JP5399549B2 - Microscope camera - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a technique of a microscope, and more particularly, to a technique of a microscope camera that captures an observation image with a microscope.

  The microscope camera has a scale function for easily grasping the actual size of the specimen shown in the observation image, a measurement function for measuring the distance between any two points in the observation image, etc. Some are equipped with. Among them, the scale function is to notify the observer by displaying a graphic image imitating a ruler with a scale or a character image indicating the magnification of the microscope in order to grasp the size of the observation image. It is a function. In general, the notification method is to display these images superimposed on the observation image.

  Regarding the scale function in such a microscope camera, for example, in Patent Document 1, in a microscope camera capable of scale display, a CCU (camera control unit) acquires information on a microscope objective lens being used, A technique of optimizing the magnification and scale of a scale image included in an observation image by creating a scale image based on information is disclosed.

  Further, for example, in Patent Document 2, by setting the observation magnification of the microscope to the camera, the scale is displayed on the camera image, thereby enabling a scale display suitable for the observation image, and the live image and the still image. A technique is disclosed that enables a scale display to be superimposed on both the recorded image.

  In addition, as a technique related to the present invention, for example, in Patent Document 3, an image is taken with a microscope camera, which is generated when the microscope optical path is once interrupted by a microscope operation for switching a microscope objective lens and then opened. A technique for preventing high-luminance light emission of a moving image is disclosed. In this technique, exposure control is temporarily stopped when the camera detects an optical path interruption. In this way, this technique suppresses an overexposure (overbrightness) state at the time of opening and closing due to exposure control during light path interruption. Further, for example, in Patent Document 4, when the microscope optical path is interrupted by the rotation operation of the objective revolver that holds the objective lens of the microscope, the AGC (automatic gain control) is temporarily stopped so that the image of the image at the time of disconnection opening is displayed. A technique for suppressing an overbrightness state is disclosed.

JP 2004-258495 A JP 2003-32524 A JP 2005-37683 A Japanese Patent No. 3909828

  The technique of Patent Document 1 requires a communication means for the camera to acquire information from the microscope, which leads to an increase in the size of the apparatus and an increase in cost. In addition, when connecting to a microscope that does not have means for detecting information indicating the observation state of the microscope (for example, information for identifying an objective lens in use), the camera optimizes the scale display of the observation image. Can not.

  Also in the technique of Patent Document 2, since the camera cannot grasp the change of the objective lens in the microscope, it is necessary to change the setting on the camera side every time the observer changes the magnification of the microscope. In some cases, the user may forget setting or the scale display displayed on the screen is not appropriate.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and the problem to be solved is to enable appropriate changes in camera settings that need to be performed in synchronization with changes in the state of the microscope. is there.

  A microscope camera according to one aspect of the present invention includes an observation image display unit that displays an observation image acquired by a microscope, a detection unit that detects a change in the observation image, and a change in the observation image by the detection unit. A notification means for outputting notification information indicating the detection result of the image, and a display magnification information storage means for storing display magnification information for the observation image, wherein the notification means is configured to output the notification information. , Displaying a list of display magnifications of the observation image stored in the display magnification information storage means, and further, a specimen to be observed with the microscope and an image of the specimen represented in the observation image Scale information display means for displaying scale information indicating a size relationship, selection instruction acquisition means for acquiring a selection instruction from the display magnification list, and the scale information display means Scale information display changing means for changing the display of the scale information to the display of scale information corresponding to the display magnification according to the selection instruction, and this feature solves the problems described above. To do.

  At this time, the notification unit is configured to display the list of display magnifications so that the display magnifications related to the selection instruction acquired by the selection instruction acquisition unit are in a specific arrangement order. May be.

  Alternatively, at this time, the notification means stops the display if the selection instruction acquisition means does not acquire the selection instruction even after a predetermined time has elapsed since the display of the display magnification list was started. You may comprise.

  At this time, when the display of the list of display magnifications is stopped, the notification means may be configured to notify that the selection instruction has not been acquired.

  According to the microscope system configured as described above, it is possible to appropriately change the setting of the camera that needs to be performed in synchronization with the change of the state of the microscope.

It is a figure which shows the structure of a microscope system. It is a figure which shows the detailed structure of a revolver. It is a figure which shows the structure of a camera head part. It is a figure which shows the structure of the external appearance of the operation part in an operation display part. It is a figure which shows the electrical structure of the operation part in an operation display part. It is a figure which shows the 1st example of a structure of an objective change determination part. It is a figure which shows the structure of the display location in an operation display part. It is a figure which shows the example of the live image on which the scale is superimposed and displayed. It is a figure which shows the example of a setting screen of a scale display (the 1). It is a figure which shows the setting screen example (the 2) of a scale display. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of processing operations of the digital camera for a microscope according to the first embodiment. It is a figure which shows the 2nd example of a structure of an objective change determination part. It is a figure which shows the example of the live image on which the warning character string is superimposed and displayed. It is a figure which shows the 3rd example of a structure of the objective change determination part. 12 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of processing operations of an objective change determination unit according to the second embodiment. It is a figure which shows the 4th example of a structure of the objective change determination part. It is a figure which shows the structure of a light-shielding time measuring device. 12 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of processing operations of an objective change determination unit according to the third embodiment. It is a figure which shows the 1st example of a display of the list of the display magnifications of an observation image. 12 is a flowchart illustrating a part of a flow of processing operations of the digital camera for a microscope according to the third embodiment. It is a figure which shows the 2nd example of a display of the list of the display magnifications of an observation image. It is a figure which shows the setting screen example (the 3) of a scale display. It is a figure which shows the 3rd example of a display of the list of the display magnifications of an observation image. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a part of the flow of processing operations of the digital camera for a microscope according to the fifth embodiment. It is a figure which shows the 4th example of a display of the list of the display magnifications of an observation image. It is a figure which shows the 5th example of a display of the list of the display magnifications of an observation image. FIG. 25 is a first modification of the flowchart shown in FIG. 24. FIG. It is a figure which shows the example of the live image which alert | reports that the selection instruction | indication of the display magnification is not acquired. It is a modification of the flowchart shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows the example of the live image which has alert | reported that the display magnification selection instruction | indication was not acquired at the time of acquisition of pressing operation of EXPOSE SW. 18 is a flowchart illustrating a part of the flow of processing operations of the digital camera for a microscope according to the seventh embodiment. It is a figure which shows the 5th example of a structure of the objective change determination part. It is a figure explaining division | segmentation of an observation image. It is a figure which shows the transition of the light-shielding state of the observation image when a revolver is rotated to the left. FIG. 20 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of processing operations of an objective change determination unit according to an eighth embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the relationship between a scale name and each mounting hole of a revolver. It is a figure which shows the 6th example of a display of the list of the display magnifications of an observation image. It is a figure which shows the 7th example of a display of the list of the display magnifications of an observation image. It is a modification of the flowchart shown in FIG. FIG. 25 is a second modification of the flowchart shown in FIG. 24. FIG. It is a modification of the flowchart shown in FIG.

Hereinafter, each example as an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[Example 1]
FIG. 1 shows a configuration of a microscope system including a microscope camera for carrying out the present invention.
FIG. 1 shows a state in which a microscope digital camera 3 according to an embodiment of the present invention is mounted on a microscope body 1.

First, the microscope main body 1 will be described.
The microscope main body 1 includes a stage 51, an objective lens 52, a revolver 53, an eyepiece lens 54, an imaging lens 55, and a half mirror 56.

A specimen 50 is placed on the stage 51. The objective lens 52 enlarges the image of the sample 50. The half mirror 56 reflects a part of the light representing the image of the sample 50 and guides it to the eyepiece lens 54. The eyepiece lens 54 is used for an observer to peek at the light reflected by the half mirror 56 as a sample image. The image forming lens 55 forms an image of the light transmitted through the half mirror 56 as a sample image in the light receiving unit of the camera head unit 2.

  The revolver 53 holds the objective lens 52 on the optical path (observation optical axis) of the microscope body 1. The revolver 53 has a rotation mechanism. By rotating the revolver 53, the objective lens 52 held on the optical path for use in observing the specimen 50 can be switched to another lens mounted on the revolver 53. it can. In FIG. 1, the objective lens 52 is held on the optical path, and the objective lens 52-2 is held outside the optical path.

A detailed configuration of the revolver 53 is shown in FIG. In FIG. 2, the optical path is perpendicular to the paper surface.
As shown in FIG. 2, the revolver 53 has a configuration capable of mounting up to six objective lenses 52, for example, 2 times, 4 times, 10 times, 20 times, 40 times, 100 times, etc. Six types of objective lenses 52 having different magnifications can be attached to the revolver 53. Here, when the observer rotates the revolver 53 as necessary, any one of the objective lenses 52 attached to the revolver 53 is arranged on the optical path.

  Further, the revolver 53 has a light shielding structure other than a portion where the objective lens 52 is mounted (shaded portion in FIG. 2). That is, when the objective lens 52 is switched by rotating the revolver 53, a state in which the optical path is shielded occurs until the objective lens 52 is removed from the optical path and another lens is placed on the optical path. It is configured.

Next, the microscope digital camera 3 will be described.
The digital camera 3 for a microscope is configured by connecting a camera head unit 2 including a shutter 25 and an operation display unit 6, which is a separate structure from the camera head unit 2, with a cable 7.

The camera head unit 2 is disposed on the optical path of light emitted from the microscope body 1 and representing a sample image.
The shutter 25 blocks light reaching the light receiving unit of the camera head unit 2 from the imaging lens 55 at a desired time. A shutter 25 is provided. The shutter 25 may be a mechanical shutter that mechanically blocks light, but instead, an electronic shutter that blocks light according to an electrical signal may be used.

  The operation display unit 6 is configured integrally with an operation part 4 operated by an observer and a display part 5 for displaying a specimen image guided from the camera head part 2. The display part 5 also has a function of displaying various setting states and the like related to the photographing operation of the microscope digital camera 3 performed by an observer's operation on the operation part 4.

  The camera head unit 2 and the operation display unit 6 can transmit and receive electrical signals to and from each other via a cable 7 that connects the two. Therefore, even if the operation display unit 6 is set apart from the camera head unit 2 within the range allowed by the cable 7, the specimen image can be captured by the microscope digital camera 3.

  In the operation display unit 6, the operation part 4 and the display part 5 can keep a constant angle. Therefore, when the operation display unit 6 is installed on a desk, for example, the operation part 4 is held almost horizontally with the desk, and the display part 5 is held at an angle that is easy for the observer to operate within the range of 0 to 90 °, for example about 90 °. can do. The 0 ° state indicates a state where the operation part 4 and the display part 5 are horizontal, that is, a state where the operation part 4 and the display part 5 are opened on the same plane.

  In addition, by connecting the operation display unit 6 to the PC 100 with the communication cable 101, various instructions for the operation of the digital camera 3 for a microscope can be performed from the PC 100, and recording and display of a specimen image can be performed. It can also be performed by the PC 100.

Next, FIG. 3 will be described. FIG. 3 shows the configuration of the camera head unit 2.
The camera head unit 2 includes an imaging device 20, a sampling circuit 21, an A / D converter 22, and an image processing unit 23.

  The imaging device 20 is a light receiving unit in the camera head unit 2 and photoelectrically converts a sample image (observation image) formed on the light receiving surface by the imaging lens 55. For example, a CCD (charge coupled device) is used as the imaging device 20.

The sampling circuit 21 samples the electrical signal output from the image sensor 20 at regular time intervals, and outputs a sampling signal as a result.
The A / D (analog-digital) converter 22 converts a sampling signal that is an analog electric signal into digital data.

The image processing unit 23 generates observation image data in which a specimen image is represented based on the digital data converted by the A / D converter 22.
It should be noted that the current observation image (moving image) can be displayed on the display part 5 in almost real time by continuously generating the image of the observation image regardless of the imaging instruction of the observer.

Next, FIG. 4 will be described. FIG. 4 shows an external configuration of the operation part 4 in the operation display unit 6.
The operation part 4 includes an EXPOSE SW 31, a mode SW 32, an exposure correction SW 33, a memory device 34, a power supply SW 60, a left selection SW 61, a right selection SW 62, a communication terminal 37, and an objective change warning LED 72.

  The EXPOSE SW 31 is a switch that is operated to instruct the microscope digital camera 3 to execute a shooting operation, and is a shooting instruction acquisition unit that acquires a shooting instruction for an observation image obtained by the microscope body 1.

  The mode SW 32 is a switch operated to give an instruction to switch the operation state (operation mode) of the microscope digital camera 3. The microscope digital camera 3 is used for the operation of the “shooting mode” (REC) for performing a shooting operation, the “playback mode” (PLAY) for reproducing and displaying an already recorded image, and the operation of the microscope digital camera 3. And at least a “PC mode” (PC) in which the PC 100 performs various instructions and image display.

The exposure correction SW 33 is a switch operated to set an exposure correction value at the time of image capturing.
The memory device 34 is a device for recording and storing image data sent from the camera head unit 2 and representing an observation image of the specimen 50. When a pressing operation on the EXPOSE SW 31 is acquired. Observation image recording means for recording the observed image. The memory device 34 includes, for example, a removable removable medium 35 such as a flexible disk or a flash memory widely used in a PC or the like, and a memory read / write unit 36 that writes and reads image data to and from the removable medium 35. doing.

The power SW 60 is a switch operated to instruct to supply power to each part of the microscope digital camera 3.
The left selection SW 61 and the right selection SW 62 are switches that are operated to instruct various settings to the digital camera 3 for a microscope.

The communication terminal 37 is a terminal to which a communication cable 101 that connects the operation display unit 6 and the PC 100 is connected.
The objective change warning LED 72 is a light emitting diode, and is a notification means for outputting notification information indicating the occurrence of a change when a change occurs in the observation image. In this embodiment, the objective change warning LED 72 is lit when a change to the light shielding state of the observation image is detected, and warns that effect.

