JP2006504126A - Operation unit for microscope - Google Patents

Abstract

【Task】
To provide an electric microscope and its operation unit with improved operation and handling.
[Solution]
The operating unit can provide at least one operating element, in particular an operating wheel (50, 51, 54), operating keys ( 52a to 52h) and / or an operation ball (63), which is a manually operated operation unit for a microscope, and a memory device linked with the microcontroller has a first memory area, and the first memory area Comprises a custom boot loader capable of loading software, in particular software defining the function of the at least one operating element, into another memory area of the memory device.

Description

  The present invention relates to an operation unit for a microscope described in the front part (superordinate concept) of claim 1. That is, the present invention provides at least one operation element, in particular an operation wheel, an operation key and / or an operation ball, which can provide a control command for operating or controlling a plurality of functional units of the microscope to the microcontroller of the operation unit. This relates to a manually operated operation unit for a microscope having

  An electric microscope having a system component or a functional unit that performs at least one electric driving function in a microscope body is already known. One example of a commercially available product is Applicant's “Leica DMLA” ™. This is a motorized microscope that can motorize important functions of the microscope, such as changing magnification, adjusting illumination or focus, and can be arbitrarily adjusted by microprocessor control. The motorized function can be controlled by a personal computer or a central electronic control unit. Furthermore, the microscope can be controlled by an operating device separated from the microscope body itself. This operating device includes a sensor capable of transmitting an analog signal to the electronic control device through a line. Since the operating device is spatially separated from the microscope, the latter can be freely arranged and can be adjusted, for example, to suit the individual configuration or assembly of the user. For example, the MZ16A microscope made by the applicant has CANbus and distributed (decentralized) intelligence. In other words, a microprocessor is incorporated into the functional unit and the operating unit, and specially selected software is loaded into the microprocessor that ensures the operation of the actor associated with the particular unit and the communication between the units.

  In order to change the software in these functional units, the microscope needs to enter the loading mode by manipulating jumpers, ie using hardware. At this time, new software is loaded through the serial interface and the jumper is reset. There is no way to tell if the loaded software belongs to a functional unit. Therefore, in order to change the software, it is necessary to open the device and there is a risk of damage to the device. If you load the wrong software, the microscope will not work properly, possibly doing a tedious investigation to look for defects. On the other hand, in the operating unit, the software is burned into the processor. Changing the software requires removing the processor, erasing data, and rewriting it.

  This kind of electric microscope can communicate with each other in a simple manner, each functional unit can communicate with each other in order to execute and adjust various microscope functions, It is also known to have a bus system.

  The individual functional units of this type of electric microscope generally have an aktor or command input unit and a microcontroller that is built or cooperates with the corresponding storage unit and in communication with the actor or command input unit. Have. Typically, software or firmware that controls a particular function is stored in this storage unit and is called by the microcontroller to control an actor associated with the microcontroller. In conventional systems, this software or firmware, except that the functional unit in question is painstakingly opened and the microcontroller is removed and rewritten, or at least the hardware is changed using jumper settings. Cannot be improved, for example, by updating.

  An object of the present invention is to provide an electric microscope having improved operation and handling as compared with conventional solutions.

  This object is achieved by an operating unit having the features of claim 1 and a microscope comprising such an operating unit. That is, in the operation unit of the present invention, the memory device that cooperates with the microcontroller has a first memory area, and the first memory area is software, in particular software that defines the function of the at least one operation element, Is provided with a custom boot loader that can be loaded into another memory area of the memory device (mode 1).

  The operation unit of the present invention includes a memory area for storing a microcontroller and bootstrap loader software or a custom boot loader.

  According to the present invention, the installation software can be easily downloaded to the microcontroller of the operation unit using the bootstrap loader software. This installation software makes it easy to carry out updates (only software-related) of the software or firmware of the operating unit microcontroller, whereby operating elements, in particular operating wheels, operating keys or operating balls, Set (Belegung) or define.

  The operating unit of the present invention communicates directly with other (motorized) functional units of the microscope by means of a bus system so that control commands transmitted to the operating elements can be executed in the micro-controller of the various functional units. In other words, the communication is performed particularly without the intervention of an intermediate signal processing unit. Since the operation unit of the present invention makes it particularly easy to incorporate or set a program with respect to the operation element (s), individual use of the operation unit by a plurality of users can be easily performed.

