one key, for example the key 52a , storage of certain microscope positions can be realized. This button can also be used to implement a toggle function for switching between certain stored positions.

The control element 29 is over a line 60 (see also 1 ), or wirelessly on the bus 40 connectable.

It should be noted that all functional units, which are under Reference to the 1 and 2 have been explained, by pressing the buttons accordingly 52a to 52h are controllable.

The integration of control wheels or rotary wheels 50 . 51 , the control wheel or knurled ring 54 and the buttons 52a to 52h in just one control unit and its special arrangement, all function units can be controlled with one hand without the operator having to take his hand off the control unit. The simple software update enables the control elements to be assigned individually, depending on the equipment of the device, in particular according to the existing functional units or components of the microscope or the wishes of the user, it being possible in particular to take into account whether right-handed or left-handed operation is desired.

Finally be on 4 referenced in which a view of the control unit according to the 3 is shown from below. One recognizes that already with reference to 3 illustrated control wheels 50 . 51 and 54 , In the bottom plate 62 the control unit 29 here is a recess 61 introduced in which a control ball 63 is arranged. The control ball 63 stands with respect to the base plate 62 in such a way that when the base plate moves over a base ("mouse-like") it can perform a rotary movement, via which a functional unit of the microscope, in particular an XY stage, can be actuated. The combination of such an operating element provided on the underside of the operating unit with the plurality of operating elements on the upper side of the operating unit, which with reference to FIG 3 have been described in detail, enables complete operation of all essential motorized functional units of a microscope. In 4 are also magnets 64 recognizable, which in the bottom plate 62 are embedded and represent a magnetic holder of the control unit for holding on a microscope.

10

microscope

12

optics carrier

14

optical system

13

Base

13a

motorized x-y table

16

motorized Focus device, motor focus

a

designated one microcontroller each

b

designated one storage device each

c

designated one actuator each

16a

microcontroller

16b

memory device

16b '

first Storage device area

16b '

second Area, control software area of the Spei

chereinrichtung

16b '' '

third Storage device area

17

tripod

20

eyepiece

21

Further functional units

22

fluorescence module

24

motorized zoom

26

objective changer

28

lens

29

manually actuated operating unit

29a

microcontroller the control unit

29b

memory device the control unit

29b ', b' ', b' ''

storage areas

29c

actuator the control unit

30

lens

32

Barlight

33

computer

34

Universal Interface

40

Bus system

41-44

double arrows

50.51

control wheels

52a-52h

 Control buttons, buttons

54

third Control wheel, knurled ring

60

management

61

recess

62

Base plate, Operating unit floor area

63

Control ball, -element

64

magnets

Claims (8)

Manually operable control unit for a microscope, with at least one control element, in particular an operating wheel ( 50 . 51 . 54 ), an operating button ( 52a to 52h ) and / or a control ball ( 63 ), via which a micro controller of the control unit with control commands for control or control tion of a number of microscope functional units, characterized in that a memory device assigned to the microcontroller has a first memory area which is equipped with a custom boot loader, using which software, in particular software defining a function of the at least one control element, can be loaded into a further memory area of the memory unit. Control unit according to claim 1, characterized in that it via a BUS system ( 40 ), in particular a CAN-BUS system, communicates with the microscope functional units. Control unit according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that it is designed to be illuminated. Control unit according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by a ring buffer device, by means of which a number of individual user settings the functions assigned to the functional units can be stored. Control unit according to one of the preceding claims or the preamble of patent claim 1, characterized in that at least one control element ( 63 ) in a control unit floor area ( 62 ) is arranged in such a way that a displacement of the control unit via a pad actuates the at least one control element ( 63 ) causes. Operating unit according to claim 5, characterized in that the operating element 60 formed in the operating unit base surface is an operating ball which communicates with an XY table of the microscope in such a way that a movement of the operating unit via a base corresponds to a corresponding movement of the XY -Table of the microscope, whereby means ( 52a to 52h ) are provided, by means of which a movement of the operating unit can be coupled or uncoupled either with or from the corresponding movement of the XY table. Control unit according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by a magnetic mounting device ( 64 ), by means of which it can be fixed on a microscope. Control unit according to one of the preceding claims, characterized marked that all controls can be operated manually without removing a hand from the control element.