JP2005250151A - Microscope apparatus, light control method and light control program for the microscope apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To perform light control suitable for observation without user's further operation by improving operability for observation. <P>SOLUTION: The microscope apparatus is provided with; an LED illuminating unit 2 for a subject 9, which includes an LED 3 as a light source; a microscope control part 17 which controls light by altering the pulse width of power supplied to the LED 3; a light control volume 19 through which an instruction to control the light of LED 3 is inputted; and an optical path detecting part 16 which detects an optical path for observing as the state of the microscope apparatus. The microscope control part 17 controls light based upon the light control instruction inputted through the light control volume 19 and the observation path detected by the optical path detecting part 16. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a microscope apparatus capable of switching various observation states.

2. Description of the Related Art Microscope apparatuses that perform magnified observation of a fine subject are widely used in research in biological fields and inspection processes in various industrial fields.
This type of microscope device is configured to change the observation state by changing the magnification and type of the objective lens. There are various observation states of the microscope apparatus, and well-known ones include various spectroscopic methods such as bright field, dark field, and fluorescence. These spectroscopic methods depend on the type and characteristics of the subject. Switched and used.

  In order to switch the observation state and the observation magnification, an instruction is usually given by a user pressing a specific switch or the like from an input device having a hand switch or the like. In order to efficiently meet these diverse requirements, the revolver, cup cassette, filter turret, optical path switching unit, etc., which are the drive mechanisms of the optical members of the microscope device, can be mounted on the microscope device and automated by componentization. Is progressing. And so-called system microscopes that can incorporate a component selected according to the application into a microscope apparatus and obtain a microscope apparatus with the necessary number of observation state switching stages and the number of objective lenses are becoming mainstream.

  By the way, when the observation state is different as described above, the amount of illumination light required for each observation state is also different. For example, the amount of light required for bright-field observation and dark-field observation is different, and the amount of light originally required differs depending on visual observation and observation with an image sensor such as a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) camera. Yes.

  In addition, there is a method of dimming control by selecting an optimum dimming filter combination from the parameter table of optical magnification and light quantity ratio and IN / OUT the dimming filter, but there is a mechanism for driving the filter itself and the filter. In addition, an electric control mechanism is necessary, and there is a disadvantage that the apparatus becomes larger and the cost becomes higher. Further, from the viewpoint of low power consumption, the amount of light is reduced by a filter, so that the amount of illumination light is always used at the maximum amount during use, resulting in a problem that power consumption increases.

Therefore, in recent years, as an alternative to these light sources, for example, a fluorescent observation device disclosed in Patent Document 1 or Patent Document 2 that uses an LED (Light Emitting Diode) as a light source has been devised. The LED consumes much less power than a halogen lamp or a mercury lamp.
JP 2002-350732 A JP 2002-131648 A

  However, even in the conventional technique using an LED as a light source, there is no disclosure of a technique for automatically adjusting the light amount required depending on the observation state. Therefore, for example, in fluorescence observation, when switching from visual observation to observation with an image sensor such as a CCD camera, the amount of light required for visual observation remains the same even though the amount of illumination light may be small, The problem of causing extra damage to the subject occurs.

  In view of the above circumstances, the present invention aims to improve operability at the time of observation, and allows a user to perform dimming suitable for an observation state without being operated again, a dimming method thereof, and dimming thereof The purpose is to provide a program.

  In order to achieve the above object, a microscope apparatus according to a first aspect of the present invention includes an illumination unit for a subject using an LED as a light source, and a dimming unit that performs dimming by changing an energization pulse width of the LED. A dimming instruction means for inputting a dimming instruction for the LED, and a microscope state detecting means for detecting the state of the microscope apparatus, wherein the dimming means is input by the dimming instruction means. The light control is performed based on a light control instruction and the state of the microscope apparatus detected by the microscope state detection means.

According to this configuration, dimming is performed by the dimming unit based on the dimming instruction input by the dimming instruction unit and the state of the microscope apparatus detected by the microscope state detection unit.
The microscope apparatus according to a second aspect of the present invention is configured such that, in the first aspect, the microscope state detection means detects an observation optical path as the state of the microscope apparatus.

According to this configuration, the observation optical path is detected as the state of the microscope apparatus by the microscope state detection unit.
The microscope apparatus according to a third aspect of the present invention is configured such that, in the first aspect, the microscope state detection means detects a speculum method as the state of the microscope apparatus.

