JP2009031323A - Eyepiece barrel of microscope and microscope system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an eyepiece barrel of a microscope suitable for excellent photography while performing eyepiece observation of a specimen, and to provide a microscope system. <P>SOLUTION: The eyepiece barrel (6) inserted in and detached from a connection mount (5) of the microscope body (1) includes: a photographing imaging element (9) for photographing static images of a specimen image formed by a light flux from an objective lens (4) of the microscope body; an eyepiece part (16); a light guide means (7) for guiding the light flux from the objective lens to the eyepiece part in non-exposure of at least the photographing imaging element; a branch means (11) for branching a part of the light flux toward the light guided eyepiece part; a monitoring imaging element (17) for monitoring the brightness distribution of the specimen images formed at a position equivalent to the photographing imaging element by the branch light flux; a control means (18) for detecting a focusing state of the objective lens based on contrast of the specimen image indicated by the brightness distribution; and a display part (15) for displaying information concerning photography to an eye of an observer looking through the eyepiece part in accordance with an instruction from the control means by being provided on the eyepiece part. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an eyepiece tube and a microscope system having a function of photographing a subject image generated by a microscope.

  Microscopes with an eyepiece have existed for a long time, and observation with the eyepiece (hereinafter referred to as “eyepiece observation”) allows the state of the subject to be known as it is rather than observation with an image. It is still necessary nowadays that the image of can be obtained.

In addition, many microscopes equipped with an imaging unit have been proposed so far (for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2). If a microscope image of a subject is captured by the imaging unit, the microscope image can be stored as image data. Convenient.
JP 2004-21185 A JP-A-9-121362

  However, a microscope that is supposed to be photographed while performing eyepiece observation has not been proposed.

  Therefore, the present invention provides a microscope eyepiece tube suitable for performing good imaging while performing eyepiece observation of a subject, and a microscope system capable of performing favorable imaging while performing eyepiece observation of the subject. The purpose is to do.

  A microscope eyepiece tube according to a first aspect of the present invention is a microscope eyepiece tube that is inserted into and removed from a connection mount of a microscope body, and includes an eyepiece, an imaging device, a light guide unit, a branch unit, and a monitor. Image pickup device, control means, and display unit. The imaging element for imaging captures a still image of a subject image formed by a light beam from an objective lens attached to the microscope body. The light guide means guides the light flux from the objective lens to the eyepiece at least when the imaging element for photographing is not exposed, and the branching means is a part of the light flux directed to the eyepiece guided by the light guide means. Fork. The monitoring image sensor monitors the luminance distribution of the subject image formed by the light beam branched by the branching unit at a position equivalent to the imaging image sensor, and the control unit monitors the subject image indicated by the luminance distribution. The focus adjustment state of the objective lens is detected based on the contrast. In addition, the display unit is provided in the eyepiece unit, and displays information related to photographing on the eyes of an observer looking into the eyepiece unit according to an instruction from the control unit.

  A second invention is the first invention, comprising a first imaging lens and a second imaging lens. The first imaging lens is disposed between the branching unit and the imaging element for imaging, and forms an image of the parallel light flux from the objective lens on the imaging element for imaging. The second imaging lens is disposed between the branching unit and the monitoring image sensor, and forms an image of the parallel light flux from the objective lens on the monitoring image sensor.

  According to a third invention, in the first invention, the control means includes the luminance information of the subject image indicated by the output signal of the monitoring image sensor, the information on the detected focus adjustment state, or the information on the number of still images that can be captured. Either one is displayed on the display unit.

  In a fourth aspect based on the first aspect, the control means changes the size of the contrast extraction area in the subject image or the outline of the contrast extraction area in the subject image in accordance with an instruction from the user.

  In a fifth aspect based on the first aspect, the control means takes in information indicating the type of the objective lens from the microscope body and displays the information on the display unit.

  A microscope according to a sixth aspect of the invention includes an eyepiece tube of the microscope according to the first aspect of the invention, a microscope main body having a stage on which a subject is placed and a mounting means on which an objective lens is mounted. And an adjusting means for adjusting the focus of the objective lens in accordance with the focus adjustment state detection signal sent from the control means of the eyepiece tube.

