DE3312779A1 - METHOD FOR MAKING A COMPARISON STANDARD INTO THE IMAGE OF A MICROSCOPE - Google Patents

Description

Z 83009 P 5 10 Carl Zeiss, 7920 Heidenheim (Brenz) 15th 20th Procedure for displaying a comparison ntandards in the image of a microscope 25th 30th 35

Method for overlaying a comparison standard in the image of a Microscope

For quick assessment of microscopic samples, e.g. for serial examinations In metallography or medicine it is customary to superimpose a standard with which the sample is superimposed on the microscopic image is compared by the viewer. These standards are partially standardized. For example, there are so-called grain size samples according to ASTM and VDEh for the assessment of metal cuts.

Such standards are known as so-called alignment plates i.e., eyepiece reticules on which the standard is engraved. The alignment plates are then combined in several turrets, which are exchangeably attached to the microscope tube in such a way that the plates are swiveled into the intermediate image plane of the microscope can.

It is also state of the art, the stick figures as projection screens for a projection apparatus placed on the microscope to train.

From DE-PS 24 07 270 it is also known to provide a comparison standard in the form of a positive over a microscope attached, separate projection unit to be reflected in the beam path of the microscope.

All of these known solutions have the disadvantage that they interfere with require the beam path of the microscope and, in some cases, considerable additional attachments or superstructures. The production of the standards is partly with associated with considerable effort. In addition, changing the standards takes time and archiving the standards is not complete easy to handle.

For some time now, microscopes with television recording devices have been offered that offer the convenience of convenient and fatigue-free viewing of the microscopic image. Even with these so-called television microscopes, the comparison

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standards optically, i.e. by superimposing the from the camera recorded intermediate image carried out in the microscope with graticules.

^ It is the object of the present invention to provide a television microscope useful, simplified method for superimposing the viewer perceived microscopic image with comparison standards to specify.

This task is given in accordance with the characterizing part of the main claim Features achieved in that a comparison standard stored as digital information in a non-volatile memory module is used and the memory content is read out and the video signal of the television picture is added.

The advantage of this solution is that there is no interference whatsoever in the optical system of the microscope. Rather, the image of the sample and the image of the standard are superimposed purely electronically, for example in one in the line between the television camera on the microscope and the monitor looped mixer, which is connected to the reading device for the image memory in which the Information representing comparison standard is stored digitally. Thus, every form microscope according to the invention can be used as a comparison microscope be expanded. The mechanical that was previously necessary for the production of comparison standards in the form of graticules Precision work is not required.

Expediently programmable solid-state memories, So-called PROMS or EPROMS, i.e. erasable body memories, are used will. Such memory modules are available inexpensively. Depending on the information density of the calibration standards and the Capacity of the memory module, several standards can definitely be stored in one memory module. These memories are, in Offered in the form of plug-in modules and so can be used as required another memory set with those currently required for the application Image patterns are exchanged.

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For applications in which a large number of comparison standards have to be used for assessment in frequent changes, it is advantageous to to use a magnetic storage disk such as a floppy disk for storage. The floppy disk is useful in conjunction with a Computer operated with a sufficiently large internal memory in which the required comparison standard is temporarily stored will.

It can also be useful to use an optical data carrier such as ^ O to use an image disk or so-called "optical disc" as storage. Such memories allow still images to be reproduced, so that an additional buffer memory is not required here.

The electronic display of the comparison standard also enables in a simple way a regulation of the intensity of the faded in Image pattern and allows you to switch from a positive to a negative display of the comparison standard.

Often it is not necessary to directly compare the standard of comparison with the image of the sample to overlay, but to make both parts visible next to each other. To achieve this is expediently done by the recording camera of the Microscope-supplied image signal of the sample is suppressed in the area covered by the comparison standard.

Of course, in addition to the comparison standard in the true sense of the Word such as the grain size pattern according to ASTM mentioned at the beginning, also other auxiliary objects such as line rulers, integration fields, etc., which had previously also been designed as eyepiece reticules, be stored in corresponding memories.

