JPH11271643A - System microscope - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce the burdens on a microscope operation of an observer by making the observer able to perform the various kinds of the operations of a microscope without taking eyes off an eyepiece observation image. SOLUTION: A window image 25 provided with items corresponding to the various kinds of the operation functions of this microscope generated in the image processing part 11 of a window image generation means 9 is displayed inside the observation visual field of in eyepiece 22 together with the observation image of a sample 2 and a desired item inside the window image 25 is indicated by a pointing device. Thus, the operation function of the microscope corresponding to the item is executed by a control part 10.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a system microscope capable of displaying various kinds of information in an observation visual field.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As is well known, a microscope used for observing a minute specimen mounts a specimen to be observed on a stage, forms an image of light from the specimen by an objective lens having a predetermined magnification, Observation is performed by an observation optical system. In this case, when observing such a sample, it is necessary to create optimal observation conditions by various microscopy methods and the magnification of the objective lens.
A system microscope disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. H10-107, in which an observer selects a switch of a control device to set an appropriate observation state has been considered.

On the other hand, when a fluorescent specimen is observed using such a system microscope and a photograph is taken, the microscope should be installed in a place where light other than the observation light does not enter, for example, in a dark room. However, at this time, it is necessary to be able to operate the switches of the control device accurately even in darkness.

Therefore, in the conventional system microscope, in order to make it easy to determine the position of the switch of the control device even in a dark room, an illuminated switch is used, or the display unit and the switch unit of the control unit are constituted by a touch panel. For example, a method of illuminating the touch panel is employed.

[0005]

However, the use of an illuminated switch increases the size of the control device, unnecessarily occupies the installation space of the microscope, and illuminates the touch panel. At this time, the illuminating light interferes with the photographing, and therefore, there is a problem that these facilities become large-scale because an obstacle to block the illuminating light is installed or a touch panel itself of the control device is hidden. .

On the other hand, in such a system microscope, an observation image is observed from an eyepiece. However, it is necessary to select various functions or set photographing so as to obtain more optimal observation conditions. The eye is removed from the eyepiece, the target switch of the control device is searched and operated, and the like. There is also a problem that it imposes a great burden and makes long-term observation work difficult.

In such a case, it is conceivable to memorize the various switch positions of the control device and work by groping while observing from the eyepiece. However, if the operation selection becomes complicated, all of these can be memorized. Not.

When observing a living specimen, the observation is not limited to the fluorescence observation, and the object to be observed is hidden from the field of view when switching and adjusting various optical elements away from the eyepiece. Thus, there is a problem that the user has to search again and miss a photo opportunity when taking a picture. The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has as its object to provide a system microscope that enables various operations while performing eye observation.

[0009]

According to the first aspect of the present invention,
In a system microscope in which an observation image of a specimen is displayed in an observation field via an objective lens, a window image having items corresponding to various operation functions of the microscope is generated, and the window image is displayed together with the observation image in the observation field. A window image generating means to be displayed in the window image, an item selecting means for selecting a desired item in the window image, and a control means for executing an operation function of the microscope corresponding to the item selected by the item selecting means. doing.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in a system microscope in which an observation image of a specimen is displayed in an observation field via an objective lens, a window image for displaying various operation setting states of the microscope is generated, and the window image is displayed. A window image generating means for displaying an image in the observation visual field together with the observation image.

The invention described in claim 3 is the first or second invention.
In the description, there is further provided a blocking unit that allows blocking of information from the window image generating unit into the observation field of view.

As a result, according to the first aspect of the present invention,
From the window image displayed together with the observation image of the specimen in the observation field of view, it is possible to execute the desired microscope operation function simply by selecting items corresponding to various operation functions of the microscope. Various operations of the microscope can be easily performed without taking your eyes off.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, by displaying the window image in the observation field of view, it is possible to confirm the current setting state of various operations of the microscope without keeping an eye on the eyepiece observation image. .

According to the third aspect of the present invention, since the information from the window image generating means into the observation field of view can be blocked, the display of the window image can be canceled if necessary.

[0015]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. (First Embodiment) FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration of a system microscope to which the present invention is applied. In the drawing, reference numeral 1 denotes a stage of a microscope main body (not shown), on which an observation sample 2 is mounted. Then, a light source 4 is arranged below the stage 1 via a mirror 3, and the light from the light source 4 is applied to the sample 2 from below the stage 1 as transmitted illumination light. In this case, the light source 4 emits an optimal amount of light to the sample 2 according to an instruction from the light source control unit 15 described later.

