JPH1184262A - Optical microscope device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To hold the white balance of an obtained image while adjusting a light quantity to the minimum quantity for obtaining a proper image by adjusting the white balance of a video signal from an image pickup means according to the magnitude of light quantity control of a light source by a light control part. SOLUTION: When the level of a video signal is high and a reference voltage VR is smaller than the integral value VY of luminance signals Y and positive, a light control part 15 decreases an applied voltage on a light source 7 and controls the light so that the light quantity of the light source 7 becomes small. The gain setting part 19 of a white balance adjusting part 13 sets the respective gains of variable gain amplifiers 16-18 in accordance with a potential difference VY-VR outputted from the light control part 15. For example, when the gain of the variable gain amplifier 17 is fixed and the applied voltage on the light source is low, the gain of the variable gain amplifier 18 is set so as to increase it and the gain of the variable gain amplifier 16 is set so as to decrease it and the light quantity is compensated by raising the color temp. concerning the video signal by the decreased amount of the color temp. of the illumination light.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an optical microscope apparatus for enlarging and projecting a desired portion of an object to be observed by an image pickup device and displaying the image on a monitor.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In general, there are various types of optical microscope devices, and among them, a device in which a desired portion of an observation object is enlarged and displayed on a display device, for example, a monitor, for example, There is a video microscope described in JP-A-8-152562.

A video microscope is composed of a probe having an enlargement optical system and an image pickup device and a light source for illumination. When the output level and the exposure time of a CCD as an image pickup device deviate from a set range. First, the output level of the CCD is detected by the output level detection means, and the exposure time is changed by the exposure control means so that the output level falls within the set range. Next, the exposure time is detected by the exposure detection means, and when the exposure time is out of the set range, the light quantity is controlled by changing the voltage applied to the light source such as a lamp by the light quantity control means. Is set within the setting range.

[0004] As a result, the required minimum amount of light is provided so that the output level of the CCD and the exposure time are within the set range, so that the voltage applied to the light source can be reduced to a minimum.
The life of the lamp can be maximized. In addition, the light amount of a light source is adjusted for the purpose of reducing blurring when recording an image in an external memory.

[0005]

As described above, in the above-mentioned video microscope, the light amount of the light source is adjusted for the purpose of maximizing the life of the lamp and reducing blurring when recording an image in an external memory. However, when the light amount of the light source is adjusted, the color temperature of the light source changes with the light amount adjustment.

[0006] However, in the video microscope described above, no consideration is given to a technique for coping with a change in the white balance of the obtained image of the sample with respect to a change in the color temperature of the light source.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide an optical microscope apparatus capable of maintaining a white balance of an obtained image regardless of a change in the light amount of a light source while adjusting the light amount to a minimum amount at which an appropriate image can be obtained. .

[0008]

According to the present invention, a light source for illuminating an object to be observed, an image pickup means for picking up a magnified observation image of the object to be observed via a magnifying optical system, and an image pick-up by this image pickup means In an optical microscope apparatus including a monitor that displays a magnified observation image that has been enlarged and a light control unit that controls the light amount of the light source according to the video signal level from the imaging unit, the light control unit controls the light amount of the light source according to the magnitude of the light control of the light source Further, the optical microscope apparatus includes a white balance adjusting unit for adjusting a white balance with respect to a video signal from the imaging unit.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the optical microscope apparatus according to the first aspect, the white balance adjusting means adjusts each gain for each color signal obtained by separating the video signal from the imaging means to the magnitude of the light amount control of the light source. It has a function that can be changed according to the situation.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the optical microscope apparatus according to the first aspect, a magnification identifying means for identifying magnification information of an enlarging optical system for enlarging and projecting the observation target onto the imaging means is added to the white balance adjusting means. Then, the white balance adjustment by the white balance adjustment means is made variable according to the magnification information of the magnifying optical system.

[0011]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

First Embodiment Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
This will be described with reference to FIG.

The video microscope captures a magnified observation image of a sample of the object to be observed and outputs a video signal of the image. The video microscope includes a CCD 2 for color imaging as imaging means, an objective lens 3 as an enlargement optical system, and A probe 1 having an illumination head 4 is provided.