  In the present invention, at the time of non-photographing, the light beam from the objective lens is guided to the eyepiece and reaches the observer's eye, and a part of the light beam is branched to reach the monitoring image sensor. The monitoring image sensor monitors the luminance distribution of the subject image. Further, the focus adjustment state of the objective lens is detected based on the contrast of the subject image indicated by the luminance distribution. Such focus detection based on contrast has high detection accuracy. In addition, information related to shooting is displayed on the display unit.

  Therefore, if the present invention is used, it is possible to perform good imaging while performing eyepiece observation of the subject.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is an internal configuration diagram of a microscope system to which the present invention is applied. As shown in FIG. 1, the microscope system includes a microscope main body 1 and an eyepiece tube 6.

  The microscope main body 1 includes a stage 2, a revolver 3, an objective lens 4, and a mount 5 for inserting and removing the eyepiece tube 6. The objective lens 4 is an inner focus system and is an objective lens that can electrically control the focus adjustment. A plurality of objective lenses 4 having different magnifications are attached to the revolver 3. Here, the subject 0 to be observed is, for example, a cell sandwiched between a slide glass and a cover glass, and is placed on the stage 2. An illumination device that illuminates the subject 0 placed on the stage 2 is also provided inside the microscope body 1. The illumination device is for Koehler illumination of the subject 0, and is disposed below the stage 2 in the case of the transmission type and above the stage 2 in the case of the epi-illumination type. In the following description, it is assumed that the illumination device is a transmissive type.

  The eyepiece tube 6 includes a quick return mirror 7, a second objective lens 8, a photographing image sensor 9, a second objective lens 10, an optical path splitting prism 11, total reflection mirrors 12 and 13, and a relay lens 14. A transmissive LCD 15, an eyepiece lens 16, a monitoring imaging device 17, a control unit 18, and an external I / F 19. Note that the control unit 18 is connected to the imaging image sensor 9, the transmissive LCD 15, the monitoring image sensor 17, and the external I / F 19. Further, the control unit 18 is electrically connected to the microscope main body 1 by the AF connector 5a, and information can be transmitted between the two.

  The quick return mirror 7 is pivotally supported by a rotation shaft (not shown) so that it can be switched between an observation state and a photographing state. The quick return mirror 7 in the observation state is inclined and disposed in front of the second objective lens 10 and the optical path dividing prism 11. The quick return mirror 7 in the observation state reflects the light beam from the subject 0 captured by the objective lens 4 toward the second objective lens 10 and guides it to the incident surface of the optical path splitting prism 11. On the other hand, the quick return mirror 7 in the photographing state is in a position that is flipped up so as to stand up and out of the photographing optical path. When the quick return mirror 7 is in an imaging state, the light beam from the subject 0 captured by the objective lens 4 is guided as it is to the second objective lens 8 and the imaging element 9 for imaging.

  The second objective lens 8 condenses the luminous flux from the subject 0 captured by the objective lens 4 on the imaging surface of the imaging element 9 when the quick return mirror 7 is in the imaging state. The imaging plane is arranged at a position substantially conjugate with the arrangement plane of the subject 0. Therefore, an image of the subject 0 (subject image) is formed on the imaging surface.

  The imaging element 9 for imaging captures a still image of the subject image formed on the imaging surface based on an instruction from the control unit 18. Note that the imaging element 9 for imaging can electronically control the shutter speed during still image shooting by setting the charge accumulation time. The still image photographed by the photographing image sensor 9 is recorded in a recording medium (not shown) (flash memory or the like).

  When the quick return mirror 7 is in the observation state, the second objective lens 10 collects the light beam from the subject 0 captured by the objective lens 4 and makes it incident on the incident surface of the optical path splitting prism 11.

  The optical path splitting prism 11 splits the incident light beam into two light beams for observation and monitoring and emits them. The divided light beam for observation reaches the eyes of the observer through the total reflection mirrors 12 and 13, the relay lens 14, the transmissive LCD 15, and the eyepiece lens 16 which are observation optical paths. On the other hand, the monitoring light beam is condensed on the imaging surface of the monitoring image sensor 17. The image pickup surface is disposed at a position optically equivalent to the image pickup surface of the image pickup device 9 for photographing when viewed from the objective lens 4. Therefore, a subject image is formed on the imaging surface, and the blurring method of the image is the same as the blurring method of the image formed on the imaging surface of the imaging element 9 for photographing.

