JPH10333053A - Depth-of-focus extension device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To stabilize action for obtaining an image with the high depth of focus and to easily obtain the image as intended by an observer while reducing the load imposed on the observer operating a device. SOLUTION: A device main body 1 is provided with an image input integration part 21 fetching a picked up image by using a microscope 4 switching and using plural objective lenses 13, moving a focusing position at an object surface and projecting an object image on a CCD camera 2 and obtaining the integrated image from the plural images including the image fetched over plural times and focused at the different object surface and an image processing part 22 executing the recovery processing of the image by using a recovery filter for the obtained integrated image. Further, it is provided with a filter set part 26 previously setting a corresponding filter among the plural filters every respective lenses 13, a filter selection part 27 selecting and setting a recovery filter other than the filter set by the set part 26 and a CPU 24 switching the corresponding recovery filter according to the set contents of the set part 26 and the selection part 27 when the lens 13 is switched.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a plurality of input images including an image focused on each height position of a thick object, and focuses on each height position of the object from a plurality of input images. The present invention relates to a depth of focus extending apparatus capable of obtaining an image having an extended depth.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art When an object is analyzed using its input image, it is required that the obtained image be a bright, high-resolution image with a deep depth of focus. Generally, in order to optically capture a bright image with high resolution and high magnification, an imaging optical system using an optical element having a large aperture is required.

However, in an imaging optical element represented by a lens, as the aperture becomes larger, the depth of focus becomes shallower. Therefore, if an imaging optical element having a large aperture is used to secure a large magnification, the depth of focus becomes extremely shallow, so that if a subject is present at a different position in the optical axis direction, only one of the subjects is used. The image cannot be focused, and the image of the other portions becomes blurred.

Therefore, in the field of using image equipment such as a microscope, a camera, and an endoscope, various means for increasing the depth of focus have been considered. For example, JP-A-5-31
Japanese Patent No. 3,068 (hereinafter abbreviated as "conventional example 1") discloses a multi-area distance measuring device that focuses on an object surface by driving a lens with a lens driving device to determine spatial frequency characteristics in each area. After changing the position and measuring the distance to each object in advance, as a pre-process, the spatial frequency characteristics of the images of the plurality of object surfaces in the field of view are accumulated in each area of the image that has been cumulatively added. The most uniform image is driven by the lens driving device to drive the lens to accumulate and add the images, and the above is post-processed to enhance the predetermined middle to high spatial frequency by the spatial filter. There is disclosed a technique for obtaining an image with a deeper depth of focus by performing processing.

In Japanese Patent Application No. 8-109,714 (hereinafter abbreviated as "conventional example 2"), a filter coefficient or a filter size of a filter to be used in a restoration process using a spatial filter for an image obtained by accumulative addition is specified by a CCD. There is disclosed a technique including a recovery filter variable unit that changes the correlation between the spread of a point image intensity distribution on a light receiving element such as a camera and the size of the light receiving element.

Further, Japanese Patent Application No. 9-1,472 (hereinafter, abbreviated as “conventional example 3”) discloses that, when the microscope stage is slightly moved at first, the change in the contrast is caused on either side of the contrast curve. The stage is moved quickly in the direction in which the contrast decreases, and then the stage is moved in the direction in which the contrast goes to the peak value. A technique has been disclosed in which image addition is performed by an image addition circuit from the point in time when the degree of change in contrast value reaches a predetermined condition.

[0007]

For example, a specimen which is almost transparent is difficult to be visually recognized even by ordinary observation, so that an observation method such as differential interference is employed. Differential processing or the like can be performed in image processing, and some general image processing apparatuses have such a function.

However, in the conventional example 1, since the filter is statically determined only due to the optical conditions, the filter cannot be changed in accordance with the sample, and the recovery by the filter for the accumulated image is not possible. Alternatively, when the enhancement processing is regarded as image processing, processing such as edge enhancement, edge extraction, and averaging, which are generally performed in image processing, is immediately selected and executed according to the sample or the observer's intention. Can not.

Further, recently, there has been proposed a microscope having a focus correction function in order to make the focus operation at the time of switching the objective lens of the microscope simpler.
Japanese Patent Publication No. 015 discloses storing the in-focus data for each objective lens, correcting the imaging state based on the in-focus data of the objective lens before and after the switching, and keeping the in-focus state even when the objective lens is switched. There is disclosed a technique for omitting a focusing operation after objective lens replacement.

However, none of the above-mentioned prior art examples 1 to 3 has a function of correcting the focus, and an operation of always making the focus necessary after switching the objective lens is required. Therefore, for an observer who originally intends to observe a specimen, the operation of the microscope and the apparatus becomes complicated, and a problem occurs that the user cannot concentrate on the original purpose.

In particular, in the above-mentioned conventional example 3, the focus is greatly defocused due to the parfocal difference after the exchange of the objective lens. In general, when the contrast is low, the contrast is further increased by moving the stage from the out-of-focus state. In the direction in which the contrast decreases, that is, in the direction in which the focus is out of focus. Therefore, it is not possible to detect the direction in which the contrast goes to the peak value next, and it may not be possible to obtain a high-depth image.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has as its object to stabilize the operation of constructing a high-depth-of-focus image, reduce the load on the operation of the apparatus by an observer, and perform observation. It is an object of the present invention to provide a depth of focus extending device capable of easily obtaining a high depth of focus image according to a user's intention.

[0013]

According to the first aspect of the present invention,
By using a microscope that switches between a plurality of objective lenses, an image of an object is projected through an imaging optical system onto an imaging unit including a plurality of light receiving elements, and the object image is captured by capturing the image of the object. Means, a focus position moving means for moving a focus position on an object plane, and a plurality of images including images focused on different object planes taken by the focus input means a plurality of times from the image input means. Depth-of-focus extension device having an image integrating means for adding an image to an integrated image, and a recovering means for performing an image recovery process on the integrated image obtained by the image integrating means using a recovery filter comprising a spatial frequency filter A filter setting means for presetting a corresponding one of a plurality of recovery filters for each of the plurality of objective lenses, and the setting contents of the filter setting means. A first filter switching means for switching the restoration filter corresponding to the switching of the objective lens Te,
The filter changing means for selectively setting a recovery filter other than the one switched by the first filter switching means, and the recovery filter selected by the filter changing means for the recovery filter switched by the first filter switching means. And a second filter switching means for switching.

With such a configuration, the filter used in the recovery process is set independently for each objective lens, and the observer does not need to perform the operation of switching the recovery filter even when the objective lens is switched. The load required for the operation of the apparatus by the observer can be greatly reduced, and when the image obtained by the restoration processing using the preset restoration filter is not satisfactory, the restoration filter is immediately switched to another one. Therefore, image processing according to the observer's intention can be performed immediately.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, there is further provided a focus control means for correcting a focus difference of the objective lens switched when the objective lens is switched. .

