JPH063601A - Microscopic still picture transmission system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To support observing work for a pathology observer by formulating the observation means of the observer while handling a still picture, and incorporating the means into a microscopic picture transmission system. CONSTITUTION:A console display 2(2a, 2b) is for displaying system states and a control menue to an observer controlling a microscope 13 and a macro photographic stand 16 and a pointing portion 8(8a, 8b) is used to select the menue and to designate an image area. The console displays 2a, 2b display the system state and the control menue of the same contents. Magnification is designated on the display screen of the console display 2b and a rectangular area showing the field of view is displayed in a video display 3(3a, 3b) and the rectangular frame is moved to a desired position by the pointing 8b and fixed there and information about that position is sent to client side terminal equipment 100, which in turn automatically adjusts exposure, illumination, magnification and focusing in accordance with information from observation side terminal equipment 101.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a microscope still image transmission system for transmitting an image observed by a microscope as a still image, and more particularly to a microscope still image transmission for displaying an image state in order to support an observer's observation work. Regarding the system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a microscope image transmission system is used to connect a requesting facility such as a hospital without a pathologist to an observation and diagnosis side facility such as a pathology classroom of a university medical school by a communication line so that the requesting facility is changed to an observation side facility. It is used for remote pathological diagnosis that transmits microscopic images. Attempts have been made to provide such convenience to an observer at a remote place by transmitting such a microscope image through a communication line. For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 64-20449 discloses a technique relating to a remote pathological diagnosis circuit network.

[0003]

However, due to the poor operability due to the low communication line speed and the large amount of image information, it is the reality that it is not practically used.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and its object is to observe a still image while formulating the observation means of a pathological observer and incorporating it into a microscope image transmission system. It is to support the observation work for the person.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, in the microscope still image transmission system of the present invention, a microscope having a movable electric stage and performing microscope observation of a sample installed on the electric stage. Means, stage control means for controlling the movement of the electric stage in the microscope means, macroscopic image capturing means for capturing the entire image of the sample, and observation of the sample captured by the microscope means and macroscopic image capturing means First video display means for selectively displaying an image, first frame memory means for capturing image information displayed on the first video display means, and image captured by the first frame memory means First image compression / expansion means for compressing information or restoring compressed image information, and compressed by the image compression / expansion means First image storage means for storing image information, first console display means for displaying at least an operation menu for operating the microscope means and macroscopic image capturing means, and the first console display means for displaying the operation menu. A first pointing means for selecting an operation menu and specifying an image display area, and a first control for automatically adjusting the microscope means based on specification information from the observing side terminal device. Means and a request-side terminal device having a first communication means for communicating with the observing-side terminal device under the control of the first control means, and compressed image information from the request-side terminal device. , Second image compression / decompression means for restoring, second image storage means for storing compressed image information from the requesting terminal device, and digital signal from the requesting terminal device. Second frame memory means for converting the image information into an image signal, and a second video display means for displaying an observed image by the image signal from the second frame memory means and a rectangular area showing the field of view of the observer. A second console display means for displaying a system status and an operation menu having the same contents as those of the first console display means, selection of a menu displayed by the second console display means, designation of a magnification, and an image area. The second to specify
And the magnification of the microscope means on the display screen of the second console display means, the area showing the field of view is displayed on the second video display means, and the second pointing means is used. Based on the control of the second control means for setting the rectangular frame at a desired position and controlling the setting information to be transmitted to the requesting terminal device, and the requesting terminal device. And an observing side terminal device having a second communication means for communicating with.