According to this configuration, the microscopy method is detected as the state of the microscope apparatus by the microscope state detection means.
The microscope apparatus according to a fourth aspect of the present invention is configured such that, in the first aspect, the microscope state detection means detects an observation magnification as a state of the microscope apparatus.

According to this configuration, the observation magnification is detected as the state of the microscope apparatus by the microscope state detection means.
Further, the present invention is not limited to the above-described microscope apparatus, and can be configured as a light control method and a light control program thereof.

  According to the present invention, in a microscope apparatus using an LED as a light source, light adjustment suitable for an observation state is performed without the user having to operate again, so that operability during observation can be improved, It is possible to reduce the burden on the user.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1A is a diagram showing the overall configuration of the microscope apparatus according to this embodiment, and FIG. 1B is a functional block diagram thereof. Note that the microscope used in this example is an inverted microscope, which is adapted to a fluorescence observation microscope.
In FIGS. 2A and 2B, the LED illumination unit 2 attached to the inverted microscope 1 condenses the light of the LED 3 with the collector lens 4, and passes through the excitation filter 5, the dichroic mirror 6, and the objective lens 7. Thus, the subject 9 fixed on the stage 8 is illuminated.

  Fluorescence emitted from the subject 9 when illuminated by the LED 3 passes through the dichroic mirror 6 and the absorption filter 10, and is reflected by the reflection mirror 12 by the optical path switching unit 11 and picked up by the eyepiece 13 or the CCD camera unit 14. It is configured to be guided to the element 15.

  The optical path selected by the optical path switching unit 11 can be detected by the optical path detection unit 16 built in the optical path switching unit 11 and is selected by the dimming control unit 18 of the microscope control unit 17. It has a function to transmit the optical path information. The optical path detection unit 16 is also a microscope state detection unit and detects an observation optical path as the state of the microscope apparatus.

The dimming volume 19 is disposed on the hand switch 20 and is a main volume switch for the user to dimm the LED 3, and has a variable resistance structure in which the resistance value changes according to the rotation angle of the volume. .
The dimming ratio recording unit 21 records the dimming ratio G1 with respect to the amount of light at the time of visual observation during observation by the CCD camera unit 14. That is, when the light control ratio G1 = 1 at the time of visual observation and the light control ratio G1 at the time of observation by the CCD camera unit 14 are set to 1/4, the light quantity at the time of visual observation is set to 1, the CCD camera unit 14 The amount of light during observation is set to 1/4.

The recording switch 22 is a switch for the user to instruct the current subject image recording, and is connected to the dimming control unit 18.
The dimming control unit 18 has a CPU (not shown) and a program memory 18b in which a control program 18a is stored, and the CPU reads out and executes the control program 18a stored in the program memory 18b. It controls the overall operation of the apparatus including light control. For example, the light amount of the LED 3 and the sensitivity adjustment unit 23 of the CCD camera unit 14 are controlled based on information from the light control volume 19, the recording switch 22, and the optical path detection unit 16. The light quantity of the LED 3 is set by the light quantity set value p, and is in a range of 256 steps from 0 to 255.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the LED drive pulse generator 24 synchronizes the energization pulse width t of the current supplied to the LED 3 in synchronization with the drive cycle T in accordance with the light amount setting value p of the dimming control unit 18. It is a variable. In the figure, the energization pulse width t is set to T / 8, T / 4, T / 2, and T, respectively.

In this embodiment, t = Txp / 255, and the minimum pulse width to the maximum pulse as shown in FIG. 3 according to the light amount setting value p from 0 to 255 input from the dimming control unit 18. The continuous lighting that is the width is performed.
The CCD camera unit 14 converts the subject image projected by the image sensor 15 into a video signal, and the converted video signal is amplified by the sensitivity adjustment unit 23.

The amplified video signal is output to the monitor (image display unit) 26 and the image recording device (image storage unit) 27 through the display processing unit 25.
Next, the operation of the microscope apparatus according to this embodiment will be described.
Here, an example will be described in which the dimming ratio G1 = 1/4 is recorded in the dimming ratio recording unit 21 with respect to the amount of light during visual observation during observation by the CCD camera unit 14.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation.
It is assumed that the gain of the CCD camera unit 14 is 1 at the start of this operation.
First, in S1, when the user rotates the dimming volume 19 for dimming, the resistance value of the dimming volume 19 changes according to the rotation angle. The resistance value is read as a value from 0 to 255. For example, if the position of the rotation angle of the light control volume 19 is a half of the maximum angle, p0 = 128 is read as the light control value p0.

