JP2017090788A - Positioning mechanism and microscope device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a positioning mechanism and a microscope device, capable of highly accurately performing the specification of an observation area and a focusing operation and coping with both of reflection image observation and transmission image observation.SOLUTION: An optical microscope device 10 comprising a smart device 2 having a camera function and a lens unit 3 includes a first stage 32 on which the smart device 2 is placed, a horizontal moving mechanism 31 which moves the first stage 32 in a horizontal direction by an arbitrary distance, a second stage 22 which is arranged above the first stage 32 and on which a transparent sample plate to which a sample to be observed is fixed is placed, and a vertical moving mechanism 21 which moves the second stage 22 in a vertical direction by the arbitrary distance. The positioning mechanism which is configured so that the first stage 32 and the second stage 22 are relatively moved by independently operating the horizontal moving mechanism 31 and the vertical moving mechanism 21 is used.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

  The present invention relates to an optical microscope apparatus including a smart device having a camera function and a lens unit. More specifically, the present invention relates to an alignment technique for adjusting an observation position and a focus position in optical microscope observation using a smart device.

  Recently, a lens unit for performing microscopic observation using a smart device having a camera function such as a smartphone or a tablet has been proposed (see Non-Patent Documents 1 to 3). In Non-Patent Documents 1 to 3, it is reported that these new types of optical microscopes can effectively use autofocus and autoexposure that a smart device has as a camera function, and can obtain performance equivalent to a commercially available high-class microscope.

However, the optical microscope using the above-described smart device has the following problems and is not widely used as expected.
(1) Since it is assumed to be held by hand, camera shake is likely to occur in the photographed image.
(2) A mechanism for fixing the lens to the smart device has not been established.
(3) When the object to be observed is brought close to, the external light is blocked by the microscope main body, so it is necessary to prepare a separate illumination device, and the structure becomes complicated.

  In order to solve these problems, there has conventionally been proposed a lens unit that, when placed on a smart device having a camera function, forms a compound microscope together with a camera and can easily acquire a microscope observation image (patent) Reference 1). Also, an attachment for using a camera-equipped mobile phone as a microscope apparatus has been proposed (see Patent Document 2).

Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2015-135533 JP 2006-208857 A

David N. Breslauer and four others, “Mobile Phone Based Clinical Microscopy for Global Health Applications”, PLoS ONE 4 (7): e6320, issued July 22, 2009 Z.J. Smith and nine others, “Cell-Phone-Based Platform for Biomedical Device Deelopment and Education Applications”, PLoS ONE 6 (3): e17150, published March 2, 2011 Sarun Sumriddetchkajornet al., "Mobile Device-Based Digital Microscopy for Education, Healthcare, and Agriculture", Electrical Engineering / Electronics, Computer, Telecommunications and Information Technology (ECTI-CON), 2012 9th International Conference on, May 18, 2012 Issue, p. 1-4

  The optical microscope apparatus using the lens unit described in Patent Document 1 is simple and has high operability, and thus is rapidly spreading under the name of a smartphone microscope, but there is a problem in terms of alignment. Specifically, since the microscope apparatus described in Patent Document 1 manually adjusts the position of the sample and performs a focusing operation, the observation region may not be specified accurately or the captured image may be blurred. .

  On the other hand, since the microscope apparatus using the attachment described in Patent Document 2 adjusts the vertical position of the camera with the telescopic arm, it can ensure the accuracy of the focusing operation to some extent, but the sample position is adjusted manually. The improvement in accuracy cannot be expected for specifying the observation area. In addition, when the attachment described in Patent Document 2 is used, only reflected image observation can be performed, and a transmission image of the sample cannot be acquired.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an alignment mechanism and a microscope apparatus that can accurately specify an observation region and perform a focusing operation and can handle both reflection image observation and transmission image observation. To do.

