GB2201809A - Improvements in or relating to display means - Google Patents

Description

1 is 1 2201809 1 IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO DISPLAY MEANS This

invention relates to display means.

It In desireable to provide a means whereby objects usually too small or fine In detail to he seen unaided can be presented to an audience In an entertaining and educative manner. So far no equipoent In known to the applicants which enables this to he achieved. This is disadvantageous.

it in an object of the present Invention to provide a display means which will go at least some way to overcoming the foregoing disadvantage or which will at least provide the public with a useful choice.

Accordingly In one aspect the invention consists In display means comprising a stage, a camera mounted to view objects on weld stage. control means to allow some variation In relative position between maid stage and said camera, a progrwmod processing unit to cause said control means to operate, operating means to cause maid processing unit to Instruct maid control means, said operating means being positioned at a remote station, and display device at or adjacent maid remote station to display material received by said camera.

In a further aspect the Invention consists in display means comprising a camera. mounting means to mount the camera, first control means to move aid camera along a first axis, a stage, second control means to move said stage about an area said first axia.bsing substantially normal to said area, a display device to display Images viewed by said camera, operating means operable by user to operate said control meaner and-& programmed processing unit to receive Instructions from said operating means and to send corresponding instructions to said firet and second control means, maid camera being positioned to view objects on or associated with eald stage.

4 is - 2 m To those skilled in the art to which this invention relates, many changes in construction and widely differing embodiments and applications of the invention will suggest themselves without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. This disclosures and the descriptions herein are purely illustrative and it is not our intention to limit the scope of the invention by those disclosures and descriptions, or otherwise, than by the terms of the appended claims.

The invention consists in the foregoing and also envisages constructions of which the following gives examples.

one preferred form of the inventiont as applied to an overhead mobile assembly for press fabrication, will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in whichs Figure 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view of one form of stage and second control means forming part of a display means according to one preferred form of the invention, Figure 2 is a diagrammatic perspective view of part of the stage and control means in figure 1, Figure 3 is front elevation of dispaly means of a more developed nature, Figure 4 is a side elevation of the construction of figure 3j Figure 5 is a plan view of an "x table" for use in the construction of figure 3, Figure 6 is a side elevation of the construction of figure 51 Figure 7 is a plan view of a "y table" for use in the construction of figure 3t Figure 8 in a side elevations of figure 7y Figure 9 is a plan view of a turntable for use in the construction of figure 3, Figure 10 in a side elevation of the construction of figure 91 k is 4 Figure It& and lib are a flow-chart of programme material for use in operating a display means according to the preferred form of the Invention shown In figure 3f Figure 1 is a schematic diagram showing a display means according to one preferred form of the invention, and Figure 1 In a diagrammatic view of a inicro-unit according to one preferred form of the Invention.

in Its preferred form the Invention presents at a remote position a television picture of an object under a microscope. The viewer Is able to. ramotely control the position of the objecti the magnification and focus. for example# by operating a joystick and switches. Additionally the operator may choose from a number of object and also Items of Interest on or within an object available.

The control at which the operator sits in remote from the microscope unit and contains the aforementioned controls, a video display, a monitor which displays text relating to the specimen or object In view and a keyboard. The whole system It controlled by a preprogrammed processing unit, I the system Is computer controlled.

A basic outline of a microscope unit useable in the Invention In shown In figure 1. it consists of a control means able to move a stage 1 about an are&, for example an x-y table 2 which supports the stage 1 on which the objects to be viewed are placed. Rising from the table 2 Is a vertical post 3 onto which a microscope 4 is attached by means of a bracket 5. A television camera 6 Is mounted on the microscope# via an adpator (not shown), In place of the normal microscope eyepieces.

The construction of one axle of the x-y table Is shown In figure 2. It consists of a plate 7 upon which Is mounted two line or guides 9 and 9 and bearings 10 and 11. the bearing 10 being a thrust bearing. Between these in a ball screw 12.

is 2n.ipv 1 One end 13 of the ball screw 12 is supported in.the thrust bearing 10 and 11 on the line or guides 8 and 9 are attached to either the stage 1 or the next section 7 of the x-y table 2. The guides 8 and 9 and ball screw 12 are substantially parallel. When the stepping motor 14 turnst the ball screw 12 rotates driving the nut 15 and its attachments in the direction of the axis of ball screw 12. Thus the position in the direction of the axis can be accurately controlled. Limit switches (not shown) are attached such that they are thrown when the travel reaches pre-set limits.

The x-y table consists of two such tables 7 mounted one on top of the other. The upper table 7 supports the stage I on which the objects to be viewed lie.