Further, a filter 5 is arranged in an optical path between the light source 4 and the mirror 3. The filter 5 is prepared with a plurality of types of filters, and the filter 5 that transmits an optimal wavelength for the sample 2 is inserted into an optical path according to an instruction from a filter control unit 16 described later.

An electric revolver 6 is disposed above the stage 1. The electric revolver 6 includes a plurality of objective lenses having different magnifications, in the illustrated example, a 20 × objective lens 51,
A 50 × objective lens 52 and a 10 × objective lens 53 are provided, and are driven by a motor (not shown) according to an instruction of a revolver control unit 17 described later, and a desired objective lens (20 × objective lens 51 in the illustrated example) is placed on the stage 1. Specimen 2
Is positioned in the transmitted light path.

The zoom lens system 7 and the half mirror 8 are arranged on the optical path passing through the objective lens 51. The zoom lens system 7 reduces and enlarges the observation image of the sample 2 incident from the objective lens 51 in an arbitrary magnification range, and obtains an image of a desired size according to an instruction of a zoom control unit 18 described later. ing. Half mirror 8
Is for superimposing a window image 25 generated by the window image generating means 9 on an observation image of the sample 2 incident through the zoom lens system 7.

In this case, the window image generating means 9
It has a control unit 10, an image processing unit 11, a display unit 12 composed of a panel display such as a liquid crystal, and a projection lens 13, and displays a window image 25 generated by the image processing unit 11 on the display unit 12, By illuminating the display image of the display unit 12 with a backlight, the illuminated display image is projected onto the half mirror 8 through the projection lens 13. Here, the window image 25 generated by the image processing unit 11 corresponds to FIG.
As shown in a plurality of items 251, 252, 253, 25
4, 255, of which item 251 is revolver control, item 252 is filter control, item 253 is light source control, item 254 is zoom control and item 255.
Corresponds to various operation functions of a microscope like a photograph control. In addition, each item 2 of such a window image 25
51 to 255 are, for example, items 251 shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 7, there is an option item 2511 for displaying a plurality of menus of “× 10”, “× 20”, and “× 50”. In this case, the other items 252 to 255 have the same option items.

The control unit 10 is connected with a light source control unit 15, a filter control unit 16, a revolver control unit 17, a zoom control unit 18 and a photograph control unit 19 in addition to the pointing device 14. Then, a desired item 251 in the window image 25 is
When the user clicks to 255, a control command is output to a unit corresponding to the clicked control menu, that is, the light source control unit 15, the filter control unit 16, the revolver control unit 17, the zoom control unit 18, and the photograph control unit 19. Like that.

In this case, the pointing device 14
Has a switch 141, and this switch 141
By clicking, items 251 to 255 are determined. Note that this pointing device 14
Considering the operation environment in the dark, a mouse is desirable, but a joystick may be used as long as it can be manually operated.

The observation image obtained by synthesizing the window image by the half mirror 8 is made incident on the optical path splitting element 21 through the imaging lens 20, and the light path reflected here is made incident on the eyepiece lens 22 to be visually observed. Enable observation,
In addition, the optical path transmitted through the optical path splitting element 21 is made incident on the photographing unit 23 to enable photographing of an observation image in which the window image is synthesized. In this case, the photographing unit 23 sets the photographing conditions of the observation image according to an instruction from the photograph control unit 19.

Next, the operation of the embodiment configured as described above will be described. First, when the light source 4 is turned on while the sample 2 is placed on the stage 1, the illumination light from the light source 4 passes through the filter 5 and the mirror 3 and irradiates the sample 2 from below the stage 1. Then, a transmission observation image of the specimen 2 is formed by the imaging lens 20 from the objective lens 51 through the zoom lens system 7 and the half mirror 8, and the image is enlarged by the eyepiece 22 via the optical path splitting element 21. Thus, visual observation is performed. In this case, the window image 25
Is not displayed on the observation image.

The case where the observer changes the 20 × objective lens 51 in the optical path to another magnification from this state will be described. Here, it is assumed that the observation image is viewed from the eyepiece 22 through the 20 × objective lens 51.

Now, when the pointing device 14 is operated, a control command is given from the control unit 10 to the image processing unit 11, and the window image 25 is generated from the image processing unit 11. In this case, the operation of the pointing device 14 may be only an operation of moving the pointing device 14, but is realized by operating the switch 141 here.