The illumination head 4 irradiates the sample with illumination light, and the objective lens 3 magnifies the observation image of the sample to produce a CCD 2.
The CCD 2 performs photoelectric conversion on the observation image of the sample enlarged and projected by the objective lens 3.

Next, a control unit 5 connected to the probe 1 is built in the probe 1, drives the CCD 2, and
It has a function of processing a video signal output from the probe 1 and displaying an enlarged image of the sample on the monitor 6.

The specific configuration of the control unit 5 is as follows. The light source 7 provided in the control unit 5 is connected to the illumination head 4 of the probe 1 via a light transmitting member, for example, an optical fiber 8.

The timing generator 9 generates a driving pulse and sends it to the CCD 2 of the probe 1, and generates a sampling pulse to generate a sample & hold circuit (hereinafter, S / H).
Circuit 10).

The S / H circuit 10 has a function of sampling a video signal output from the probe 1 in accordance with a sampling pulse from the timing generator 9. Automatic gain control circuit (hereinafter referred to as AGC circuit) 1
1 is a function of automatically adjusting the gain according to the level of the input video signal so as to keep the level of the video signal output from the S / H circuit 10 constant, and amplifying the video signal with this gain. have.

In this case, if the level of the input video signal is low and the gain is set too high, image noise is also amplified. Therefore, when observing a dark sample, the observed image is buried in noise and displayed on the monitor 6.

For this reason, the AG
Normally, a gain adjustment range in which the influence of image noise is not observed under observation is set in the C circuit 11 in advance. The color processing unit 12 separates the video signal output from the AGC circuit 11 into R (red), G (green), and B (blue) color signals, performs interpolation processing, and converts the video signal into a white balance adjustment unit as RGB component signals. 13 is provided.

Further, the color processing unit 12 performs an operation of Y = 0.3R + 0.59G + 0.11B (1) on the luminance signal Y based on the RGB component signals, and outputs the luminance signal Y to the level detection unit 14. It has a sending function.

In the level detector 14, a reference value for the luminance signal Y, for example, a reference voltage VR is set in advance, and a potential difference VY between the reference voltage VR and the integral value VY of the luminance signal Y is set.
−VR, and has a function of giving this potential difference VY−VR to the light control section 15.

The dimmer 15 applies a voltage corresponding to the potential difference VY-VR output from the level detector 14 to the light source 7. For example, the reference voltage VR is larger than the integrated value VY of the luminance signal Y. If the value is negative, the voltage applied to the light source 7 is increased, and the reference voltage VR becomes the integral value V of the luminance signal Y.
It has a function of reducing the voltage applied to the light source 7 when it is smaller than Y and becomes positive.

That is, the light control section 15 has a function of increasing the light quantity of the light source 7 when the level of the video signal is low, and decreasing the light quantity of the light source 7 when the level of the video signal is high.

In this case, the gain function of the AGC circuit 11 is operated so that the illumination intensity on the sample becomes a minimum light amount that can obtain a sufficient video signal level with respect to the dynamic range of the CCD 2. .

The white balance adjusting section 13 adjusts the white balance of the video signal output from the probe 1 according to the amount of light control of the light source 7, that is, the image output from the probe 1. It has a function as white balance adjusting means for varying each gain for each color signal separated from the signal in accordance with the magnitude of light amount control of the light source 7.

The white balance adjusting section 13 includes variable gain amplifiers 16 to 18 corresponding to the RGB component signals separated by the color processing section 12, and the gains of the variable gain amplifiers 16 to 18 are set by the gain setting section 19.
Is set by the following.

Generally, dimming of the illumination light to the sample is performed by the light source 7.
When the adjustment is performed by the applied voltage to the illuminator, the color temperature of the illumination light decreases when the applied voltage is decreased, and the color temperature increases when the applied voltage is increased. Further, the relationship between the applied voltage at the time of dimming and the color temperature of the illumination light can be easily predicted from the characteristics of the light source 7.