  As described above, when the observer rotates the revolver 53 to switch the objective lens 52, the state in which the optical path is shielded before the objective lens 52 is removed from the optical path and another lens is arranged on the optical path. Occur. At this time, a significant decrease in luminance occurs temporarily in the observed image. In other words, the objective change warning LED 72 is turned on when this decrease in luminance is detected, thereby warning that the objective lens 52 has been switched.

Next, FIG. 5 will be described. FIG. 5 shows an electrical configuration of the operation part 4 in the operation display unit 6.
A control circuit (hereinafter referred to as CPU) 201 is a central processing unit, a ROM that stores a control program for causing the central processing unit to perform various control processes described later, and the central processing unit executes the control program. And a non-volatile memory for storing information on a list of total magnification (display magnification of observation image) of the entire microscope system shown in FIG. . The operation on each switch of the operation part 4 shown in FIG. 4 is analyzed and processed by the control circuit 201.

  For example, when an observation image or the like is displayed on the display part 5, the CPU 201 performs a process of writing display data into the display RAM 200. Then, the display part 5 performs display based on the data. Further, in the control relating to imaging, the CPU 201 generates a predetermined control signal for giving the camera head unit 2 an instruction relating to imaging associated with the operation on each switch of the operation part 4, and from the camera head connector 203. Processing to send to the camera head unit 2 through the cable 7 is performed. Then, the operation of the camera head unit 2 (including the shutter 25) is controlled by the instruction. When recording image data of an observation image sent from the image processing unit 23 of the camera head unit 2 via the cable 7 to the removable medium 35 that is a recording medium, the CPU 201 stores the image data in a predetermined manner. A process of sending the file format to the memory read / write unit 36 in the memory device 34 is performed. In the present embodiment, data files in the removable medium 35 are managed using a well-known MS-DOS (registered trademark) FAT (File Allocation Table) file system.

  Further, a symbol string ROM 63 is connected to the CPU 201. The symbol string ROM 63 stores symbol string font data such as characters, numbers, and various symbols when writing a symbol string such as a scale mark in an image.

  Further, a photographed image-symbol string synthesizer 64 is inserted between the CPU 201 and the memory read / write unit 36, and an observation image-symbol string synthesizer 65 is inserted between the CPU 201 and the display RAM 200. Has been. The photographed image-symbol string synthesizer 64 performs an image synthesizing process in which the above-described symbol string is written into the observation image recorded on the removable medium 35. Further, the observation image-symbol string synthesizer 65 performs an image synthesis process for writing the above-described symbol string in the observation image displayed on the display part 5.

  A communication unit 38 is inserted between the CPU 201 and the communication terminal 37. The communication unit 38 manages various data communications performed with the PC 100 to which the communication cable 101 connected to the communication terminal 37 is connected.

  Further, an objective change determination unit 66 and an objective change warning LED control unit 67 are connected to the CPU 201. Next, the objective change determination unit 66 and the objective change warning LED control unit 67 will be described.

First, FIG. 6 will be described. FIG. 6 shows a first example of the configuration of the objective change determination unit 66.
The objective change determination unit 66 shown in FIG. 6 is a detection unit that detects a change in the observation image, and includes an N frame RAM 66a, an N + 1 frame RAM 66b, and a change determination unit 66c.

The N frame RAM 66a and the N + 1 frame RAM 66b alternately store observation images (image data) acquired by the microscope body 1 frame by frame.
The change determination unit 66c compares the observation images stored in the N frame RAM 66a and the N + 1 frame RAM 66b, respectively, and determines whether there is a difference between them. Here, when it is determined that there is no difference between the two images (that is, there is no change in the observation image), the objective change determination unit 66 notifies the CPU 201 of flag information indicating “under observation” as the determination result. To do. On the other hand, when it is determined that there is a difference between the images (that is, the observation image has changed), the object change determination unit 66 notifies the CPU 201 of flag information indicating “object changing” as the determination result. .

  In the present embodiment, the objective change determination unit 66 detects a change in the observation image based on whether or not the observation image acquired at a certain time has a significantly lower brightness than the image acquired immediately before. .

  Assume that an observation image at a certain time is stored in the N frame RAM 66a and an image of the next frame is stored in the N + 1 frame RAM 66b. Here, the object change determination unit 66 determines that the image luminance value (average value) of the N + 1 frame RAM 66b is smaller than or equal to a predetermined value than the image luminance value (average value) of the N frame RAM 66a. Then, it is determined that the observation image has changed to the light shielding state, and the CPU 201 is notified of flag information indicating “object changing”.

  For example, it is assumed that the maximum luminance value (brightness value when brightest) that each pixel of the observation image can take is “255” and the minimum luminance value (brightness value when darkest) is “0”. At this time, when the image luminance value (average value) of the N + 1 frame RAM 66b, which is an image of the next frame, is smaller than the predetermined value than the image luminance value (average value) of the N frame RAM 66a, The change determination unit 66c notifies the CPU 201 of flag information indicating “object changing”.

  The objective change warning LED control unit 67 performs drive control of the objective change warning LED 72. If the detection result of the observation image change, that is, the flag information notified from the objective change determination unit 66 is “observing”, the CPU 201 gives an instruction to the objective change warning LED control unit 67 to turn off the objective change warning LED 72. Let If the flag information is “object change in progress”, the objective change warning LED control unit 67 is instructed to turn on the object change warning LED 72 (for example, red).

Next, FIG. 7 will be described. FIG. 7 shows the configuration of the display part 5 in the operation display unit 6.
The display part 5 is observation image display means for displaying an observation image acquired by the microscope body 1. The display part 5 includes an image display panel 41, an information display panel 42, and a D / A converter 24.

The image display panel 41 displays an observation image acquired by the microscope main body 1 and reproduces and displays an observation image stored as image data in the memory device 34.
The information display panel 42 displays photographing information such as exposure time and exposure correction amount during photographing operation with the microscope digital camera 3, reproduction information such as an image file to be reproduced at the time of reproduction display of the observation image, and the like. .

  The D / A (digital-analog) converter 24 converts the digital image data signal into an analog signal in order to display the digital image data stored in the display RAM 200 on the image display panel 41.

Next, the operation of the microscope digital camera 3 configured as described above will be described.
The imaging lens 55 forms an image of the specimen 50 (observation image) acquired by the microscope body 1 on the light receiving surface of the imaging element 20. The image sensor 20 converts this observation image into an electrical signal. This electrical signal representing the observation image is subjected to spatial sampling and time sampling by the sampling circuit 21 and then converted to digital data by the A / D converter 22. The image processing unit 23 performs predetermined image processing on the digital data, thereby generating digital image data of the specimen 50 that can reproduce the original observation image. The generated digital image data is transmitted to the CPU 201 of the operation display unit 6 via the cable 7.

  The CPU 201 stores the digital image data transmitted from the camera head unit 2 in the display RAM 200. The stored digital image data signal is then read out and transmitted to the display part 5, converted into an analog signal by the D / A converter 24, and input to the image display panel 41. Then, the observation image is displayed on the image display panel 41.

  Here, the display operation of the observation image is continuously performed (the display image is updated at a rate of about 10 to 30 frames per second), thereby displaying a moving image. In the following description, the observation image of the moving image displayed on the display part 5 in this way is particularly referred to as a “live image”. Note that the observation images constituting the live image are not recorded on the removable medium 35 unless there is a recording instruction from the observer (pressing operation on the EXPOSE SW 31).

  By the way, in order to display an observation image on the image display panel 41, at least “shooting mode” and “reproduction mode” must be selected by the mode SW32. Here, when “shooting mode” is selected, one of at least two operation states of “live image state” and “shooting state (rec view)” is set for the camera head unit 2. The

  When the “shooting mode” is selected by the mode SW 32 and the camera head unit 2 is set to the “live image state”, the camera head unit 2 captures a live image of the sample 50 in real time, The display panel 41 displays a live image.

  On the other hand, when the “shooting mode” is selected by the mode SW 32 and the camera head unit 2 is in the “live image state”, when the observer presses the EXPOSE SW 31, the shutter 25 has an appropriate exposure time. In response, the camera head unit 2 takes an observation image (micrograph as a still image) of the specimen 50.

  The captured image obtained at this time is displayed on the image display panel 41 instead of the live image. Information such as shooting conditions in this shooting is displayed on the information display panel 42. Further, the digital image data representing the obtained captured image is recorded by the removable medium 35 in the memory device 34, and the captured image is stored.

  Note that the display of the observation image (still image) on the image display panel 41 in the “shooting state (rec view)” is erased after a predetermined time has elapsed, and the display of the live image is resumed. The predetermined time may be, for example, a time until recording and saving of the captured image in the removable medium 35, or may be 10 seconds after the pressing operation of the EXPOSE SW 31 by the observer is detected.

  By the way, when the setting of “scale writing” is set to “ON” for the digital camera 3 for a microscope, a desired symbol string representing a scale (a ruler shape with a numerical scale) is overwritten on the photographed image. Digital image data is created.

  That is, when the CPU 201 detects a pressing operation on the EXPOSE SW 31, the CPU 201 controls the photographed image-symbol string synthesizer 64, and converts the symbol string data stored in the symbol string ROM 63 into the digital image data transmitted from the camera head unit 2. The image composition process for adding the one selected by the observer is performed. As a result, the symbol string related to the selection is overwritten at the lower right position of the photographed image represented by the digital image data. Then, the digital image data after the image composition processing is recorded on the removable medium 35 by the memory device 34.

  At this time, the CPU 201 also controls the observation image-symbol string combiner 65 so that the observer selects the digital image data transmitted from the camera head unit 2 from the symbol string data stored in the symbol string ROM 63. An image composition process for adding the added image is performed. The digital image data after the image composition processing is stored in the display RAM 200. By doing so, the scale is also superimposed (superimposed) on the live image displayed on the image display panel 41.

  If the setting of “scale writing” is set to “OFF” for the digital camera 3 for a microscope, a captured image recorded on the removable medium 35 and a live image displayed on the image display panel 41 are displayed. Neither is overwritten with the desired symbol string representing the scale.

  By the way, the unit length value (scale scale value) in the scale combined with the observation image or the live image is determined by the magnification of the microscope body 1 (observation magnification) and the magnification of the digital camera 3 for the microscope. 1 depends on the overall magnification of the entire microscope system (display magnification of the observation image). Here, a method for calculating the scale scale value will be described.

First, the scale scale value Sval when the total magnification is N and the scale width ratio with respect to the observation field is Srate,
Sval = Slate / N × n
And Here, n indicates the size of the observation field.

A scale line corresponding to the scale width ratio Srate thus obtained is overwritten on the image, and the value indicated by Sval is superimposed and displayed as a scale scale value.
An example of a live image on which a scale is superimposed is shown in FIG.

  In the image shown in FIG. 8, “10 μm” is displayed as the scale scale value, and the length of one scale of the ruler-shaped scale line on the image is 10 in the sample image represented in the image. This is equivalent to a micrometer. That is, this display shows a large relationship between the sample 50 and the image of the sample 50 shown in the observation image, so that the actual length of the observation site on the image can be easily known.

The total magnification N described above is such that the magnification (observation magnification) of the microscope body 1 is Nm, and the magnification of the digital camera 3 for the microscope is Nc.
N = Nm × Nc
It becomes.

  In the digital camera 3 for a microscope, the value of the total magnification N is instructed by an observer. When the CPU 201 receives an instruction for the value of the total magnification N, the CPU 201 performs a process of calculating a scale scale value and a scale line of an appropriate (good cut) unit length according to the value and combining it with an image. With such a configuration, even if the microscope main body 1 does not have a function of notifying the observation magnification Nm, the microscope digital camera 3 in FIG. 1 records and displays an observation image in which the scale display is overwritten. It can be performed.

  However, in the microscopic observation, an observer generally performs the observation by frequently changing the observation magnification Nm of the microscope body 1, particularly the magnification of the objective lens 52. Therefore, in order to cope with such a change in the overall magnification N accompanying the change in the observation magnification Nm, values of a plurality of types of the overall magnification N are set in advance and the information is stored in a nonvolatile memory (not shown). The microscope digital camera 3 is configured so that the CPU 201 performs the processing. When the observer changes the observation magnification Nm by switching the objective lens 52, the observer instructs the digital camera 3 for microscope to select a desired one from the list of the total magnification N stored in advance. Like that. When the CPU 201 receives this instruction, the CPU 201 is configured to calculate a scale scale value and a scale line on the basis of the selected total magnification N, and to perform a process of combining it with an image. With this configuration, even when the overall magnification N of the microscope main body 1 is changed due to the change of the objective lens 52 or the like, writing to the scale display image at the correct overall magnification N can be easily performed. it can.

  9 and 10 will be described here. These are both scale display setting screen examples. These setting screens are displayed on the display part 5 in the operation display unit 6.

  When the observer performs a predetermined operation for calling the scale display setting screen on the operation part 4 in the operation display unit 6 while the observation image or the live image is displayed on the display part 5, the setting screen shown in FIG. Is displayed on the display part 5.

  When the observer performs a predetermined operation on the operation part 4 while the setting screen of FIG. 9 is displayed, the scale name selection small item MENU 91, the scale OFF small item MENU 92, and the scale detailed setting small item MENU 93 are displayed. Any one of them is selected.

  FIG. 9 shows that the scale name selection sub-item MENU 91 is selected by a broken-line rectangle. When the scale name selection sub-item MENU 91 is selected, the scale display image is written. Here, when the scale OFF small item MENU 92 is selected, the scale display image is not written.