With this configuration, in addition to the operation of the first aspect of the present invention, the parfocal correction is performed when the objective lens is switched. Since a high depth of focus image can be obtained without performing any operation, it is possible to further reduce the load required for the observer to operate the apparatus. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (First Embodiment) A first embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a basic configuration of a depth of focus extending device according to a first embodiment.
1 is a main body of the apparatus, and 2 is a C as a photographing means.
A CD camera 3, a television monitor 3 for displaying an image finally obtained, a microscope 4 for installing a CCD camera 2 for obtaining a sample image, and a device main body 1 for instructing various operations. The operation unit 5 operated by the observer is connected. The microscope 4 includes a stage 11 on which an observation sample is placed, which is movable in the vertical direction along the optical path axis, a stage driving unit 12 that drives the stage 11 under the control of the apparatus main body 1, and a plurality of attached microscopes having different magnifications. Are selectively inserted into the optical path with respect to the objective lenses 13, 13,..., And the revolver 14 is rotationally driven under the control of the apparatus main body 1 to insert the objective lens 13 having a desired magnification into the optical path. It has a revolver control unit 15 and an intermediate magnification lens 16, and an enlarged image of the observation sample obtained by the CCD camera 2 is sent to the apparatus main body 1. Device body 1
The image input unit 21 receives an image obtained by the CCD camera 2 and integrates a plurality of input images, an image processing unit 22 that performs a recovery process on the integrated image obtained by the image input integration unit 21, An image display unit 23 for displaying the image subjected to the recovery processing by the image processing unit 22 on the television monitor 3, and controls the operation of the entire apparatus including the image input integration unit 21, the image processing unit 22, and the image display unit 23. A CPU 24, a storage unit 25 for storing an operation program of the CPU 24 and various data, and a recovery filter composed of a spatial frequency filter used in the image processing unit 22 are set for each of the objective lenses 13, 13,... Of the revolver 14. Filter setting unit 26, and a filter selection unit that selects a recovery filter used in the image processing unit 22 other than the one set by the filter setting unit 26 And a 7. The CPU 24 includes the image input integration unit 21, the image processing unit 22, and the image display unit 2.
3. In addition to the storage unit 25, the filter setting unit 26, and the filter selection unit 27, the revolver control unit 1 of the microscope 4
5, the stage drive unit 12, the operation unit 5, and the filter setting unit 26. Next, a specific external configuration of the operation unit 5 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG.
Is an elevation view of the operation unit 5, and FIG. 2B is a side view of the operation unit 5. A focusing handle 31 for moving the stage 11 of the microscope 4 up and down is provided on the side surface thereof.
On the upper surface, a start (START) button 32 for starting a shooting operation of a high depth of focus image and a pair of objective switching buttons 33, 33 for switching the objective lenses 13, 13, ... of the revolver 14 are provided. . Objective switching button 3
By pressing any one of them, the objective lenses 13, 13, 13, 13, 13,
… Is the revolver 14 driven by the revolver controller 15
Are sequentially inserted into the optical path with the rotation of. FIG. 3 shows the objective lens 1 of the revolver 14.
.. When there are a total of 5, 3, 13,...
The number of rotary switches 26a to 26e is equal to the number of objective lenses. "RE" in the figure
“V1” to “REV5” represent the positions of the revolving holes of the revolver 14, that is, the objective lenses attached thereto. The rotary switches 26a to 26e in the figure are all "0" because of the initial state before the setting, but the individual rotary switches 26a (to 26e) are
2, it is possible to set a filter number from "0" to "7" corresponding to the number of recovery filters provided, for example, "8", and rotate the central switching dial 261 using a flathead screwdriver or the like. Thus, any recovery filter provided in the image processing unit 22 can be replaced with the objective lens 13, 13,.
It can be set every time. Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the filter selecting unit 27 instructs the image processing unit 22 to use the recovery filter set for each of the objective lenses 13, 13,. * "And position A
It is composed of a rotary switch 271 with a knob, which also has a position B which can temporarily select another recovery filter different from that. The numbers “0” to “7” in the position B are the same as those of the filter setting unit 26. This corresponds to the filter number set by the switching dial 261. The revolver control unit 15 includes a rotation drive unit including a motor for rotating the revolver 14 and a revolving hole position detection unit using various sensors. The revolver control unit 15 is designated by receiving an instruction from the CPU 24. The revolver 14 is inserted so that the objective lens 13 attached to the revolving hole is inserted into the optical path.
Is rotated to move, while detecting which revolving hole is in the optical path at that time and sending it to the CPU 24. In addition, the stage driving unit 12 includes a CP
The stage 11 can be moved up and down along the optical path axis in response to an instruction from the U24, and the position of the stage 11 can be managed as an absolute position or a relative position. Next, the operation of the above embodiment will be described. When the start button 32 of the operation unit 5 is pressed, the apparatus body 1 starts an operation based on the control of the CPU 24 for obtaining an image of a high depth of focus of the observation sample placed on the stage 11 of the microscope 4. In the operation place, first, while moving the stage 11 upward or downward by the stage driving unit 12 of the microscope 4, the image of the observation sample placed on the stage 11 is , Via the intermediate magnification lens 16
Shoot with the CD camera 2. The sample images captured by the CCD camera 2 are sequentially captured by the image input integration section 21 of the apparatus main body 1, and are integrated with the sample images of the observation sample previously captured. The image input integrator 21 integrates a predetermined number of images and then sends out the image to the image processor 22.
The recovery process is executed using the recovery filter specified by Here, the operation when the CPU 24 controls the microscope 4 to capture the integrated image will be described in more detail.
The PU 24 determines whether or not control can be performed at the position of the stage 11 at that time based on whether or not the contrast value of the image input to the image input integrator 21 is higher than a predetermined value. When it is determined that the sample image is present, the stage 11 is moved in a predetermined direction by the stage driving unit 12, and the stage 11 is moved to a position where the contrast value of the image from the image input integration unit 21 can recognize that the sample image is completely blurred Stop moving. Thereafter, the stage 11 is driven in a direction opposite to the moving direction of the stage 11 so far, and after driving, it is determined whether or not to start image integration at the position of each stage 11 based on the contrast value of the image. The driving of the stage 11 is stopped at the position where it is determined that the state has become the state where the image integration is to be performed. When it is determined that image integration has started at a certain stage 11 position, the sample image captured by the CCD camera 2 is integrated by the image input integration unit 21. With the stage 11 being driven at a constant speed by the stage drive unit 12, the sample images at the positions of the stages 11 sequentially input to the image input integration unit 21 are sequentially integrated until an integration end command is output. At this time, the CPU 24 sequentially evaluates the contrast value of the sample image obtained at that time even during the calculation of the image integration by the image input integration unit 21, and the change in the contrast value that changes with the position of the stage 11 becomes a predetermined value. Then, the end of the integration is determined. Until the termination of the integration is determined, the image integration by the image input integration unit 21 and the driving of the stage 11 by the stage driving unit 12 are repeatedly executed.
When the integration of the images is completed, the integrated image integrated by the image input integration unit 21 is transferred to the image processing unit 22, and a recovery process using a recovery filter for obtaining an image focused on all surfaces of the screen is performed. It is applied to. That is, the restoration filter used for the restoration processing in the image processing unit 22 is specifically stored in the ROM that constitutes a part of the storage unit 25, and is previously set in the filter setting unit 26. It is assumed that a filter number based on this is added. This recovery filter is used for the objective lens 1
3. A lens having characteristics determined from optical conditions such as each size of the intermediate magnification lens 16 and the CCD camera 2, or a two-dimensional or three-dimensional image obtained by adding image processing effects such as edge enhancement, edge extraction, and averaging. It may be extended and arranged in a table shape. Here, independently of the optical conditions, the filter itself may be arranged from the viewpoint of image processing, which has various image processing effects in addition to the effect of the recovery processing. However, it is assumed that a number is added to each filter in order to identify the recovery filter, and the filter is associated with the filter setting unit 26 and the filter selection unit 27 described above. That is, the revolver 1
The rotary switches 26a to 26 of the filter setting unit 26 correspond to each of the objective lenses 13, 13,.
If the filter set by e or the recovery filter set and selected by the rotary switch 271 with the knob of the filter selection unit 27 and the rotary switch 271 with the knob of the filter selection unit 27 is at the position A, the filter setting is performed. Rotary switch 26 of section 26
The recovery filter set by a (up to 26e) will be used. If the rotary switch 271 with the knob of the filter selection unit 27 is at the position B, the recovery filters “0” to “7” indicated at the position B are used. Therefore, the rotary switch 271 with the knob of the filter selection unit 27
When the objective lens 13, 13,... Of the revolver 14 is switched to obtain the sample image of the observation sample with a high depth of focus, the filter setting unit 26 corresponding to the objective lens 13 to be used after the switching is performed. Is automatically read out from the storage unit 25 and used for creating a sample image. The rotary switch 271 with knob of the filter selection unit 27 is set to the position B, and the objective lens 13 of the revolver 14
When a sample image with a high depth of focus relating to the observation sample is obtained by switching between 13, 13,..., The recovery filter preset by the filter number in the position B is automatically read from the storage unit 25 after the switching. Used to create specimen images. Furthermore, even after the start button 32 is pressed and a sample image with a high depth of focus is created, if the filter number is switched within the position B of the rotary switch 271 with knob, the recovery filter of that filter number is used immediately, A new specimen image is created. Therefore, when the objective lens 13 is switched by setting the rotary switch 271 with the knob of the filter selection unit 27 to the position A to obtain a sample image with a high depth of focus of the observation sample, a recovery filter corresponding to the switched objective lens 13 is used. Is automatically used, while the rotary switch 271 with the knob of the filter selection unit 27 is set to an arbitrary film number in the position B and the objective lens 13 is switched to obtain a specimen image with a high depth of focus of the observation specimen. Even after the objective lens 13 is switched, the recovery filter corresponding to the film number in the position B is continuously used. The high-depth-of-focus image obtained by the recovery processing in the image processing unit 22 is displayed and output on the television monitor 3 by the image display unit 23. In the above embodiment, the filter setting unit 26,