An alignment mechanism according to the present invention includes a first stage on which a smart device having a camera function is placed, a horizontal movement mechanism that moves the first stage at an arbitrary distance in the horizontal direction, and an upper side of the first stage. A second stage on which a transparent sample plate on which a sample to be observed is fixed is placed; and a vertical movement mechanism for moving the second stage in an arbitrary distance in the vertical direction, the horizontal movement mechanism and the The vertical movement mechanisms operate independently, and the first stage and the second stage move relative to each other.
The alignment mechanism may be configured such that a rotation knob is provided in each of the horizontal movement mechanism and the vertical movement mechanism, and the first stage and the second stage move by a distance corresponding to the rotation amount of each rotation knob. .
The second stage may be provided with a light transmission part in a portion where the sample plate is placed.
Furthermore, an illumination fixing part for attaching an illumination device can be provided above the second stage.

A microscope apparatus according to the present invention includes the above-described alignment mechanism, a smart device having a camera function, a lens, and a plate-like support member that holds the lens from a direction perpendicular to the optical axis. The smart device is mounted on the first stage of the alignment mechanism so that the display unit is on the front side of the smart device. A sample plate on which the sample to be observed is fixed is placed on the second stage of the alignment mechanism.
This microscope apparatus can specify the observation region by moving the first stage in the horizontal direction, and can perform a focusing operation by moving the second stage in the vertical direction.
The microscope apparatus of the present invention may further include an illumination device that illuminates the sample from above.

  According to the present invention, the smart device is arranged on the first stage that can move an arbitrary distance in the horizontal direction, and the sample plate is arranged on the second stage that can move an arbitrary distance in the vertical direction. The observation area can be specified and focused accurately, and since the second stage is provided above the first stage, both the reflection image observation and the transmission image observation can be handled. .

It is a perspective view which shows the structural example of the position alignment mechanism which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the structural example of the position alignment mechanism which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a side view which shows typically the structure of the optical microscope apparatus using the position alignment mechanism which concerns on embodiment of this invention.

  DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described below.

[Overall configuration of alignment mechanism]
First, the configuration of the alignment mechanism according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described. 1 and 2 are perspective views showing a configuration example of the alignment mechanism of the present embodiment. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the alignment mechanism 1 of the present embodiment includes a first stage 32 on which a smart device is placed, a horizontal movement mechanism 31 that moves the first stage 32, and a sample to be observed. Is provided with a second stage 22 on which a sample plate on which is fixed is placed, and a vertical movement mechanism 21 for moving the second stage 22. The horizontal movement mechanism 31 and the vertical movement mechanism 21 are fixed to the base 11 made of a metal material such as an aluminum alloy.

  In the alignment mechanism 1 of the present embodiment, the horizontal movement mechanism 31 and the vertical movement mechanism 21 operate independently, and the first stage 32 and the second stage 22 move relative to each other. The alignment mechanism 1 can also be provided with an illumination fixing part 41 for attaching the illumination device above the second stage.

[First stage 32]
The first stage 32 is for mounting a smart device and is fixed to the horizontal movement mechanism 31. The material of the 1st stage 32 is not specifically limited, Either metal and resin may be sufficient. Moreover, the 1st stage 32 should just be a magnitude | size which can mount a commercially available smart phone and a tablet, and the magnitude | size and thickness can be suitably selected according to a use purpose.

  In addition, it is preferable that a non-slip sheet 35 made of resin or rubber is attached to at least a portion of the surface of the first stage 32 where the smart device is placed. Thereby, since the position of the smart device placed on the first stage 32 is stabilized, the observation region can be easily specified.

[Horizontal moving mechanism 31]
The horizontal movement mechanism 31 moves the first stage 32 in an arbitrary distance in the horizontal direction. For example, an XY direction driving device including rotation knobs 33 and 34 can be used. When an XY direction driving device is used for the horizontal movement mechanism 31, the first stage 32 moves rightward or leftward by a distance corresponding to the amount of rotation of the rotary knobs 33, 34.