Further advantages of the invention will become apparent in the following description Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings explained in more detail. Of that demonstrate:

Fig. 1 is a block diagram of an embodiment of the invention; 2 shows a comparison standard designed as an eyepiece reticle.

In Fig. 1, 1 denotes a microscope, on the tube of a TV camera 2 is attached. The signal supplied by this camera 2 is sent to a monitor 7 for displaying the image of the person to be examined Sample supplied. A mixer 6 is connected between monitor 7 and camera 2, in which the signal from the camera is one of one Processor 5 emitted second signal is mixed that a PiId of a comparison standard. The processor 5 is provided with a pulse separator 3 is supplied with a synchronization signal obtained from the video signal of the camera 2.

The processor 5 is via data lines with a non-volatile Memory 8 connected, the four plug-in solid-state memory modules (ROM) 8a, b, c and d contains. In the case of these building blocks, it can be, for example around the erasable memory chip (EPROM) eier ^ irma Intel act with the type designation D27128. This memory chip has a capacity of 16 kilobytes and therefore offers a pinary image with a resolution of 128,000 points.

To overlay the screen of the monitor 7 with one of the in the The comparison standards stored in memory modules 8a-8d become the relevant Memory module selected and read out by processor 5 at the rate of the video frequency. The stored signal sequence is sent to the mixer 6 supplied.

In a modification of the illustrated Ausführungsyngsbeispiels can instead of the Processor 5 a computer with its own main memory can be used, in which the desired comparison image or rather the content of the relevant Memory module, e.g. 8a, is read in and temporarily stored. It is then possible by controlling the computer accordingly Make modifications to the cached image, for example it to move in its position or to display additional symbols, text, etc.

Instead of the solid-state memory, a floppy disk drive can then also be used ch unit be connected to the computer in which on the one hand the Comparison images are stored, which are also used for documentation that of the viewer based on the assessment of the television picture

obtained data or for storing selected sample images serves.

In Fig. 2 is designed as a conventional eyepiece reticle Comparison standard shown. It is a particle size sample for ferrite with an aspect ratio of 1: 1 according to the steel-iron test sheet Mr. 1510-61. As you can see the line pattern 9 is only on one half of the Plate 10 applied. In the other half of the plate 10 Covered intermediate image, the image with the pattern 9 appears comparative sample. There is also a field 11 in which the designation of the pattern 9 is engraved.

According to the invention, the desert 9 and the field 11 are corresponding Reduced to the format of a television screen, stored in one of the memories 8a-d of the exemplary embodiment in FIG. That The structure 9 can be stored in the memory, for example, in such a way that a template with the pattern 9 is recorded by a television camera, converted into a binary image and read into the memory module via a suitably programmed processor. Included the form of storage is not limited to the fact that the light / dark information of the successive Is written in pixels. Fs is also possible, for example, and especially in the case of standards with a relatively low information density It is recommended to only save the coordinates of the points that appear light or dark in the image.

Claims (1)

Claims / Iy Procedure for displaying a comparison standard (grain size sample 9) in the image of a microscope (1) shown on a television screen (7), characterized in that a digital information The comparison standard stored in a non-volatile memory module (8) is used and the memory content is read out and mixed with the video signal of the television picture. IO2. Method according to Claim 1, characterized in that the comparison standard is meanwhile taken over into the main memory of a computer (5) coupled to the memory module. 3. The method according to claim 1-2, characterized in that it is at the memory is a programmable solid-state memory (PROM, EPROM 8). 4. The method according to claim 1-2, characterized in that it is at the memory is a magnetic disk (floppy disk). 5. The method according to claim 1-2, characterized in that the memory is an optical data carrier ( optical disc). 6. The method according to claim 1-5, characterized in that the comparison standard (?) Covers only a portion of the screen (7) and the image signal supplied by the recording camera (2) of the microscope (1) in the comparison standard covered area is suppressed. 7. The method according to claim 1-6, characterized in that it is at the comparison standard around Eilder of grain size plates or grain size samples (9) of metal bevels according to ASTM 112 and VDEh standard (Steel-iron test sheet).