[0006]

That is, in the microscope still image transmission system of the present invention, in the request-side terminal device, the microscope means has a movable electric stage controlled by the stage control means, and the specimen installed on the electric stage. Under the microscope. Then, the macroscopic image capturing means captures the entire image of the sample. And the first video display means is
The observed image of the photographed specimen is displayed, and the first frame memory means digitally converts the television signal from the first video display means and outputs digital image information. Then, the first image compression / decompression means compresses the image information taken in by the first frame memory means or restores the compressed image information.
Further, the first image storage means stores the image information compressed by the image compression means, and the first console display means operates the microscope means and the macroscopic image capturing means. And an operation menu are displayed, and the first pointing means selects the displayed menu and designates the image area. Then, the first control means controls the microscope means so as to be automatically adjusted based on the designation information from the observation side terminal device. Then, the first communication means communicates with the observation side terminal device. On the other hand, in the observation side terminal device,
The second image compression / decompression means restores the compressed image information from the requesting terminal device, the second image storage means stores the compressed image information, and the second frame memory means sends the compressed image information from the requesting terminal device. The digital image information is converted into a television signal, and the second video display means displays the observed image by the television signal from the second frame memory means and the rectangular area showing the visual field of the observer, The console display means displays the system status and operation menu having the same contents as the first console display means. Then, the second pointing means performs selection of this menu, designation of magnification, designation of image area, and second control means designates magnification of the microscope means on the display screen of the second console display. Then, an area showing the field of view is displayed on the video display means, the pointing means sets the rectangular frame at a desired position, and the setting information is transmitted to the requesting terminal device. Further, the second communication means is
Communication with the request-side terminal device is performed based on the control of the second control means.

[0007]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of a microscope still image transmission system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in the figure, this system comprises a request-side terminal device 100, an observing-side terminal device 101, and a communication line 102 connecting both terminals. As the communication line 102, an analog public telephone line for wide area connection, a digital public line (ISDN), a dedicated line, and a LAN for premises connection can be used. This system uses a commercially available INS net 64 as a digital public line for the purpose of wide area transmission of still images.

The request-side terminal device 100 is provided with a controller 1a for controlling the whole, and the controller 1a has a console display 2a,
Frame memory 4a, image compression / decompression unit 5a, image storage unit 6a, stage control unit 7, pointing unit 8a, IS
The DN communication units 17a are connected to each other.

A video display 3a and a TV signal switch 11 are connected to the frame memory 4a, and the TV signal switch 11 is connected to the TV camera controllers 9 and 10, respectively.

Furthermore, the TV camera control units 9 and 10 are
The TV cameras 12 and 15 are connected to cameras 12 and 15, respectively, and the TV cameras 12 and 15 include a microscope 13 and a macro photography stand 16.
Respectively connected to. The microscope 13 is equipped with an electric stage 14 for controlling the observation position on the sample.

In the request-side terminal device 100 having such a configuration, the controller 1a includes the request-side terminal device 10
0 controls the entire console display 2a
Displays the system status, operation menu, etc. for an observer who operates the system, and the video display 3a
Displays the observed image.

The frame memory 4a is an NT
An image compression / decompression unit 5a is provided by digitally converting an SC television (TV) signal into digital image information.
Compresses the captured image information, restores the compressed image information, and the image storage unit 6a stores the compressed image information.

Further, the stage control section 7 is for controlling the electric stage 14 of the microscope 13, and the pointing section 8a is for the observer to select a menu or specify an image area. , A mouse will be described as an example. Then, the ISDN communication unit 17a communicates with the observation side terminal device 101 via the communication line 102 under the control of the controller 1a.

On the other hand, the observation side terminal device 101 is provided with a controller 1b for controlling the entire requesting side terminal device 100. And this controller 1
console display 2b, frame memory 4b
b, an image compression / decompression unit 5b, an image storage unit 6b, a pointing unit 8b, an ISDN communication unit 17b are connected to each other, and the frame memory 4b is a video display 3b.
It is connected to the.

In the observation side terminal device 101 having such a structure, the controller 1b controls the entire observation side terminal device 101. The console display 2b displays the system status and operation menu for the observer who operates the system, and the video display 3b displays the observed image.

Further, the frame memory 4b converts digital image information into a TV signal of NTSC system. Then, the image compression / decompression unit 5b restores the compressed image information sent from the request-side terminal device 100, and the image storage unit 6b stores the compressed image.

The pointing unit 8b is used by the observer to select a menu or designate an image area, and the mouse will be described below as an example. Then, the ISDN communication unit 17b controls the controller 1b to transmit the request-side terminal device 100 via the communication line 102.
Communicate with. The console displays 2a and 2b are used for system status display and operation menu display, and the pointing units 8a and 8b are used for menu selection and on-screen instruction.