  In the scale name selection small item MENU 91, a name (scale name) associated with a preset overall magnification N is selected. Here, seven types of scale names “ON1”, “ON2”, “ON3”, “ON4”, “ON5”, “ON6”, and “TEMP” are defined in advance, and the scale name is selected. In the small item MENU 91, any one of these is selected. Note that the screen of FIG. 9 shows a state where the scale name “ON1” is selected.

  When the scale name selection small item MENU 91 is selected, if the observer performs a pressing operation on the left selection SW 61 or the right selection SW 62 of the operation part 4, the selection of the scale name is switched. Here, the right selection SW 62 is associated with the lower side of the scale name selection switch 91b in FIG. 9, and the scale name is selected as “ON1” → “ON2” → “ON3” →... Switch. On the other hand, the left selection SW 61 is associated with the upper side of the scale name selection switch 91b in FIG. 9, and the selection of the scale name is switched from “ON1” → “TEMP” → “ON6” →.

  By the way, when the scale detail setting small item MENU 93 is selected on the setting screen of FIG. 9, the setting screen of FIG. 10 is displayed on the display part 5. The setting screen of FIG. 10 is for detailed setting of scale display.

  The scale detailed setting item 94 shown in the setting screen of FIG. 10 includes the scale name shown in the scale name selection sub-item MENU 91 similar to the screen of FIG. 9 and an input field for the overall magnification N associated with the scale name. Have. In the example screen shown in FIG. 10, the scale name “ON1” is set to be associated with “100.00” times as the overall magnification N.

  As described above, since seven kinds of scale names are defined in advance, the observer can store seven kinds of total magnifications in the CPU 201 (non-illustrated non-volatile memory). Among these, six scale names from “ON1” to “ON6” are configured to be held regardless of the power state until the corresponding total magnification is reset by the observer. Yes. Therefore, the observer sets the total magnification N corresponding to each of the six frequently used objective lenses 52 attached to the revolver 53 for each scale name from “ON1” to “ON6”. In this way, when the objective lens 52 is switched by rotating the revolver 53, the scale name corresponding to the objective lens 52 after switching is selected in the scale name selection small item MENU 91 in the setting screen of FIG. The scale display overwritten on the observation image can be quickly changed to an appropriate one.

  On the other hand, the scale name “TEMP” is configured such that when the power of the microscope digital camera 3 is turned off (OFF), the information of the associated overall magnification is lost. Therefore, the scale name “TEMP” may be used when, for example, sudden microscope observation is performed at a total magnification N different from that associated with each scale name from “ON1” to “ON6”. This makes it troublesome to temporarily change (return to the original setting) the association between each scale name from “ON1” to “ON6” and the overall magnification N that are used on a daily basis. Can be eliminated.

  When the observation image is shot while the scale name selection sub-menu MENU 91 is selected on the setting screen of FIG. 9, the data file of the shot image with the scale display overwritten is recorded on the removable medium 35 as described above. Is done.

The above operation is the operation in the “shooting mode”.
Next, the operation of the microscope digital camera 3 in the “reproduction mode” will be described.
When the observer selects the “reproduction mode” by switching the mode SW 32 of the operation part 4 in the operation display unit 6, the CPU 201 first controls the memory read / write unit 36 of the memory device 34 to be recorded on the removable medium 35. The data file of the captured image is read out. Then, the captured image of the read data file is displayed on the image display panel 41, and the reproduction image information such as the file name of the data file is displayed on the information display panel 42. If scale display overwrite processing has been performed at the time of recording the data file, the scale display is superimposed on the image displayed on the image display panel 41.

  In this state, when the observer performs a pressing operation on the left selection SW 61 or the right selection SW 62 of the operation site 4, the CPU 201 reads data files for other captured images recorded on the removable medium 35. Then, a process of displaying a captured image of the read data file on the image display panel 41 and a process of displaying reproduced image information such as the file name of the data file on the information display panel 42 are sequentially performed.

Next, the operation in the “PC mode” of the digital camera 3 for a microscope will be described.
When the observer selects the “PC mode” by switching the mode SW 32 of the operation part 4 in the operation display unit 6, the operation of the microscope digital camera 3 that can be performed in the “imaging mode” and the “reproduction mode” is performed. The PC 100 comes to control. In the “PC mode”, the image stored in the removable medium 35 in the memory device 34 can be stored in the memory device on the PC 100 side, and the image can be displayed on the display device of the PC 100. It is also possible to display the display contents at the part 5 on the display device. Of course, at this time, if the scale display is overwritten on the image stored in the removable medium 35, the scale display is also superimposed on the image displayed on the display device.

  In addition, even when the removable medium 35 is removed from the memory device 34 of the digital camera 3 for a microscope and the image recorded there is read and displayed on another PC, the scale is displayed on the image stored in the removable medium 35. If the display overwriting process has been performed, the scale display is also superimposed on the image displayed on the PC.

Next, the flow of the processing operation of the microscope digital camera 3 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.
In FIG. 11, first, in step S <b> 11, when an observer turns on the power source SW 60 of the operation site 4 in the operation display unit 6, it is necessary to supply power to each component of the microscope digital camera 3. Will start according to. When the supply of power is started, the CPU 201 reads a predetermined control program from the ROM, starts its execution, and performs a predetermined initialization process. The initialization process includes a process of starting display of the image acquired by the microscope main body 1 on the display portion 5 in the operation display unit 6 and an objective change warning LED 72 by controlling the objective change warning LED control unit 67. Includes a process of turning off the.

  Next, in step S12, the scale display setting screen illustrated in FIG. 9 and FIG. 10 is displayed on the display part 5 to allow the observer to set the overall magnification N for each scale name. CPU 201 performs a scale display setting process to be stored in the memory.

  When the setting of the scale display is completed, the process proceeds to step S13, and the CPU 201 acquires flag information indicating the determination result notified from the objective change determination unit 66 that detects the change in the observation image, and the flag information. Performs a process of determining whether or not indicates “object changing”. When it is determined that the acquired flag information indicates “object changing” (when the determination result is Yes), the process proceeds to step S14, and the acquired flag information indicates “observing”. When it is determined that it is a thing (when the determination result is No), the process proceeds to step S15.

  In step S14, the CPU 201 instructs the objective change warning LED control unit 67 to turn on the objective change warning LED 72 (for example, lights in red), and then returns to step S13 to return to the process described above. repeat.

  In step S15, the CPU 201 instructs the objective change warning LED control unit 67 to turn off the objective change warning LED 72, and then returns to step S13 to repeat the above-described processing.

  In this way, when the objective change warning LED 72 is turned on or off, notification information indicating the detection result of the observation image change by the objective change determination unit 66 is output. That is, the objective change warning LED 72 is turned on when the objective lens 52 of the microscope body 1 is switched. Therefore, the observer does not forget the instruction to change the scale display setting for the microscope digital camera 3 that needs to be performed in synchronization with the switching of the objective lens 52 by recognizing the lighting of the objective change warning LED 72. It can be carried out.

Note that the change of the observation image by the objective change determination unit 66 (determination of “observing” and “object changing” based on the observation image) is performed as follows.
First, the CPU 201 sequentially copies (copies) image data of live images transmitted from the camera head unit 2 and stores them alternately in the N frame RAM 66a and the N + 1 frame RAM 66b frame by frame. Here, both the N frame RAM 66a and the N + 1 frame RAM 66b may have a capacity capable of storing an image for one frame, and when a next frame is newly stored, the previous frame stored up to that point is stored. The frame image is overwritten and disappears.

The change determination unit 66c compares the luminances of the images stored in the N frame RAM 66a and the N + 1 frame RAM 66b. This comparison is performed by calculating the difference between the average values of the luminance values of the pixels constituting each image. For example, when the average luminance value of the image of the N-frame RAM 66a is Nave and the average luminance value of the image of the N + 1-frame RAM 66b is N + 1ave,
| (Nave) − (N + 1ave) | = d
This is determined by the value d calculated by

Here, when the value of d is larger than a predetermined threshold, that is, for example, when the range of values that the luminance value can take is 0 to 255,
d> 100
In this case, the change determination unit 66c of the objective change determination unit 66 determines that the objective lens 52 has been switched by the rotation operation of the revolver 53, and outputs flag information indicating “object changing”. . On the other hand, when the value of d is equal to or less than the above threshold, that is, for example,
d ≦ 100
When it is, the change determination unit 66c outputs the flag information “observing”.

  During the rotation operation of the revolver 53, since all the objective lenses 52 are out of the optical path and the light shielding portion of the revolver 53 is in the optical path, the live image becomes a light shielding image. There is a significant difference in luminance value between the light-shielded image and the observation image that is the immediately preceding frame. Therefore, when the above-described d> 100 is established for the difference d between the luminance values of the images stored in the N frame RAM 66a and the N + 1 frame RAM 66b, the object change determination unit 66 Assuming that a significant difference is recognized in the luminance value, it is determined that the object is being changed.

  That is, when the objective lens 52 of the microscope main body 1 is switched by rotating the revolver 53, the light shielding structure of the revolver 53 that occurs for a while in the optical path is acquired by the camera head unit 2 as a light shielding image. When the objective change determination part 66 detects this change to the light-shielded image and gives a determination result of “object changing”, the objective change warning LED 72 is lit (red). The observer recognizes again that the objective lens 52 of the microscope main body 1 has been switched by recognizing that the objective change warning LED 72 is turned on.

  Since the microscope digital camera 3 according to the present embodiment operates as described above, the setting state and setting of the microscope main body 1 can be performed even if there is no electrical communication means between the microscope main body 1 and the microscope digital camera 3. The change can be recognized by the digital camera 3 for a microscope. Accordingly, the system configuration of the microscope system becomes easy, and in particular, since the change in the setting of the microscope main body 1 can be grasped by the digital camera 3 for the microscope without motorizing the microscope main body 1, the system cost of the microscope system is reduced. The effect is obtained.

  Further, according to the digital camera 3 for a microscope according to the present embodiment, the operability is improved because the observer can grasp the setting state and the setting change of the microscope main body 1 even when the camera operation and live observation are concentrated. The effect of doing is also acquired.

  Furthermore, according to the digital camera 3 for a microscope according to the present embodiment, when changing the scale display setting in accordance with the switching of the objective lens 52 of the microscope body 1, the warning display prompting the change of the scale display setting is an object change warning. Since the operation is performed by the LED 72, there is also an effect that an operation for changing the setting of the scale display on the camera is not forgotten or mistaken.

  In the present embodiment described above, the objective change determination unit 66 detects the change in the observation image based on the change in the average luminance value of the two consecutive observation images in the live image. It was like that. Instead of this, it is also possible to detect the change in the observed image by comparing the average luminance value of one frame image with a predetermined threshold value.

FIG. 12 will be described. FIG. 12 shows a second example of the configuration of the objective change determination unit 66.
The objective change determination unit 66 shown in FIG. 12 is a detection unit that detects a change in the observation image, and includes a frame RAM 66d and a change determination unit 66e.

The frame RAM 66d stores an observation image (image data) acquired by the microscope main body 1.
The change determination unit 66e calculates an average value Nave of the luminance values of the images stored in the frame RAM 66d. Here, when the value of Nave is smaller than a predetermined threshold value, that is, for example, when the range of values that the luminance value can take is 0 to 255,
Nave <10
In this case, the change determination unit 66e of the objective change determination unit 66 determines that the objective lens 52 has been switched by the rotation operation of the revolver 53, and outputs flag information indicating “object changing”. . On the other hand, when the value of Nave is smaller than the above threshold value, for example,
Nave ≧ 10
When it is, the change determination unit 66e outputs the flag information “observing”.

As described above, during the rotation operation of the revolver 53, since all the objective lenses 52 are out of the optical path and the light shielding portion of the revolver 53 is in the optical path, the live image becomes a light shielding image. The change determination unit 66e tries to directly detect the light-shielded image based on the average value Nave of the luminance values of the image.

  Note that the brightness value should be “0” as a matter of course in the ideal shaded image. However, there are many cases where the value of Nave does not become “0” even for a light-shielded image due to the influence of noise, leaked light, or the like. In consideration of this point, the change determination unit 66e determines whether or not Nave <10 is satisfied as a determination condition in detecting a change in the observation image.

  When the microscope digital camera 3 is configured using the objective change determination unit 66 shown in FIG. 12, only one frame RAM is required for storing the observation image, so that cost reduction and component mounting space can be achieved. The effect of being able to contribute to downsizing of is further obtained.

  In the above-described embodiment, the objective change warning LED 72 is used to display a warning for prompting a change in the scale display setting. Instead, this warning display may be displayed on the image display panel 41 of the display part 5 in the operation display unit 6.

  That is, in step S5 of FIG. 11 described above, instead of the CPU 201 performing a process of giving an instruction to the objective change warning LED control unit 67 to turn on the objective change warning LED 72, the observation image-symbol string combiner 65 is set. An image composition process for controlling and adding to the digital image data transmitted from the camera head unit 2 the symbol string data stored in the symbol string ROM 63 representing a character string “object changing”. The digital image data after the image composition processing is stored in the display RAM 200. By doing so, as shown in FIG. 13, the character string “being changed objective” is superimposed on the image displayed on the image display panel 41 and displayed.

  When the microscope digital camera 3 is configured to display the warning display on the image display panel 41 in this way, the objective change warning LED 72 can be deleted, thereby reducing costs and reducing the component mounting space. The effect that it can contribute is further obtained. Furthermore, when an observer is staring at the image display panel 41 for observation, the oversight of the warning for changing the scale display setting associated with the switching of the objective lens 52 is reduced.