  Advantageous embodiments of the operating unit according to the invention are described in the dependent claims. According to a preferred form of the invention, the operating unit communicates with the functional unit of the microscope by means of a bus system, in particular a CAN bus system (form 2). According to the preferable form of this invention, an operation unit is comprised so that illumination is possible (form 3). According to a preferred mode of the present invention, the operation unit has a ring buffer capable of storing a plurality of individual user settings of functions linked to the functional unit (mode 4). According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, at least one operation element is provided on the bottom surface of the operation unit so that the operation of the operation unit on the substrate causes the at least one operation element to operate (Mode 5). According to a further preferred embodiment, the operation element formed at the bottom of the operation unit is an operation ball communicating with the XY bench of the microscope, and the operation of the operation unit on the substrate corresponds to the XY bench of the microscope. Means are provided for allowing the operation of the operation unit on the substrate to be selectively interlocked with or separated from the corresponding operation of the XY bench (mode 6). According to the preferable form of this invention, an operation unit has a magnetic holding | maintenance apparatus which enables an operation unit to be attached to a microscope (form 7). According to the preferable form of this invention, all the operation elements can be operated manually without releasing a hand from the operation element (form 8). According to a preferred mode of the present invention, the operation unit is configured like a computer mouse (mode 9). In addition, the microscope of the present invention includes any one of the above-described operation units (Embodiment 10).

  The microscope that can be operated using the operation unit includes, for example, an electric zoom unit, an electric filter wheel, an electric iris (iris) shutter, an electric closing device, an electric focus device, particularly a fine focus device, an electric shutter, and electric transmitted light. A base, an electric light source, an electric XY bench and / or an electric fluorescent module are provided. The selective connection of these functional units makes it possible to achieve the optimal functionality of the microscope of the present invention, and all functional units are easily controlled by the operating unit of the present invention.

  The operation unit of the present invention is suitably formed with at least one manual operation wheel on its side and at least one manual operation push button on its upper surface. This configuration of the operating unit results in a good ergonomic design (single-handed operation), while the overall functionality of the microscope can be integrated into a single operating unit.

  According to the present invention, as described above, the operation unit is directly connected to the bus that performs communication between the functional units of the microscope. Using a combination of rotating wheel (s) and buttons (s) or keys (s), all functional units can be freely configured and easily store multiple configurations, eg individualized configurations can do. For example, fine movements of the zoom device and focus device can be performed using the associated first and second rotating wheels, and rough adjustments can be performed using push buttons. As a result, continuous motion or constant speed and constant acceleration motion can be performed in the process of focusing or using the zoom mechanism. The standard position (s) can be determined using a single push push button, or the desired final position can be employed, for example, by a double push push button. It is also possible to activate the standard (default) setting by pressing a predetermined key combination with the (for example, left / right reverse) switch turned on. In addition, key combinations can be used to store and recall system state associated with a particular user from a ring buffer. These key combinations can also be used in particular to identify individual users.

  The shutters provided on the microscope can also be activated using a key. Furthermore, it can be used like a “dimmer switch” for an adjustable light source (increasing or decreasing intensity) by continuously pressing such a key. The filter rotation operation can be easily performed using two keys provided for this purpose.

  The current state (focus, zoom, filter, iris shutter position, shutter, etc.) can be memorized by the ring buffer using only one key, for example, and up to five possible positions can be stored as appropriate (for example in the EEPROM). ) Can be stored at the same time.

  The iris shutter of the microscope can be adjusted electronically using a rotating wheel, but in particular a third rotating wheel may be provided for this function.

  Adjustment of the focus speed based on the software to the actual magnification of the microscope is provided as appropriate.

  Preferably, the rotating wheel is provided with a means for assisting in inertia, which allows the focus device or zoom device to be operated with the aid of inertia. For heavy wheels, this can be achieved by the fact that these wheels continue to move automatically once they start moving.

  It is advantageous that the ratio between the operating speed of the XY bench and the operating speed of the operating element depends on the particular zoom magnification selected at that time.

  The operation unit of the present invention may be configured by incorporating a magnetic holder into a base plate that can be stationary in the microscope itself. Thereby, in particular, the operation unit can be easily arranged or fixed to the microscope.