  The horizontal movement mechanism 31 is not limited to the XY direction drive device provided with the rotation knobs 33 and 34, and may be any configuration that can move the first stage 32 in an arbitrary distance in the horizontal direction. The horizontal movement mechanism 31 may be provided with a spacer 36 for adjusting the position (height) of the first stage 32.

[Second stage 22]
The second stage 22 mounts a sample plate on which a sample to be observed is fixed, and is fixed to the vertical movement mechanism 21. The material of the second stage 22 is not particularly limited, and may be either metal or resin. The second stage 22 is attached with a pressing member 25 for fixing the end of the sample plate. Further, the second stage 22 is provided with a light transmission portion made of a notch or a transparent material at a portion where the sample plate is placed. By disposing a sample to be observed in this light transmission part, it is possible to observe a transmission image.

[Vertical moving mechanism 21]
The vertical movement mechanism 21 moves the second stage 22 in an arbitrary distance in the vertical direction. For example, a Z-direction driving device including a rotation knob 23 can be used. When a Z-direction drive device is used for the vertical movement mechanism 21, the second stage 22 moves upward or downward by a distance corresponding to the amount of rotation of the rotary knob 23.

  The vertical movement mechanism 21 can be fixed to the base 11 by magnetic force, for example. In that case, the steel plate 12 may be attached to a part of the base 11 and the vertical movement mechanism 21 may be fixed to the steel plate 12 portion via the magnet stand 24.

[Lighting fixing part 41]
In the illumination fixing unit 41, the illumination device attachment unit is disposed above the second stage 22, that is, in the region directly above the sample to be observed. By attaching an illuminating device to the illumination fixing unit 41, the observation target region can be illuminated from above. 1 and 2, the illumination fixing part 41 is attached to the first stage 32. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the illumination fixing part 41 may be the second stage 22 or the base. 11 may be attached to a member other than the first stage 32 such as 11.

[Operation]
Next, a method for performing microscopic observation using the alignment mechanism shown in FIGS. The alignment mechanism of this embodiment is used in combination with a smart device having a camera function and a lens unit that constitutes a compound microscope together with the camera of the smart device. FIG. 3 is a side view schematically showing a configuration of an optical microscope apparatus using the alignment mechanism of the present embodiment.

  When performing microscope observation using the microscope apparatus 10 shown in FIG. 3, first, the lens unit 3 is placed on the front camera of the smart device 2. The lens unit 3 constitutes a compound microscope together with the camera of the smart device 2, and includes a lens and a plate-like support member that holds the lens from a direction perpendicular to the optical axis.

  The lens of the lens unit 3 may be a ball lens formed of glass or plastic, or a high performance composite microlens used in a smart device camera. For example, a ball lens having a diameter of 1 to 5 mm can be used. However, the smaller the diameter, the smaller the focal length, and the larger the magnification of the dual microscope configured integrally with the smart device, the lens diameter is necessary. It can be appropriately selected according to the magnification. For example, a high-performance composite microlens having a diameter of 5 to 10 mm can be used, and in this case as well, the lens diameter can be appropriately selected according to the required magnification.

  On the other hand, the support member may be a transparent flat plate or a semi-transparent flat plate in which a through hole having a size capable of accommodating a lens is formed. The support member is preferably made of a transparent material from the viewpoint of facilitating alignment between the camera optical axis of the smart device 2 and the lens of the lens unit. However, in that case, in order to prevent stray light from entering the lens, it is desirable to perform an opacity treatment such as coating the inner wall of the through hole with a black paint or a black sheet.

  The lens unit 3 is arranged so that the lens is positioned on the optical axis of the camera of the smart device 2. For example, when the support member is formed of a transparent flat plate, the smart device camera window and the lens that are visible through the support member are arranged so as to overlap. Thereby, a compound microscope is constituted by the lens of the lens unit 3 and the lens of the built-in camera of the smart device 2.

  Next, the smart device 2 on which the lens unit 3 is placed is placed on the first stage 32 of the alignment mechanism 1 so that the display unit faces up. Further, on the second stage 22 of the alignment mechanism 1, a transparent sample plate (sample preparation, etc.) on which the sample to be observed is fixed is placed.