Further, in the digital camera 3 for a microscope shown in FIG. 1, a captured image-symbol string synthesizer 64, an observation image-symbol string synthesizer 65, and an objective change determination unit provided in the operation part 4 in the operation display unit 6. 66 is provided separately from the CPU 201. Alternatively, the CPU 201 may be configured to provide all or part of the functions of these components. For this purpose, a control program for causing the central processing unit of the CPU 201 to perform control processing for realizing these functions is created and stored in the ROM in advance, and the central processing unit stores the control program in the ROM. It is sufficient to read out from the program and execute it.
[Example 2]
The digital camera 3 for a microscope according to the present embodiment changes the configuration of the objective change determination unit 66 that is a detection unit in the first embodiment, and the observation image is temporarily changed to the light shielding state, and then recovered from the light shielding state. Is to be detected.

In the description of the present embodiment, the description of the same parts as those of the first embodiment is partially omitted.
FIG. 14 will be described. FIG. 14 shows a third example of the configuration of the objective change determination unit 66.

  The objective change determination unit 66 illustrated in FIG. 14 temporarily changes the observation state where the objective lens 52 is arranged in the optical path from the observation state where the objective lens 52 is arranged in the optical path by the rotation of the revolver 53, and then arranges the objective lens 52 in the optical path again. Only when the observation state is changed, the change determination unit 66g determines that “objective conversion is in progress”.

  In the frame RAM 66f, image data of an observation image, which is a live image transmitted from the camera head unit 2, is copied (copied) by the CPU 201 and stored frame by frame.

  The change determination unit 66g calculates the average value Nave of the luminance values of the images stored in the frame RAM 66f, and subsequently compares Nave with a predetermined threshold value in the same manner as the change determination unit 66e shown in FIG. Thus, it is determined whether or not a light-shielding state has occurred in the observation image.

  The light-shielding detection holder a68a and the light-shielding detection holder b68b alternately display state information (information indicating “light-shielding” or “no light-shielding”) indicating the determination result of the observation image by the change determination unit 66g for each frame. It is something to keep in. The light-shielding detection holder a68a and the light-shielding detection holder b68b use this state information for a period during which power supply to each component of the microscope digital camera 3 continues (that is, the power supply SW60 is ON). Period) as long as it is held.

  For example, in the live image, if the change determination unit 66g holds the state information corresponding to the Nave_t that is the Nave value for the observation image of the Nt-th frame in the light-shielding detection holder a68a, the next Nt + 1-th frame Regarding the state information corresponding to the Nave_t + 1 that is the Nave value for the observation image, the change determination unit 66g holds it in the other light-shielding detection holder b68b. As described above, the change determination unit 66g alternately holds the state information corresponding to the Nave value regarding the observation image of each frame constituting the live image by the light-shielding detection holder a68a and the light-shielding detection holder b68b.

Next, the flow of the processing operation of the objective change determination unit 66 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.
In this embodiment, the range of values that can be taken by the luminance value of the observation image is 0 to 255.

  The processing in step S21 and step S22 in FIG. 15 is performed according to the operation in step S11 in the operation flow of the microscope digital camera 3 shown in FIG. That is, first, in step S21, when an operation of turning on the power supply SW60 of the operation part 4 in the operation display unit 6 is performed by an observer, power is supplied to each component of the digital camera 3 for a microscope as necessary. Along with this, the operation of the change determination unit 66g also starts. In subsequent step S22, the change determination unit 66g performs initialization processing of the light-shielding detection holder a68a and the light-shielding detection holder b68b. In this initialization process, state information indicating “no light shielding” is set in both the light shielding detection holder a68a and the light shielding detection holder b68b.

  The processing from step S23 to step S30 subsequent to step S22 is processing for detecting a change in the observation image. The CPU 201 executes the determination process of step S13 in FIG. 11 based on the flag information notified as a result of this process.

  First, in step S23, the change determination unit 66g performs a process of reading the image data stored in the frame RAM 66f by the CPU 201 and calculating the average luminance value Nave of the observation image represented by the image data.

  Next, in step S24, the change determination unit 66g performs a process of determining whether or not the average luminance value Nave calculated by the process of step S23 is greater than or equal to a predetermined threshold (here, “10”). Here, when it is determined that the average luminance value Nave is equal to or greater than the threshold value (when the determination result is Yes), the process proceeds to step S27, and when it is determined that the average luminance value Nave is less than the threshold value (determination) If the result is No), the process proceeds to step S25.

  In step S25, since the average luminance value Nave is less than the above-described threshold value, the change determination unit 66g uses the current state of the light shielding detection holding unit a68a and the light shielding detection holding unit b68b to indicate the state information indicating “light shielding”. A process for holding information is held. The objective change determination unit 66 according to the present embodiment does not determine that the observation image has changed just by changing the observation image to the light-shielding state. Therefore, the process proceeds to step S26 following step S25.

  In step S26, the change determination unit 66g performs a process of outputting flag information indicating “under observation” as a determination result of the objective change determination unit 66 and notifying the CPU 201, and thereafter returns to step S23. The above-described processing is repeated for the observation image of the next frame.

  In step S27, since the average luminance value Nave is equal to or greater than the above threshold value, the change determination unit 66g refers to the state information held in the light shielding detection holding unit a68a and the light shielding detection holding unit b68b, and the previous state. Processing is performed to determine whether the information indicates “no light shielding” and the previous state information indicates “light shielding”. Here, the “previous state information” is the state information about the image data two frames before that is read from the frame RAM 66f in step S23, and the “previous state information” is the frame RAM 66f in step S23. This is the status information about the image data one frame before that read out from.

  In the determination process of step S27, when it is determined that the previous state information indicates “no light shielding” and the previous state information indicates “light shielding” (when the determination result is Yes). Advances the process to S28, and advances the process to S30 when other determinations are made (when the determination result is No).

  In step S28, since the condition that the objective change determination unit 66 according to the present embodiment determines that the observation image has changed is satisfied, the change determination unit 66g sets the initial values of the light-shielding detection holder a68a and the light-shielding detection holder b68b. In step S29, flag information indicating “object changing” is output as the determination result of the object change determination unit 66, and the CPU 201 outputs the flag information. Process to notify to. Then, after this process is completed, the process returns to step S23, and the above-described process is repeated for the observation image of the next frame.

  In step S30, although the condition that the objective change determination unit 66 according to the present embodiment determines that the observation image has changed is not satisfied, the average luminance value Nave is greater than or equal to the above threshold by the determination process in step S24. Since it has been determined that there is, the change determination unit 66g performs a process of holding the state information indicating “no light shielding” by holding the current state information among the light shielding detection holding unit a68a and the light shielding detection holding unit b68b. Then, after this process is completed, the process proceeds to step S26, where the change determination unit 66g performs a process of outputting flag information indicating “under observation” as a determination result of the object change determination unit 66 and notifying the CPU 201. Thereafter, the process returns to step S23, and the above-described process is repeated for the observation image of the next frame.

  When the objective change determination unit 66 according to the present embodiment performs the above operation processing, the flag information indicating “objective conversion” is displayed when the observation image is temporarily changed to the light shielding state and then recovered from the light shielding state. The change determination unit 66 notifies the CPU 201, and in other cases, flag information indicating “under observation” is notified from the objective change determination unit 66 to the CPU 201. The CPU 201 executes the determination process of step S13 in FIG. 11 based on this flag information. When the flag information indicates “object conversion in progress”, the process of step S14 is continued to perform the process of turning on the object change warning LED 72 (for example, in red), and the flag information is “ In the case of “observing”, the process of step S15 is continuously executed to turn off the objective change warning LED 72.

  Accordingly, the objective change warning LED 72 is lit when the optical path changes from “no light shielding” → “under light shielding” → “no light shielding” as in the case of switching the objective lens 52 by rotating the revolver 53. On the other hand, this light shielding state continues in the light shielding state of the optical path that is not caused by the switching of the objective lens 52 by the rotation operation of the revolver 53, such as when the light source (not shown) of the microscope body 1 is turned off. The objective change warning LED 72 remains off.

Since the microscope digital camera 3 according to the present embodiment operates as described above, the same effect as that obtained by the first embodiment can be obtained, and the warning given by turning on the objective change warning LED 72 is Since there is a high possibility that the objective lens 52 is switched by rotating the microscope main body 1 with respect to the revolver 53, an effect that the observer can grasp the setting state and setting change of the microscope main body 1 more accurately can be obtained.
[Example 3]
The digital camera 3 for a microscope according to the present embodiment changes the configuration of the objective change determination unit 66 that is a detection unit in the second embodiment, and the observation image is temporarily changed to the light-shielding state and then the light-shielding state is changed within a predetermined time. It is designed to detect recovery.

In the description of this embodiment, a part of the description of the same parts as those in the first or second embodiment will be omitted.
FIG. 16 will be described. FIG. 16 shows a fourth example of the configuration of the objective change determination unit 66.

  The objective change determination unit 66 shown in FIG. 16 rotates for a predetermined time (in this example, 2 seconds) after the revolver 53 rotates to temporarily change from the observation state in which the objective lens 52 is disposed in the optical path to the light shielding state. The change determination unit 66j determines that “objective conversion is in progress” only when the objective lens 52 is changed from the observation state in the optical path again. On the other hand, even if the objective lens 52 changes from the observation state to the light-shielding state once, when the objective lens 52 changes to the observation state after the predetermined time has elapsed, the change determination unit 66j determines that “under observation”. .

  In the frame RAM 66h, image data of an observation image, which is a live image transmitted from the camera head unit 2, is copied (copied) by the CPU 201 and stored frame by frame.

  The change determination unit 66j calculates the average value Nave of the luminance values of the images stored in the frame RAM 66h, and then compares Nave with a predetermined threshold value in the same manner as the change determination unit 66e shown in FIG. Thus, it is determined whether or not a light-shielding state has occurred in the observation image.

  The non-light-shielding retainer 68c retains this state information when the state information indicating the determination result of the observation image by the change determination unit 66g indicates “no light-shielding”. The light shielding holder 68d retains the state information when the state information indicating the determination result of the observation image by the change determination unit 66g indicates “light shielding”. Note that the non-light-shielding holder 68c and the light-shielding holder 68d use this state information for a period during which power supply to each component of the digital camera 3 for a microscope is continued (that is, the power supply SW60 is turned on). Period) as long as it is held.

  The light-shielding time measuring device 69 controls the light-shielding holder 68d after a predetermined time (2 seconds in this embodiment) after the light-shielding cage 68d starts to hold the state information “shielded”. The process of clearing the held state information is performed.

Here, FIG. 17 will be described. FIG. 17 shows the configuration of the light shielding time measuring device 69.
The measurement clock 69a is for measuring time.
The counter 69b measures a split time (elapsed time from a certain time point to a certain time point) using a time measurement result by the measuring clock 69a.

The measurement determination unit 69c performs an initialization process for the counter 69b and a control process for clearing the “light-shielded” state information held by the light-shielding cage 68d.
When the process for holding the state information indicating “light-shielded” by the light-shielding holder 68d is performed by the change determination unit 66j, the measurement determination unit 69c transfers the time at this time from the measurement clock 69a to the counter 69d. The counter 69b records the time t at this time and starts monitoring the measurement clock 69a. When a predetermined time (2 seconds in this embodiment) from the time t is measured by the measurement clock 69a, the counter 69b notifies the measurement determination unit 69c to that effect. In response to this notification, the measurement determination unit 69c executes a control process for clearing the “light-shielded” state information held by the light-shielded cage 68d.

  It should be noted that the process of holding the state information indicating “light-shielded” by the light-shielding cage 68d is performed again by the change determination unit 66j after the counter 69d records the time t until the predetermined time elapses. Also, the counter 69d is prevented from being overwritten at time t. That is, the counter 69d is configured to prohibit recording of the time t once the time t is recorded until a predetermined time elapses. Therefore, even if the change determination unit 66j gives a determination result of “shielding” for the observation images (for example, 15 to 30 frames per second) sequentially written in the frame RAM 66h, The state information “light-shielding” is held within a predetermined time (2 seconds) from time t.

Next, the flow of the processing operation of the objective change determination unit 66 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.
In this embodiment, the range of values that can be taken by the luminance value of the observation image is 0 to 255.

  The processing in step S31 and step S32 in FIG. 18 is performed according to the operation in step S11 in the operation flow of the microscope digital camera 3 shown in FIG. That is, first, in step S31, when an operation of turning on the power SW 60 of the operation part 4 in the operation display unit 6 is performed by an observer, power is supplied to each component of the digital camera 3 for a microscope as necessary. Along with this, the operation of the change determination unit 66j also starts. In subsequent step S32, the change determination unit 66j performs initialization processing of the non-light-shielding holder 68c and the light-shielding holder 68d. In this initialization process, the content held by the non-light-shielding retainer 68c and the light-shielding retainer 68d is cleared so that the state information is not retained.

  The process from step S33 to step S40 following step S32 is a process for detecting a change in the observation image. The CPU 201 executes the determination process of step S13 in FIG. 11 based on the flag information notified as a result of this process.

  First, in step S33, the change determination unit 66j performs a process of reading the image data stored in the frame RAM 66h by the CPU 201 and calculating the average luminance value Nave of the observation image represented by the image data.

  Next, in step S34, the change determination unit 66j performs a process of determining whether or not the average luminance value Nave calculated by the process of step S33 is greater than or equal to a predetermined threshold (here, “10”). Here, when it is determined that the average luminance value Nave is equal to or greater than the threshold value (when the determination result is Yes), the process proceeds to step S37, and when it is determined that the average luminance value Nave is less than the threshold value (determination) If the result is No), the process proceeds to step S35.

  In step S35, since the average luminance value Nave is less than the above threshold, the change determination unit 66j performs a process of holding the state information indicating “light-shielded” by the light-shielding holder 68d. In the objective change determination unit 66 according to the present embodiment, it is not determined that the observation image has changed only once the observation image has been changed to the light-shielding state. Therefore, the process proceeds to step S36 subsequent to step S35.