  The transmissive LCD 15 transmits the observation light beam from the optical path splitting prism 11 and displays photographing information according to an instruction from the control unit 18. The transmissive LCD 15 is arranged at a position substantially conjugate with the arrangement surface of the subject 0. Accordingly, the imaging information appears to be superimposed on the subject image from the observer's eyes.

  The monitoring imaging element 17 monitors the luminance distribution of the subject image formed on the imaging surface. The monitoring imaging element 17 is an area sensor that can capture a moving image. Since the monitoring imaging device 17 is operated at high speed to capture a moving image, the spatial resolution may be lower than that of the imaging imaging device 9. The monitoring image sensor 17 may be a monochrome sensor as long as it can monitor the luminance distribution of the subject image.

  The external I / F 19 is an interface such as a USB for connecting an input device such as a mouse or a joystick.

  The control unit 18 comprehensively controls processing related to imaging of the subject 0 such as focus detection and exposure control of the objective lens 4 at the time of imaging the subject 0, and display of imaging information for the eyes of the observer. In addition, the control unit 18 acquires information on the type of the objective lens 4 from the microscope body 1 via the AF connector 5a that electrically connects the microscope body 1 and the eyepiece tube 6, and A defocus amount signal or the like is sent to the microscope body 1.

  The control unit 18 acquires a moving image of the subject 0 from the monitoring image sensor 17 and indicates a defocus amount of the objective lens 4 based on a contrast value extracted from each predetermined AF area of the moving image. (Defocus signal) is generated, and the signal is sent to the microscope body 1 side through the AF connector 5a. Thereby, on the microscope main body 1 side, the objective lens 4 performs focusing according to the received defocus signal. Further, the control unit 18 determines the in-focus state of the objective lens 4 based on the extracted contrast value, and information on the determination result obtained by the determination, that is, information indicating the focus adjustment state of the objective lens 4 is used as shooting information. It is displayed on the transmissive LCD 15. An example of this display is shown in FIG. In FIG. 2, the AF area information (5 points indicated by the frame of “[]”) is taken as the imaging information on the subject image (two objects in the shape of a crescent moon) by the observation light beam transmitted through the transmissive LCD 15. Area), information indicating the in-focus state ("Focus OK" when the objective lens 4 is in focus), and information indicating the degree of focus (contrast value level) 10 squares arranged in a line) are superimposed and displayed.

  Further, the control unit 18 calculates the luminance value (Bv value) of the subject image based on the luminance distribution of the moving image acquired as described above, and shoots based on the calculated luminance value and a preset exposure correction amount. The condition (exposure time (shutter speed) of the imaging element 9 for photographing) is determined. Among these, the exposure correction amount is designated in advance by the observer to the control unit 18 via the external I / F 19. Then, the control unit 18 displays the determined shooting condition on the transmissive LCD 15. An example of this display is shown in FIG. In FIG. 3, information of the determined shutter speed (“1/30 sec”) and the exposure correction amount being set (“+ 1 / 3EV”) is displayed at the bottom of the screen. In FIG. 3, as information other than these, information indicating the type of the objective lens 4 (“AF-PLAN × 20”) and information on the number of still images that can be captured (JPG: 230) are also displayed. Yes. Of these, information indicating the type of the objective lens 4 is information acquired from the microscope main body 1 side by the control unit 18 via the AF connector 5a, and information on the number of still images that can be captured by the control unit 18 is described above. Information calculated based on the free capacity of the recording medium (not shown).

  The control unit 18 repeatedly executes the above-described series of operations of focus detection and imaging condition determination until an imaging instruction is input from the observer via the external I / F 19. At this time, the objective lens 4 of the microscope body 1 performs focus adjustment so that the defocus signal sent from the control unit 18 approaches zero.

  The observer confirms the display content of the transmissive LCD 15 and the state of the subject 0 through the eyepiece 16, and inputs an imaging instruction to the control unit 18 when both are satisfied.