Rotary switches 26a to 26
Although e and 271 are described as being used, the present invention is not limited to this, and another type of selection switch may be used. Another example of the configuration of the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. That is, FIG. 5 shows the operation panel section 41 in which the filter setting section 26 and the filter selection section 27 are integrated into the operation section 5, and the operation panel section 41 is formed by integrating a touch sensor panel with a liquid crystal display panel, for example. By pressing an arbitrary position on the display with a finger, a button or the like displayed at a corresponding position can be operated. The panel section includes rotary switches 26a to 26a of the filter setting section 26.
6e, filter setting buttons 42a to 42e in place of the rotary switch 271 of the filter selection section 27, a filter selection button 43 in place of the rotary switch 271, a start button 32 'and an objective switching button 33' similar to the operation section 5, and a stage movement button 44. . The revolver 14 is rotated by the revolver control unit 15 via the CPU 24 by operating one of the pair of objective switching buttons 33 ′.
The objective lens 13 inserted in the optical path is switched, and the individual objective lenses 13 and 13 are switched according to the switching result.
13. Filter setting button 42a provided corresponding to.
One of -42e is illuminated and displayed with high luminance so that the position of the used revolving hole can be confirmed.
The filter setting buttons 42a to 42e are used to change the filter number of the recovery filter set in advance to “RE
Although they are displayed below the letters “V1” to “REV5”, instead of the notations “REV1” to “REV5” indicating the positions of the revolving holes, the objective lenses 13, 13, and
.. May be stored, and such information may be displayed. The stage movement button 44 has a large number of rectangular buttons arranged in a row, and one end has “Up” and the other end has “D”.
The character “own” is attached, and the CPU 24 moves the stage 11 upward by the stage driving unit 12 by sequentially tracing the rectangular buttons with the fingers from the “Down” direction to the “Up” direction. Let it do.
Similarly, by tracing in the opposite direction, the stage 11 is moved downward. The filter setting buttons 42a to 42e are operated by operating the inside of the rectangular frame of the button for each revolving hole number with a finger.
Is switched from the state shown in FIG. 5 to a dedicated screen for setting a filter number, and a list of settable recovery filter numbers is displayed in a list. By instructing the object, the filter number for which the operation was instructed is input, and the screen returns to the display screen of FIG. 5 again, and the input filter number is displayed in the button rectangular frame of the corresponding revolving hole number. The above operation is executed for all revolving holes. The filter selection button 43 displays the currently leading filter number in the rectangular frame of the button. When switching the filter number to another one, the user can manually operate the inside of the rectangle by finger. , The filter number displayed in the rectangle is "*"
→ "0" → "1" → "2" → ‥‥ → "6" → "7" →
The cyclic switching is performed in the order of “*” → “0” → “1” → ‥‥. In this case, when "*" is displayed, among the filter setting buttons 42a to 42e, the filter number corresponding to the currently used revolving hole among the filter setting buttons 42a to 42e is simultaneously lit and displayed. The settings and selections made with the filter setting buttons 42a to 42e and the filter selection button 43 are stored in an electrically rewritable nonvolatile memory such as an EEPROM, a flash ROM, and an NVRAM. It shall be possible to maintain the contents even if it is cut off. In the description of FIG. 5, the operation panel unit 4
1 has been described as being configured such that the touch sensor panel is integrated with the liquid crystal display panel.
An RT and a pointing device such as a mouse may be used. Thus, according to the above embodiment, the objective lenses 13, 13. Since the recovery filter used in the recovery processing can be set independently for each time, the observer performs the operation of switching the recovery filter to an appropriate one each time the objective lens 13 used is switched. There is no need to perform this operation, and unnecessary operations can be simplified. In addition, when the restored image cannot be satisfied with the content of the preset restoration filter, another restoration filter can be immediately selected, so that the image processing according to the observer's intention can be performed. It can be executed immediately and a specimen image with a high depth of focus can be quickly acquired. (Second Embodiment) Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The basic configuration of the depth of focus extension device is basically the same as that shown in FIG. 1, and the same portions are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof will be omitted. However, the storage unit 25 stores, as one of the operation programs for operation control performed by the CPU 24, a focus correction processing program for correcting a focus difference between objective lenses when the objective lens 13 is switched. When the objective lens 13 is switched, the operation of the parfocal correction processing program is performed by the operation unit 5.
Is set to start operation when the power of the main body 1 is turned on while simultaneously operating both of them. In this case, a warning sound is emitted for confirmation, and it is observed that the operation is different from the normal operation. Notify others. Hereinafter, the content of the above-described parallax correction processing program will be described. FIG. 6 shows the respective focal positions of the objective lenses 13, 13,... Mounted on the revolver 14, wherein the magnification of the objective lens 13 mounted on the revolving hole “REV1” is “100 ×” and the revolving hole “REV1”.
V2 ”, the magnification of the objective lens 13 is“ 50 × ”,
The magnification of the objective lens 13 attached to the revo hole “REV3” is “20 ×”, the magnification of the objective lens 13 attached to the revo hole “REV4” is “10 ×”, and the objective lens 13 attached to the revo hole “REV5”. It is assumed that the magnification is “5 times”.
Of the objective lenses 13, 13,..., The “100 ×” objective lens 13 attached to the revolving hole “REV1” having the highest magnification is switched by operating the objective switching button 33.
An appropriate observation sample is placed on the stage 11, and the focusing handle 31 is manually rotated to focus on the observation sample. here,
The start button 32 is operated to store the current position of the stage 11 shown in FIG. This start button 32
Functions to store the position of the stage 11 during execution of the parallax correction processing program. However, it is assumed that the position of the stage 11 can be sequentially recognized by the stage driving unit 12. For example, the position coordinates of the stage 11 may be managed by using a rotary encoder in a form interlocked with the movement axis of the stage 11, and when a stepping motor is used to drive the stage 11, the amount of movement of the stage 11 May be obtained as relative position information by managing the number of drive pulses given to the stepping motor. In this case, the observation sample to be used is an objective lens 13 of any magnification.
, It is easier to focus accurately if the number of steps on the specimen in the visible visual field is smaller. Next, except for the objective lens 13 used so far, the one with the highest magnification, in this case, the “50 ×” objective lens 13 attached to the revolving hole “REV2” is switched by operating the objective switching button 33, and similarly. Fig. 6 at that point
The position of the stage 11 shown in (b) is stored by operating the start button 32. The above operation is performed for the other objective lenses 13, 13,... In order of increasing magnification. CP
In U24, when the above operation for all the objective lenses 13, 13,... Is completed, the focus data used for the focus correction, for example, as shown in FIG. The parallax difference “5 [μm]” between the “100 ×” objective lens 13 of “REV1” and the “50 ×” objective lens 13 of “REV2” is calculated, and the calculated parallax data is stored in the storage unit 25. This is stored in an electrically rewritable non-volatile memory, and the execution of the parallax correction processing program is completed. The focus data once stored in the storage unit 25 is valid unless the objective lens 13 is replaced. If the replacement is performed, the above-described focus correction processing program is executed again. The parallax data may be reacquired. When the execution of the parfocal correction processing program is completed, the CPU 24 starts preparations for obtaining a normal high-focus depth image. At this time, if the power of the apparatus is once turned off and then turned on again, the normal operation can be started immediately. Next, a description will be given of a parfocal correction operation at the time of switching the objective lens 13 using the parfocal difference data performed at the time of photographing a normal high focal depth image. When the objective switching button 33 of the operation unit 5 is operated, the stage 11 is lowered by a predetermined amount for safety.
Next, the CPU 24 operates the revolver controller 15 to move the objective lens 13 into the optical path.
Is rotated to confirm that the desired objective lens 13 has been inserted into the optical path, the confocal data before and after the switching of the objective lens 13 is read from the storage unit 25, and the stage 11 is moved again based on it. This is because the objective lens 13 of “100 ×” of “REV1” shown in FIG.
When the objective lens 13 is switched to the “50 ×” objective lens 13 of “EV2”, the in-focus difference before and after the switching is “5 [μm]”, and the in-focus position after the switching is lower than the in-focus position before the switching. When the stage 11 is returned to its original position, the amount of movement when the stage 11 was first lowered is set to “5”.
[Μm] ”is returned by the movement amount only by the amount reduced by“ μm ”. This completes the process of parfocal correction, and accurately focuses on the observation sample without bothering the observer. Can be maintained. Therefore, from this point on, a high depth of focus image can be obtained immediately by simply operating the start button 32 of the operation unit 5. As described above, in the second embodiment, by performing the parfocal correction when the objective lens 13 is switched, the operation for the parfocal correction of the observer immediately after the objective lens 13 is switched is omitted, and the operation is immediately performed. Since it is possible to shift to observation, it is possible to reduce the burden of the operation of the apparatus by the observer and efficiently and quickly obtain a high depth of focus image. Note that a dedicated start switch for executing the above-described parfocal correction processing program may be provided on the operation unit 5, and without measuring the parfocal difference,
The focus difference may be statically calculated from the focus position data of the objective lenses 13, 13,.... However,
In this method of statically calculating the parfocal difference, the objective lens 13
When the revolver 14 is attached to the revolving hole, there is a variation in the processing accuracy of each revolving hole, and when the objective lens 13 itself has a variation in the processing accuracy, etc., these cannot be taken into consideration. The method of actually finding the parallax data from the in-focus positions of the objective lenses 13, 13,... Described in the embodiment is more time-consuming, but requires more objective lenses 13, 13,. It is possible to calculate an accurate parallax correction amount in accordance with the actual situation in consideration of the individual difference and the mounting state.