  In step S36, the change determination unit 66j outputs flag information indicating “under observation” as a determination result of the objective change determination unit 66 and notifies the CPU 201, and thereafter returns to step S33. The above-described processing is repeated for the observation image of the next frame.

  In step S37, since the average luminance value Nave is equal to or greater than the above threshold value, the change determination unit 66j determines whether or not the state information is held in both the non-light-shielding holder 68c and the light-shielding holder 68d. Process. Here, in the change determination unit 66j, state information indicating “no light shielding” is held in the non-light-shielding holder 68c, and state information indicating “light-shielding” is held in the light-shielding holder 68d. In other words, when it is determined (that is, within a predetermined time (for example, 2 seconds) after the light-shielding retainer 68d holds the state information) (when the determination result is Yes), the process proceeds to S38, and the others When the determination is made (when the determination result is No), the process proceeds to S40.

  In step S38, since the condition that the objective change determination unit 66 according to the present embodiment determines that the observation image has changed is satisfied, the change determination unit 66j performs initialization processing (retained contents of the non-light-shielding holder 68c). In step S39, flag information indicating “object change is in progress” is output and notified to the CPU 201 as a determination result of the object change determination unit 66. Process. Then, after this process is completed, the process returns to step S33, and the above-described process is repeated for the observation image of the next frame.

  In step S40, although the condition that the objective change determination unit 66 according to the present embodiment determines that the observation image has changed is not satisfied, the average luminance value Nave is greater than or equal to the above threshold by the determination process in step S34. Since it is determined that there is, the change determination unit 66j performs a process of holding the state information indicating “no light shielding” by the light shieldingless holder 68c. Then, after this process is completed, the process proceeds to step S 36, and the change determination unit 66 j performs a process of outputting flag information indicating “under observation” as a determination result of the object change determination unit 66 and notifying the CPU 201. Thereafter, the process returns to step S33 to repeat the above-described process.

  When the objective change determination unit 66 according to the present embodiment performs the above operation processing, the flag information indicating “objective conversion” is displayed when the observation image is temporarily changed to the light shielding state and then recovered from the light shielding state. The change determination unit 66 notifies the CPU 201, and in other cases, flag information indicating “under observation” is notified from the objective change determination unit 66 to the CPU 201. The CPU 201 executes the determination process of step S13 in FIG. 11 based on this flag information. When the flag information indicates “object conversion in progress”, the process of step S14 is continued to perform the process of turning on the object change warning LED 72 (for example, in red), and the flag information is “ In the case of “observing”, the process of step S15 is continuously executed to turn off the objective change warning LED 72.

  Accordingly, the optical path is “no light shielding” → “no light shielding” → “no light shielding” in a time shorter than the above-mentioned predetermined time (usually about 1 second or less) like the switching of the objective lens 52 by rotating the revolver 53. ", The objective change warning LED 72 is lit. On the other hand, in the light shielding state for a long time (time exceeding the predetermined time) of the optical path that is not caused by the switching of the objective lens 52 due to the rotation operation of the revolver 53, this light shielding state continues. The off state is maintained. By such an operation, for example, when the microscope main body 1 has a filter replacement mechanism or a light shielding mechanism (not shown), switching and observation of the objective lens 52 with respect to long-time light shielding of the optical path caused by operating them. It is possible to reduce the possibility that a person will make a misjudgment.

Since the microscope digital camera 3 according to the present embodiment operates as described above, the same effect as that obtained by each of the first and second embodiments can be obtained, and the objective lens 52 can be switched. As a result, the operability of the observer is further improved.
[Example 4]
In Examples 1 to 3 described so far, the objective change warning LED 72 is used as notification means for outputting notification information indicating the detection result of the observation image change. On the other hand, in the digital camera 3 for a microscope according to the present embodiment, the objective change warning LED 72 is deleted, and instead of the observation image stored in advance in the CPU 201 (non-volatile memory not shown) that the CPU 201 has. A list of display magnifications (that is, the overall magnification of the entire microscope system) is displayed on the display portion 5 of the operation display unit 6 to indicate that a change in the observation image has been detected.

  Here, when the observer selects the display magnification of the observation image after changing the observation state from the list of displayed display magnifications, the digital camera 3 for a microscope according to the present embodiment displays the selected display. A scale display (scale scale value and scale line) based on the magnification is overwritten and combined with the observation image and displayed or recorded.

In the description of the present embodiment, the description of the same parts as any one of the first to third embodiments is partially omitted.
First, FIG. 19 will be described. FIG. 19 shows a first display example of a list of display magnifications of observation images.

  In the display example of FIG. 19, the column “ON6: 100 ×” is shaded, and this indicates that the display magnification is selected by the observer. If the observer performs a pressing operation on the left selection SW 61 or the right selection SW 62 of the operation part 4 while this list is displayed, the selection of the display magnification is switched to another.

  That is, when the observer switches the objective lens 52 by rotating the revolver 53, a list of display magnifications as shown in FIG. 19 is displayed on the image display panel 41 of the display part 5. It is displayed superimposed on. Here, if the observer selects the display magnification corresponding to the objective lens 52 after switching from this list, the scale display overwritten on the observation image becomes appropriate corresponding to the display magnification of the observation image.

  Here, FIG. 20 will be described. FIG. 20 is a flowchart showing a part of the processing operation of the digital camera 3 for a microscope in the present embodiment. This processing operation is performed instead of the processing of S14 in the flowchart shown in FIG.

  When the result of the determination process in step S13 in FIG. 11 is Yes and it is determined that the flag information notified from the object change determination unit 66 indicates “object change in progress”, in step S41, the CPU 201 determines that there is no error. The display magnification for each scale name stored in the illustrated non-volatile memory (that is, the overall magnification N of the microscope system described above) is read out, and the image display panel 41 of the display part 5 which is the notification means in the present embodiment displays the display magnification. Process to display the list.

  Next, in step S42, the CPU 201 displays a display (shaded display in the example of FIG. 20) indicating the currently set display magnification (that is, the display magnification corresponding to the scale display currently overwritten on the observation image). Performs processing to display in the list of display magnifications being displayed.

  In step S43, the CPU 201 performs a process of determining whether or not the pressing operation on the left selection SW 61 or the right selection SW 62 of the operation part 4 has been performed. Here, when it is determined that the pressing operation has been performed (when the determination result is Yes), it is assumed that the selection instruction by the observer from the list of display magnifications is acquired by the left selection SW 61 or the right selection SW 62, The process proceeds to step S44. On the other hand, when it is determined that the pressing operation has not been performed (when the determination result is No), the determination process of step S43 is repeated.

  In step S44, the CPU 201 performs processing for moving the display indicating the currently set display magnification within the list of display magnifications being displayed in accordance with the state of the pressing operation on the left selection SW 61 or the right selection SW 62.

In step S45, the CPU 201 performs a process of acquiring the value of the display magnification indicated by the display after movement in the process of step S44.
In step S46, based on the display magnification value acquired in step S45, the CPU 201 performs processing for calculating scale scale values and scale lines having appropriate unit lengths as described above, and in subsequent step S47, The CPU 201 performs control processing for controlling the photographed image-symbol string synthesizer 64 and the observation image-symbol string synthesizer 65 so that the scale display according to the calculation result is overwritten and synthesized with the observation image. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S12 in FIG.

  With the above processing operation, the scale display that has been overwritten and combined with the observation image being displayed on the display part 5 is changed to a scale display corresponding to the display magnification according to the selection instruction of the observer.

  Since the microscope digital camera 3 according to the present embodiment operates as described above, the same effect as that obtained by each of the first to third embodiments can be obtained, and the revolver 53 of the microscope body 1 can be obtained. When the objective lens 52 is switched by the rotation operation, a list of display magnifications of the observation image is displayed on the display part 5 of the operation display unit 6, and is necessary for changing the scale display overwritten on the observation image to an appropriate one. Thus, there is an effect that the display magnification setting operation on the microscope digital camera 3 side can be easily performed.

  In the present embodiment described above, a list of only the display magnifications corresponding to the objective lens 52 attached to the revolver 53, which is stored in advance in the nonvolatile memory of the CPU 201, is displayed on the display portion 5. I was trying to let them. Instead, a list of all display magnifications that can be obtained when the microscope system of FIG. 1 is used may be displayed on the display portion 5.

FIG. 21 shows a second display example of a list of display magnifications of observation images, and shows a display example of a list of all display magnifications that can be taken when a microscope system is used.
In this list of display examples, display magnifications are displayed up to “1 ×”, “2 ×”, “2.5 ×”,. Further, in this display example, the display portion of “100 times” is shaded, and this display magnification is shown being selected by the observer. If the observer performs a pressing operation on the left selection SW 61 or the right selection SW 62 of the operation part 4 while this list is displayed, the selection of the display magnification is switched to another.

  That is, when the observer switches the objective lens 52 by rotating the revolver 53, a list of display magnifications as shown in FIG. 21 is displayed on the image display panel 41 of the display part 5. Here, if the observer selects the display magnification corresponding to the objective lens 52 after switching from this list, the scale display overwritten on the observation image becomes appropriate corresponding to the display magnification of the observation image.

  In this way, by displaying a list of all display magnifications that can be obtained when using the microscope system on the display part 5, detailed setting of the scale display on the setting screen as shown in FIG. 10 is unnecessary. Therefore, the operation of the microscope digital camera 3 is simplified and the operability is improved.

Here, FIG. 22 will be described. FIG. 22 shows an example of a setting screen for scale display, and is an example of a setting screen when the list display of display magnifications shown in FIG. 21 is performed.
When the observer performs a predetermined operation on the operation part 4 while the setting screen of FIG. 22 is displayed, one of the scale ON small item MENU 91c and the scale OFF small item MENU 92 is selected. The Note that the screen example in FIG. 22 indicates that the scale ON small item MENU 91c is selected by a broken-line rectangle.

  When the scale ON small item MENU 91c is selected, the scale can be displayed on the live image as shown in FIG. Here, when the scale OFF small item MENU 92 is selected, the scale display image is not written.

  When the scale ON sub-item MENU 91c is selected, the objective change determination unit 66 determines that “object change is in progress” when the live image on which the scale display is overwritten is displayed on the image display panel 41. In this case, a list of display magnifications shown in FIG. 21 is displayed on the image display panel 41 in order to notify that a change in the observation image has been detected. At this time, the observer performs a pressing operation on the left selection SW 61 or the right selection SW 62 of the operation part 4 to select an appropriate display magnification in the current observation state of the microscope main body 1. Then, the list display of the display magnification disappears, and the scale display overwritten on the observation image becomes appropriate corresponding to the display magnification of the observation image.

When the scale ON small item MENU 91c is selected on the setting screen of FIG. 22, the list of display magnifications shown in FIG. 21 is immediately displayed on the image display panel 41 to prompt the viewer to select the display magnification. It may be.
[Example 5]
The digital camera 3 for a microscope according to the present embodiment displays a list of display magnifications displayed when a change in the observation image is detected in the fourth embodiment by pressing the left selection SW 61 or the right selection SW 62 of the operation part 4. The display magnifications related to the acquired selection instructions are rearranged and displayed so as to be in a specific arrangement order.

In the description of this embodiment, a part of the description of the same parts as those in any of the first to fourth embodiments will be omitted.
First, FIG. 23 will be described. FIG. 23 shows a third display example of a list of display magnifications of observation images.

  In the display example of FIG. 23, among the display magnifications displayed in the list on the display part 5 of the operation display unit 6, a shaded field (“ON6: 100 ×”) indicating that the display is selected by the observer. ) Is arranged at the top of the list display (at the top of the arrangement order). That is, in the digital camera 3 for a microscope according to the present embodiment, when the observer performs a pressing operation on the left selection SW 61 or the right selection SW 62 of the operation part 4 and selects “ON6: 100 times”, a list is displayed. As shown in FIG. 23, the order of arrangement of display columns for each display magnification is “ON6: 100 times” → “ON1: 2 times” → “ON2: 4 times” → “ON3: 10 times” in order from the top. "→ ... are displayed in order.

  Here, for example, when the observer performs a pressing operation on the left selection SW 61 or the right selection SW 62 of the operation part 4 and selects “ON3: 10 times”, the arrangement of the display columns of the respective display magnifications in the list display The order is displayed in order of “ON3: 10 times” → “ON1: 2 times” → “ON2: 4 times” → “ON4: 20 times” →...

  In this way, if the display order of the list display is sorted and displayed so that the display magnification selected in accordance with the observer's instruction is in a specific arrangement order (here, the top), the viewer can be selected from the display magnification list. However, the operability for selecting the display magnification from the list is improved.

  Here, FIG. 24 will be described. FIG. 24 is a flowchart showing a part of the processing operation of the microscope digital camera 3 according to this embodiment. This processing operation is performed instead of the processing of S14 in the flowchart shown in FIG.

  When the result of the determination process in step S13 of FIG. 11 is Yes and it is determined that the flag information notified from the object change determination unit 66 indicates “object change in progress”, in step S51, the CPU 201 The display magnification for each scale name stored in the illustrated non-volatile memory (that is, the overall magnification N of the microscope system described above) is read, and the currently set display magnification (that is, the observation image is currently overwritten). Display scale corresponding to the scale display) and the scale name are arranged at the top of the list of display magnifications (at the top of the arrangement order) and are displayed on the image display panel 41 of the display part 5 which is a notification means in the present embodiment. Processing for display (shaded display in the example of FIG. 24) is performed.

  Next, in step S52, the CPU 201 displays a list of display magnifications other than those displayed in the process of step S51 among the display magnifications for each scale name read from the non-illustrated nonvolatile memory in step S51. A process of arranging the display magnification at the lower part of the display and displaying it on the image display panel 41 is performed.