  Subsequently, in S2, the currently selected observation optical path is detected by the optical path detection unit 16, and whether or not the currently selected observation optical path is a CCD camera observation optical path based on the detection result information. When the determination result is Y (Yes), the process proceeds to S5, and when it is N (No), the process proceeds to S3.

When the determination result of S2 is N, that is, when the currently selected observation optical path is not a CCD camera observation optical path (when it is a visual observation optical path), in subsequent S3, G1 = 1 is set as the dimming ratio G1. .
In subsequent S4, p = p0 × G1 is output to the LED drive pulse generator 24 as the light amount set value p, and the LED drive pulse generator 24 sets the energization pulse width t according to the value of the light amount set value p. Variable in synchronization with the driving cycle T. That is, the energization pulse width of the LED is set.

  For example, assuming that the dimming value p0 read in S1 is 128, p = 128 × 1 is output to the LED drive pulse generator 24 as the light amount setting value p, and the light amount setting value p = 128 is set according to the value. Thus, the energization pulse width t becomes T / 2 (t = T / 2). In this case, dimming is performed so that the amount of light is about ½ of the maximum amount of light that is in the continuous energization state. That is, the illumination light from the LED 3 is collected by the collector lens 4 and then irradiated to the subject 9 fixed on the stage 8 with a light amount of about ½ of the Max light amount. Then, the fluorescence emitted by the subject 9 is guided to the visual observation optical path by the optical path selection unit 11.

In this way, in the observation through the visual observation optical path, the light control is performed with the light amount set by the light control volume 19.
Then, when the process of S4 ends, the process returns to S1.
On the other hand, if the determination result in S2 is Y, that is, if the currently selected observation optical path is a CCD observation optical path, it is further determined in S5 that it is further detected that the recording switch 22 has been pressed. If the determination result is Y (Yes), the process proceeds to S10, and if N (No), the process proceeds to S6.

  When the determination result of S5 is N, that is, when pressing of the recording switch 22 is not detected, in subsequent S6, visual observation at the time of observation by the CCD camera unit 14 recorded in the dimming ratio recording unit 21 is performed. The light control ratio G1 with respect to the amount of light at the time is read out. That is, the dimming ratio G1 = 1/4 is read out.

In subsequent S7, the read dimming ratio is set. That is, the dimming ratio G1 = 1/4 is set.
In subsequent S8, p = p0 × G1 is output to the LED drive pulse generator 24 as the light quantity set value p, and the LED drive pulse generator 24 sets the energization pulse width t according to the value of the light quantity set value p. Variable in synchronization with the driving cycle T. That is, the energization pulse width of the LED is set.

  For example, if the dimming value p0 read in S1 is 128, p = 128 × 1/4 is output to the LED drive pulse generator 24 as the light amount setting value p, and the light amount setting value p = 32 Accordingly, the energization pulse width t becomes T / 8 (t = T / 8). In this case, dimming is performed so that the amount of light is about 1/8 of the Max amount of light that is in a continuous energization state. That is, the illumination light from the LED 3 is collected by the collector lens 4 and then irradiated to the subject 9 fixed on the stage 8 with a light quantity of about 1/8 of the Max light quantity. Then, the fluorescence emitted from the subject 9 is guided to the observation optical path to the CCD observation unit 14 by the optical path selection unit 11. The subject image projected on the image sensor 15 of the CCD camera unit 14 is photoelectrically converted and then output to the sensitivity adjustment unit 23 as a video signal.

Here, since the light amount of the video signal output to the sensitivity adjustment unit 23 is ¼ times the dimming value by the dimming volume 19, as shown by the solid line in FIG. It is 1/4 times the dotted line in the figure.
Therefore, in S9 following S8, the sensitivity setting value of the sensitivity adjustment unit 23 is set to 1 / G1. As a result, the video signal input to the sensitivity adjustment unit 23 is amplified with an amplification factor of 1 / G1. Here, since G1 = 1/4, fourfold amplification is performed. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 6 (or the dotted line in FIG. 5), the signal level is equal to the signal level based on the light amount at the original dimming value.