From such a fact, the gain setting section 19 sets each gain of each of the variable gain amplifiers 16 to 18 in accordance with the output of the light control section 15, that is, the potential difference VY-VR. For example, when the gain of the variable gain amplifier 17 is fixed, and when the voltage applied to the light source 7 is low, the gain of the variable gain
Is set to be low, and the lowering of the color temperature of the illumination light is corrected by raising the color temperature on the video signal.

When the voltage applied to the light source 7 is high,
The gain of the variable gain amplifier 18 is set to be low and the gain of the variable gain amplifier 16 is set to be high.

The encoder 20 has a function of outputting the RGB component signals amplified by the variable gain amplifiers 16 to 18 of the white balance adjusting unit 13 as a composite video signal.

The monitor 6 receives the composite video signal output from the encoder 20 and displays it as an observation image. The control unit 5 is supplied with power for each function by the battery 21 and can be used for portable use.

Next, the operation of the above-configured device will be described. The illumination light emitted from the light source 7 is transmitted to the illumination head 4 of the probe 1 through the optical fiber 8,
The illumination head 4 irradiates the sample.

The objective lens 3 of the probe 1 enlarges the image of the sample and projects it on the imaging surface of the CCD 2. This CCD2
Receives the driving pulse from the timing generator 9, photoelectrically converts the observation image of the sample enlarged and projected by the objective lens 3, and converts the video signal into the S / H circuit 1 of the control unit 5.
Output to 0.

The S / H circuit 10 receiving this video signal
The video signal output from the probe 1 is sampled according to the sampling pulse from the timing generator 9,
Send to AGC circuit 11.

The AGC circuit 11 automatically adjusts the gain according to the level of the input video signal so that the level of the video signal output from the S / H circuit 10 is kept constant. The video signal is amplified by the gain.

The color processing unit 12 separates the video signal output from the AGC circuit 11 into RGB color signals, performs an interpolation process, and sends it to the white balance adjustment unit 13 as RGB component signals.

At the same time, the color processing section 12 calculates the luminance signal Y by performing the operation of the above equation (1) based on the RGB component signals, and sends the luminance signal Y to the level detection section 14.

The level detector 14 calculates a potential difference VY between a preset reference voltage VR and an integrated value VY of the luminance signal Y.
−VR is obtained, and this potential difference VY−VR is given to the light control section 15.

The light adjusting section 15 receives the potential difference VY-VR output from the level detecting section 14 and, for example, the level of the video signal is low, and the reference voltage VR is the integral value V of the luminance signal Y.
When the value is more negative than Y, the voltage applied to the light source 7 is increased, and the light is adjusted so that the light amount of the light source 7 increases.

When the level of the video signal is high and the reference voltage VR is smaller than the integral value VY of the luminance signal Y and positive, the dimmer 15 lowers the voltage applied to the light source 7 and
Dimming so that the light amount of the light becomes small.

In this case, as described above, the gain function of the AGC circuit 11 operates so that the illumination intensity on the sample becomes the minimum light amount for obtaining a sufficient video signal level with respect to the dynamic range of the CCD 2.

On the other hand, the gain setting section 19 of the white balance adjustment section 13 sets each gain of each of the variable gain amplifiers 16 to 18 according to the potential difference VY-VR output from the dimming section 15.

For example, when the gain of the variable gain amplifier 17 is fixed as described above, and when the voltage applied to the light source 7 is low, the gain of the variable gain amplifier 18 is increased and the gain of the variable gain amplifier 16 is decreased. Set,
The lowering of the illumination light color temperature is corrected by raising the video signal color temperature.

When the gain of the variable gain amplifier 17 is fixed in the same manner as described above, when the voltage applied to the light source 7 is high, the gain of the variable gain amplifier 18 is decreased and the gain of the variable gain amplifier 16 is increased. Then, the color temperature on the video signal is lowered and corrected for the rise in the illumination light color temperature.