A vertical ballspline and a vertical ball screw (not shown) are attached to one end of the lower part 7 of the x-y table 2. The microscope 4 is attached to a bracket which runs on the ball spline and in secured to a nut running on the ball screw. A stepping motor (not shown) is coupled to the end of the ball screw so that when the motor rotates it driven the nut, and hence the microscope 4, vertically up or down. By this means the focus can be adjusted. The length of ball spline and ball screw are sufficient to accommodate lenses with a range of focal lengths.

A further stepping motor (not shown) in mounted on the bracket 5 and is coupled to the magnification adjustment device on the microscope 4 enabling the magnification which is continuously adjustablet to be varied. Limit switches are present once again so that the range of movement of the focus and zoom can be controlled.

The stage 1 in firmly attached to the topmost ball screw 12 of the x-y table 2 and consists of a plate which in desireably transparent and can be made, for exmaple, of PERSPEX.

The objects to be viewed are placed on the stage 1. The objects are placed at known fixed locations on the c is atage 1 and hence their positions wIth respect to the x-y table are accurately known once the stage itself In fixed with respect to the uppermost table 7. The objects may comprise a number of objects of interest represented perhaps a theme or having acme nexue.

The stage 1 is lit from either above# below or both depending on the object In view. Which lights are on and their Intensity are switched using solid state relays driven by the computer an will are described further herein. The Intensity of the light necessary may depend on the magnification and additional lighting in switched on using solid state relays when necessary.

The operator alto at a console on which Is mounted the controls for the microscope unito colour television display 20 and a text display 21. A computer keyboard 22 and an Information panel 23 containing the names and pictures of the object to be seen Is also provided at the console.

The operator can communicate with the processing unito such an computer 241 controlling the system via a joystick# focus.# and zoom switches provided on user control unit 25 and the computer keyboard 22. The joystick consists of 4 switches (letti right, up and down) which connected to a 5v power supply,, provide TTL Inputs (high-off# low-on) that the computer read# through a parallel interface. ?our further TTL inputs come from the zoom (in# out) and focus (up, down) switches such as rocker switches.

A full keyboard 22 In provided. By pressing the appropriate keys the operator can select the language In which the text is written, can elect which slide from those available In shown and can select which page of textual Information is displayed on the text croon 21. A further key gives full Instructions on the use of the system and other Information.

The colour display 20 shows the magnified view of the object under the taicroscope and the text screen displays 21 Information about it. Part of the text screen 21 may list the names of the objects available and highlight the name is 1 of the correct object as well an listing the names of the pages of Information available on the correctly viewed object while highlighting the name of the page correctly being shown. Also shown for example are the current magnification# the group name of the object on the stage and an indication of how to get Instructions. The remainder of the screen 21 may show a page of Information. Desireably there are several. such an four, languages available. In each of these there In an Introductory page of Information about the group of object In general and four pages on each of the eight slides.

A pre-recorded audio player 26 can he caused to operate at a suitable time If desired.

About the displays are drawings or pictures of the object available. The object currently In view in backlit so that It clearly stands out.

in a further embodiment as shown in figures 3 to 1X a more developed constructions Is shown. In this version a stand 100 In provided with a base or foot 101 from which extends a back plate 102 with side arms 103 and 104. The x and y tables are mounted on the base 101. Thus for example the x table 105 may have a guide 106 which in connectable to a part 107 of the bane plate 102. A further plate 110 moves along the guidt 106 having side arms 111 which extend downward each side of the guide 106. Also mounted on the part 107 are a stepping motor 112 and gearbox 113 which operate to rotate a screw 114 which passes into a threaded aperture at 115 in further plate 110. Operation of the stopping motor.112 therefore causes the further plate 110 to move towards or away from the gearbox 113. The y table in mounted on the further plate 110 and comprises a guide 120 on which moves a table 121 having a threaded aperture at 122 Into which passes a screw 123 driven from gearbox 124 which in turn I& driven by stopping motor 125. Operation of stepping motor 125 therefore causes the table 121 to move towards or away from gearbox 124. The x table Is desireably provided with a stop 130 and limit switches -7m 1 is 131 and 132 while the y table is provided with stop 135 and limit switches 136 and 137.

The x and y table provide fine adjustment during viewing but in this embodiment coarse adjustment is provided by a turntable which comprises a base 140 mounted on further table 121. Mounted on or in the base 140 is a motor 141 which driven a turntable 142. To achieve a suitable reduction in speed of rotation the drive is stepped down and this may be achieved for example by a series of cogs and belts. Thus the described embodiment shows a cog pulley or gear 150 driving a larger cog pulley or gear 151 through belt 152. Gear 151 rotates a smaller gear 153 which again drives a larger gear 154 through belt 155. Again gear 154 rotates a smaller gear 156 which rotates larger gear 157 through belt 158. Turntable 142 is mounted on the gear 157. Specimens may be mounted on the turntable at known locations and software control provided to cause the correct rotation to occur according to user command. A screw 160 is mounted on the back member 102 and in rotatable by motor 161 driving through a gearbox 162. A member 163 having a threaded aperture moves on the screw 160. Rotation of member 163 can be prevented by providing a track or guide 164 on the back member 102 and proving a channel or arms 166 to fit over the track or guide 164. Mounted on member 163 in the microscope 4 and mounted on the microscope 4 is a camera 6 operable to provide images of the specimen on turntable 142. A stop 167 is provided. Lamps 170 and 171 are provided to illuminate the specimens on turntable 142. The microscope for example, a stereo zoom microscope such as a Zeiss SV8 is fitted with changeable and/or controllable lens, operable from the exterior. A further stepping motor 180 operates the zoom control through gearbox 161.