  When a shooting instruction is input, the control unit 18 flips the quick return mirror 7 in the observation state so as to stand upright and sets the imaging state, and the A / D conversion circuit (not configured) under the shooting conditions determined above. And a still image of the subject image formed on the imaging surface thereof is shot by driving the imaging element 9 for imaging. Note that an A / D conversion circuit (not shown) performs analog signal processing such as CDS (correlated double sampling), gain adjustment, and A / D conversion on the analog image signal output from the image pickup device 9 for shooting. And a circuit for outputting the processed digital image.

  Next, the control unit 18 performs white balance adjustment, color separation (interpolation), contour emphasis, on the digital image output by the A / D conversion circuit (not shown), that is, the captured still image of the subject 0. Apply image processing such as gamma correction. Then, the control unit 18 performs a compression process on the still image after the image processing using a JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group) format or the like, and records the compressed still image of the subject 0 on a recording medium (not shown).

  The microscope according to the embodiment of the present invention has been described above.

  In the above description, the focus adjustment is automated, but in the case of such automation, the distance between the subject 0 and the objective lens 4 is set so that the observation plane of the subject 0 falls within the focusing range of the objective lens 4 in advance. It is necessary to adjust. In this adjustment, the observer operates the coarse movement handle and the fine movement handle (both not shown) to move the stage 2 or uses an electric type stage 2 to adjust the control unit 18. It can be performed by any method of moving the stage 2 by control.

  In the above description, the exposure control (determination of the shutter speed) of the photographing image sensor 9 is automated. However, this may be manually performed by an observer. In that case, the control unit 18 displays information indicating the luminance value of the subject image on the transmissive LCD 15, and the observer may determine the shutter speed while confirming the display.

  In the above description, the objective lens 4 is an inner focus method and the objective lens is an objective lens that can be electrically controlled. However, if this is not the case, the observer can move the fine movement handle (not shown). To move the stage 2 up and down and adjust the distance between the subject 0 and the objective lens 4 so that the subject is in focus. At the time of this adjustment, the observer performs the adjustment while confirming from the eyepiece 16 whether or not “Focus OK” is displayed in the information indicating the in-focus state as in the display example of FIG. Good.

  In addition, the automatic focus adjustment by the control unit 18 described above is based on using an electric type that can electrically control the vertical movement of the stage 2 instead of controlling the focusing of the objective lens 4. A defocus signal may be transmitted to the microscope body 1 side. In such a case, the stage 2 that has received the defocus signal may move in the vertical direction in accordance with the defocus signal.

  In the above description and FIGS. 2 and 3, the AF area is an area indicated by a frame of “[]”, but the AF area is not limited to such a linear outline area. For example, it may be a curved outline region as shown in FIG. Further, the outline shape of the AF area may be freely changed by causing the observer to operate an input device such as a mouse connected to the external I / F 19.

  Further, the size (size) of the AF area is not limited to the size shown in FIGS. For example, the size as shown in FIG. Further, the size of the AF area may be freely changed by causing the observer to operate an input device such as a mouse connected to the external I / F 19.

  Also, the position of the AF area is not limited to the position of the horizontal and vertical characters shown in FIGS. For example, it may be located as shown in FIG. Further, the AF area may be freely moved to a desired position by causing the observer to operate an input device such as a mouse connected to the external I / F 19.

  In the above description and FIGS. 2 and 3, the number of AF areas is five, but the number is not limited to this.

(Operational effect of this embodiment)
According to the microscope of this embodiment, the light beam from the objective lens 4 reaches both the eyepiece lens 16 and the monitoring image sensor 17 during observation. Then, information indicating the focus adjustment state of the objective lens 4 is acquired based on the output of the monitoring imaging element 17, and the information is superimposed and displayed on the subject image formed on the eyepiece. Therefore, the observer can know not only the state of the subject 0 but also the focus adjustment state of the objective lens 4 only by observation from the eyepiece lens 16.

  Further, according to the microscope of the present embodiment, at the time of observation, in addition to the information indicating the focus adjustment state of the objective lens 4 described above, the information on the imaging conditions, the information indicating the type of the objective lens 4, and the still image shooting Information on the number of possible images is superimposed and displayed on the subject image formed on the eyepiece. Therefore, the observer can know not only the state of the subject 0 but also all the photographing information of the still image only by observation from the eyepiece lens 16.