Then, when the process of S9 ends, the process returns to S1.
On the other hand, when the determination result in S5 is Y, that is, when pressing of the recording switch 22 is detected, in the subsequent S10, the dimming control unit 18 sets G1 = 1 as the dimming ratio G1.
In subsequent S11, p = p0 × G1 is output to the LED drive pulse generator 24 as the light quantity set value p, and the LED drive pulse generator 24 sets the energization pulse width t according to the value of the light quantity set value p. Variable in synchronization with the driving cycle T. That is, the energization pulse width of the LED is set.

  For example, assuming that the dimming value p0 read in S1 is 128, p = 128 × 1 is output to the LED drive pulse generator 24 as the light amount setting value p, and the light amount setting value p = 128 is set according to the value. Thus, the energization pulse width t becomes T / 2 (t = T / 2). In this case, dimming is performed so that the amount of light is about ½ of the maximum amount of light that is in the continuous energization state.

  In subsequent S12, the dimming control unit 17 sets the sensitivity setting value of the sensitivity adjustment unit 23 to 1 / G1 = 1. In this way, even if the dimming ratio G1 is set to 1/4, the dimming ratio G1 is changed to 1 in S10, so the sensitivity setting value of the sensitivity adjustment unit 23 is changed from 4 to 1. That is, the sensitivity of the sensitivity adjustment unit 23 is changed from 4 times to 1 time. Accordingly, in this case, as indicated by the solid line in FIG. 7, the signal level is the original dimming value, and the signal level is output to the monitor 26 and the image recording device 27 as the subject video image shown in FIG. Then, the subject image is recorded by the image recording device 27 based on an instruction from the dimming control unit 18.

As described above, when image recording is performed, the amount of light according to the instruction value of the light control volume 7 is used, so that an image with less noise is recorded.
When S13 (image recording) is completed, the process proceeds to S6. As described above, the light adjustment control unit 18 again sets the light amount of the LED 3 to 1/4 times the indicated value by the light adjustment volume 19, and the sensitivity adjustment unit. The process of S6 thru | or S9, such as a value of sensitivity 4 times being set to 23, is performed, and a process returns to S1.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, when the observation optical path detection unit 16 is provided, when switching from visual observation to observation by the CCD camera unit 14 that does not require a light amount from visual observation, the user operates again. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the amount of light necessary for the CCD camera unit 14. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the excitation light more than necessary from being applied to the fluorescent specimen as the subject, and it is possible to prevent the subject from fading. It is also possible to suppress power consumption by the LED.

  In this embodiment, the switchable observation state is the visual observation state, the observation state by the CCD camera unit, and the image recording state by the CCD camera unit. Of course, the present invention is not limited to this, and a plurality of observation states can be set.

  In this embodiment, the dimming ratio G1 with respect to the amount of light at the time of visual observation at the time of observation by the CCD camera unit 14 is set to one of G1 = 1/4, but can be selected from a plurality. Of course it is also good.

FIG. 9A is a diagram showing an overall configuration of the microscope apparatus according to the present embodiment, and FIG. 9B is a functional block diagram thereof. In the present embodiment, the same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted.
In FIGS. 3A and 3B, a dimming switch 31 is disposed on the hand switch 20 and is a switch for the user to dimm the LED 32. When the user presses 31a, the amount of light is reduced. Pressing increases the amount of light. The set value is displayed on the display panel 33.

  The dimming ratio recording unit 34 records the dimming ratio G2 with respect to the spectroscopic state. Here, the dimming ratio G2 for dark field observation when the bright field observation light amount is set to 1 is recorded. Is. That is, by setting G2 = 1 for bright field observation and G2 = 2 for dark field observation, when the light amount for bright field observation is set to 1, the light amount for dark field observation is set to double. .

  The microscope 35 includes an epi-illumination light source (LED illumination unit) 36 as an epi-illumination optical system, and an optical path switching unit (bright-field dark-field switching unit) 37 that switches between a bright field and a dark field. The optical path switching unit 37 is provided with a bright / dark field detection sensor 38 and has a function of transmitting selected spectroscopic information to the dimming control unit 18 built in the microscope control unit 17. The bright and dark field detection sensor 38 is also a microscope state detection means, and detects a speculum method as the state of the microscope apparatus.

