JP3872866B2 - Depth of focus extension device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
According to the present invention, it is as if the depth of focus is extended from a plurality of input images including an image focused on each height position of a thick subject as if the depth of focus is in focus. The present invention relates to a depth of focus extension apparatus capable of obtaining an image.
[0002]
[Prior art]
When an object is analyzed using the input image, the obtained image is required to be a bright image with high resolution and a deep focal depth. In general, in order to optically capture a bright image with excellent resolution and high magnification, an imaging optical system using an optical element having a large aperture is required.
[0003]
However, an imaging optical element represented by a lens has a shallow depth of focus when the aperture is large. Therefore, if an imaging optical element with a large aperture is used to ensure a large magnification, the depth of focus becomes extremely shallow.Therefore, if the subject exists at a different position in the optical axis direction, only one of the subjects The image cannot be brought into focus, and the other part of the image becomes blurred.
[0004]
Therefore, in the field of using image equipment such as a microscope, a camera, and an endoscope, various means for increasing the depth of focus are considered. For example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-313,068 (hereinafter abbreviated as “conventional example 1”) is a multi-area distance measuring device in which a spatial frequency characteristic in each area is driven by a lens driving device. After measuring the in-focus position on the object plane and measuring the distance to each object in advance, the spatial frequency characteristics of the images of multiple object planes in the field of view are cumulatively added. The images that are the most uniform in each area of the obtained image are synthesized by accumulating the images by driving the lens with a lens driving device, and the above processing is post-processed to obtain a predetermined mid-range to high-frequency range by a spatial filter. A technique for obtaining an image with a deeper depth of focus by performing a filtering process that emphasizes the spatial frequency is disclosed.
[0005]
In Japanese Patent Application No. 8-109,714 (hereinafter abbreviated as “conventional example 2”), a filter coefficient or a filter size of a filter to be used in a recovery process using a spatial filter for the cumulatively added image is set to a CCD camera or the like. A technique is disclosed that includes recovery filter variable means that changes the correlation between the spread of the point image intensity distribution on the light receiving element and the size of the light receiving element.
[0006]
Furthermore, in Japanese Patent Application No. 9-1,472 (hereinafter abbreviated as “Conventional Example 3”), which side of the contrast curve is determined from the change in contrast when the stage of the microscope is first moved slightly. Judge quickly, move the stage in the direction of decreasing contrast, and then reverse the moving direction of the stage in the direction of the contrast toward the peak value, and with this movement, the contrast value of the captured image at each in-focus position with respect to the sample A technique is disclosed in which image addition is performed by an image addition circuit from the time when the degree of change reaches a predetermined condition.
[0007]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
For example, an observation method such as differential interference is adopted because a sample that is nearly transparent is difficult to visually recognize even with normal observation. It is possible to perform differential processing in image processing, and some general image processing apparatuses have such a function.
[0008]
However, in the conventional example 1, since the filter is statically determined only due to the optical condition, the filter cannot be changed according to the sample, and the recovery or enhancement processing by the filter for the cumulatively added image is performed. Is regarded as image processing, processing such as edge enhancement, edge extraction, and averaging that are generally performed in image processing cannot be immediately selected and executed according to the sample or the intention of the observer.
[0009]
Furthermore, recently, a microscope having a focusing correction function has been considered in order to make the focusing operation easier when switching the objective lens of the microscope. For example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 3-15015, Stores in-focus data for each objective lens, corrects the imaging state based on the in-focus data of the objective lens before and after switching, and always keeps the in-focus state even after switching the objective lens. A technique that omits the focusing operation is disclosed.
[0010]
However, none of the above-described conventional examples 1 to 3 has a confocal correction function, and an operation for making the focal point indispensable is necessary after switching the objective lens. Therefore, for an observer who originally intends to observe the specimen, the operation of the microscope and the apparatus becomes complicated, and this causes a problem that it cannot concentrate on the original purpose.
[0011]
In particular, in the above-described conventional example 3, the focus is greatly blurred due to the same focal difference after replacement of the objective lens. In general, when the contrast is low, the contrast is further lowered by moving the first stage from the out-of-focus state. In other words, since it changes in the direction in which the image is out of focus, it may not be possible to detect the next direction in which the contrast goes to the peak value, and a high depth image may not be obtained.