The control system which is described with reference to the second embodiment utilisesj, for exampler a personal computer 200 with a single floppy disc drive. The computer 200 runs the software to drive the stepping motors, to display the text and to read the controls 201 and keyboard is 202. Communications are made through a 24 bit 110 parallel Interface 208 me shown in figure 1.

input to the computer 200 can be made through both the keyboard 202 and controls 2041 205, 206. Input$ consist of three bytes. one of which Is not used. The control byte indicates which of the focus 204 rotation 205 and zoom 206 switches and x and y directions switches on the joystick 207 are on and off.

The outputs from computer 200 are sent down an RS-232 line 208 In ASCII form to a main board 209. Status and error massages can be returned along the RS-232 line 208.

The stopping motors for x movemente y movement. rotation, zoom and focus are controlled by individual control boards 210, 2110 212# 213, 214 each carrying a micro-computer. The stopping motors are each able to operate In a racing or high speed mode and a viewing mode for slow movement during viewing.

The driving circuitry Is based on a standard stopping motor driver and In chopper controlled to maintain a constant current in the coils of the motor. Thin improves the high speed performance. The stepping motors have 200 stops per revolution and may be half-stepped to Improve the resolution when under higher vRagnification.

The instructions to each Individual control board 210 to 214 In provided by the main board 209 and communication Is provided by a multi-drop aerial line 215. Movement commands specify the ramp distance (19 number of steps to accelerate over)f the target stop period (inverse of velocity). and the position to go in number of stops from the zero position. The motor controller boards 210 to 214 then determine and execute the necessary-movements.

The main board 209 can also switch the auxiliary switches 216# 217f le on" or "off" to activate and deactivate auxiliary devices such as heaters.

The lights are also controlled from the main board 209. The lighting can be turned off if the console control have not been touched for a specified period of A timef this ús controlled by the computer zoom. Thic helps to extend the working life of the objects on the stage. The stage lights can additionally be switched so that the level of lighting and whether the lighting is transmitted, reflected or polarized can be controlled.

The software consists of a number of programs for the control and Initialization of the unit and the mangagement ofthe system and Item, object and stage databases. These programs are deacribed below.

Before the unit can be used It must be calibrated. The focus# zoom, x and y axes and rotation (r) are calibrated by stopping the motors until in the case of the xp y and r movements a magnetic censor Is sensed, in the case of focus (or z) a limit switches In thrown and In the case of zoom a reference point Is found. The reference point is known In each case as an off act from the zero position. The position of each variable Is therefore accurately known.

When powered on, the computer first runs an initialisation program to not up the unit. Firstly the disc directory In read and checked to make sure all the requisite files are present.

Calibration Is then rune the focus# zoom, x and y axes and rotation are each stepped until a limit switch is thrown. The position In then calculated on its natural units such as linear measurements and magnifications and angles. After this calibration the first object is moved Into view. The zoom in not to minimum magnification and the focus adjusted so that the top of the stage In In focus. The minimum magnification value depends on the 3Q Initialisation value depending on the lens In use. The system is now Initialised and the control program run.

The flow diagram for the unit control program is shown In figures lia.'and-l;b. On entry the text language and object number areast to default valueis. The x, y# rotation, zoom and focus positions are then adjusted so that the default object In In view. The stage lighting In then switched on using the required commend. The actual is 6 q form of lighting most suitable for each object (e.g. transmitted, reflected, poloricedr etc) can vary from one object to the next. A page of Information relevant to object In view Is presented.

The xaain control loop Indicated at "all in figure lice which to entered next# executes continuously until a key is pressed or control Is operated. First the joystick and rotation# focus and zoom switches are read to determine the requested movement directions. The relevant commands are then sent to the main board. Any requented movoment outside the intended range Is disabled. The software also disable& any movement outside a prodetermined operating area surrounding each object. The next stage In to drive the topping motors.

Inside the control loop a further counter determines how much time has elapsed since the Joystickt a switch or the keyboard was last pressed. If this time is greater then a certain value the unit goon to sleep - the stage lights are switched off and a message shown on the screen. This extends the working life of the objects on the stage by reducing fading etc.