The observing procedure will be described below with reference to the flow charts of FIGS. 2 and 3 while mixing the movements of the respective screens of the console displays 2a and 2b and the video displays 3a and 3b.

First, in step S101, the request-side terminal device 100 is started up, and the electric stage 14 is initialized, the frame memory 4a is initialized, and the ISDN communication section 17a is automatically initialized. Then, the observation side terminal device 101 is contacted by telephone to instruct to start up the system,
Then, the process proceeds to next step S102.

Then, in step S121, upon receiving a telephone call from the requesting terminal device 100, the system of the observing terminal device 101 is started up, and the frame memory 4b
And the ISDN communication unit 17b are automatically initialized, and the process proceeds to the next step S122. After that, the observing side terminal device 101 is in a waiting state until communication is received from the requesting side terminal device 100, and the line between the terminal devices is not connected during this time.

When the system of both terminal devices is started up, the console displays 2a and 2b of each terminal device are started.
In FIG. 4, a menu screen including five areas that differ depending on the purpose of use, that is, a state display area, a mesh area, a mesh explanation area, a message area, and a menu area is displayed.

Next, in step S102, the requesting terminal device 100 captures, compresses, and saves the macro image of the sample and the weakly enlarged image. In the same step, first, the TV signal switching device 11 in the request-side terminal device 100 is set to the "macro side", the slide is set on the XY stage of the macro photographing stand 16 having the configuration shown in FIG. A macro image of the slide shown in FIG. 5 is displayed on the display 3a. At this time, the frame memory 4a is in the transparent mode.

Then, while watching the video display 3a, the XY stage of the macro photographing stand 16 is operated and the TV camera 15 is brought into focus. Then, "execute capture" on the menu screen is selected by the mouse 8a,
Start importing macro images.

The image thus captured is digitized, further compressed by the image compression / decompression unit 5a, and then stored in the image storage unit 6a. The image number of the stored whole specimen image is set to "0".

In this system, the TV camera 15 is designed so that the width of the visual field of the entire specimen image is 24 mm in length and 32 mm in width.
The lens and camera height of are adjusted. This area is divided into vertical 384 pixels and horizontal 512 pixels, and the frame memory 4
Pixel spacing is 62.5 μm because a is being addressed.

Subsequently, XY of the macro photographing stand 16
Read the X coordinate and Y coordinate of the stage, controller 1a
The position of the stage on the macro photographing stand side and the position of the electric stage 14 on the side of the microscope 13 are corrected based on the value. Then, after the position correction is completed, the slide is replaced with the electric stage 14 on the microscope 13 side.

Next, in the request-side terminal device 100, the mouse 8a is used to designate an area on the macro image on the video display 3a for actual microscopic observation. This designated area is surrounded by a rectangular frame as shown in FIG. Specifically, the two vertices A (Xa, Ya) and B of the rectangle are included so that the area with the material is included in the entire specimen image.
(Xb, Yb) is designated on the screen of the video display 3a by using the mouse 8a.

Then, as shown in FIG. 8, the controller 1a of the request-side terminal device 100 automatically meshes the designated rectangular area into the initial observation block determined by the objective lens used for the microscope initial observation and the eyepiece. To divide it.

In the request-side terminal device 100, when the objective lens of 2 ×, the eyepiece lens of 2.5 ×, and the 1 / 2-inch CCD camera are used for the initial magnification observation, the field of view is 2.
The width is 4 mm and the width is 3.2 mm, which corresponds to 38 pixels in the vertical direction and 51 pixels in the horizontal direction on the whole image of the sample. Furthermore, the division numbers Px and Py of the mesh-like division are expressed by the following equation (1). Px = int ((Xb-Xa) / 51) +1 Py = int ((Yb-Ya) / 51) +1 (1) where int (A / B) is the integer part of the quotient of A divided by B. Indicates a function. Therefore, the sizes of the divided meshes Sx, S
y is shown by the following equation (2). Sx = int ((Xb-Xa) / Px) +1 Sy = int ((Yb-Ya) / Py) +1 (2) Therefore, the coordinate P (X, Y) of each division point of the mesh is calculated by the following equation ( 3). X = Xa + n * Sx (n = 0 to Px) Y = Ya + n * Sy (n = 0 to Py) (3) It should be noted that adjacent meshes are divided so as to overlap each other by several percent to 20 percent.