Next, the operation of the microscope apparatus according to this embodiment will be described.
Here, an example will be described in which the dimming ratio G2 = 2 for dark field observation when the bright field observation light quantity is 1 is recorded in the dimming ratio recording unit 34.
FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the operation.

  This operation starts. First, in S21, when the user operates the dimming switch 31 (31a or 31b) for dimming, the dimming value p0 is set according to the operation. The dimming value p0 varies according to the operation of the dimming switch 31, and takes a value from 0 to 255. For example, if the dimming value is set to 1/4 of the maximum value, the dimming value p0 = 64.

  In subsequent S22, the currently selected spectroscopic method is detected by the bright / dark field detection sensor 38, and whether the currently selected spectroscopic method is dark field observation based on the spectroscopic information that is the detection result. If the determination result is Y (Yes), the process proceeds to S25, and if it is N (No), the process proceeds to S23.

If the determination result in S22 is Y, that is, if the spectroscopic method is bright field observation (not dark field observation), then in S23, G2 = 1 is set as the dimming ratio G2.
In subsequent S24, p = p0 × G2 is output to the LED drive pulse generator 24 as the light quantity set value p, and the LED drive pulse generator 24 sets the energization pulse width t according to the value of the light quantity set value p. Variable in synchronization with the driving cycle T. That is, the energization pulse width of the LED is set.

  For example, assuming that the dimming value p0 = 64 set in S21, p = 64 × 1 is output to the LED drive pulse generator 24 as the light amount setting value p, and the light amount setting value p = 64 is set according to the value. Thus, the energization pulse width t becomes T / 4 (t = T / 4). In this case, dimming is performed so that the light quantity is about ¼ of the Max light quantity in the continuous energization state.

Thus, in the observation by the bright field observation, the light control by the light amount set by the light control switch 31 is performed.
Then, when the process of S24 ends, the process returns to S21.
On the other hand, when the determination result in S22 is Y, that is, when the currently selected spectroscopic method is dark field observation, in the subsequent S25, the bright field observation light amount recorded in the light control ratio recording unit 34 is calculated. The dimming ratio for dark field observation when 1 is read out. That is, the dimming ratio G2 = 2 is read out.

In subsequent S26, the read dimming ratio G2 is set as the dimming ratio G2. That is, G2 = 2 is set as the dimming ratio G2.
In subsequent S27, p = p0 × G2 is output to the LED drive pulse generator 24 as the light quantity set value p, and the LED drive pulse generator 24 sets the energization pulse width t according to the value of the light quantity set value p. Variable in synchronization with the driving cycle T. That is, the energization pulse width of the LED is set.

  For example, if the dimming value p0 read in S21 is 64, p = 64 × 2 is output to the LED drive pulse generator 24 as the light amount setting value p, and the light amount setting value p = 128 is set according to the value. Thus, the energization pulse width t becomes T / 2 (t = T / 2). In this case, dimming is performed so that the amount of light is about ½ of the maximum amount of light that is in the continuous energization state. Therefore, the light amount is twice the light control value set by the light control switch 31.

Then, when the process of S27 ends, the process returns to S21.
Here, assuming that bright field observation is selected again, the determination result in S22 is N, G2 = 1 is set as the dimming ratio G2 in the subsequent S23, and p = p0 as the light quantity setting value p in the subsequent S24. XG2 is output to the LED drive pulse generator 24, and the energization pulse width of the LED is set.

For example, if the dimming value set in S21 is 64, p = 64 × 1 is output to the LED drive pulse generator 24 as the light amount setting value p.
In this way, by returning from dark field observation to bright field observation, dimming with the light amount set by the dimming switch 33 is performed.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, when the bright / dark field detection sensor 38 is provided, when switching between the bright field observation and the dark field observation that requires a larger amount of light than the bright field observation, the user renews. Since it is possible to adjust the amount of light suitable for the spectroscopic state without operation, the burden on the user can be reduced. In addition, when switching from dark field observation to bright field observation, it is possible to protect the user from glare caused by forgetting to drop the amount of light.

  In this embodiment, the two observation states that can be switched are bright field observation and dark field observation. Of course, however, this is limited to the point that the current pulse width of the LED is changed depending on the spectroscopic state. In addition, various spectroscopic methods such as phase difference observation and epi-illumination observation can be applied.