[0012]
The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and the object of the present invention is to stabilize the operation of constructing a high-focus depth image and to reduce the burden on the observer's device operation. It is an object of the present invention to provide a depth of focus extension device that can easily obtain a high depth of focus image along the line.
[0013]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
According to the first aspect of the present invention, a microscope that switches and uses a plurality of objective lenses is used, and an image of an object is projected onto an imaging means including a plurality of light receiving elements via an imaging optical system, and the object image is captured. The image input means for capturing as an image, the focus position moving means for moving the focus position on the object plane, and the same object position captured multiple times from the image input means by the focus position moving means. An image integration unit that adds a plurality of images including a focused image to an integrated image, and an image recovery process using a recovery filter that is a spatial frequency filter for the integrated image acquired by the image integration unit. In the depth of focus extending apparatus having recovery means, a plurality of filter setting means for presetting a corresponding one of the plurality of recovery filters for each of the plurality of objective lenses, An objective lens selecting means for selecting one of the objective lens of a desired, The first position for selecting the recovery filter set by the filter setting means in conjunction with the objective lens selection means and the second position for selecting the recovery filter regardless of the setting of the filter setting means can be switched. Filter selection means The recovery means performs image processing using the filter selected by the filter selection means.
[0014]
With such a configuration, a filter used in the recovery process is set independently for each objective lens, and the observer does not need to perform an operation of switching the recovery filter even when the objective lens is switched. The burden required for the operation of the apparatus can be greatly reduced, and when the image obtained by the recovery process using the preset recovery filter is not satisfactory, the recovery filter can be immediately switched to another one. Therefore, it is possible to promptly perform image processing according to the intention of the observer.
[0015]
The invention described in claim 2 is characterized in that, in the invention described in claim 1, further comprising a focusing control means for correcting the focusing difference of the objective lens switched when the objective lens is switched.
[0016]
With such a configuration, in addition to the operation of the first aspect of the invention described above, since the in-focus correction is performed when the objective lens is switched, the observer himself performs the in-focus operation immediately after the objective lens is switched. Since it is possible to obtain a high-focus depth image at least, it is possible to further reduce the burden required for the observer to operate the apparatus.
[0017]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
(First embodiment)
Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 shows a basic configuration of a depth-of-focus extension apparatus according to the first embodiment. Reference numeral 1 shown by a one-dot chain line is an apparatus main body, 2 is a CCD camera as a photographing means, and 3 is an finally obtained image. A TV monitor 4 for displaying is a microscope for obtaining a specimen image on which the CCD camera 2 is installed, and an operation unit 5 operated by an observer for instructing various operations is connected to the apparatus body 1. .
[0018]
The microscope 4 includes a stage 11 on which an observation specimen is placed, which is movable in the vertical direction along the optical path axis, a stage drive unit 12 that drives the stage 11 under the control of the apparatus main body 1, and a plurality of attached different magnifications. .. Are selectively inserted into the optical path, and the revolver 14 is rotationally driven under the control of the apparatus body 1 to insert the objective lens 13 having a desired magnification into the optical path. The revolver control unit 15 and the intermediate magnification lens 16 are provided, and an enlarged image of the observation specimen obtained by the CCD camera 2 is sent to the apparatus main body 1.
[0019]
The apparatus main body 1 inputs an image obtained by the CCD camera 2 and accumulates a plurality of inputted images, and an image processing unit that performs a recovery process on the accumulated image obtained by the image input integrating unit 21. 22. Operation of the entire apparatus including the image display unit 23 for displaying the image subjected to the recovery process by the image processing unit 22 on the television monitor 3, the image input integration unit 21, the image processing unit 22, and the image display unit 23 A CPU 24 that performs control, a storage unit 25 that stores an operation program of the CPU 24 and various data, and a recovery filter that is a spatial frequency filter used in the image processing unit 22 is provided for each objective lens 13, 13,. The filter setting unit 26 to be set and the recovery filter to be used by the image processing unit 22 other than the filter setting unit 26 set by the filter setting unit 26 are selected. And a data selection unit 27.
[0020]
In addition to the image input integration unit 21, the image processing unit 22, the image display unit 23, the storage unit 25, the filter setting unit 26, and the filter selection unit 27, the CPU 24 revolver control unit 15 of the microscope 4, stage drive The unit 12, the operation unit 5, and the filter setting unit 26 are also connected.