When the observation area is divided into meshes in this way, the message "Specify an initial observation unnecessary block of the sample" is displayed in the guidance message area of the console display 2a of the requesting terminal device 100. Then, an arrow for indicating a block is displayed on the screen of the video display 3a.

Next, as shown in FIG. 9, the request-side operator uses the mouse 8a to specify a block which does not require initial observation among the previously divided blocks. This designation is made by moving the arrow inside the block and clicking the block. The designation can be canceled by clicking the region once designated again. Normally, it is useless to capture an image of a block that does not cover the sample at all, and therefore an instruction is made to remove it from the target of initial observation.

Thus, as shown in FIG. 11, when the block to be observed is determined, the block schematic diagram is shown in FIG.
As shown in, a map is displayed in the image block state display area of the console display 2a.

Each rectangular block has a one-to-one correspondence with the rectangular block shown in the video display 3a at each position.
It corresponds to. However, in this state, all of the rectangular areas on the console display 2a are partitioned by white lines, and the internal area is black.

At this time, the controller 1a calculates the visual field center position coordinates of each pixel block and creates an image management table. This table has a format as shown in FIG.

Further, the image numbers given at the time of creating the image management table are numbered 1, 2, ... In order from the left column as shown in FIG. The whole image of the sample captured earlier is given the image number "0" as a parent of the initial observation image.

Then, after adjusting the focus and brightness while watching the video display 3a, "OK" on the menu screen is selected. Then, the capturing of the image is started, the captured image is compressed and stored in the image storage unit 6a, the XY stage is moved to the position of the next mesh, and the same operation is performed to capture all the doubled images. Repeat until

In step S103, after all the macro images have been captured in this way, the requesting terminal device 100 selects "start transmission" on the menu screen to call the observing terminal device 101.

That is, the controller 1a of the request-side terminal device 100 first sends the other party via the ISDN communication unit 17a,
That is, the telephone number of the observing side terminal device 101 is dialed to establish a communication line with the observing side terminal device 101. here,
The controller 1a of the request-side terminal device 100 has a communication destination table that records the name and telephone number of the request destination in the format shown in FIG.

Then, the guidance message display area of the console display 2a displays the message "Please select a communication destination.", And the menu selection area displays only the requestee name registered in the communication destination table. .

Thus, when the requesting operator clicks on the desired communication destination with the mouse 8a, the ISDN communication unit 17
The telephone number corresponding to the communication destination is sent to a and ISDN
The communication unit 8a dials the number and the observation side terminal device 1
Call 01.

Then, the macro image file and the 2 × magnified image file are sequentially transmitted to the observing side terminal device 101. During this time, the message "File being transmitted" flashes in the status display area of the menu screen. Then, by repainting the transmitted microscope initial observation image block in blue and changing the status flag in the corresponding image management table to “3”, the requester can know how far the transmission has been completed and how many image blocks will remain. It is displayed so that the terminal operator can understand it. When the last file is sent, a beep sounds to notify the operator.

At step S122, the observing side terminal device 1
In 01, the line with the request-side terminal device 100 is connected, the files sent are sequentially received, and stored in the image storage unit 6b.

In the terminal device 101 on the observing side, when reception of a file is started, the message "file receiving" blinks in the status display area of the menu screen. And
The image block state display on the console display 2b is repainted in accordance with the reception of the image block for initial observation of the microscope. That is, the received image block is repainted in blue and the status flag of the corresponding image management table is replaced with "3".

Therefore, the observing side terminal operator can grasp the number of images to be received and the number of images to be received by looking at the color change of the block. Then, when the last file has been received as in the case of the request-side terminal device 100, a beep sounds to inform the operator of the fact. At this time, the image block state display on the console display 2b is displayed in different colors according to the state of each image block as shown in FIG.