  Then, when specifying the observation region, the position of the smart device 2 is adjusted by moving the first stage 32 in the horizontal direction by the horizontal movement mechanism 31. On the other hand, when performing focusing, the vertical movement mechanism 21 moves the second stage 22 in the vertical direction to adjust the position of the sample to be observed. That is, unlike the general microscope apparatus, the microscope apparatus 10 of the present embodiment specifies an observation region by adjusting the position of the smart device and performs focusing by adjusting the position of the sample.

  Thereby, even if it is a simple microscope apparatus using the camera of a smart device, it becomes possible to specify an observation area | region and a focusing operation with the same precision as a commercially available optical microscope apparatus. In the alignment mechanism of this embodiment, the horizontal movement mechanism 31 and the vertical movement mechanism 21 operate independently, and the first stage 32 and the second stage 22 move relatively.

  In addition, although the case where a tablet is used as the smart device 2 is shown in FIG. 3, the observation region is specified and focused by the same method when another terminal device such as a smartphone is used. Is possible. Furthermore, when the transmission image of the sample is observed with the microscope apparatus 10 of this embodiment, an illumination device such as an LED (light emitting diode) is attached to the illumination fixing unit 41 of the alignment mechanism 1 to illuminate the sample from above. You can also.

  In the alignment mechanism of this embodiment, a smart device is arranged on a first stage that can move an arbitrary distance in the horizontal direction, and a sample plate is arranged on a second stage that can move an arbitrary distance in the vertical direction. Therefore, it is possible to improve the accuracy of the observation region specification and the focusing operation in the microscope apparatus including the smart device and the lens unit. In addition, since the sample is positioned above the smart device, the optical microscope apparatus using the alignment mechanism of this embodiment can perform both transmission image observation and reflection image observation.

1 Positioning mechanism 2 Smart device (tablet)
3 Lens unit 10 Microscope device 11 Base 12 Steel plate 21 Vertical movement mechanism 22 Second stage 23, 33, 34 Rotary knob,
24 Magnet stand 25 Holding member 31 Horizontal moving mechanism 32 First stage 35 Non-slip sheet 36 Spacer 41 Illumination fixing part

Claims (7)

A first stage on which a smart device having a camera function is placed;
A horizontal movement mechanism for moving the first stage at an arbitrary distance in the horizontal direction;
A second stage placed above the first stage and on which a transparent sample plate on which a sample to be observed is fixed is placed;
A vertical movement mechanism for moving the second stage in a vertical direction by an arbitrary distance;
With
The horizontal movement mechanism and the vertical movement mechanism operate independently, and an alignment mechanism in which the first stage and the second stage move relative to each other.   2. The alignment mechanism according to claim 1, wherein each of the horizontal movement mechanism and the vertical movement mechanism includes a rotation knob, and the first stage and the second stage move by a distance corresponding to a rotation amount of each rotation knob.   The alignment mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the second stage is provided with a light transmission portion at a portion where the sample plate is placed.   The alignment mechanism according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein an illumination fixing portion for attaching an illumination device is provided above the second stage. The alignment mechanism according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
A smart device having a camera function;
A lens and a plate-like support member that holds the lens from a direction perpendicular to the optical axis, and a lens unit that forms a compound microscope together with the camera,
The smart device is placed on the first stage of the alignment mechanism so that the display unit is on the top,
The lens unit is disposed on the front camera of the smart device so that the lens is positioned;
A microscope apparatus in which a transparent sample plate on which a sample to be observed is fixed is placed on the second stage of the alignment mechanism.   The microscope apparatus according to claim 5, wherein an observation region is specified by moving the first stage in a horizontal direction, and a focusing operation is performed by moving the second stage in a vertical direction.   Furthermore, the microscope apparatus of Claim 5 or 6 provided with the illuminating device which illuminates the said sample from upper direction.

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