[0001]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, it is necessary to independently set a filter to be used in the recovery process for each objective lens, and to switch the recovery filter even when the objective lens is switched. Therefore, the load required for the viewer to operate the apparatus can be greatly reduced, and when the image obtained by the restoration processing using the preset restoration filter is not satisfactory, the restoration filter is immediately replaced with another one. Since it is possible to switch to the image processing, the image processing according to the observer's intention can be performed immediately.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, in addition to the effect of the first aspect of the present invention, the parfocal correction is performed when the objective lens is switched, so that the observer himself / herself immediately after the objective lens is switched. Since a high-depth-of-focus image can be obtained without performing a parfocal operation, the burden required for the observer to operate the apparatus can be further reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a basic configuration according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a view exemplifying a specific external configuration of an operation unit according to the embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a view exemplifying a specific external configuration of a filter setting unit according to the embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a view exemplifying a specific external configuration of a filter selection unit according to the embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing another configuration example when the filter setting unit and the filter selection unit according to the embodiment are integrated into an operation unit to form an operation panel unit.

FIG. 6 is a view for explaining parfocal correction according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Device main body 2 ... CCD camera 3 ... Television monitor 4 ... Microscope 5 ... Operation part 11 ... Stage 12 ... Stage drive part 13 ... Objective lens 14 ... Revolver 15 ... Revolver control part 16 ... Intermediate magnification lens 21 ... Image input integration part 22 image processing unit 23 image display unit 24 CPU 25 storage unit 26 filter setting units 26a to 26e rotary switch 27 filter selection unit 271 rotary switch 31 with knob 31 focusing handle 32, 32 'start Buttons 33, 33 ': Object switching button 41: Operation panel unit 42a to 42e: Filter setting button 43: Filter selection button 44: Stage movement button

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[Procedure amendment]

[Submission date] June 6, 1997

[Procedure amendment 1]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] Full text

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

[Document Name] Statement

[Title of the Invention] Depth of focus extension device

[Claims]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a plurality of input images including an image focused on each height position of a thick object, and focuses on each height position of the object from a plurality of input images. The present invention relates to a depth of focus extending apparatus capable of obtaining an image having an extended depth.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art When an object is analyzed using its input image, it is required that the obtained image be a bright, high-resolution image with a deep depth of focus. Generally, in order to optically capture a bright image with high resolution and high magnification, an imaging optical system using an optical element having a large aperture is required.