Next, in step S123, the observing side terminal device 101 observes the macro image displayed on the video display 3b after finishing receiving the file. In this macro image, as shown in FIG. 12, a mesh applied to capture a double image is also displayed.

Then, in the mesh area of the menu screen, as in the case of the request-side terminal device 100, a diagram visually expressing how the doubled images are arranged is displayed, and the request-side terminal device 100 is displayed. However, similarly, the macro image is displayed on the video display 3a together with the mesh. Then, in the mesh area of the menu screen, a diagram visually expressing how the doubled images are arranged is displayed.

In this manner, when the "next image" on the menu screen as shown in FIG. 17 is selected on the observing side terminal device 101, the first double enlarged image is displayed. Hereinafter, the "next image" is sequentially displayed. This display is shown in Figure 1.
As shown in FIG.

Then, a square in the mesh area of the menu screen corresponding to the area of the child image currently displayed is displayed in red, and when the "mark" is selected for the image of particular interest, the mesh area on the menu screen is displayed. The corresponding squares of are displayed in green.

When it is desired to return to the previous image, "previous image" is selected. Then, the position information of the mouse of the observing side terminal device 101 and the information when the button is pressed are sent to the requesting side terminal device 100.

Next, in step S104, as the requesting terminal device 100 causes the observing terminal device 101 to sequentially display the doubled image, the video display of the observing terminal device 101 is displayed on the video display 3a. Three
The same image as b is displayed. Then, in the currently displayed area, the corresponding square of the mesh area on the menu screen is displayed in green. The request-side terminal device 100 is in a waiting state until information is sent from the diagnosis-side terminal device.

Further, the request-side terminal device 100 receives the position information of the mouse 8b from the observing-side terminal device 101,
Display the mouse pointer at the corresponding position on the menu screen. As a result, the mouse 8
When b is moved, the pointer moves on the screen in the same manner in the requesting terminal device 100 accordingly.

Then, when receiving the information of the button depression from the observing side terminal device 101, the menu screen at the position where the mouse pointer is located is selected. The requesting terminal device 10
At 0, the pointer does not move even if the pointing portion 8a is moved during this period.

Next, in step S124, when the observation side terminal device 101 has finished displaying the macro image to the end, the macro image of interest is displayed again. And FIG.
When "To TV monitor" is selected on the menu screen as shown in 8, the mouse pointer is moved to the video display 3b.
Is displayed in.

Then, in step S105, the same macro image as that of the observing side terminal device 101 is displayed on the requesting side terminal device 100. Further, in response to the observation side terminal device 101 selecting “to TV monitor”, the mouse pointer is also displayed on the video display 3 in the request side terminal device 100.
It is displayed in a.

Next, in step S125, in the observing side terminal device 101, a region to be observed at a higher magnification, a magnification and an image compression rate are designated on the menu image as shown in FIG. At this time, in the observing side terminal device 101, when an arbitrary mesh is selected with the mouse 8b, a double magnified image of that portion is displayed.

In this state, selecting "observe parent image" in the menu displays the previous macro image. And
When "To TV monitor" is selected, the mouse pointer is displayed on the video display 3b. At this time, to return to the original state, click the right button of the pointing portion 8b.

Further, when the execution of import is designated, as shown in FIG.
A menu screen as shown in 0 (b) is displayed, and the magnification of the objective lens can be designated. Then, when the magnification of the objective lens is designated, the menu screen as shown in FIG. 20C is displayed, and the degree of image compression can be selected.

At this time, also in the request-side terminal device 100, if any mesh of the macro image is selected with the mouse 8a, a double image of that portion is displayed. Then, the mouse pointer moves in exactly the same manner according to the operation of the observing side terminal device 101, and the menu is selected. Furthermore, the menu screen changes according to the operation of the observing side terminal device 101,
The magnification of the objective lens and the degree of image compression are selected.

Then, in the request-side terminal device 100, as shown in FIG.
If "execute import" is specified on the menu screen as shown in FIG. 2A, the menu screen changes as shown in FIG. 22B and the mouse pointer is displayed. Then, the motorized stage 14 on the microscope side moves to the designated position,
The frame memory 4a enters the transparent mode.