The operator can interrupt the main control loop at any time by pressing a key on the keyboard. By pressing the appropriate key tho operator can do the followings- 1) "t Instructions or help on the use of the controls and keyboard Change the language In which text Is written Change which object Is In view Request a new page of Information on the object currently in view "Start again, from the beginning Choose Items of particular Interest in the object In view Any other action has no effect.

Requesting Instructions or a change In language results In the Instruction page being displayed until any other key is pressed. The main control loop then executes again.

3) 4) 5) 6) 1 is if a new object or Item within an object Is selected the x-y and rotation table is driven so that the new object In beneath the microscope, the focus In adjusted for the new object's height and the appropriate magnification selected. Lighting Is adjusted as necessary. The name of the object in the Index in highlighted and the identifying picture of the object above the console In backlit. The Instructions are then displayed. Finally If a new page of Information Is requested the new page In displayed on the screen and the name of the page in the index of pages available Is highlighted.

The control program executes continuously.

In the event of a power lows or If the unit in react by the technical support staff the software automatically re-initialisee the unit and reruns the control program.

The information (text and numeric) on each stage, each object and each Item is stored elsewhere on another computer. The system management program allows objectaf items and stages to be editede added or deleted from the database. In addition it manages the library of objects, item on objects, and stages, recording which objects or Items are currently on which stagenj and which stages are on which microscope units.

When a stage is withdrawn from the library to be used on a microscope unit the system manger copies tho'nocessary data and program files on to a floppy disc. The data files consists of the unit Identification numberi stage text and object text and Information text files. The program files consist of the Initialisation and control programs and a system file to automatically run the other program.

A macro unit can be provided and if provided the Macro Unit way consist of an x-y table 300 similar to that used on the microscope units. Here however the table Is supported on brackets so that It can be hold horizontally (looking either up or down). vertically or at an angle. Instead of the microscope attachment a video camera 301 le mounted on the movable platform on the top table. The is 4 mounting for the camera permits finer adjustment of its direction. The zoom and focus are motor driven and are Internal to the camera. The x and y positions are controlled by joystick 302 and the zoom and focus by witches 303. 304. The camera can be moved to examine In detail a single object 305f the magnification being much loss than for the microscope unit and the &I% of the object being substantially larger. Display is onto a screen 306 remote from the object 305.

The control software Is Identical to that used for the microscope unit except in the following respects. Firstly the zoom and focus are driven directly by the d.c. motor drives In the camera and not by the computer. Secondly since there Is only one object in view Instead of being able to select from a number of objects the operator can select from a number of positions of special interest on the single object available. Thirdly since the magnification Is smaller and the range of travel larger the Initial values for the counters are smaller.

Thus It can be seen that a display means Is provided which at least In the preferred form of the invention allow elected displays particularly displays of a microscopic nature or If desired a macroscopic nature to be displayed in a way In which a substantial amount of Information can be presented in an interesting informative and entertaining manner. This of course is desirable.

W f is -30

Claims (8)

1. CLAIMS a 1. Display means comprising a stage, a camera mounted to view

   objects on said stage, control means to allow come variation In relative position between said stage and said camera, a programmed processing unit to cause said control means to operate# operating means to cause said processing unit to instruct maid control means, maid operating means being positioned at a remote station, and display device at or adjacent said remote station to display material received by said camera.
2. 2. Display means comprising a camera, mounting means to mount the camera# first control means to move said camera along a first axle# a stage. second control means to move maid stage about an area. said first axis being substantially normal to said &rear a display device to display Images viewed by said camera# operating means operable by user to operate said control means, and a programmed processing unit to receive Instructions from said operating meane and to send corresponding instructions to said first and second control means. cald camera being positioned to view objects on or associated with said stage.
3. 3. A display means an claimed in claim 2 wherein said camera In associated with a microscope so that said camera views said objects through maid microscope.
4. 4. A display means as claimed in wither claim 2 or claim 3 wherein maid second control means moves said stage about second and third axes, maid first second and third axes being mutually at right angles.
5. 5. A display means as claimed.ln claim 4 wherein said stage is rotationally mounted on maid above maid area.
6. 6. A display means an claimed in any one of claim 2 to 5 wherein a second display device In provided to display pre-recorded images when Instructed so to do by maid processing unit.

   lp. 14 -
7. 7. A display means as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 6 wherein an audio playing device is provided to play pro-recorded bounds when Inetruotod"ao to do by said processing unit."
8. 8. A display means substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

   z 1 Published 1988 at The Patent OMce, State House, 66/71 High Holborn, London WCIR 4TP. Further copies may be obtained from The Patent Oface, Sales Branch, St Mary Cray, Orpington, Kent BR5 3RD. Printed by Multiplex techn1clues ltd, St Mary Cray, Kent Con. 1/87.