However, in an imaging optical element represented by a lens, as the aperture becomes larger, the depth of focus becomes shallower. Therefore, if an imaging optical element having a large aperture is used to secure a large magnification, the depth of focus becomes extremely shallow, so that if a subject is present at a different position in the optical axis direction, only one of the subjects is used. The image cannot be focused, and the image of the other portions becomes blurred.

Therefore, in the field of using image equipment such as a microscope, a camera, and an endoscope, various means for increasing the depth of focus have been considered. For example, JP-A-5-31
Japanese Patent No. 3,068 (hereinafter abbreviated as "conventional example 1") discloses a multi-area distance measuring device that focuses on an object surface by driving a lens with a lens driving device to determine spatial frequency characteristics in each area. After changing the position and measuring the distance to each object in advance, as a pre-process, the spatial frequency characteristics of the images of the plurality of object surfaces in the field of view are accumulated in each area of the image that has been cumulatively added. The most uniform image is driven by the lens driving device to drive the lens to accumulate and add the images, and the above is post-processed to enhance the predetermined middle to high spatial frequency by the spatial filter. There is disclosed a technique for obtaining an image with a deeper depth of focus by performing processing.

In Japanese Patent Application No. 8-109,714 (hereinafter abbreviated as "conventional example 2"), a filter coefficient or a filter size of a filter to be used in a restoration process using a spatial filter for an image obtained by accumulative addition is specified by a CCD. There is disclosed a technique including a recovery filter variable unit that changes the correlation between the spread of a point image intensity distribution on a light receiving element such as a camera and the size of the light receiving element.

Further, Japanese Patent Application No. 9-1,472 (hereinafter, abbreviated as “conventional example 3”) discloses that, when the microscope stage is slightly moved at first, the change in the contrast is caused on either side of the contrast curve. The stage is moved quickly in the direction in which the contrast decreases, and then the stage is moved in the direction in which the contrast goes to the peak value. A technique has been disclosed in which image addition is performed by an image addition circuit from the point in time when the degree of change in contrast value reaches a predetermined condition.

[0007]

For example, a specimen which is almost transparent is difficult to be visually recognized even by ordinary observation, so that an observation method such as differential interference is employed. Differential processing or the like can be performed in image processing, and some general image processing apparatuses have such a function.

However, in the conventional example 1, since the filter is statically determined only due to the optical conditions, the filter cannot be changed in accordance with the sample, and the recovery by the filter for the accumulated image is not possible. Alternatively, when the enhancement processing is regarded as image processing, processing such as edge enhancement, edge extraction, and averaging, which are generally performed in image processing, is immediately selected and executed according to the sample or the observer's intention. Can not.

Further, recently, there has been proposed a microscope having a focus correction function in order to make the focus operation at the time of switching the objective lens of the microscope simpler.
Japanese Patent Publication No. 015 discloses storing the in-focus data for each objective lens, correcting the imaging state based on the in-focus data of the objective lens before and after the switching, and keeping the in-focus state even when the objective lens is switched. There is disclosed a technique for omitting a focusing operation after objective lens replacement.

However, none of the above-mentioned prior art examples 1 to 3 has a function of correcting the focus, and an operation of always making the focus necessary after switching the objective lens is required. Therefore, for an observer who originally intends to observe a specimen, the operation of the microscope and the apparatus becomes complicated, and a problem occurs that the user cannot concentrate on the original purpose.

In particular, in the above-mentioned conventional example 3, the focus is greatly defocused due to the parfocal difference after the exchange of the objective lens. In general, when the contrast is low, the contrast is further increased by moving the stage from the out-of-focus state. In the direction in which the contrast decreases, that is, in the direction in which the focus is out of focus. Therefore, it is not possible to detect the direction in which the contrast goes to the peak value next, and it may not be possible to obtain a high-depth image.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has as its object to stabilize the operation of constructing a high-depth-of-focus image, reduce the load on the operation of the apparatus by an observer, and perform observation. It is an object of the present invention to provide a depth of focus extending device capable of easily obtaining a high depth of focus image according to a user's intention.

[0013]

According to the first aspect of the present invention,
By using a microscope that switches between a plurality of objective lenses, an image of an object is projected through an imaging optical system onto an imaging unit including a plurality of light receiving elements, and the object image is captured by capturing the image of the object. Means, a focus position moving means for moving a focus position on an object plane, and a plurality of images including images focused on different object planes taken by the focus input means a plurality of times from the image input means. Depth-of-focus extension device having an image integrating means for adding an image to an integrated image, and a recovering means for performing an image recovery process on the integrated image obtained by the image integrating means using a recovery filter comprising a spatial frequency filter A filter setting means for presetting a corresponding one of a plurality of recovery filters for each of the plurality of objective lenses, and the setting contents of the filter setting means. A first filter switching means for switching the restoration filter corresponding to the switching of the objective lens Te,
The filter changing means for selectively setting a recovery filter other than the one switched by the first filter switching means, and the recovery filter selected by the filter changing means for the recovery filter switched by the first filter switching means. And a second filter switching means for switching.

With such a configuration, the filter used in the recovery process is set independently for each objective lens, and the observer does not need to perform the operation of switching the recovery filter even when the objective lens is switched. The load required for the operation of the apparatus by the observer can be greatly reduced, and when the image obtained by the restoration processing using the preset restoration filter is not satisfactory, the restoration filter is immediately switched to another one. Therefore, image processing according to the observer's intention can be performed immediately.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, there is further provided a focus control means for correcting a focus difference of the objective lens switched when the objective lens is switched. .

With this configuration, in addition to the operation of the first aspect of the present invention, the parfocal correction is performed when the objective lens is switched. Since a high depth of focus image can be obtained without performing any operation, it is possible to further reduce the load required for the observer to operate the apparatus.

[0017]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS (First Embodiment) A first embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a basic configuration of a depth of focus extending device according to a first embodiment.
1 is a main body of the apparatus, and 2 is a C as a photographing means.
A CD camera 3, a television monitor 3 for displaying an image finally obtained, a microscope 4 for installing a CCD camera 2 for obtaining a sample image, and a device main body 1 for instructing various operations. The operation unit 5 operated by the observer is connected.

The microscope 4 has a stage 11 on which an observation sample is placed, which can be moved up and down along the optical path axis, a stage driving unit 12 which drives the stage 11 under the control of the apparatus main body 1, and an attached magnification. Are selectively inserted into the optical path with respect to a plurality of objective lenses 13, different from each other. The revolver 14 is rotationally driven under the control of the apparatus main body 1 to move the objective lens 13 having a desired magnification into the optical path. The CCD camera 2 has a revolver control unit 15 and an intermediate magnification lens 16, and an enlarged image of the observation sample obtained by the CCD camera 2 is sent to the apparatus main body 1.