  In this embodiment, the dimming ratio G2 for dark field observation when the bright field observation light quantity is 1 is set to one of G2 = 2, but it may be selected from a plurality. Of course.

FIG. 11A is a diagram showing the overall configuration of the microscope apparatus according to the present embodiment, and FIG. 11B is a functional block diagram thereof. In the present embodiment, the same components as those in the first embodiment and the second embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is omitted.
4A and 4B, the light quantity ratio recording unit 41 records the light quantity ratio G3 of the LED 33 when the objective lens 7 is switched.

  Here, FIG. 12 shows a table in which the light amount ratio G3 of the LED 33 when the objective lens 7 is switched and recorded in the light amount ratio recording unit 41 is described. As shown in the figure, according to this table, the light amount ratio G3 of the LED 33 is determined according to the magnification of the objective lens before and after switching. For example, when the magnification of the objective lens is switched from 10 times to 20 times, G3 = 4 is determined as the light quantity ratio G3, and in this case, the light quantity is set to 4 times.

  The electric revolver 42 includes a plurality of objective lenses 21, and the objective lens magnification detection unit 43 has a function of transmitting the magnification of the objective lens 21 selected by the electric revolver 42 to the dimming control unit 18. ing. The objective lens magnification detection unit 43 is also a microscope state detection unit, and detects the observation magnification as the state of the microscope apparatus.

Next, the operation of the microscope apparatus according to this embodiment will be described.
In this embodiment, an example in which the magnification of the objective lens is switched from 10 times to 20 times in bright field observation will be described.
FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing the operation.

  This operation starts. First, in S31, when the user operates the dimming switch 31 (31a or 31b) for dimming, the dimming value p0 is set according to the operation. The dimming value p0 varies according to the operation of the dimming switch 31, and takes a value from 0 to 255. For example, if the light control value is set to 1/8 of the maximum value, the light control value p0 = 32.

  In subsequent S32, the objective lens magnification detection unit 43 detects the magnification of the currently selected objective lens, and based on the detection result, it is determined whether the objective lens has been changed, and the determination result is Y ( If Yes, the process proceeds to S35, and if N (No), the process proceeds to S33.

If the determination result in S32 is N, that is, if the objective lens has not been changed, then in S33, G3 = 1 is set as the dimming ratio G3.
In subsequent S34, p = p0 × G3 is output to the LED drive pulse generator 24 as the light quantity set value p, and the LED drive pulse generator 24 sets the energization pulse width t according to the value of the light quantity set value p. Variable in synchronization with the driving cycle T. That is, the energization pulse width of the LED is set.

  For example, assuming that the dimming value p0 = 32 set in S31, p = 32 × 1 is output to the LED drive pulse generator 24 as the light amount setting value p, and the light amount setting value p = 32 is set according to the value. Thus, the energization pulse width t becomes T / 8 (t = T / 8). In this case, dimming is performed so that the amount of light is about 1/8 of the Max amount of light that is in a continuous energization state.

Then, when the process of S34 ends, the process returns to S31.
On the other hand, when the determination result in S32 is Y, that is, when the objective lens is changed, in the subsequent S35, the table (see FIG. 12) recorded in the dimming ratio recording unit 41 is referred to and the corresponding dimming is performed. The ratio is read out. In this example, since the magnification of the objective lens is switched from 10 times to 20 times, G3 = 4 is read as the dimming ratio G3.

In subsequent S36, the read value is set as the dimming ratio G3. That is, G3 = 4 is set as the dimming ratio G3.
In subsequent S37, p = p0 × G3 is output to the LED drive pulse generator 24 as the light quantity set value p, and the LED drive pulse generator 24 sets the energization pulse width t according to the value of the light quantity set value p. Variable in synchronization with the driving cycle T. That is, the energization pulse width of the LED is set.

  For example, if the dimming value p0 read in S31 is 32, p = 32 × 4 is output to the LED drive pulse generator 24 as the light amount setting value p, and the light amount setting value p = 128 is set according to the value. Thus, the energization pulse width t becomes T / 2 (t = T / 2). In this case, dimming is performed so that the amount of light is about ½ of the maximum amount of light that is in the continuous energization state. Therefore, the light amount is twice the light control value set by the light control switch 31.