  In step S <b> 53, the CPU 201 performs processing for determining whether or not a pressing operation has been performed on the left selection SW 61 or the right selection SW 62 of the operation part 4. Here, when it is determined that the pressing operation has been performed (when the determination result is Yes), it is assumed that the selection instruction by the observer from the list of display magnifications is acquired by the left selection SW 61 or the right selection SW 62, The process proceeds to step S54. On the other hand, when it is determined that the pressing operation has not been performed (when the determination result is No), the determination process of step S53 is repeated.

  In step S54, the display magnification arranged at the top of the list of display magnifications is selected from any other magnification read out from a non-volatile memory (not shown) according to the state of pressing operation on the left selection SW 61 or the right selection SW 62. The CPU 201 performs a process of changing the display to display on the image display panel 41.

  In step S55, the CPU 201 displays a list of display magnifications other than those displayed by the processing in step S54 among the display magnifications for each scale name read from the nonvolatile memory (not shown) by the processing in step S54. A process of displaying the image on the image display panel 41 is performed below the magnification display.

In step S56, the CPU 201 performs a process of acquiring the value of the display magnification arranged at the top of the list display after the change by the processes of steps S54 and S55.
In step S57, the CPU 201 performs a process of calculating the scale scale value and the scale line of an appropriate unit length as described above based on the display magnification value acquired in the process of step S56, and in subsequent step S58, The CPU 201 performs control processing for controlling the photographed image-symbol string synthesizer 64 and the observation image-symbol string synthesizer 65 so that the scale display according to the calculation result is overwritten and synthesized with the observation image. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S12 in FIG.

  With the above processing operation, the list of display magnifications displayed when a change in the observation image is detected is rearranged so that the display magnification according to the selection instruction of the observer is in a specific arrangement order (first). Is displayed.

  Since the digital camera 3 for a microscope according to the present embodiment operates as described above, the same effect as that obtained by each of the first to fourth embodiments can be obtained, and the microscope digital camera 3 is selected according to an instruction from the observer. The display order of the list display is sorted and displayed so that the display magnification is in a specific order, so the operability for the observer to select the display magnification from the list is improved from the display magnification list To do.

  In the present embodiment described above, the list of display magnifications displayed when a change in the observation image is detected is rearranged so that the display magnification according to the observer's selection instruction is first. I was trying to display it. Instead of this, the display magnifications related to the observer's selection instructions may be rearranged and displayed so that they are in the middle of the order of arrangement.

  FIG. 25 will be described. FIG. 25 shows a fourth display example of the list of display magnifications of the observation images, and is a display example in which the display magnifications related to the selection instruction are rearranged so that they are almost in the middle of the arrangement order.

  In the display example of FIG. 25, the display order of the list display is “ON4: 20 times” → “ON5: 40 times” → “ON6: 100 times” → “ON1: 2 times” → “ON2: 4 times "→" ON3: 10 times "are displayed in order.

  As described above, the display magnification is determined based on the observation magnification of the microscope body 1, in particular, the magnification of the objective lens 52. In the microscope main body 1, the objective lens 52 is mounted in the six mounting holes of the circular revolver 53.

  Here, in the revolver 53, the objective lens 52 serving as the basis of the display magnification of the scale name “ON2” is attached to the position adjacent to the objective lens 52 serving as the basis of the display magnification of the scale name “ON1”, and so on. Assume that the objective lenses 52 serving as the basis of the display magnifications of the scale names “ON3” to “ON6” are sequentially attached. That is, under this assumption, the objective lens 52 for the scale name “ON1” is attached to the position next to the objective lens 52 for the scale name “ON6”, and the objective lens for the scale name “ON6” is attached. An objective lens 52 for the scale name “ON5” is attached to a position opposite to 52.

  In the list of display magnifications illustrated in FIG. 25, the display magnification for “ON5” is arranged above the display magnification for “ON6” selected by the observer, and the display magnification of “ON6” is displayed. The display magnification for “ON1” is arranged on the lower side. Here, when the operation part 4 is pressed once with respect to the left selection SW 61 or the right selection SW 62, in the list display of FIG. 25, from the currently selected display magnification, the display is displayed adjacent to either the upper or lower side. The magnification selection is changed. Therefore, if the operation of switching the objective lens 52 with a small operation amount is performed according to the rotation operation amount of the revolver 53, the selection for switching the display magnification can be similarly performed with a small operation amount.

  For example, consider a case in which the objective lens 52 is moved one by one by rotating the revolver 53. Here, if the objective lens 52 on the optical path before the rotation operation has the scale name “ON6”, the objective lens 52 on the optical path after the rotation operation has either the scale name “ON1” or “ON5”. It will be about. Therefore, if the list of display magnifications illustrated in FIG. 25 is displayed in this case, the display magnification of either “ON1” or “ON5” is reduced with the smallest operation amount from the currently selected display magnification of “ON6”. You can choose.

  Also, as shown in FIG. 25, instead of displaying a list of all display magnifications for scale names “ON1” to “ON6”, a fifth display example of the list of display magnifications of the observation image shown in FIG. As shown in the figure, the display magnification currently selected is arranged at the center, and the revolver 53 displays only the display magnification for the objective lens 52 adjacent to both sides of the objective lens 52 for the selected display magnification. You may make it display the list of the display magnification arrange | positioned to.

  In the list of display magnifications illustrated in FIG. 26, the display magnification for “ON5” is arranged next to the display magnification for “ON6” selected by the observer, and the display magnification for “ON6” is displayed. The display magnification for “ON1” is arranged on the lower side. That is, in the display example of FIG. 26, the list display is arranged in the order of “ON5: 40 times” → “ON6: 100 times” → “ON1: 2 times” from the top.

  Here, when the selection of the upper display magnification in the list display is instructed by a single pressing operation on the left selection SW 61 of the operation part 4, the list display is the one shown on the right side of FIG. In order from the top, “ON4: 40 times” → “ON5: 40 times” → “ON6: 100 times” is changed to the order of arrangement.

  That is, in the display example of FIG. 26, since only the latest display magnifications selected according to the rotation operation of the revolver 53 are displayed in a list, erroneous selection of display magnifications can be reduced. In addition, as a result of the reduction in the number of display magnifications displayed in the list, the size of the list display on the image display panel 41 is reduced, so that the list display is easy to see and live that has become the background image of the list display. The visibility of the image (observed image) is improved.

  Further, in the microscope digital camera 3 according to the present embodiment, even when a predetermined time elapses after the display magnification list is displayed, a selection instruction is issued by pressing the left selection SW 61 or the right selection SW 62 of the operation part 4. If not acquired, the display of the list of display magnifications may be stopped.

  Here, FIG. 27 will be described. FIG. 27 shows a modification of the flowchart shown in FIG. 24, and shows the processing operation of the microscope digital camera 3 for stopping the display of the display magnification list in the above case.

  FIG. 27 shows a case where the process of step S52-1 is inserted between step S52 and step S53 in the flowchart shown in FIG. 24, and the determination result of step S53 is No, step S53-1 And it shows that the process of step S53-2 is performed.

  Following step S52 in FIG. 24, in step S52-1, the CPU 201 performs a process of starting a timer function by starting the timer function of the central processing unit included in the CPU 201.

  In step S <b> 53, the CPU 201 performs processing for determining whether or not a pressing operation has been performed on the left selection SW 61 or the right selection SW 62 of the operation part 4. Here, when it is determined that the pressing operation has been performed (when the determination result is Yes), it is assumed that the selection instruction by the observer from the list of display magnifications is acquired by the left selection SW 61 or the right selection SW 62, The process proceeds to step S54. On the other hand, when it is determined that the pressing operation is not performed (when the determination result is No), the process proceeds to step S53-1.

  In step S53-1, the CPU 201 performs a process of determining whether or not the time measured by the timer function activated in step S52-1 has reached a predetermined time (for example, 5 seconds). Here, when it is determined that the predetermined time has been counted (when the determination result is Yes), the process proceeds to step S53-2. On the other hand, when it is determined that the predetermined time has not yet been measured (when the determination result is No), the process returns to step S53 and the above-described process is performed again.

  In step S53-2, the CPU 201 performs a process of canceling the display of the list of display magnifications displayed on the image display panel 41 of the display part 5 which is a notification unit in the present embodiment by the processes of steps S51 and S52 of FIG. After that, the process proceeds to step S12 in FIG.

With the above processing operation, even if a predetermined time (for example, 5 seconds) elapses after the display of the list of display magnifications is started on the image display panel 41 of the display part 5 which is the notification means in this embodiment, the operation part 4 When the selection instruction by pressing the left selection SW 61 or the right selection SW 62 is not acquired, the display of the list of display magnifications is stopped and automatically deleted. Therefore, when there is no need to change the selection of the display magnification, the display of the disappearance magnification list is erased without any special operation by the observer, so that the operability is further improved.
[Example 6]
The digital camera 3 for a microscope according to the present embodiment displays by pressing the left selection SW 61 or the right selection SW 62 of the operation site 4 even if a change in the observation image is detected and a list of display magnifications is displayed in the fourth embodiment. When the magnification selection instruction is not acquired, this is notified and a warning is given.

In the description of the present embodiment, the description of the same parts as any one of the first to fifth embodiments is partially omitted.
First, FIG. 28 will be described. This figure shows an example of a live image informing that a display magnification selection instruction has not been acquired. As illustrated in FIG. 28, this live image is different from the other live images (FIG. 8, FIG. 13, etc.) in that the combined scale display (scale scale value and scale line) is displayed in red. ) Is different. In the image example of FIG. 28, this red display indicates that the display magnification selection instruction has not been acquired (scale display in other live images is white).

  Here, FIG. 29 will be described. FIG. 29 shows a modification of the flowchart shown in FIG. 27. Even when a predetermined time has elapsed since the display of the list of display magnifications was started, selection instructions by the observer are displayed in the left selection SW 61 and the right selection SW 62. The processing operation of the digital camera 3 for a microscope for notifying that the display magnification selection instruction has not been acquired when the display of the display magnification list is canceled because neither of them acquired It is.

  FIG. 29 shows that the process of step S61 is inserted between step S53-2 in the flowchart shown in FIG. 27 and step S12 in the flowchart shown in FIG.

  As described above, even if a predetermined time (for example, 5 seconds) elapses after the display of the list of display magnifications is started on the image display panel 41 of the display part 5 by the process in step S53-2 of FIG. When the selection instruction by the pressing operation on the left selection SW 61 or the right selection SW 62 of the part 4 is not acquired, the display of the list of display magnifications is stopped and automatically deleted. Following this processing, in step S61 of FIG. 29, the display color of the scale display combined with the observation image displayed on the image display panel 41 is changed from white to red, and the selection instruction is not acquired. CPU201 performs the process which alert | reports that and warns an observer, and advances a process to step S12 of FIG. 11 after that.

With the above processing operation, the display magnification list is displayed because neither the left selection SW 61 nor the right selection SW 62 has acquired the selection instruction even after a predetermined time has elapsed since the display of the display magnification list was started. When the operation is canceled, a notification that the display magnification selection instruction has not been acquired is issued. Thereby, it is possible to warn the observer that the objective lens 52 arranged on the optical path of the microscope body 1 and the scale display setting state in the microscope digital camera 3 may be different. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent an erroneous operation or setting forgotten by the observer.
[Example 7]
In the above-described sixth embodiment, a notification that the instruction for selecting the display magnification has not been acquired is selected even if a predetermined time has elapsed after a change in the observation image is detected and display of the display magnification list is started. The instruction is issued when display of the list of display magnifications is stopped because neither the left selection SW 61 nor the right selection SW 62 has acquired. On the other hand, in the digital camera 3 for a microscope according to the present embodiment, both the left selection SW 61 and the right selection SW 62 acquire the selection instruction after the change of the observation image is detected and the display of the display magnification list is started. If the EXPOSE SW 31 is pressed down and an instruction to execute a photographing operation is acquired by the digital camera 3 for a microscope, execution of the photographing operation is prohibited and a notification that an instruction for selecting a display magnification is not acquired is issued. To warn the observer.

In the description of this embodiment, a part of the description of the same parts as those in any of the first to sixth embodiments will be omitted.
First, FIG. 30 will be described. This figure shows an example of a live image informing that the display magnification selection instruction has not been acquired when the pressing operation of EXPOSE SW 31 is acquired.

  As described above, in the live image illustrated in FIG. 28, the scale display is displayed in red, and a notification that the display magnification selection instruction has not been acquired is performed. At this time, even if the observer presses the EXPOSE SW 31 and gives an instruction to execute the shooting operation, the imaging operation is prohibited and the observation image is not recorded in the memory device 34. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 30, the character string “Please check the scale display setting” is overwritten and displayed on the display part 5 where the live image is displayed. As a result, after the display of the list of display magnifications is started, both the left selection SW 61 and the right selection SW 62 have acquired the observation image shooting instruction by the EXPOSE SW 31 without acquiring the display magnification selection instruction. A notification is made to warn the observer.

Here, FIG. 31 will be described. FIG. 31 is a flowchart showing the flow of the photographing processing operation of the digital camera 3 for a microscope according to the present embodiment.
The process shown in FIG. 31 is started when the mode SW 32 of the operation part 4 in the operation display unit 6 is set to “imaging mode”.

  First, in step S71, the CPU 201 performs processing for determining whether or not a pressing operation on the EXPOSE SW 31 has been performed. Here, when it is determined that the pressing operation has been performed (when the determination result is Yes), it is assumed that an observation image capturing instruction has been acquired, and the process proceeds to step S72. On the other hand, when it is determined that the pressing operation has not been performed (when the determination result is No), the determination process of step S71 is repeated.

  Next, in step S72, the CPU 201 determines whether the display color of the scale display combined with the observation image (live image) currently displayed on the image display panel 41 of the display part 5 is red. Do. Here, when it is determined that the display color of the scale display is red (when the determination result is Yes), the process proceeds to step S77. On the other hand, when it is determined that the display color of the scale display is not red (white) (when the determination result is No), the process proceeds to step S73.