  According to a particularly preferred embodiment of the microscope of the present invention, the operating unit is designed to be illuminable. The configuration of an operating unit with a lighting element (for example a current supply is provided through a bus system) is particularly useful, for example, for use in a dark room.

  According to a preferred embodiment of the operating unit of the present invention, the at least one operating element is arranged on the operating unit base surface so that the operation of the operating unit on the substrate moves the operating element.

  For example, the relative movement in the base plate of the operating unit with respect to the substrate, eg a laboratory bench, can be used to control the XY bench of the microscope, but this function is generally incorporated into the base plate of the operating unit. Achieved by a typical switch (proximity sensor, capacitive switch, etc.) or by a “mouse-like” ball attached to the base plate of the operating unit and cooperating with the operating unit as it moves over the substrate it can. For example, it is particularly advantageous to have one of the operation keys, such as means that can selectively interlock or separate the movement of the operation unit on the substrate with the corresponding movement of the XY bench. This ensures that the user can adjust the operation unit so that all movements on the substrate of the operation unit do not correspond to the corresponding movements of the XY bench of the microscope. It becomes easy.

  This feature can be performed using a particularly simple button. It is also preferable to provide a manually operated proximity sensor or proximity switch.

  According to another preferred embodiment of the operating unit of the present invention, the operating unit has a magnetic holding device capable of attaching the operating unit to the microscope. Such a holding device, in which the operating unit can be mounted particularly easily on the microscope, has proved particularly advantageous, especially for general laboratory use. The operating unit according to the invention is particularly characterized in that all the operating units can be operated manually without having to release their hands from the operating element. Therefore, for the first time, all the motorized functional units of the microscope can be substantially completely controlled by the one-handed operating unit. Advantageously, the operating unit is also configured in the form or manner of a computer mouse. Such a shape that is curvilinear and fits the user's hand has proven to be very ergonomically satisfactory.

  The present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  A preferred embodiment of a microscope that can be controlled using the operating unit of the present invention is generally designated 10 in FIG. The microscope 10 has an optical system carrier (optical device carrier) 12 that holds an optical system generally designated 14.

  The microscope 10 has a base (base) 13 including an electric XY bench 13a.

  The optical system 14 can be moved on the stand 17 using the electric focus device 16.

  The optical system 14 comprises an eyepiece 20, an electric shutter and an illuminating device, in particular an illuminating device comprising an electrically adjustable filter wheel, in particular an at least one fluorescent filter in this embodiment, an electric zoom device 24. And an objective lens changer 26 that holds two selectable objective lenses 28, 30 in this embodiment. The objective lens changer 26 may optionally be electrically driven.

  Instead of or in addition to the light source of the fluorescent module 22, another illumination device 32 or transmitted light illumination table (not shown) can have an electrically driven intensity adjustment device at the bottom of the base 13.

  The illustrated components 13, 16, 20, 22, 24, 26, and 32 are functional units of the microscope 10.

  These functional units are connected to each other by a bus system (not shown in detail in FIG. 1) and to external devices or functional units. The external device may in particular be a computer 33 having the manual operation control unit 29 shown in FIG. 1 and a general purpose port 34 or various ports, for example USB1, USB2 or IEEE 1394 or RS232. Both the operation unit 29 and the computer 33 can be used to control the functional unit of the microscope 10. Further, the microscope 10 can be controlled by using both units 29 and 33.

  As described above, the functional units of the microscope 10 and the external elements 29 and 33 are connected to each other by the bus system. The bus system may be a CAN system, for example. This type of bus system is shown in FIG. Using this type of bus system, standardized data transmission between the functional units of the microscope can be easily implemented. The bus system can be configured as a simple (single) bus system that sequentially transmits various types of information such as data, control signals, or addresses through the same line. It is also possible to design a bus system as a complex (multiple) bus system having a plurality of individual bus systems that transmit specific types of information.

  FIG. 2 particularly shows the functional units shown in FIG. 1, namely the electrically driven focus device 16, the fluorescent module 22 and the electrically driven zoom device 24. The other functional unit is the operation unit 29 connected to the bus system as already described.