Then, when the process of S37 ends, the process returns to S31.
As described above, according to this embodiment, when the objective lens magnification detection unit 43 is provided, when the objective lens is switched, the user can adjust the light amount necessary for the selected objective lens without performing another operation. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the burden on the user.

In the present embodiment, the case where the magnification of the objective lens is changed from 10 times to 20 times has been described. However, in view of changing the energization pulse width of the LED according to the observation magnification, it is not limited to this. It is also possible to adapt to changes in the magnification of a plurality of objective lenses.
In the present embodiment, the light amount ratio G3 of the LED 33 when the objective lens 7 is switched is set to one according to the magnification of the objective lens before and after the switching, but it can be selected from a plurality. Of course it is good.

In the first to third embodiments described above, the microscope apparatus has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to the microscope apparatus, and can be applied to various systems such as a line apparatus incorporating the microscope apparatus.
Although the present invention has been described in detail above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and it is needless to say that various improvements and changes may be made without departing from the gist of the present invention.

(Appendix 1)
An illumination means for a subject using an LED as a light source;
Dimming means for dimming by changing the energization pulse width of the LED;
A dimming instruction means for inputting a dimming instruction for the LED;
Microscope state detecting means for detecting the state of the microscope apparatus;
Have
The light control means performs the light control based on the light control instruction input by the light control instruction means and the state of the microscope apparatus detected by the microscope state detection means.
A microscope apparatus characterized by that.

(Appendix 2)
The microscope state detection means detects the observation optical path as the state of the microscope apparatus.
The microscope apparatus according to appendix 1, characterized in that.
(Appendix 3)
It further has a subject observation means using an image sensor,
The observation optical path is at least a visual observation optical path or an observation optical path by the imaging device,
The microscope apparatus according to Supplementary Note 2, wherein

(Appendix 4)
When the observation optical path is switched from the visual observation optical path to the observation optical path by the imaging device, and the observation optical path by the imaging device is detected by the microscope state detection unit, the dimming unit is configured to apply an energization pulse width of the LED. Is changed to a second energization pulse width shorter than the first energization pulse width according to the dimming instruction input by the dimming instruction means,
The microscope apparatus according to Supplementary Note 3, wherein

(Appendix 5)
Amplifying the output signal of the image sensor;
The microscope imaging apparatus according to appendix 4, wherein
(Appendix 6)
Recording instruction means for instructing recording of a subject image photographed by the image sensor;
Image recording means for recording a subject image photographed by the image sensor;
Further comprising
When the recording instruction is performed by the recording instruction unit after the LED energizing pulse width is changed to the second energizing pulse width, the dimming unit changes the LED energizing pulse width to the second energizing pulse width. Change to 1 energization pulse width,
The microscope apparatus according to appendix 4, characterized in that.

(Appendix 7)
After the subject image is recorded by the image recording unit, the dimming unit changes the energization pulse width of the LED to the second energization pulse width.
The microscope apparatus according to appendix 6, wherein

(Appendix 8)
Further, when the observation optical path is switched from the observation optical path by the image pickup device to the visual observation optical path, and the visual observation optical path is detected by the microscope state detection unit, the dimming unit has an energization pulse width of the LED. To the first energization pulse width,
The microscope apparatus according to appendix 4 or 7, characterized in that.

(Appendix 9)
The microscope state detection means detects a microscopic method as the state of the microscope apparatus,
The microscope apparatus according to appendix 1, characterized in that.
(Appendix 10)
The speculum method is at least bright field observation or dark field observation,
The microscope apparatus according to appendix 9, wherein

(Appendix 11)
When the microscopic method is switched from the bright field observation to the dark field observation, and the dark field observation is detected by the microscope state detection unit, the dimming unit adjusts the energization pulse width of the LED. Changing to a second energization pulse width longer than the first energization pulse width according to the dimming instruction input by the light instruction means;
Item 11. The microscope apparatus according to appendix 10, wherein

(Appendix 12)
Further, when the microscopic method is switched from the dark field observation to the bright field observation, and the bright field observation is detected by the microscope state detection means, the dimming means, the energization pulse width of the LED, Change to the first energization pulse width,
The microscope apparatus according to appendix 11, wherein:

(Appendix 13)
The microscope state detection means detects the observation magnification as the state of the microscope apparatus,
The microscope device according to Supplementary Note 1, wherein
(Appendix 14)
When the observation magnification is switched from a low magnification to a high magnification, and the high magnification is detected by the microscope state detection means, the dimming means inputs the energization pulse width of the LED by the dimming instruction means. Changing to a second energization pulse width longer than the first energization pulse width according to the dimming instruction,
14. A microscope device according to appendix 13, characterized in that.