In this state, in this embodiment, the objective lens is manually switched, and the focus and diaphragm are adjusted while watching the video display 3a. Depending on the precision of the electric stage 14, it may be slightly displaced from the designated position.
In that case, when "Display designated image" is selected on the menu screen as shown in FIG. 22B, an image including a rectangular frame as shown in FIG. 21 is displayed on the video display 3a and the designated position is displayed. Then, it is possible to manually adjust to the position required by the observing side.

Since the menu screen changes as shown in FIG. 22 (c), if "Return to original" is selected, the TV is displayed again.
Return to the image from the camera 15. Further, when "execute import" is specified, the microscope image is acquired, image compression is performed at the specified compression ratio, and the image is stored in the image storage unit 6a.

Further, in step S127, a frame having a size corresponding to the field of view of the designated objective lens is displayed on the video display 3b on the observation side terminal device 101 as shown in FIG. This rectangular frame can be moved to any position on the screen by moving the mouse 8b.

Then, when the left button of the mouse 8b is pressed, the frame is fixed and the menu screen of the console display 2b is changed as shown in FIG. 22 (a). Further, when "continue designation" is selected on the menu screen, the magnification of the objective lens is selected again, the degree of compression is selected, and the rectangular frame on the video display 3b is moved to designate the observation position. Then, when the "execution of capture" is designated, the observing side terminal device 101 enters a waiting state.

Next, in steps S108 to S110, the request-side terminal device 100 moves the stage to a designated position, changes the designated magnification, adjusts the focus and aperture, and in step S111, captures and compresses the image. , Save. Succeedingly, in a step S112, it is determined whether or not the operations of the above-described S108 to S111 are performed for all the images, and when it is ended, the process proceeds to S113.

In step S113, when all the images of the designated region are captured, the image file is automatically transmitted to the observing side terminal device 101. At this time, the message "File being transmitted" is displayed in the status display area of the menu screen.

Next, in step S128, the observation side terminal device 101 receives and saves the image file sent from the requesting side terminal device 100, and then proceeds to step S129. In this step S129, the observation side terminal device 101
When the reception is completed, the menu screen as shown in FIG. 22 (d) is displayed. Therefore, select "To TV monitor", display the mouse pointer on the video display 3b, and left on the frame at the previously specified position. When you click the button, the child image of the relevant part sent earlier is displayed.
Furthermore, high-magnification observation may be advanced, or the observation position can be newly designated by returning to the parent image.

Next, in step S130, in the terminal device 101 on the observing side, if there is another child image of interest, the process returns to step S124. On the menu screen as shown, select "end" to end the operation of the observing side terminal device 101.

Then, in step S114, the menu screen is selected and the image is displayed on the request-side terminal device 100 in accordance with the operation of the observation-side terminal device 101.
Proceed to S115.

In steps S115 and S116, when the child image is observed and then "end" is selected, the information is transmitted to the request-side terminal device 100 through the communication line 102, and the communication line disconnection and release processes are performed. Then, the operation of the request-side terminal device 100 is completed.

As described above in detail, in the present invention, the whole image of the specimen is divided into blocks and observed under a microscope, and the state of block division of the whole image of the specimen to be observed on the console display is geometrically similar. The corresponding area display of the block is provided.

When performing weak-magnification microscope observation using the entire specimen image, it is possible to instruct whether or not each specimen block is to be observed, and a child image can be designated from the entire specimen image. When doing this, both the block map designation on the console display and the block designation on the overall image are possible.

Further, on the requesting side, the whole specimen image and the weakly magnified microscope image of the whole specimen are inputted as an initial observation image, and these are collectively transmitted. On the observation side, these images are sequentially observed, After that, the operator on the observation side was able to magnify and observe the image of interest.

Then, in both the requesting side terminal and the observing side terminal, the state of each block image is shown by its own image number, parent image number, microscope stage coordinates at the time of image input, observation magnification, image file size, state flag, etc. It is managed by the recorded image management table, and the image block map is color-coded and displayed on the console display corresponding to the state flag.