[0021]
Next, a specific external configuration of the operation unit 5 will be illustrated with reference to FIG. 4A is an elevation view of the operation unit 5, and FIG. 4B is a side view of the operation unit 5. A focusing handle 31 for moving the stage 11 of the microscope 4 up and down is provided on the side surface. A start (START) button 32 for starting a photographing operation of a high-focus depth image and a pair of objective switching buttons 33, 33 for switching the objective lenses 13, 13,. Is provided.
[0022]
The objective switching buttons 33, 33 are operated in such a way that the objective lenses 13, 13,... Attached to the revolver 14 are sequentially in the optical path as the revolver 14 is rotated by the drive control of the revolver control unit 15 by pressing one of them. It will be inserted into.
[0023]
3 illustrates the configuration of the filter setting unit 26 when there are a total of five objective lenses 13, 13,... Of the revolver 14, and there are provided as many rotary switches 26a to 26e as the number of objective lenses. .
[0024]
“REV1” to “REV5” in the drawing represent the revolver hole position of the revolver 14, that is, the objective lens attached thereto. In addition, the rotary switches 26a to 26e in the figure are all “0” because of the initial state before the setting, but each rotary switch 26a (to 26e) is a recovery filter provided in the image processing unit 22. The filter number from “0” to “7” can be set corresponding to the number, for example, “8”, and the image processing unit 22 is rotated by rotating the central switching dial 261 using a minus driver or the like. Can be set for each objective lens 13, 13,...
[0025]
Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the filter selection unit 27 instructs the image processing unit 22 to use the recovery filter set by the filter setting unit 26 for each of the objective lenses 13, 13,. This is composed of a rotary switch 271 with a knob having a position A indicated by “*” and a position B in which another recovery filter different from that can be selected temporarily. "Corresponds to the filter number set by the switching dial 261 of the filter setting unit 26.
[0026]
The revolver control unit 15 includes a rotation drive unit including a motor for rotating the revolver 14 and a rebo hole position detection unit using various sensors. The revolver control unit 15 is designated in response to an instruction from the CPU 24. The revolver 14 is rotated and moved so that the objective lens 13 attached to the rebo hole is inserted into the optical path. At the time, which revo hole is in the optical path is detected and sent to the CPU 24. It is like that.
[0027]
The stage drive unit 12 can move the stage 11 up and down along the optical path axis in response to an instruction from the CPU 24, and can manage the position of the stage 11 as an absolute position or a relative position. It has become.
[0028]
Next, the operation of the above embodiment will be described.
The apparatus main body 1 starts an operation based on the control of the CPU 24 for obtaining an image with a high focal depth of the observation specimen placed on the stage 11 of the microscope 4 when the start button 32 of the operation unit 5 is pressed. In this operation, first, an image of the observation specimen placed on the stage 11 is transferred to the objective lens 13 while the stage 11 is moved upward or downward by the stage drive unit 12 of the microscope 4. Then, the image is taken by the CCD camera 2 through the intermediate magnification lens 16. The sample images photographed by the CCD camera 2 are sequentially taken in by the image input integration unit 21 of the apparatus main body 1 and are integrated into the sample images of the same observation sample taken before that.
[0029]
The image input integration unit 21 integrates a predetermined number of images and then sends them to the image processing unit 22. The image processing unit 22 executes a recovery process on the integrated image using a recovery filter designated by the CPU 24.
[0030]
Here, the operation when the CPU 24 controls the microscope 4 to capture the integrated image will be described in more detail. The CPU 24 determines whether or not the control can be performed at the position of the stage 11 at that time. It is determined whether or not the contrast value of the image input to the unit 21 is higher than a predetermined value. If it is determined that the control is possible, the stage 11 is moved in a predetermined direction by the stage driving unit 12, and the image input integrating unit The movement of the stage 11 is stopped at a position where it can be recognized that the sample image is completely blurred by the contrast value of the image from 21.
[0031]
Thereafter, the stage 11 is driven in a direction opposite to the moving direction of the stage 11 until then, and it is determined whether or not image integration should be started at the position of each stage 11 after driving based on the contrast value of the image. The drive of the stage 11 is stopped at the position where it is determined that the image is to be accumulated.