  Further, according to the microscope of the present embodiment, at the time of shooting, the shooting condition for proper exposure is determined based on the output of the monitoring image sensor 17. Then, a still image of the subject 0 is photographed by the photographing image pickup device 9 under the photographing conditions with the appropriate exposure. Therefore, the observer can take a still image of the subject 0 satisfactorily while observing the state of the subject 0 as it is from the eyepiece 16.

  Further, according to the microscope of the present embodiment, the defocus signal is generated based on the contrast of the subject image indicated by the output of the monitoring image sensor 17, and the signal is transmitted to the microscope body 1 via the AF connector 5a. The Thereby, AF control using the defocus signal becomes possible. Accordingly, the observer can easily and satisfactorily capture a still image of the subject 0 while observing the state of the subject 0 as it is from the eyepiece 16.

  Further, according to the microscope of the present embodiment, the defocus signal is generated based on the output of the area sensor (monitoring image sensor 17 in the present embodiment), in addition to the contour shape of the AF area, the AF area The size of the area and the position of the AF area are changed according to the instructions of the observer. Therefore, a still image of the subject 0 can be taken more optimally.

  Therefore, the observer can perform good imaging while performing eyepiece observation of the subject.

It is an internal block diagram of the microscope system to which this invention is applied. It is an image figure of superposition display (display of the focus adjustment state of objective lens 4). It is an image figure of superimposition display (display of imaging conditions). It is an image figure of superposition display (when AF area is an area of a curved outline).

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 0 ... Subject, 1 ... Microscope main body, 2 ... Stage, 3 ... Revolver, 4 ... Objective lens, 5 ... Mount, 5a ... AF connector, 6 ... Eyepiece tube, 7 ... Quick return mirror, 8 ... Second objective lens , 9 ... Image sensor for photographing, 10 ... Second objective lens, 11 ... Optical path dividing prism, 12 ... Total reflection mirror, 13 ... Total reflection mirror, 14 ... Relay lens, 15 ... Transmission type LCD, 16 ... Eyepiece, 17 ... Image sensor for monitoring, 18 ... Control unit, 19 ... External I / F

Claims (6)

In the eyepiece tube of the microscope that is inserted into and removed from the connection mount of the microscope body,
The eyepiece,
An imaging element for photographing a still image of a subject image formed by a light beam from an objective lens mounted on the microscope body; and
A light guide means for guiding a light beam from the objective lens to the eyepiece part at least when the imaging element for photographing is not exposed;
Branching means for branching a part of the light beam directed to the eyepiece guided by the light guide means;
An image sensor for monitoring that monitors the luminance distribution of the subject image formed by the light beam branched by the branching unit at a position equivalent to the image sensor for imaging;
Control means for detecting a focus adjustment state of the objective lens based on a contrast of the object image indicated by the luminance distribution;
A microscope eyepiece, comprising: a display unit provided in the eyepiece unit, the display unit displaying information relating to the photographing with respect to an eye of an observer looking into the eyepiece unit according to an instruction from the control unit Tube. In the eyepiece tube of the microscope according to claim 1,
A first imaging lens that is disposed between the branching unit and the imaging element for imaging, and forms an image of a parallel light beam from the objective lens on the imaging element for imaging;
A microscope comprising: a second imaging lens that is disposed between the branching unit and the monitoring imaging device and forms an image of a parallel light beam from the objective lens on the monitoring imaging device. Eyepiece tube. In the eyepiece tube of the microscope according to claim 1,
The control means is configured to receive any one of the luminance information of the subject image indicated by the output signal of the monitoring image sensor, the detected focus adjustment state information, or the number of still images that can be captured. A microscope eyepiece that is displayed on a display unit. In the eyepiece tube of the microscope according to claim 1,
The control means changes the size of the contrast extraction area in the subject image or the outline of the contrast extraction area in the subject image according to an instruction from a user. . In the eyepiece tube of the microscope according to claim 1,
The control means takes in information indicating the type of the objective lens from the microscope main body and displays the information on the display unit. A microscope eyepiece tube according to claim 1;
A microscope body having a stage on which the subject is placed and a mounting means on which the objective lens is mounted;
The microscope system according to claim 1, wherein the microscope main body includes adjustment means for adjusting the focus of the objective lens in accordance with the detection signal of the focus adjustment state sent from the control means of the eyepiece tube.

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