[0075]

According to the present invention, while handling still images,
By formulating the observation means of the pathological observer and incorporating it into the microscope image transmission system, it is possible to provide a microscope still image transmission system capable of supporting the observation work for the observer.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a microscope still image transmission system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation of the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a menu screen including respective areas displayed on console displays 2a and 2b.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing observed images displayed on video displays 3a and 3b.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a configuration of an XY stage on the macro photographing stand 16 side.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an observation region designated on an observation image displayed on the video displays 3a and 3b.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a state in which an observation area designated on an observation image displayed on the video displays 3a and 3b is divided into meshes.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing how unnecessary blocks are designated among blocks divided into meshes in a designated observation region on the observation images displayed on the video displays 3a and 3b.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a state of a 2 × magnified image.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a state in which unnecessary blocks are deleted from blocks divided into meshes in an observation region designated on the observation images displayed on the video displays 3a and 3b.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a menu screen of console displays 2a and 2b.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a format of an image management table for managing the coordinates of the visual field center position of each pixel block.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing the relationship between the state of each block of the request-side terminal and the observation-side terminal device, and the block color and state flag.

FIG. 15 is a diagram for explaining image numbers assigned when creating the image management table of FIG.

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing an example of a format of a communication destination table in which a requestee name and a telephone number are recorded.

FIG. 17 is a diagram showing a display example of a menu screen of the console displays 2a and 2b.

FIG. 18 is a diagram showing a display example of a menu screen of the console displays 2a and 2b.

FIG. 19 is a diagram showing a display example of a menu screen of console displays 2a and 2b.

20A to 20C are diagrams showing display examples of menu screens of the console displays 2a and 2b.

FIG. 21 is a diagram showing a rectangular area designated on the video displays 3a and 3b.

22A to 22D are diagrams showing display examples of menu screens of the console displays 2a and 2b.

[Explanation of symbols]

1a, 1b ... Controller, 2a, 2b ... Console display, 3a, 3b ... Video display, 4a,
4b ... Frame memory, 5a, 5b ... Image compression / decompression unit,
6a, 6b ... Image storage unit, 7 ... Stage control unit, 8a,
8b ... Pointing unit, 9, 10 ... TV camera control unit, 11 ... TV signal switcher, 12 ... TV camera, 1
3 ... Microscope, 14 ... Motorized stage, 15 ... TV camera,
16 ... Macro shooting stand, 17a, 17b ... ISDN
Communications department.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A microscope means having a movable electric stage, for observing a specimen mounted on the electric stage with a microscope, stage control means for controlling movement of the electric stage in the microscope means, and Macroscopic image capturing means for capturing the entire image, first video display means for selectively displaying an observation image of the sample captured by the microscope means and the macroscopic image capturing means, and the first video display means. And a first frame memory means for fetching the image information displayed by, and a first frame memory means for compressing the image information fetched by the first frame memory means or for restoring the compressed image information.
Image compression / decompression means, first image storage means for storing the image information compressed by the image compression / decompression means, and at least an operation menu related to the operation of the microscope means and macroscopic image capturing means. 1 console display means, 1st pointing means for selecting an operation menu displayed on the 1st console display means and designating an image display area, and based on designation information from the observing side terminal device, It has first control means for controlling the microscope means to be adjusted automatically, and first communication means for communicating with the observation side terminal device based on the control of the first control means. Request-side terminal device, second image compression / decompression means for receiving and restoring compressed image information from the request-side terminal device, and compressed image from the request-side terminal device Second save image information
Image storage means, second frame memory means for converting digital image information from the request-side terminal device into an image signal, observation image by the image signal from the second frame memory means, and observer's visual field By a second video display means for displaying a rectangular area indicating the above, a second console display means for displaying a system status and an operation menu having the same contents as the first console display means, and the second console display means. Second pointing means for selecting the displayed menu, specifying the magnification, and specifying the image area, and an area showing the field of view by specifying the magnification of the microscope means on the display screen of the second console display means. Is displayed on the second video display means, and the second video display means is displayed.
Based on the control of the second control means for setting the rectangular frame to a desired position by the pointing means of and controlling the setting information to be transmitted to the requesting terminal device, A microscope still image transmission system comprising: an observation side terminal device having a second communication means for communicating with the requesting side terminal device.