The apparatus main body 1 receives an image obtained by the CCD camera 2, inputs an image, accumulates a plurality of images, and performs a recovery process on the integrated image obtained by the image input accumulator 21. An image processing unit 22, an image display unit 23 for displaying the image subjected to the restoration processing by the image processing unit 22 on the television monitor 3, an apparatus including the image input integration unit 21, the image processing unit 22, and the image display unit 23 A CPU 24 for controlling the entire operation; a storage unit 25 for storing an operation program of the CPU 24 and various data;
, A filter setting section 26 for setting a recovery filter, which is a spatial frequency filter used for each of the objective lenses 13, 13,... Of the revolver 14, and the image processing section other than those set by the filter setting section 26 And a filter selection unit 27 for selecting a recovery filter to be used at 22.

The CPU 24 includes the image input integrator 21,
In addition to the image processing unit 22, the image display unit 23, the storage unit 25, the filter setting unit 26, and the filter selection unit 27, the revolver control unit 15 of the microscope 4 and the stage driving unit 1
2, the operation unit 5 and the filter setting unit 26 are also connected.

Next, a specific external configuration of the operation section 5 will be described with reference to FIG. 2A is an elevation view of the operation unit 5, and FIG. 2B is a side view of the operation unit 5. A focusing handle 31 for moving the stage 11 of the microscope 4 up and down is provided on the side surface. And a start (STAR) for starting a shooting operation of a high depth of focus image on the upper surface portion.
T) button 32 and objective lenses 13 and 1 of revolver 14
A pair of objective switching buttons 33, 3 for switching between 3,.
3 are provided.

By pressing any one of the objective changeover buttons 33, 33, the objective lenses 13, 13,...
Are sequentially inserted into the optical path with the rotation of the revolver 14 by the drive control.

FIG. 3 shows an example of the configuration of the filter setting unit 26 when the revolver 14 has a total of five objective lenses 13, 13,..., And the number of rotary switches 26a to 26e is equal to the number of objective lenses. Is provided.

In the drawing, "REV1" to "REV5" represent the positions of the revolving holes of the revolver 14, that is, the objective lenses attached thereto. Also, the rotary switch 2 in the figure
6a to 26e are all "0" because of the initial state before setting.
, The individual rotary switches 26a (up to 2
6e), it is possible to set a filter number from “0” to “7” corresponding to the number of recovery filters provided in the image processing unit 22, for example, “8”, and set the central switching dial 261 to a minus screwdriver. By rotating using such a method, an arbitrary recovery filter provided in the image processing unit 22 can be set for each of the objective lenses 13, 13,.

Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the filter selecting section 27 controls the objective lens 1 by the filter setting section 26.
The mark “*” instructs the image processing unit 22 to use the recovery filter set for each of the 3, 13,.
, And a rotary switch 271 with a knob, which has both a position A indicated by a circle and a position B for temporarily selecting another restoration filter different from the position A. The numbers correspond to the filter numbers set by the switching dial 261 of the filter setting unit 26.

The revolver control unit 15 comprises a rotation drive unit including a motor for rotating the revolver 14 and a revolving hole position detection unit using various sensors.
Upon receiving an instruction from the CPU 24, the revolver 14 is rotated and moved so that the objective lens 13 attached to the designated revolving hole is inserted into the optical path, and at the time, which revolving hole is in the optical path. CPU 2
4.

The stage driving section 12 includes a CPU 2
The stage 11 can be moved up and down along the optical path axis in response to an instruction from 4, and the position of the stage 11 can be managed as an absolute position or a relative position.

Next, the operation of the above embodiment will be described. The apparatus body 1 has a CPU for obtaining an image with a high depth of focus of an observation sample placed on the stage 11 of the microscope 4 when a start button 32 of the operation unit 5 is pressed.
The operation based on the control of the microscope 24 is started.
The image of the observation sample placed on the stage 11 is moved through the objective lens 13 and the intermediate magnification lens 16 while moving the stage 11 upward or downward by the CCD camera 2.
To shoot. The sample images captured by the CCD camera 2 are sequentially captured by the image input integration section 21 of the apparatus main body 1, and are integrated with the sample images of the observation sample previously captured.

The image input integrator 21 integrates a predetermined number of images and sends them to the image processor 22. The image processor 22 performs a recovery process on the integrated image using a recovery filter designated by the CPU 24. Run.

Here, the operation when the CPU 24 controls the microscope 4 to capture the integrated image will be described in more detail. The CPU 24 determines whether or not the control can be performed at the position of the stage 11 at that time. It is determined whether or not the contrast value of the image input to the image input integrator 21 is higher than a predetermined value. When it is determined that the control is possible, the stage 11 is moved by the stage driving unit 12 in a predetermined direction. The movement of the stage 11 is stopped at a position where it can be recognized that the sample image is completely blurred based on the contrast value of the image from the input integrator 21.

Thereafter, the stage 11 is driven in a direction opposite to the moving direction of the stage 11 so far, and after driving, it is determined whether or not to start image integration at the position of each stage 11 based on the contrast value of the image. Then, the drive of the stage 11 is stopped at the position where it is determined that the contrast value is in a state where image integration is to be performed.

When it is determined at the position of a certain stage 11 that the image integration is to be started, the sample image taken by the CCD camera 2 is integrated by the image input integration unit 21. With the stage 11 being driven at a constant speed by the stage drive unit 12, the sample images at the positions of the stages 11 sequentially input to the image input integration unit 21 are sequentially integrated until an integration end command is output. At this time, the CPU 24 sequentially evaluates the contrast value of the sample image obtained at that time even during the calculation of the image integration by the image input integration unit 21, and the change in the contrast value that changes with the position of the stage 11 becomes a predetermined value. Then, the end of the integration is determined. Until the termination of the integration is determined, the image integration by the image input integration unit 21 and the driving of the stage 11 by the stage driving unit 12 are repeatedly executed.

When the integration of the images is completed, the integrated image integrated by the image input integration unit 21 is transferred to the image processing unit 22, and a recovery process using a recovery filter for obtaining an image focused on all surfaces of the screen. Is applied to the integrated image.

That is, the restoration filter used in the restoration processing in the image processing section 22 is specifically stored in the ROM constituting a part of the storage section 25, and is stored in the filter setting section 26 in advance. It is assumed that a filter number based on the setting is added.

This recovery filter has characteristics determined from optical conditions such as the size of the objective lens 13, intermediate magnification lens 16, and CCD camera 2 used, or further includes edge enhancement, edge extraction, and averaging. May be extended and arranged in a two-dimensional or three-dimensional table with the effect of the image processing described above.

Here, independent of the above optical conditions, the filter itself may be arranged from the viewpoint of image processing, which has various image processing effects in addition to the effect of the recovery processing.

However, it is assumed that a number is added to each filter in order to specify the recovery filter, and the filter is associated with the filter setting unit 26 and the filter selection unit 27 described above. That is, the filter setting unit 2 corresponds to each of the objective lenses 13, 13,.
6 is a filter set by the rotary switches 26a to 26e or a recovery filter set and selected by the rotary switch 271 with the knob of the filter selection unit 27, and the rotary switch 271 with the knob of the filter selection unit 27 is in the position A. , The recovery filter set by the rotary switches 26a (-26e) of the filter setting unit 26 is used.