[0032]
When it is determined that image integration starts at a certain stage 11, the sample image captured by the CCD camera 2 is integrated by the image input integration unit 21. While the stage 11 is being driven by the stage drive unit 12 at a constant speed, the sample images at the positions of the respective stages 11 sequentially input to the image input integration unit 21 are sequentially integrated until an integration end command is output. At this time, the CPU 24 sequentially evaluates the contrast value of the sample image obtained at that time during the image integration calculation by the image input integration unit 21, and the change in the contrast value that changes with the position of the stage 11 becomes a predetermined value. At that point, the end of integration is determined. Until the end of the integration is determined, the image integration in the image input integration unit 21 and the drive of the stage 11 by the stage drive unit 12 are repeatedly executed.
[0033]
When the integration of the images is completed, the integration image integrated by the image input integration unit 21 is transferred to the image processing unit 22, and a recovery process using a recovery filter for obtaining an image focused on all surfaces of the screen is performed. Is to be applied.
[0034]
That is, the recovery filter used for the recovery process in the image processing unit 22 is specifically stored in a ROM that constitutes a part of the storage unit 25, and is previously set in the filter setting unit 26. It is assumed that a filter number based on this is added.
[0035]
This recovery filter has characteristics determined from optical conditions such as the objective lens 13, the intermediate magnification lens 16, and the size of the CCD camera 2, or image processing such as edge enhancement, edge extraction, and averaging. In addition to the above-described effects, a two-dimensional or three-dimensional table may be extended and arranged.
[0036]
Here, independent of the above optical conditions, the filter itself may be arranged in combination with various image processing effects in addition to the effect of the recovery processing when viewed from the viewpoint of image processing.
[0037]
However, in order to identify the recovery filter, a number is added to each filter, and association with the filter setting unit 26 and the filter selection unit 27 described above is performed. That is, the filter set by the rotary switches 26a to 26e of the filter setting unit 26 or the rotary switch 271 with a knob of the filter selection unit 27 corresponding to each of the objective lenses 13, 13,. If the rotary switch 271 with the knob of the filter selection unit 27 is in the position A, the recovery filter set by the rotary switch 26a (-26e) of the filter setting unit 26 is used. The Rukoto.
[0038]
If the rotary switch 271 with the knob of the filter selection unit 27 is at the position B, the recovery filters “0” to “7” indicated at the position B are used.
[0039]
Therefore, when the objective lens 13, 13,... Of the revolver 14 is switched by setting the rotary switch 271 with a knob of the filter selection unit 27 to the position A and a sample image with a high focal depth related to the observation sample is obtained, The recovery filter set in advance by the filter setting unit 26 corresponding to the objective lens 13 to be used is automatically read from the storage unit 25 and used to create a specimen image.
[0040]
When the rotary switch 271 with a knob of the filter selection unit 27 is set to the position B and the objective lenses 13, 13,... Of the revolver 14 are switched to obtain a sample image with a high focal depth related to the observation sample, A recovery filter set in advance with the filter number in position B is automatically read from the storage unit 25 and used to create a sample image.
[0041]
Furthermore, even after the start button 32 is pressed and a sample image with a high focal depth is created, if the filter number is switched within the position B of the rotary switch 271 with the knob, the recovery filter of that filter number is immediately used. A new specimen image is created.
[0042]
For this reason, when the objective lens 13 is switched by setting the rotary switch 271 with the knob of the filter selection unit 27 to the position A to obtain a specimen image with a high focal depth of the observation specimen, the recovery filter corresponding to the objective lens 13 after the switching. Is automatically used. On the other hand, when the objective lens 13 is switched by setting the rotary switch 271 with a knob of the filter selection unit 27 to an arbitrary film number in the position B to obtain a sample image with a high focal depth of the observation sample. Even after the objective lens 13 is switched, the recovery filter corresponding to the film number in the position B is continuously used.
[0043]
The high depth of focus image obtained by the recovery process in the image processing unit 22 is displayed and output on the television monitor 3 by the image display unit 23.
In the above embodiments, the rotary switches 26a to 26e and 271 are used for the filter setting unit 26 and the filter selection unit 27. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and other types of selection switches are used. Also good.
[0044]
Another configuration example of the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.