  Other components that can be connected to the bus system 40 are, for example, a functional unit for adjusting the shutter and a manual wheel. Although not shown in FIG. 1, a “display” functional unit may be installed that displays system specific data. In order to illustrate the possibility of providing this type of desired functional unit in a microscope, FIG. 2 shows two other functional units with reference numeral 21.

  The operating element 29 that communicates directly with the bus system allows one-hand control of all functional units, particularly easy and effective. Unlike conventional solutions, no separate operating elements are required. Therefore, the number of components of the microscope can be effectively reduced as compared with the conventional solution.

  FIG. 2 also schematically shows the structure of each functional unit. The letter a indicates a microcontroller, and the letter b indicates a memory device that cooperates with the microcontroller a. The various functional units also have an actor, which is only schematically shown as a frame surrounding the microcontroller and the memory device, and is marked with the letter c. Functional units can also be connected to other applications (not shown) by other bus systems. This is illustrated by double arrows 41-44 in the example of FIG. These may be, for example, USB (Universal Serial Bus) or IEEE bus ("Firewire"), especially using RS232 ports.

  The illustrated device will be described in detail with reference to an example of an electrically driven focus device 16. The electric drive focus device 16 includes a micro control device 16a and a memory device 16b. The memory device 16b is subdivided into a first area 16b ′ in which bootstrap software and an arbitrary operation system are stored. The second area 16b '' includes control software for the latest version of the electric focus apparatus. Finally, the third region 16b ″ ′ contains calibration data necessary or useful for operating the electrically driven focus device within the scope of the microscope of the present invention.

  Since the other functional units shown are similar in structure, the details of the microcontroller or memory device used need not be presented here. In the operating unit 29, the microcontroller 29a, the memory device 29b and the actor 29c including the memory areas 29b ′, b ″ and b ′ ″ are clearly shown.

  According to the invention, it is particularly easy to download the latest version of the control software for the functional unit to each memory area b ″. This will be described again with reference to the electrically driven focus device 16.

  The bootstrap loader software contained in the memory area 16b ′ is a relatively small program that can load a more extensive software application into each memory area, ie, the control software area 16b ″ in this example. All that is required is to run the bootstrap loader program with a corresponding input command provided to the system through the computer 33, for example. At this time, for example, the latest version of the control software for the electric focus device 16 that is also loaded into the computer 33 can be downloaded to the area 16b ″ of the memory device 16b.

  In contrast to conventional solutions, there is no need to open (activate) the functional operation unit in order to update the software.

  The installation software used with the bootstrap loader software described above has the ability to automatically recognize any motorized functional unit of the microscope. The customized boot loader and optional bus used in the present invention can run corresponding application software or any necessary or desired updates, which can be done automatically or interactively.

  Regions b ′ and b ′ ″ are preferably configured as protected memory regions.

  A preferred embodiment of the operating unit 29 of the present invention is shown in FIG. Here, the operation unit 29 is provided in the form of a computer mouse.

  Two operation wheels 50 and 51 and a plurality of operation buttons or keys 52a to 52h are shown. Although these operating wheels or keys can be arranged with desired functions, preferred arrangement options will now be described. The operation wheels 50 and 51 are easily used by the user from above, and are formed at side positions of the operation unit 29. The operation wheel 50 is preferably used for fine adjustment of the electric focus device 16. The required rough adjustment can be made by actuating at least one of the keys 52a-52h. The operation wheel 51 is appropriately used for adjustment of the electric zoom device 24, but fine adjustment can be performed using the operation wheel 51, and corresponding rough adjustment is performed using at least one of the keys 52a to 52h. Done in action.

  Finally, FIG. 3 shows a third operating wheel 54 arranged at the rear of the operating unit. This operating wheel 54 is preferably used for gradual (incremental) control of the iris shutter.

  The specific position of the microscope can be stored using at least one key, such as key 52a. This key can also be used as a toggle switch to switch between specific positions stored in memory.

  The operating unit 29 can also be connected to the bus 40 by leads 60 (see also FIG. 1) or in a wireless manner.

  All functional units described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 are shown to be usefully controllable by appropriately actuating keys 52a-52h.