If the rotary switch 271 with knob of the filter selecting section 27 is at the position B,
The recovery filters “0” to “7” indicated at the position B will be used.

Therefore, when the rotary switch 271 with the knob of the filter selector 27 is set to the position A and the objective lenses 13, 13,... Of the revolver 14 are switched to obtain a specimen image with a high depth of focus relating to the observation specimen, After the switching, the recovery filter preset by the filter setting unit 26 corresponding to the objective lens 13 to be used is automatically read from the storage unit 25 and used for creating a sample image.

When the rotary switch 271 with knob of the filter selecting section 27 is set to the position B and the objective lenses 13, 13,... Of the revolver 14 are switched to obtain a specimen image with a high depth of focus relating to the observation specimen,
After the switching, the recovery filter preset by the filter number in the position B is automatically read from the storage unit 25 and used for creating a sample image.

Further, even after the start button 32 is pressed and a sample image with a high depth of focus is created, if the filter number is switched within the position B of the rotary switch 271 with knob, the recovery filter of that filter number is immediately activated. Used to create a new specimen image.

Therefore, when the rotary switch 271 with the knob of the filter selecting section 27 is set to the position A and the objective lens 13 is switched to obtain a sample image with a high focal depth of the observation sample, the objective lens 13 after the switch is used. While the recovered filter is automatically used, the rotary switch 271 with the knob of the filter selection unit 27 is set to an arbitrary film number in the position B, and the objective lens 13 is switched to obtain a specimen image with a high depth of focus of the observation specimen. In this case, the recovery filter corresponding to the film number in the position B is continuously used even after the objective lens 13 is switched.

The high-focal-depth image obtained by the recovery processing in the image processing unit 22 is displayed and output on the television monitor 3 by the image display unit 23. In the above embodiment, the rotary switches 26a to 26e and 271 are used for the filter setting unit 26 and the filter selecting unit 27. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and other types of selection switches may be used. Is also good.

Another example of the configuration of the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. That is, FIG. 5 shows the operation panel section 41 in which the filter setting section 26 and the filter selection section 27 are integrated into the operation section 5, and the operation panel section 41 is formed by integrating a touch sensor panel with a liquid crystal display panel, for example. By pressing an arbitrary position on the display with a finger, a button or the like displayed at a corresponding position can be operated.

The panel section has filter setting buttons 42a to 42e in place of the rotary switches 26a to 26e of the filter setting section 26, a filter selection button 43 in place of the rotary switch 271 of the filter selecting section 27,
A start button 32 ', an objective switching button 33', and a stage moving button 44 are provided similarly to the operation unit 5.

By operating one of the pair of objective switching buttons 33 ', the revolver 14 is driven to rotate by the revolver controller 15 via the CPU 24, and the objective lens 13 inserted in the optical path is switched. That
The individual objective lenses 13, 13,... According to the result of the switching.
Filter setting buttons 42a to 42 provided corresponding to
One of e is illuminated and displayed with high luminance so that the position of the used revolving hole can be confirmed.

The filter setting buttons 42a to 42e display the filter numbers of the recovery filters set in advance below the letters "REV1" to "REV5" indicating the positions of the revolving holes. "REV1"-"RE
Instead of the notation "V5", information such as the names and magnifications of the objective lenses 13, 13,... Attached to the respective revolving holes may be stored, and such information may be displayed.

The stage movement button 44 has a large number of rectangular buttons arranged in a row, and one end of the stage movement button 44 is labeled "Up" and the other end is labeled "Down". By sequentially tracing the rectangular buttons with the fingers from the “Down” direction to the “Up” direction, the CPU
24 allows the stage driving unit 12 to move the stage 11 upward. Similarly, by tracing in the opposite direction, the stage 11 is moved downward.

The filter setting buttons 42a to 42e are used to set filter numbers from the state shown in FIG. Is switched to a dedicated screen, and a list of settable recovery filter numbers is displayed. By instructing a desired filter number from among the list-displayed filter numbers, the operated filter number is input. Returning again to the display screen of FIG. 5, the input filter number is displayed in the button rectangular frame of the corresponding revolving hole number. The above operation is executed for all revolving holes.

The filter selection button 43 displays the currently leading filter number in a rectangular frame of the button. When the filter number is to be switched to another one, the user manually operates the rectangle. By doing so, the filter number displayed in the rectangle changes from “*” → “0” → “1” → “2” →
‥‥ → “6” → “7” → “*” → “0” → “1” → ‥‥
And so on. In this case, when "*" is displayed, among the filter setting buttons 42a to 42e, the filter number corresponding to the currently used revolving hole among the filter setting buttons 42a to 42e is simultaneously lit and displayed.

The filter setting buttons 42a to 42a-4
2e and the contents selected by the filter selection button 43 are, for example, EEPROM, flash ROM, NVRA
Since it is stored in an electrically rewritable non-volatile memory such as M, the contents can be maintained even when the power of the apparatus is cut off.

In the description of FIG. 5, the operation panel section 41 has been described as having the touch sensor panel integrated with the liquid crystal display panel.
A CRT and a pointing device such as a mouse may be used.

As described above, according to the above embodiment, the objective lenses 13, 13. Since the recovery filter used in the recovery processing can be set independently for each time, the observer performs the operation of switching the recovery filter to an appropriate one each time the objective lens 13 used is switched. There is no need to perform this operation, and unnecessary operations can be simplified.

In the case where the restored image cannot be satisfied with the contents of the preset restoration filter, another restoration filter can be immediately selected again. Immediately execute image processing,
A specimen image with a high depth of focus can be quickly acquired.

(Second Embodiment) Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described.
An embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. In addition,
The basic configuration of the depth of focus extending device is basically the same as that shown in FIG. 1, and the same portions are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof will be omitted.

However, the storage unit 25 stores, as one of the operation programs for the operation control performed by the CPU 24, a confocal correction processing program for correcting the confocal difference between the objective lenses when the objective lens 13 is switched. I have.

When the objective lens 13 is switched, the parfocal correction processing program is executed by the operation unit 5 using a pair of objective switching buttons 33.
Is set to start operation when the power of the main body 1 is turned on while simultaneously operating both of them. In this case, a warning sound is emitted for confirmation, and it is observed that the operation is different from the normal operation. Notify others.

The contents of the above-mentioned parallax correction processing program will be described below. FIG. 6 shows the focal positions of the objective lenses 13, 13,... Attached to the revolver 14, wherein the magnification of the objective lens 13 attached to the revolving hole "REV1" is "100x", and the revolving hole "REV2". The magnification of the objective lens 13 attached to the revo-hole “REV4” is “50”, the magnification of the objective lens 13 attached to the revo-hole “REV4” is “20”, and the magnification of the objective lens 13 attached to the revo-hole “REV4” is “10”.
The magnification of the objective lens 13 attached to the revolving hole “REV5” is “5 ×”.

Of these objective lenses 13, 13,...
"100" attached to the REV hole "REV1" with the highest magnification
The “×” objective lens 13 is switched by operating the objective switching button 33, and an appropriate observation sample is placed on the stage 11,
The focusing handle 31 is manually rotated to focus on the observation sample. Here, the start button 32 is operated to store the current position of the stage 11 shown in FIG. The start button 32 functions to store the position of the stage 11 during execution of the parallax correction processing program.