(Appendix 15)
When the observation magnification is switched from a high magnification to a low magnification, and the low magnification is detected by the microscope state detection means, the dimming means receives the energization pulse width of the LED by the dimming instruction means. Changing to a second energization pulse width shorter than the first energization pulse width according to the dimming instruction,
14. A microscope device according to appendix 13, characterized in that.

(Appendix 16)
Enter the LED dimming instruction,
Detect the state of the microscope device,
Dimming is performed by changing the energization pulse width of the LED based on the input dimming instruction and the detected state of the microscope device.
A light control method for a microscope apparatus.

(Appendix 17)
On the computer,
A function for inputting LED dimming instructions;
A function of detecting the state of the microscope device;
A function of performing light control by changing the energization pulse width of the LED based on the input light control instruction and the detected state of the microscope device;
Light control program for microscope equipment to realize

(a) is a figure which shows the whole structure of the microscope apparatus based on Example 1, (b) is the functional block diagram. It is a figure which shows an example of the electricity supply pulse width of the electric current supplied to LED. It is a figure which shows the relationship between the energization pulse width of the electric current supplied to LED, and the light quantity of LED. FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the microscope apparatus according to the first embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of a signal level. It is a figure which shows an example of a signal level. It is a figure which shows an example of a signal level. It is a figure which shows an example of a signal level. (a) is a figure which shows the whole structure of the microscope apparatus based on Example 2, (b) is the functional block diagram. FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of a microscope apparatus according to a second embodiment. (a) is a figure which shows the whole structure of the microscope apparatus based on Example 3, (b) is the functional block diagram. It is a figure which shows the table in which the light quantity ratio G3 of LED when the objective lens 7 was switched was described. FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the microscope apparatus according to the third embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

1 Inverted microscope device 2 LED illumination unit 3 LED
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 4 Collector lens 5 Excitation filter 6 Dichroic mirror 7 Objective lens 8 Stage 9 Subject 10 Absorption filter 11 Optical path switching part 12 Reflection mirror 13 Eyepiece 14 CCD camera unit 15 Imaging element 16 Optical path detection part 17 Microscope control part 18 Light control part DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 19 Dimming volume 20 Hand switch 21 Dimming ratio recording part 22 Recording switch 23 Sensitivity adjustment part 24 LED drive pulse generator 25 Display processing part 26 Monitor (image display part)
27 Image recording device (image storage unit)
31 Dimming switch 32 LED
33 Display panel 34 Dimming recording section 35 Microscope device 36 Light source for epi-illumination (LED illumination unit)
37 Optical path switching unit (bright field / dark field switching unit)
38 Bright / Dark Field Detection Sensor 41 Light Ratio Recording Unit 42 Electric Revolver 43 Objective Lens Magnification Detection Unit

Claims (6)

An illumination means for a subject using an LED as a light source;
Dimming means for dimming by changing the energization pulse width of the LED;
A dimming instruction means for inputting a dimming instruction for the LED;
Microscope state detecting means for detecting the state of the microscope apparatus;
Have
The light control means performs the light control based on the light control instruction input by the light control instruction means and the state of the microscope apparatus detected by the microscope state detection means.
A microscope apparatus characterized by that. The microscope state detection means detects the observation optical path as the state of the microscope apparatus.
The microscope apparatus according to claim 1. The microscope state detection means detects a microscopic method as the state of the microscope apparatus,
The microscope apparatus according to claim 1. The microscope state detection means detects the observation magnification as the state of the microscope apparatus,
The microscopic device according to claim 1. Enter the LED dimming instruction,
Detect the state of the microscope device,
Dimming is performed by changing the energization pulse width of the LED based on the input dimming instruction and the detected state of the microscope device.
A light control method for a microscope apparatus. On the computer,
A function for inputting LED dimming instructions;
A function of detecting the state of the microscope device;
A function of performing light control by changing the energization pulse width of the LED based on the input light control instruction and the detected state of the microscope device;
Light control program for microscope equipment to realize

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