In the image processing section 11, first, a window image 25 having items 251 to 255 as shown in FIG.
Generate The window image 25 is displayed on the display unit 12, projected on the half mirror 8 through the projection lens 13, and combined with the transmission observation image of the sample 2.

In this state, the observer operates the pointing device 14 to move the pointer 26 such as an arrow to each of the items 251 to 25 of the window image 25 as shown in FIG.
Of the five items, for example, when the item is moved to the item 251 and the switch 141 is clicked, the item 251 is determined.

Then, in the image processing section 11, a window image 25 having option items 2511 for displaying a plurality of menus of “× 10”, “× 20” and “× 50” as shown in FIG. Generate. In this case, the magnification of the objective lens 51 currently used in the option item 2511, here “× 20”, is surrounded by a black frame 27. Items for which the settings have been determined may be identified using other means such as embossing the image in 3D or changing the color in addition to the black frame.

Then, the window image 25 is displayed on the display unit 12, projected on the half mirror 8 through the projection lens 13, and combined with the transmission observation image of the sample 2.

FIG. 4 shows a display state of the observation image 29 and the window image 25 in the eyepiece observation visual field 28 visually observed by the eyepiece lens 22 at this time. From this state, the observer operates the pointing device 14 to
Move the pointer 26 to the option item 251 of the window image 25.
1, for example, when the switch 141 is moved to “× 10” and the switch 141 is clicked, a control command is output from the control unit 10 to the revolver control unit 17, whereby the revolver control unit 17 The revolver 6 is rotated by the motor, and the 10 × objective lens 53 instead of the 20 × objective lens 51 is positioned in the optical path through which the specimen 2 of the stage 1 is transmitted. Thus, the magnification change of the 20 × objective lens 51 to the 10 × objective lens 53 is completed. In addition,
The display of the window image 25 and the pointer 26 can be turned off when a series of selections is completed, and can be displayed again by moving the pointing device 14.

In the above, only the control on the revolver control unit 17 for changing the magnification of the objective lens has been described. However, the control on the light source control unit 15, the filter control unit 16, the zoom control unit 18 and the photograph control unit 19 is also described. It can be implemented in a similar manner.

As described above, according to the present invention, the specimen 2
A window image 25 having items 251 to 255 corresponding to various operation functions of the microscope generated by the image processing unit 11 of the window image generating means 9 is displayed in the observation field of the eyepiece 22 together with the observation image of FIG. By pointing a desired item in the window image 25 with the pointer 26, the control unit 10 can execute the operation function of the microscope corresponding to the item.
Various operations of the microscope can be performed without keeping the eye from the eyepiece lens 22, and the burden on the microscope operation of the observer can be greatly reduced. In addition, since all operations can be achieved only by operating the pointer 26 with the pointing device 14, excellent operability can be obtained, and a smooth operation can be obtained even in a state without light such as a dark room. Photography can be performed stably. Further, since the operation panel and external switches can be completely eliminated, the installation space for the microscope can be minimized.

In the above-described embodiment, the units corresponding to the items in the window image 25 include the light source control unit 15, the filter control unit 16, the revolver control unit 17,
Although the example of the zoom control unit 18 has been described, it is needless to say that other electrically controllable units can be used.
In this embodiment, the transmitted illumination observation system has been described as an example. However, it is needless to say that the present invention can be applied to an epi-illumination observation system. (Second Embodiment) In the first embodiment, the case where the observation image of the specimen 2 is combined with the window image displaying the operation items of each unit has been described. In the second embodiment, A case is shown in which a window image displaying the current setting status of each unit of the microscope is synthesized.

In this case, the image processing unit 11 described with reference to FIG.
Generates a window image 31 displaying the current setting status of each unit of the microscope as shown in FIG. Then, the window image 31 is displayed on the display unit 12, and the display image is projected on the half mirror 8 through the projection lens 13, so that the window image 31 is combined with the observation image 32 of the sample 2 and displayed.

In this way, the window image 31 can be displayed together with the observation image 32 in the eyepiece observation field of view 30 as shown in FIG. After grasping the current setting status, the sample observation can be performed. If a photograph is taken by the photograph unit 23 while the window image 31 is displayed, the setting status of each unit can be recorded at the same time.