The processing from step S73 to step S76 indicates the observation image recording operation processing.
That is, first, in step S73, the CPU 201 performs processing for controlling the shutter 25 to open and close an appropriate exposure time.

  Next, in step S <b> 74, the CPU 201 performs processing for reading out and acquiring the image data of the observation image acquired according to the opening / closing of the shutter 25, which is stored in the display RAM 200 at this time. In the subsequent step S75, the photographed image-symbol string synthesizer 64 is controlled to perform processing for synthesizing the scale display with the observation image when the writing is set according to the setting for writing the scale display. Performed by the CPU 201.

  In step S75, the CPU 201 performs a process of controlling the memory device 34 to record the image data of the observation image on the removable medium 35. Thereafter, the process returns to step S71 and the above-described process is repeated.

  On the other hand, the processing of step S77 and step S78 starts displaying the list of display magnifications when it is determined by the determination processing of step S72 that the display color of the scale display is red (when the determination result is Yes). Then, the processing is performed when it is determined that the EXPOSE SW 31 has acquired the observation image capturing instruction without the left selection SW 61 or the right selection SW 62 of the operation site 4 acquiring the selection instruction operation.

  First, in step S77, the CPU 201 performs processing for prohibiting execution of the observation image recording operation processing. In the subsequent step S78, the CPU 201 performs a process of displaying the character string “Please confirm the scale display setting” shown in FIG. 30 on the image display panel 41 of the display part 5. Thereafter, the process returns to step S71 and the above-described process is repeated.

By performing the above photographing processing operation in the digital camera 3 for a microscope according to the present embodiment, both the left selection SW 61 and the right selection SW 62 select the display magnification after the display of the display magnification list is started. The EXPOSE SW 31 notifies that the observation image capturing instruction has been acquired without acquiring the instruction. As a result, the observer is warned that the objective lens 52 arranged on the optical path of the microscope main body 1 and the scale display setting state in the microscope digital camera 3 may be different. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the observation image from being taken with a wrong setting, thereby reducing operation mistakes and improving operability. Note that even if the warning display shown in FIG. 30 is performed, the observation image may be captured.
[Example 8]
The digital camera 3 for a microscope according to the present embodiment changes the configuration of the objective change determination unit 66 that is a detection unit to detect a change in the observation image to the light-shielding state, and the observation image changes from the observation state to the light-shielding state. The rotation operation direction of the revolver 53 is recognized based on the transition of the change in the observed image. Then, when a change in the observation image is detected in this way, a list of display magnifications of the observation image is displayed on the display portion 5 of the operation display unit 6 as in Example 4 described above. Indicates that a change in the observed image has been detected.

In the description of this embodiment, a part of the description of the same parts as those in any of the first to seventh embodiments will be omitted.
First, FIG. 32 will be described. FIG. 32 shows a fifth example of the configuration of the objective change determination unit 66.

  The objective change determination unit 66 shown in FIG. 32 functions as a detection unit that detects a change of the observation image to the light-shielded state, and this change is generated by switching the change of the observation image and the objective lens 52. It also functions as a rotation direction recognition means for recognizing the relationship with the rotation direction in the rotation of the revolver 53 based on this observation image. The objective change determination unit 66 includes a frame divider 70, a left 1/3 area frame RAM 66k, a central 1/3 area frame RAM 66m, a right 1/3 area frame RAM 66n, a light shielding state holder 68e, And the change determination part 66p is provided.

  The frame three-divider 70 divides the observation image of one frame acquired by the microscope main body 1 into three partial region images of a left region, a central region, and a right region. This division will be described with reference to FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 33, the frame three-divider 70 divides one frame of the observation image into three in the vertical direction. The partial image areas formed by the three divisions will be referred to as a left 1/3 area 71a, a central 1/3 area 71b, and a right 1/3 area 71c, respectively.

  The left 1/3 area frame RAM 66k, the central 1/3 area frame RAM 66m, and the right 1/3 area frame RAM 66n are divided into three partial images (of the observation image divided by the frame divider 70). Image data). That is, the left 1/3 area frame RAM 66k stores a partial area image of the left 1/3 area 71a, and the central 1/3 area frame RAM 66m stores a partial area image of the central 1/3 area 71b. The right 1/3 area frame RAM 66n stores the partial area image of the right 1/3 area 71c.

The change determination unit 66p averages the luminance values of the partial area images stored in the left 1/3 area frame RAM 66k, the central 1/3 area frame RAM 66m, and the right 1/3 area frame RAM 66n. The value Nave is calculated. Here, when the value of Nave is smaller than a predetermined threshold value, that is, for example, when the range of values that the luminance value can take is 0 to 255,
Nave <10
When it is, the change determination part 66p of the objective change determination part 66 outputs flag information of “light shielding”. On the other hand, when the value of Nave is smaller than the above threshold value, for example,
Nave ≧ 10
When it is, the change determination unit 66p outputs flag information of “no light shielding”.

  The light shielding state holder 68e retains state information (information “either light shielding” or “no light shielding”) indicating the determination result of each partial area image by the change determination unit 66p.

Next, FIG. 34 will be described. FIG. 34 shows the transition of the light shielding state of the observation image when the revolver 53 is rotated to the left.
In the following description, “in light shielding” is defined as “1” and “no light shielding” is defined as “0” in the flag information described above.

In FIG. 34, the observation image of (a) shows a state in which the flag information is (0, 0, 0), that is, a state in which all three partial image areas are “no light shielding”.
Here, the observer starts the left rotation operation of the revolver 53. Then, the observation image is first as shown in (b), and the flag information is (0, 0, 1), that is, only the partial area image of the right 1/3 area 71c is changed to the “shielded” state. Thereafter, the change of the observation image to the light-shielding state further proceeds from (c) to (d), and the flag information is changed to (1, 1, 1), that is, all three divided image areas are changed to the “light-shielded” state. . Thereafter, the observation image starts to recover from the light-shielded state and proceeds in order to (e), (f), and (g), and the flag information is the same as (0, 0, 0), that is, the state of (a). All of the three divided image regions transition to the “shielded” state. At this time, the rotation operation of the revolver 53 corresponding to switching of one objective lens 52 is completed, and the microscope main body 1 is in a state where the objective lens on the right side of the object before the rotation operation is arranged in the optical path. Yes.

As shown in FIG. 34, the transition of the light-shielding state of the observation image associated with the left rotation operation of the revolver 53 is as follows.
(A) (0, 0, 0) → (b) (0, 0, 1) → (c) (0, 1, 1)
→ (d) (1, 1, 1) → (e) (1, 1, 0) → (f) (1, 0, 0)
→ (g) (0, 0, 0)
In the transition of the light-shielding state of the observed image, the states (a) (0, 0, 0) and (g) (0, 0, 0) are steady when the objective lens 52 is properly arranged in the optical path. (However, the types of the objective lens 52 arranged in the optical path in the states (a) and (g) are different), and the state from (b) to (f) is the state of the revolver 53. This is a transient state in the left rotation operation.

  The light shielding state holder 68e stores in advance the above-described state transitions (the light shielding transition states (a) to (g) of FIG. 27 including the order). In the following description, this stored content is referred to as “left rotation initial value”.

  The change determination unit 66j determines whether the light shielding state of the three-partial partial region image is one of (a) to (g) shown in FIG. 68e is notified.

  The light-shielding state holder 68e retains each light-shielding state from the change determination unit 66j for at least the past seven frames, and compares it with the “left rotation initial value”. When all of them match the “left rotation initial value”, the light shielding state holder 68e notifies the change determination unit 66p of “object changing”, and in other cases, the light shielding state holder 68e The change determining unit 66p is notified of “under observation”. Receiving this notification, the change determination unit 66p outputs flag information indicating “observing” or “object changing” and notifies the CPU 201 of the flag information.

  In the above description, the method of recognizing the rotation operation of the revolver 53 in the left direction has been described. However, the rotation operation of the revolver 53 in the right direction can be recognized in the same manner. However, in the rotation operation of the revolver 53 in the right direction, the transition of the light shielding state in the observation image is opposite to that in the rotation operation in the left direction, and the transition is as follows.

(G) (0, 0, 0) → (f) (1, 0, 0) → (e) (1, 1, 0)
→ (d) (1,1,1) → (c) (0,1,1) → (b) (0,0,1)
→ (a) (0, 0, 0)
The light shielding state holder 68e also stores the above state transitions in advance. In the following description, this stored content is referred to as “right rotation initial value”.

Next, the flow of the processing operation of the objective change determination unit 66 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.
In this embodiment, the range of values that can be taken by the luminance value of the observation image is 0 to 255.

  The processes in step S81 and step S82 in FIG. 35 are performed according to the operation in step S11 in the operation flow of the microscope digital camera 3 shown in FIG. That is, first, in step S81, when an operation of turning on the power SW 60 of the operation part 4 in the operation display unit 6 is performed by an observer, power supply to each component of the microscope digital camera 3 is performed as necessary. Accordingly, the operation of the change determination unit 66p is also started. In subsequent step S82, the change determination unit 66p performs initialization processing of the light shielding state holder 68e. In this initialization process, the content held by the light shielding state holder 68e is cleared to make the state information not held, and the “left rotation initial value” and the “right rotation initial value” described above are set to the light shielding state holder. 68e is stored.

  The process from step S83 to step S89 following step S82 is a process for detecting a change in the observation image. The CPU 201 executes the determination process of step S13 in FIG. 11 based on the flag information notified as a result of this process.

  First, in step S83, the three divisions stored in the frame three-divider 70, the left 1/3 area frame RAM 66k, the central 1/3 area frame RAM 66m, and the right 1/3 area frame RAM 66n. The CPU 201 reads out the image data of each partial area of the observation image being displayed, and the change determination unit 66p performs a process of calculating the average luminance value Nave of the partial area image represented by the image data for each partial area.

  In step S84, flag information “1” indicating “light-shielding” is stored in the light-shielding state holder 68e for the partial region where the average luminance value Nave of the partial region image is less than a predetermined threshold (here, “10”). The change determination part 66p performs the process to hold | maintain.

  In step S85, a change determination unit performs a process of holding flag information “0” indicating “no light shielding” in the light shielding state holder 68e for a partial region where the average luminance value Nave of the partial region image is equal to or greater than the predetermined threshold. 66p does.

  In step S86, the stored content of the light-shielded state of the observation image over the past seven frames in the light-shielding state holder 68e is the “left rotation initial value” or “right rotation initial value” stored in the light shielding state holder 68e. The light-shielding state holder 68e performs a process for determining whether or not it matches any of the above. Here, when the content held in the light shielding state matches one of the initial values (when the determination result is Yes), the process proceeds to step S87. On the other hand, when the content held in the light shielding state does not match any of the initial values (when the determination result is No), the process proceeds to step S89.

  In step S87, since the condition that the objective change determination unit 66 according to this embodiment determines that the observation image has changed is satisfied, the light shielding state holder 68e holds flag information of each partial area held by itself. In the subsequent step S88, flag information indicating “object change in progress” is output as a determination result of the object change determination unit 66 via the change determination unit 66p and notified to the CPU 201. Process. After this process is completed, the process returns to step S83, and the above-described process is repeated for the observation image of the next frame.

  On the other hand, in step S89, the light shielding state holder 68e outputs, as a determination result of the object change determination unit 66, flag information indicating “under observation” via the change determination unit 66p and notifies the CPU 201 of the flag information. After that, the process returns to step S83, and the above-described process is repeated for the observation image of the next frame.

  When the objective change determination unit 66 according to the present embodiment performs the above operation processing, the flag information indicating “objective conversion” is displayed when the observation image is temporarily changed to the light shielding state and then recovered from the light shielding state. The change determination unit 66 notifies the CPU 201, and in other cases, flag information indicating “under observation” is notified from the objective change determination unit 66 to the CPU 201. The CPU 201 executes the determination process of step S13 in FIG. 11 based on this flag information.

  When the CPU 201 receives flag information indicating “in objective conversion”, the CPU 201 turns on the objective change warning LED 72 and outputs notification information indicating the detection result of the observation image change as in the first embodiment. In addition, as in the fourth embodiment, the observation image change is detected by displaying the list of display magnifications of the observation image on the display portion 5 of the operation display unit 6. May be shown.

  Since the microscope digital camera 3 according to the present embodiment operates as described above, the setting state and setting of the microscope main body 1 can be performed even if there is no electrical communication means between the microscope main body 1 and the microscope digital camera 3. The change can be recognized by the digital camera 3 for a microscope. Accordingly, the system configuration of the microscope system becomes easy, and in particular, since the change in the setting of the microscope main body 1 can be grasped by the digital camera 3 for the microscope without motorizing the microscope main body 1, the system cost of the microscope system is reduced. The effect is obtained.

  Further, according to the digital camera 3 for a microscope according to the present embodiment, the operability is improved because the observer can grasp the setting state and the setting change of the microscope main body 1 even when the camera operation and live observation are concentrated. The effect of doing is also acquired.

  Furthermore, according to the digital camera 3 for a microscope according to the present embodiment, when changing the scale display setting in accordance with the switching of the objective lens 52 of the microscope body 1, a warning display that prompts the user to change the scale display setting is performed. Also, there is an effect that the user does not forget or mistake the operation for changing the scale display setting for the camera.

  In the digital camera 3 for a microscope according to the present embodiment, the revolver 53 displays a list of display magnifications of the observation images that the CPU 201 that has received the flag information indicating “in-object conversion” displays on the display part 5 of the operation display unit 6. These may be rearranged and displayed based on the recognition result of the rotation direction.