However, it is assumed that the position of the stage 11 can be sequentially recognized by the stage driving unit 12. For example, the position coordinates of the stage 11 may be managed by using a rotary encoder in a form interlocked with the movement axis of the stage 11, and when a stepping motor is used to drive the stage 11, the amount of movement of the stage 11 May be obtained as relative position information by managing the number of drive pulses given to the stepping motor.

In this case, even if the observation sample to be used is observed with the objective lens 13 of any magnification, it is easier to accurately focus when the number of step surfaces of the sample in the visible visual field is small. Next, except for the objective lens 13 used so far, the one with the highest magnification, in this case, the “50 ×” objective lens 13 attached to the revolving hole “REV2” is switched by operating the objective switching button 33, and similarly. 6B, the position of the stage 11 shown in FIG. 6B at that time is stored by operating the start button 32.

The above operation is executed for the other objective lenses 13, 13,... In order of increasing magnification. When the CPU 24 completes the above operation for all the objective lenses 13, 13,..., The focus data used for the focus correction based on the difference in the position of the stage 11 between the objective lenses 13, for example, FIG.
As shown in the figure, the parfocal difference “5 [μm]” between the “100 ×” objective lens 13 of “REV1” and the “50 ×” objective lens 13 of “REV2” is calculated, and the calculated parfocal data is calculated. Is stored in the electrically rewritable non-volatile memory in the storage unit 25, and the execution of the parallax correction processing program is completed.

The confocal data once stored in the storage unit 25 is valid as long as the objective lens 13 is not replaced, and if the replacement is performed, the above-described confocal correction processing program is executed again. Is performed, and the parallax data may be acquired again.

When the execution of the parfocal correction processing program is completed, the CPU 24 starts preparations for obtaining a normal high depth of focus image. At this time, if the power of the apparatus is once turned off and then turned on again, the normal operation can be started immediately.

Next, a description will be given of a parfocal correction operation performed when the objective lens 13 is switched using the parfocal difference data at the time of photographing a normal high depth of focus image. When the objective switching button 33 of the operation unit 5 is operated, the stage 11 is lowered by a predetermined amount for safety. Next, the CPU 24 drives the revolver 14 by the revolver control unit 15 to move the objective lens 13 into the optical path, confirms that the desired objective lens 13 has been inserted into the optical path, and confirms that the objective lens 13 has been inserted. Storage unit 2 stores the confocal data before and after switching
5, and the stage 11 is moved again based on it.

This corresponds to, for example, “REV1” shown in FIG.
Is switched from the “100 ×” objective lens 13 of “1” to the “50 ×” objective lens 13 of “REV2”, the in-focus difference before and after the switching is “5 [μm]” and the in-focus position after the switching is If it is assumed that the stage 11 is located below the in-focus position before the switching, when returning the stage 11 to the original position, the amount obtained by subtracting “5 μm” from the movement amount when the stage 11 was first lowered is used. Only the movement amount is returned, so that the process of the parfocal correction is completed, and the state in which the observation sample is accurately focused can be maintained without bothering the observer.

Therefore, from this point on, a simple operation of the start button 32 of the operation unit 5 allows a high depth of focus image to be obtained immediately. As described above, in the second embodiment, by performing the parfocal correction when the objective lens 13 is switched, the operation for the parfocal correction of the observer immediately after the objective lens 13 is switched is omitted, and the operation is immediately performed. Since it is possible to shift to observation, it is possible to reduce the burden of the operation of the apparatus by the observer and efficiently and quickly obtain a high depth of focus image.

A dedicated start switch for executing the above-mentioned parfocal correction processing program may be provided in the operation unit 5, and each objective lens 13, statically without measuring the parfocal difference. The parallax difference may be calculated from the focus position data of 13,. However, in this method of statically calculating the parfocal difference, when the processing accuracy of each revo-hole varies due to the attachment of the revolver 14 of the objective lens 13 to the revo-hole, the processing accuracy of the objective lens 13 itself, etc. .. Cannot be taken into account when there is a variation of the focal length, and the method of actually obtaining the in-focus difference data from the in-focus positions of the objective lenses 13, 13,. Although it takes time and effort, it is possible to calculate an accurate parfocal correction amount in accordance with the actual situation in consideration of individual differences and mounting states of the objective lenses 13 used.

[0069]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, it is necessary to independently set a filter to be used in the recovery process for each objective lens, and to switch the recovery filter even when the objective lens is switched. Therefore, the load required for the viewer to operate the apparatus can be greatly reduced, and when the image obtained by the restoration processing using the preset restoration filter is not satisfactory, the restoration filter is immediately replaced with another one. Since it is possible to switch to the image processing, the image processing according to the observer's intention can be performed immediately.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, in addition to the effect of the first aspect of the present invention, the parfocal correction is performed when the objective lens is switched, so that the viewer himself / herself immediately after the objective lens is switched. Since a high-depth-of-focus image can be obtained without performing a parfocal operation, the burden required for the observer to operate the apparatus can be further reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a basic configuration according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a view exemplifying a specific external configuration of an operation unit according to the embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a view exemplifying a specific external configuration of a filter setting unit according to the embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a view exemplifying a specific external configuration of a filter selection unit according to the embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing another configuration example when the filter setting unit and the filter selection unit according to the embodiment are integrated into an operation unit to form an operation panel unit.

FIG. 6 is a view for explaining parfocal correction according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

[Description of Signs] 1 ... Device main body 2 ... CCD camera 3 ... Television monitor 4 ... Microscope 5 ... Operating unit 11 ... Stage 12 ... Stage driving unit 13 ... Objective lens 14 ... Revolver 15 ... Revolver control unit 16 ... Intermediate magnification lens 21 ... Image input integrating section 22... Image processing section 23... Image display section 24. CPU 25... Memory section 26. Filter setting sections 26 a to 26 e. Rotary switch 27. Filter selection section 271 ... Rotary switch with knob 31. , 32 'start button 33, 33' objective switch button 41 operation panel section 42a-42e filter setting button 43 filter selection button 44 stage move button

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. An image obtained by projecting an image of an object to imaging means including a plurality of light receiving elements via an imaging optical system using a microscope that switches and uses a plurality of objective lenses, and imaging the object image. Image input means, a focus position moving means for moving a focus position on an object plane, and images focused on different object planes taken from the image input means a plurality of times by the focus position move means. An image integrating means for adding a plurality of images including an image into an integrated image, and a recovery means for performing an image recovery process using a recovery filter comprising a spatial frequency filter on the integrated image acquired by the image integrating means. A depth setting device having a filter setting means for presetting a corresponding one of a plurality of recovery filters for each of the plurality of objective lenses; First filter switching means for switching a recovery filter corresponding to switching of the objective lens according to the set contents; filter changing means for selectively setting a recovery filter other than the one switched by the first filter switching means; A second filter switching means for switching the recovery filter switched by the first filter switching means to the recovery filter selected and set by the filter changing means. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a focus control unit that corrects a focus difference of the objective lens switched when said objective lens is switched.