In this case, the window image 31 is the observation image 3
As shown in FIG. 6, the window image 31 is divided into a plurality of parts so as not to be disturbed, and the window image 31 is dispersed and displayed at a place intended by the observer, or as shown in FIG.
It can also be displayed along the periphery of 0. Further, if the window image 31 is in the way during observation, it can be erased by setting the release mode of the window image 31, and can be displayed again if necessary. (Third Embodiment) In the above-described first embodiment,
Since the half mirror 8 is always inserted into the observation optical path of the sample 2, in addition to the light from the sample 2, the window generating means 9
Although it is conceivable that light may intrude from the specimen 2, some observers may want to prevent light from entering from other than the specimen 2 in order to perform better photography.

Therefore, in the third embodiment, the sample 2
Optical paths from other sources can be blocked. FIG. 8 (a)
(B) shows a schematic configuration of the third embodiment.
1 are given the same reference numerals.

In this case, in FIGS. 8A and 8B, the half mirror 8 can be inserted into and removed from the observation optical path.
A shutter 41 is provided on the front surface of the projection lens 13 of the window generating means 9, and a window image 3 for displaying a photographing mode and a setting status by the pointing device 14.
When the release mode of 1 is set and the photographing instruction is output from the photograph control unit 19 to the photographing unit 23, the half mirror 8 is pulled out from the observation optical path and the shutter 41 is used as shown in FIG. Window generating means 9
To block the light path.

In this way, all the invasion of light from the part other than the specimen 2 can be blocked, so that a clear and high quality photograph can be taken in the photographing of the photographing unit 23. Note that, as described above, the half mirror 8 is linked with the photography.
And the shutter 41 are operated. However, the present invention is not limited to photographing, and when information from the window image generating means 9 is not required, the release mode of the window image is set so that the half mirror 8 is moved to the observation optical path. And the shutter 41 may be operated. In this case, a better observation image can be obtained. In addition, the present invention is also effective for autofocusing and various types of microscopy for any use in which an image other than the observation light needs to be blocked. Further, a selection of such an operation may be provided by providing a separate window image and allowing the observer to select the operation. Further, in this case, the insertion and removal of the half mirror 8 and the shutter 41 on each optical path are controlled electrically, but it is also possible to manually insert and remove these half mirrors 8 and to control only the shutter 4 electrically.

[0040]

As described above, according to the present invention, desired items can be selected only by selecting items corresponding to various operation functions of the microscope from the window image displayed together with the observation image of the specimen in the observation visual field. Since the operation functions of the microscope can be executed, that is, the observer can perform various operations of the microscope without taking his eyes off the eyepiece observation image, so that the burden on the microscope operation of the observer is greatly reduced. be able to.

Also, by displaying the window image in the observation field of view, it is possible to confirm the current setting state of various operations of the microscope without keeping an eye on the eyepiece observation image. If you do, along with the observation image,
Operation settings can be recorded simultaneously. Further, since information from the window image generating means into the observation visual field can be blocked, the display of the window image can be canceled as necessary.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the second embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the second embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a third embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Stage, 2 ... Sample, 3 ... Mirror, 4 ... Light source, 5 ... Filter, 51-53 ... Objective lens, 6 ... Revolver, 7 ... Zoom lens system, 8 ... Half mirror, 9 ... Window image generation means, 10 ... Control unit, 11 ... Image processing unit, 12 ... Display unit, 13 ... Projection lens, 14 ... Pointing device, 15 ... Light source control unit, 16 ... Filter control unit, 17 ... Revolver control unit, 18 ... Zoom control unit, 19 ... Photo control unit, 20 ... Image forming lens, 21 ... Optical path splitting element, 22 ... Ocular lens, 23 ... Photo unit, 25 ... Window image, 251 ... Item, 2511 ... Option item, 26 ... Pointer, 27 ... Black frame, 28 ... ocular observation visual field, 29 ... observation image, 30 ... ocular observation visual field, 31 ... window image, 32 ... observation image, 41 ... shutter.

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A system microscope in which an observation image of a specimen is displayed in an observation field via an objective lens, wherein a window image having items corresponding to various operation functions of the microscope is generated, and the window image is observed by the observation. A window image generating unit to be displayed in the observation field of view together with an image; an item selecting unit for selecting a desired item in the window image; and executing an operation function of the microscope corresponding to the item selected by the item selecting unit. A system microscope comprising control means. 2. A system microscope in which an observation image of a specimen is displayed in an observation field via an objective lens, wherein a window image displaying various operation setting states of the microscope is generated, and the window image is displayed together with the observation image. A system microscope, comprising: a window image generating means for displaying the image in the observation visual field. 3. The system microscope according to claim 1, further comprising a blocking unit configured to block information from the window image generating unit into the observation visual field.