That is, FIG. 5 shows the operation panel unit 41 by integrating the filter setting unit 26 and the filter selection unit 27 into the operation unit 5. The operation panel unit 41 is, for example, a liquid crystal display panel integrated with a touch sensor panel. It is configured, and a button or the like displayed at a corresponding position can be operated by pressing an arbitrary position on the display with a finger.
[0045]
The panel section includes filter setting buttons 42a to 42e that replace the rotary switches 26a to 26e of the filter setting section 26, a filter selection button 43 that replaces the rotary switch 271 of the filter selection section 27, and a start button similar to the operation section 5. 32 ', an objective switching button 33', and a stage moving button 44.
[0046]
The objective switching button 33 'is one in which the revolver 14 is rotationally driven by the revolver controller 15 via the CPU 24 by operating one of the pair, and the objective lens 13 inserted in the optical path is switched. Depending on the result of switching, one of the filter setting buttons 42a to 42e provided corresponding to each objective lens 13, 13... Is lit and displayed with high brightness, and the position of the used rebo hole is indicated. It can be confirmed.
[0047]
The filter setting buttons 42a to 42e display the filter numbers of the recovery filters set in advance under the characters “REV1” to “REV5” indicating the revo hole positions, and “REV1” indicating the revo hole positions. .. Instead of “REV5”, information such as the names and magnifications of the objective lenses 13, 13,... Attached to the respective rebo holes may be stored and displayed.
[0048]
The stage movement button 44 is formed by arranging a large number of rectangular buttons in one row, with “Up” on one end and “Down” on the other end. The CPU 24 causes the stage 11 to move upward by the stage driving unit 12 by sequentially tracing the rectangular buttons with the fingers from the direction "" to the direction "Up". Similarly, the stage 11 is moved downward by tracing in the opposite direction.
[0049]
The filter setting buttons 42a to 42e are dedicated for setting the filter number on the display screen of the operation panel unit 41 from the state shown in FIG. 5 by operating the rectangular frame of the button for each rebo hole number with fingers. The screen is switched to display a list of recovery filter numbers that can be set. By instructing the desired filter number from the list, the filter number instructed for operation is input. Returning to the display screen of No. 5, the input filter number is displayed in the button rectangular frame of the corresponding REVO hole number. The above operation is executed for all the rebo holes.
[0050]
The filter selection button 43 displays the currently leading filter number in the rectangular frame of the button. When switching the filter number to another one, the inside of the rectangle is operated by a finger. The filter number displayed in the rectangle is “*” → “0” → “1” → “2” →... → “6” → “7” → “*” → “0” → “1” →. ... and so on. In this case, in the state where “*” is displayed, among the filter setting buttons 42a to 42e as described above, the filter number corresponding to the rebo hole used at that time is lit up and displayed at the same time.
[0051]
Note that the setting and selection contents of the filter setting buttons 42a to 42e and the filter selection button 43 are held in an electrically rewritable nonvolatile memory such as EEPROM, flash ROM, NVRAM, etc. It shall be possible to maintain its contents even if it is refused.
[0052]
In the description of FIG. 5 described above, the operation panel unit 41 has been described as a liquid crystal display panel integrated with a touch sensor panel. Instead, the operation panel unit 41 includes a CRT and a pointing device such as a mouse. You may make it do.
[0053]
As described above, according to the embodiment, the objective lenses 13, 13. Since the recovery filter used in the recovery process can be set independently each time, even when the objective lens 13 being used is switched, the observer performs an operation to switch the recovery filter to an appropriate one each time. There is no need to perform this, and the extra operation can be simplified.
[0054]
In addition, when the restored image cannot be satisfied with the contents of the preset restoration filter, another restoration filter can be immediately selected again, so that the image processing according to the intention of the observer is performed. It can be executed immediately and a sample image with a high depth of focus can be acquired quickly.
[0055]
(Second Embodiment)
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
The basic configuration of the depth-of-focus extending apparatus is basically the same as that shown in FIG. 1, and the same parts are denoted by the same reference numerals and the description thereof is omitted.
[0056]
However, the storage unit 25 stores, as one of operation programs for operation control performed by the CPU 24, a confocal correction processing program for correcting the in-focus difference between the objective lenses when the objective lens 13 is switched.