Now, the total magnification (that is, the display magnification of the observation image) set for each of the six types of scale names from “ON1” to “ON6” on the detailed setting screen for scale display shown in FIG. Is assumed to have the relationship shown in FIG. 36 with the mounting position (each mounting hole) of the revolver 53 on which the objective lens 52 that is used for obtaining the microscope body 1 is mounted. That is, in the nonvolatile memory of the CPU 201, information on the display magnification of the observation image is stored in advance in association with the mounting position of each objective lens 52 in the revolver 53, and when the revolver 53 is further rotated. It is assumed that order information indicating the switching order of the objective lens 52 is also stored in advance.

  Here, the objective change according to the present embodiment indicates that the observation image once changed to the light shielding state and then recovered from the light shielding state, and that the rotation direction in the rotation operation of the revolver 53 at this time was the left rotation. When the light-shielding state holder 68e of the determination unit 66 detects, the CPU 201 displays the list of display magnifications of the observation image on the display part 5 of the operation display unit 6 as shown in FIG. Further, when it is detected that the rotation direction in the rotation operation of the revolver 53 is right rotation, the CPU 201 displays a list of display magnifications of the observation image shown in FIG. 38 on the display part 5 of the operation display unit 6. Let

  37 and 38 both show that the objective lens 52 for the scale name “ON6” is arranged in the optical path, and the shaded “ON6” column is arranged at the top of the list. To show that.

  As is clear from FIG. 36, when the revolver 53 is rotated counterclockwise, the objective lens 52 for the scale name “ON1” is arranged in the optical path. Thereafter, the objective lens 52 in the optical path is switched in the order of mounting positions (in clockwise order) of “ON2” → “ON3” → “ON4” → “ON5”. In the sixth example of the list of display magnifications illustrated in FIG. 37, the scale names are arranged in exactly this order.

  When the revolver 53 is rotated to the right, the objective lens 52 for the scale name “ON5” next to the left is placed in the optical path, and thereafter the “ON4” objective lens 52 for the scale name “ON6” is placed. It is also clear from FIG. 36 that the objective lens 52 in the optical path is switched in the order of mounting position (counterclockwise) in the order of “ON3” → “ON2” → “ON1”. In the seventh example of the list of display magnifications exemplified in FIG. 38, the names of the scales are arranged in this order, that is, in the order reversed from that of the revolver 53 shown in FIG.

  In other words, the CPU 201 displays a list of display magnifications in the order as described above on the display portion 5 according to the result of the light shielding state holder 68e determining the rotation direction in the rotation operation of the revolver 53, so that the operability of the microscope system is improved. Can be further improved.

  Next, processing operations performed by the microscope digital camera 3 in this embodiment in order to display a list of display magnifications of observation images rearranged based on the recognition result of the rotation direction of the revolver 53 will be described.

  First, FIG. 39 will be described. FIG. 39 is a modification of the flowchart shown in FIG. 35, and is performed by the objective change determination unit 66 in order to display the list of display magnifications of the observation images rearranged based on the recognition result of the rotation direction of the revolver 53. This shows a part of the flow of processing operations. This processing operation is performed following the processing of S88 in the flowchart shown in FIG.

  In step S88 of FIG. 35, the light-shielding state holder 68e performs processing for notifying the CPU 201 of flag information indicating “object changing”, and then in step S88-2 of FIG. 39, the rotation in the rotation operation of the revolver 53 is performed. Whether or not the direction is a left rotation, that is, whether or not it is determined in step S86 in FIG. 35 that the light shielding state holding contents of the observation image in the light shielding state holder 68e coincide with each other is the “left rotation initial value”. The shading state holder 68e performs a process for determining whether or not. Here, when it is determined that the rotation direction is counterclockwise (when the determination result is Yes), the process proceeds to step S88-3. On the other hand, when it is determined that the rotation direction is right rotation (when the determination result is No), the process proceeds to step S88-4.

  In step S88-3, the light shielding state holder 68e performs processing for outputting information indicating “left rotation” via the change determination unit 66p and notifying the CPU 201, and thereafter proceeds to step S83 in FIG. Return processing.

  In step S88-4, the light-shielding state holder 68e performs processing for outputting information indicating “right rotation” via the change determination unit 66p and notifying the CPU 201, and thereafter proceeds to step S83 in FIG. Return processing.

Through the above operation processing, information indicating the rotation direction in the rotation operation of the revolver 53 is notified to the CPU 201.
Next, FIG. 40 will be described. FIG. 40 is a second modification of the flowchart shown in FIG. 24. In order to display a list of display magnifications of observation images rearranged based on the recognition result of the rotation direction of the revolver 53, a digital camera for a microscope is used. 3 shows a part of the flow of the processing operation performed in 3. This processing operation is performed in accordance with the processing operation of the objective change determination unit 66 shown in FIG. 39, and is performed instead of the processing of S52 in the flowchart shown in FIG.

  In step S51 in FIG. 24, the CPU 201 performs processing for arranging the currently set display magnification and the scale name at the top of the list of display magnifications (at the top of the arrangement order) and displaying them on the image display panel 41. Thereafter, in step S90 of FIG. 40, the CPU 201 performs a process of determining whether or not the information on the rotation direction of the revolver 53 received from the object change determination unit 66 indicates “left rotation”. Here, when it is determined that the information indicates “left rotation” (when the determination result is Yes), the process proceeds to step S91. On the other hand, when it is determined that the information indicates “right rotation” (when the determination result is No), the process proceeds to step S92.

  In step S91, the CPU 201 reads the display magnification for each scale name stored in the non-illustrated non-volatile memory, and the non-volatile memory for other display magnifications excluding those displayed in the processing of step S51. A list arranged in the clockwise direction based on the above-described order information stored in (in the order when the revolver 53 is rotated to the left) is arranged at the lower part of the display magnification display by the process of step S51, and the display part 5 is displayed on the image display panel 41, and then the process proceeds to step S53 in FIG.

  In step S92, the CPU 201 reads the display magnification for each scale name stored in the non-illustrated non-volatile memory, and the non-volatile memory for other display magnifications excluding those displayed in the processing of step S51. A list arranged in the counterclockwise order (the order when the revolver 53 is rotated to the right) based on the above-described order information stored in the table is arranged at the bottom of the display magnification display by the process of step S51, 5 is displayed on the image display panel 41, and then the process proceeds to step S53 in FIG.

  Through the above processing operation, a list of display magnifications displayed on the image display panel 41 is displayed based on the rotation direction of the revolver 53 recognized by the object change determination unit 66 and information stored in the nonvolatile memory. The order of magnification is changed and displayed. Thereby, the operativity of a microscope system further improves.

  In the microscope digital camera 3, as described above, instead of displaying a list of display magnifications whose arrangement order has been changed based on the recognition result of the rotation direction of the revolver 53, the scale display setting is made based on the recognition result. The state may be directly changed and may be combined and displayed on the observation image.

  That is, for example, when the objective change determination unit 66 recognizes the left rotation of the revolver 53 in the state shown in FIG. 36, that is, in the state where the objective lens 52 for the scale name “ON6” is arranged in the optical path. The display magnification setting for the microscope digital camera 3 may be changed directly from the scale name “ON6” to the scale name “ON1”.

In this way, since the setting of the display magnification is changed without the observer making a selection from the display magnification list, the operability is further improved and operation mistakes are reduced.
Here, FIG. 41 will be described. FIG. 41 is a modification of the flowchart shown in FIG. 11, in order to directly change the setting state of the scale display based on the recognition result of the rotation direction of the revolver 53 and to display the synthesized display on the observation image. 66 shows a part of the flow of the processing operation performed by 66. This processing operation is performed according to the processing operation of the objective change determination unit 66 shown in FIG. 39, and is performed instead of the processing of S14 in the flowchart shown in FIG.

  When the result of the determination process in step S13 in FIG. 11 is Yes and it is determined that the flag information notified from the object change determination unit 66 indicates “object changing”, in step S93 in FIG. The CPU 201 performs processing to determine whether or not the information on the rotation direction of the revolver 53 received from the change determination unit 66 indicates “left rotation”. Here, when it is determined that the information indicates “left rotation” (when the determination result is Yes), the process proceeds to step S94. On the other hand, when it is determined that the information indicates “right rotation” (when the determination result is No), the process proceeds to step S95.

  In step S94, the display magnification for each scale name stored in a non-illustrated non-volatile memory is read out of which the right adjacent to the mounting hole where the objective lens 52 is mounted for the currently set display magnification. The CPU 201 performs a process of acquiring the display magnification corresponding to the object, and thereafter the process proceeds to step S96.

  In step S95, the display magnification for each scale name stored in the non-illustrated non-volatile memory is read out, and the left side of the mounting hole in which the objective lens 52 for the currently set display magnification is mounted. The CPU 201 performs a process of acquiring the display magnification corresponding to the object, and thereafter the process proceeds to step S96.

  In step S96, the CPU 201 performs processing for calculating the scale scale value and scale line of an appropriate unit length as described above based on the display magnification value obtained in step S94 or step S95, and subsequent steps. In S97, the CPU 201 performs control processing for controlling the photographed image-symbol string synthesizer 64 and the observation image-symbol string synthesizer 65, and overwriting and synthesize the scale display according to the calculation result on the observation image. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S12 in FIG.

  Through the above processing operation, the scale display combined with the observation image is displayed based on the recognition result of the rotation direction of the revolver 53 and the display magnification associated with the objective lens 52 in the next switching order in the rotation direction. The scale display is changed according to Therefore, the operability of the microscope digital camera 3 is further improved, and operation errors are reduced.

  As described above, several examples have been described as embodiments of the present invention. However, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various improvements and modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. It is. For example, several embodiments described above can be combined.

  For example, in Example 1 or the like, the objective change warning LED 72 is used as a means for notifying the observer, but instead of this, an audio warning may be given. It is also possible to write predetermined notification information in the header part of the image data file of the observation image. Further, the PC 100 can be configured to issue a warning via the communication cable 101.

  In each embodiment, when a change in the observation image is detected, the observer is prompted to change the setting related to the scale display. In addition, the observer may be urged to change the settings regarding measurement functions such as distance measurement between two points and circle measurement (circumference length, radius, area).

In each of the embodiments, an example in which a scale display is combined with an observation image display screen is shown. However, a display magnification value such as “100 times magnification” may be displayed.
Further, for example, the use / non-use of the function for notifying that a change in the observation image has been detected is switched according to the observer's preference by operating the SW (not shown) provided in the operation part 4 or selecting the menu screen. You may comprise so that it can do.

  In the list display of the display magnification described in each embodiment, only the display magnification for each scale name is displayed, such as [ON 6: 100 times]. Instead of this, for example, [ON1: 2 × 10 um] and the like, the scale scale value of an appropriate unit length calculated by the CPU 201 for the display magnification is also displayed in the list together with the display magnification. You may do it.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Microscope main body 2 Camera head part 3 Digital camera for microscopes 4 Operation part 5 Display part 6 Operation display part 7 Cable 20 Imaging element 21 Sampling circuit 22 A / D converter 23 Image processing part 24 D / A converter 25 Shutter 31 EXPOSE SW
32 Mode SW
33 Exposure correction SW
34 Memory device 35 Removable media 36 Memory read / write unit 37 Communication terminal 38 Communication unit 41 Image display panel 42 Information display panel 50 Sample 51 Stage 52, 52-2 Objective lens 53 Revolver 54 Eyepiece lens 55 Imaging lens 60 Power supply SW
61 Left selection SW
62 Right selection SW
63 Symbol string ROM
64 Photographed image-symbol string synthesizer 65 Observation image-symbol string synthesizer 66 Objective change determination unit 66a N frame RAM
66b N + 1 frame RAM
66c, 66e, 66g, 66j, 66p Change determination unit 66d, 66f, 66h Frame RAM
66k RAM for left 1/3 area frame
66m Frame RAM for central 1/3 area
66n Frame RAM for right 1/3 area
67 Object change warning LED controller 68a Shading detection holder a
68b Light-shielding detection holder b
68c Non-light-shielding holder 68d Light-shielding holder 68e Light-shielding state holder 69 Light-shielding time measuring instrument 69a Measurement clock 69b Counter 69c Measurement judgment unit 70 Frame three-divider 71a Left 1/3 area 71b Central 1/3 area 71c Right 1 / 3 area 72 Object change warning LED
91 Scale name selection sub-menu MENU
91b Scale name selection switching 91c Scale ON small item MENU
92 Scale OFF small item MENU
93 Scale Detail Setting Subitem MENU
94 Scale detailed setting item 100 PC
101 Communication cable 200 Display RAM
201 CPU
203 Camera head connector

Claims (4)

Observation image display means for displaying an observation image acquired by a microscope;
Detecting means for detecting a change in the observed image;
A notification means for outputting notification information indicating a detection result of the change in the observation image by the detection means;
Display magnification information storage means for storing information of display magnification for the observation image;
Have
The notification means displays a list of display magnifications of the observation image stored in the display magnification information storage means as an output of the notification information,
further,
Scale information display means for displaying scale information indicating a relationship between the size of the sample to be observed in the microscope and the image of the sample represented in the observation image;
Selection instruction acquisition means for acquiring an instruction for selection from the list of display magnifications;
Scale information display changing means for changing the display of the scale information by the scale information display means to display of scale information corresponding to the display magnification according to the selection instruction;
A microscope camera characterized by comprising:   The display means displays the list of display magnifications so that the display magnifications related to the selection instruction acquired by the selection instruction acquisition means are arranged in a specific order. The microscope camera described in 1.   The notification means stops the display if the selection instruction acquisition means does not acquire the selection instruction even after a predetermined time has elapsed since the display of the display magnification list is started. The microscope camera according to claim 1 or 2.   4. The microscope camera according to claim 3, wherein when the display of the list of display magnifications is stopped, the notification unit notifies that the selection instruction has not been acquired.