  Integrating the operating wheel or rotating wheel 50, 51, the operating wheel or knurled ring 54 and the keys 52a-52h into one operating unit and its specific arrangement eliminates the need for the operator to release his hands from the operating unit, All functional units can be controlled with one hand. The easy update of the software makes it possible to make the role of the individual operating elements depend on the equipment of the device and in particular to correspond to the functional units or components of the microscope according to the current or user wishes, in particular Allows right-handed or left-handed operation.

  Finally, FIG. 4 shows a view of the operation unit of FIG. 3 from below. FIG. 4 shows the operating wheels 50, 51 and 54 already described with reference to FIG. The base plate 62 of the operation unit 29 has a recess 61 in which the operation ball 63 is disposed. When the base plate moves on the substrate ("like a mouse"), the operation ball 63 can perform a rotational movement that can actuate the functional unit of the microscope, particularly the XY bench. The operation ball 63 protrudes from the base plate 62. As described in detail with reference to FIG. 3, the combination of the operation elements provided on the lower surface of the operation unit and the plurality of operation elements on the upper surface of the operation unit is a combination of all of the essential functional units that are motorized by the microscope. Allows overall control. FIG. 4 shows a magnet 64 attached to a base plate 62 constituting a magnetic holder in the operation unit in order to fix the operation unit to the microscope.

The schematic block circuit diagram which shows preferable embodiment of the microscope which cooperates with the operation unit of this invention. FIG. 2 is a block circuit diagram of individual functional units that communicate with each other through a bus system in the microscope shown in FIG. 1. The top view which shows the preferable form of the operation unit of this invention. FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the new operation unit shown in FIG. 3.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Microscope 12 Optical system carrier 14 Optical system 13 Base 13a Electric XY bench 16 Electric focus apparatus,
a indicating a micro controller (micro controller) b indicating a memory device c indicating an actor 16 a microcontroller 16 b memory device 16 b ′ first area 16 b ″ of the memory device second area of the memory device, control software area 16b '''Third area 17 of memory device Stand 20 Eyepiece 21 Other functional unit 22 Fluorescent module 24 Electric zoom device 26 Objective lens changer 28 Objective lens 29 Manual operation operation unit (manual operation control unit)
29a Operation unit micro controller 29b Operation unit memory device 29b ′, b ″, b ′ ″ Memory area 29c Operation unit actor 30 Objective lens 32 Illumination device 33 Computer 34 General-purpose port 40 Bus system 41-44 Duplex Arrows 50, 51 Operation wheels 52a-52h Operation buttons or keys 54 Third operation wheel, knurled ring 60 Lead (cable)
61 Recess 62 Base plate, operation unit base 63 operation ball, element 64 magnet

Claims (10)

At least one operating element, in particular the operating wheel (50, 51, 54), operating keys (52a-52h), which can provide a control command for operating or controlling a plurality of functional units of the microscope to the microcontroller of the operating unit. And / or a manually operated operating unit for a microscope having an operating ball (63),
A memory device associated with the microcontroller has a first memory area;
The operating unit comprising a custom boot loader capable of loading software, in particular software defining a function of the at least one operating element, into another memory area of the memory device.   2. Operation unit according to claim 1, characterized in that it communicates with the functional unit of the microscope by means of a bus system (40), in particular a CAN bus system.   The operation unit according to claim 1, wherein the operation unit is configured to be illuminable.   The operation unit according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising a ring buffer capable of storing a plurality of individual user settings of a function associated with the function unit.   The at least one operation element (63) is provided on the bottom surface (62) of the operation unit so that at least one operation element (63) is activated by the operation of the operation unit on the substrate. The operation unit according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the operation unit is a front part. The operation element (63) formed at the bottom of the operation unit is an operation ball that communicates with an XY bench of a microscope,
The operation of the operating unit on the substrate can cause a corresponding operation of the XY bench of the microscope,
6. The means (52a-52h) is provided, wherein the operation of the operation unit on the substrate can be selectively interlocked with or separated from the corresponding operation of the XY bench. The operation unit described.   7. The operating unit according to claim 1, further comprising a magnetic holding device (64) that enables the operating unit to be attached to a microscope.   The operation unit according to claim 1, wherein all the operation elements can be manually operated without releasing a hand from the operation element.   The operation unit according to claim 1, wherein the operation unit is configured as a computer mouse.   A microscope comprising the operation unit according to claim 1.

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