[0057]
This in-focus correction processing program is set so as to start operation when the power of the apparatus main body 1 is turned on while simultaneously operating both of the pair of objective switching buttons 33 with the operation unit 5 when the objective lens 13 is switched. In that case, a warning sound is emitted for confirmation to inform the observer that the operation is different from the normal operation.
[0058]
Hereinafter, the contents of the in-focus correction processing program will be described.
FIG. 6 shows the focal positions of the objective lenses 13, 13,... Attached to the revolver 14. The magnification of the objective lens 13 attached to the rebo hole “REV1” is “100 times” and the rebo hole “REV2”. The magnification of the objective lens 13 attached to the lens is "50 times", the magnification of the objective lens 13 attached to the rebo hole "REV3" is "20 times", and the magnification of the objective lens 13 attached to the rebo hole "REV4" is "10 times" The magnification of the objective lens 13 attached to the rebo hole “REV5” is assumed to be “5 times”.
[0059]
Of these objective lenses 13, 13,..., The “100 ×” objective lens 13 attached to the revo hole “REV 1” with the highest magnification is switched by the operation of the objective switching button 33, and an appropriate observation specimen is mounted on the stage 11. The focusing handle 31 is manually rotated to focus on the observation specimen. Here, the start button 32 is operated to store the current position of the stage 11 shown in FIG. The start button 32 functions to store the position of the stage 11 during execution of the in-focus correction processing program.
[0060]
However, it is assumed that the position of the stage 11 can be sequentially recognized by the stage driving unit 12. For example, the position coordinates of the stage 11 may be managed by using a rotary encoder in conjunction with the movement axis of the stage 11, and when the stepping motor is used to drive the stage 11, the amount of movement of the stage 11. May be acquired as relative position information by managing the number of drive pulses applied to the stepping motor.
[0061]
In this case, the observation sample to be used can be more accurately focused when the number of stepped surfaces of the sample in the field of view is smaller, regardless of the magnification of the objective lens 13 observed.
Next, with the exception of the objective lens 13 used so far, the one with the highest magnification, in this case, the “50 ×” objective lens 13 attached to the rebo hole “REV2” is switched by operating the objective switching button 33, and the like The position of the stage 11 shown in FIG. 6B at that time is stored by operating the start button 32.
[0062]
The above operations are also performed on the other objective lenses 13, 13,.
When the CPU 24 completes the above operations for all the objective lenses 13, 13,..., The in-focus data used for the in-focus correction, for example, as shown in FIG. The focal difference “5 [μm]” between the “100 ×” objective lens 13 of “REV1” and the “50 ×” objective lens 13 of “REV2” is calculated, and the calculated focal difference data is stored in the storage unit 25. The program is stored in an electrically rewritable non-volatile memory, and the execution of the in-focus correction processing program is completed.
[0063]
The in-focus data once stored in the storage unit 25 is valid as long as the objective lens 13 is not replaced. When the object lens 13 is replaced, the in-focus correction processing program is executed again. The focal difference data may be acquired again.
[0064]
Accordingly, the CPU 24 starts preparation for obtaining a normal high-focus depth image when the execution of the in-focus correction processing program is completed. At this time, once the apparatus is turned off and then turned on again, normal operation can be started immediately.
[0065]
Next, a description will be given of an in-focus correction operation at the time of switching the objective lens 13 using the above-described in-focus difference data performed at the time of shooting a normal high-focus depth image.
When the objective switching button 33 of the operation unit 5 is operated, the stage 11 is lowered by a predetermined amount for safety. Next, in order to move the objective lens 13 in the optical path, the CPU 24 rotates the revolver 14 by the revolver controller 15 to confirm that the desired objective lens 13 is inserted in the optical path. The in-focus data before and after switching is read from the storage unit 25, and the stage 11 is moved again based on it.
[0066]
For example, when the objective lens 13 “100 times” “REV1” shown in FIG. 6 is switched from the objective lens 13 “50 times” “REV2”, the focal difference before and after the switching is “5”. Assuming that the focused position after switching in [μm] is below the stage 11 from the focused position before switching, when the stage 11 is returned to its original position, the movement when the stage 11 is first lowered is moved. The amount of movement is reduced by “5 [μm]” from the amount, so that the focusing correction process is completed, and it is possible to accurately match the observation sample without bothering the observer. It is possible to maintain a focused state.
[0067]
Therefore, from this point in time, a high depth of focus image can be obtained immediately by simply operating the start button 32 of the operation unit 5.
As described above, in the second embodiment, since the in-focus correction is performed when the objective lens 13 is switched, an operation for correcting the in-focus of the observer immediately after the switching of the objective lens 13 is omitted, and immediately. Since it is possible to shift to observation, it is possible to reduce the burden on the observer's device operation and to obtain a high-focus depth image efficiently and quickly.
[0068]
It should be noted that a dedicated start switch for executing the above-mentioned in-focus correction processing program may be provided in the operation unit 5, and each objective lens 13, 13,... Can be statically measured without measuring the in-focus difference. The focal difference may be calculated from the focal position data. However, in this method of statically calculating the in-focus difference, the processing accuracy of the objective lens 13 itself varies depending on the processing accuracy of each of the revolving holes due to the attachment of the objective lens 13 to the revolving holes of the revolver 14. Are not considered, and the method for obtaining the in-focus difference data from the in-focus positions of the objective lenses 13, 13,. However, although it takes time, it is possible to calculate an accurate in-focus correction amount in accordance with the reality in consideration of individual differences and attachment states of the objective lenses 13, 13,.
[0069]
【The invention's effect】
According to the first aspect of the present invention, the filter used for the recovery process is set independently for each objective lens, and the observer does not need to perform an operation to switch the recovery filter even when the objective lens is switched. It is possible to greatly reduce the burden required for the user's operation of the apparatus, and when the restoration process using the preset restoration filter is not satisfactory with the image obtained, the restoration filter is immediately switched to another one. Therefore, it is possible to immediately perform image processing according to the intention of the observer.
[0070]
According to the second aspect of the invention, in addition to the effect of the first aspect of the invention, since the in-focus correction is performed at the time of switching the objective lens, the observer himself performs the focusing operation immediately after the objective lens is switched. Since a high depth-of-focus image can be obtained without performing the above, it is possible to further reduce the burden required for the observer to operate the apparatus.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a basic configuration according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a specific external configuration of an operation unit according to the embodiment;
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a specific external configuration of a filter setting unit according to the embodiment;
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a specific external configuration of a filter selection unit according to the embodiment;
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing another configuration example when the filter setting unit and the filter selection unit according to the embodiment are integrated into an operation unit to form an operation panel unit.
FIG. 6 is a view for explaining in-focus correction according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 ... Main unit
2 ... CCD camera
3 ... TV monitor
4 ... Microscope
5. Operation unit
11 ... Stage
12 ... Stage drive unit
13 ... Objective lens
14 ... Revolver
15 ... Revolver control unit
16 ... Intermediate magnification lens
21. Image input integration unit
22. Image processing unit
23. Image display section
24 ... CPU
25. Storage unit
26: Filter setting section
26a-26e ... Rotary switch
27: Filter selection section
271 ... Rotary switch with knob
31 ... Focusing handle
32, 32 '... Start button
33, 33 '... Objective switching button
41. Operation panel section
42a-42e ... Filter setting button
43 ... Filter selection button
44 ... Stage move button

Claims (2)

Using a microscope that switches between multiple objective lenses, an image of an object is projected onto an imaging means consisting of multiple light receiving elements via an imaging optical system, and image input is performed by capturing the object image. A plurality of images including images focused on different object planes captured multiple times from the image input means by the focus position moving means, the focus position moving means for moving the focus position on the object plane; Depth-of-focus extending apparatus having image integration means for adding images to obtain an integrated image, and recovery means for performing image recovery processing using a recovery filter formed of a spatial frequency filter for the integrated image acquired by the image integration means In
A plurality of filter setting means for presetting a corresponding one of the plurality of recovery filters for each of the plurality of objective lenses;
Objective lens selecting means for selecting a desired one from the plurality of objective lenses;
The first position for selecting the recovery filter set by the filter setting means in conjunction with the objective lens selection means and the second position for selecting the recovery filter regardless of the setting of the filter setting means can be switched. A filter selection means ,
The depth of focus extending apparatus, wherein the recovery means performs image processing using the filter selected by the filter selection means.   2. A depth-of-focus extending apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a focusing control means for correcting a focusing difference of the objective lens switched when the objective lens is switched.

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