Thus, the white balance adjusting unit 13
Then, each of the variable gain amplifiers 16 to 18 amplifies the RGB component signal and sends it to the encoder 20. The encoder 20 includes a white balance adjustment unit 1
RG amplified by each of the variable gain amplifiers 16 to 18
The B component signal is sent to the monitor 6 as a composite video signal.

The monitor 6 displays the composite video signal sent from the encoder 20 as an observation image. As described above, in the first embodiment, the variable gain amplifiers 16 to 18 amplify the RGB component signals separated from the video signal output from the probe 1 respectively.
Dimming unit 1 that controls the light amount of light source 7 for each of the gains
5, the white balance of the obtained observation image can be maintained irrespective of the change in the light amount of the light source 7 while adjusting to the minimum light amount at which an appropriate observation image of the sample can be obtained. An observation image in which a constant white balance is obtained regardless of the color temperature of the illumination light can be displayed on the monitor 6.

Also, since the light intensity is automatically adjusted to the minimum light amount necessary to obtain an observation image of appropriate brightness, the battery 2
0 life can be extended. (Second Embodiment) Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. The same parts as those in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

The objective lens 3 of the probe 1 is provided with a magnification display section 30 having information on the magnification and type of the objective lens 3. On the other hand, the control unit 5
An objective lens magnification identification unit 31 is provided.

The objective lens magnification identification section 31 reads the magnification of the objective lens 3 displayed on the magnification display section 30, identifies the magnification and type of the objective lens 3 currently mounted on the probe 1, and identifies it. It has a function of sending a signal to the AGC circuit 32 and the gain setting unit 33 of the white balance adjustment unit 13.

The AGC circuit 32 includes the S / H circuit 1
It has a function of automatically adjusting the gain according to the level of the input video signal so that the level of the video signal output from 0 is kept constant. The gain adjustment range according to the magnification of the objective lens 3 Is set in advance.

That is, the objective lens 3 generally mounted on a video microscope has a higher f.
As the value increases, the image becomes darker, and as the magnification decreases, the f-value tends to decrease and the image becomes brighter.

Therefore, in the AGC circuit 32, for example, since the high-magnification objective lens 3 is darker than the low-magnification objective lens 3, the gain adjustment range is lower when the objective lens 3 has high magnification than when it has low magnification. Is set. This takes into account the effect of image noise when the gain is high.

The gain setting section 33 knows the characteristics of the objective lens 3 in advance when the color reproduction or the like differs depending on the magnification of the objective lens 3 due to the optical characteristics of the objective lens 3. The variable gain amplifiers 16 to 18 have a function of performing gain settings in accordance with the outputs of the variable gain amplifiers 15 to 18 and performing gain adjustment.

The magnification display section 30 and the objective lens magnification identification section 31 are not particularly limited as long as they can read information, and may use light or magnetism. For example, a bar code may be used.

Next, the operation of the device configured as described above will be described. The illumination head 4 illuminates the sample of the observation target with illumination light, and the CCD 2 photoelectrically converts the observation image of the sample enlarged and projected by the objective lens 3 and outputs the video signal to the S / H circuit 10 of the control 5. I do.

The S / H circuit 10 receiving the video signal samples the video signal output from the probe 1 and
Send to C circuit 11. At this time, the objective lens magnification identification unit 3
1 reads information on the magnification and type of the objective lens 3 displayed on the magnification display section 30 of the probe 1, identifies the magnification and type of the objective lens 3 currently mounted on the probe 1, and outputs the identification signal. The signal is sent to the AGC circuit 32 and the gain setting unit 33 of the white balance adjustment unit 13.

The AGC circuit 32 receives the identification signal from the objective lens magnification identifying section 31 and adjusts the gain adjustment range in accordance with the magnification of the objective lens 3, that is, when the objective lens 3 has a high magnification and has a low magnification. Set a lower gain adjustment range.

Therefore, the AGC circuit 32 has the S / H circuit 1
In order to keep the level of the video signal output from 0 constant, the gain is adjusted in a gain adjustment range set in accordance with the magnification of the objective lens 3 in accordance with the level of the input video signal. Amplify the video signal.

The color processing section 12 separates the video signal output from the AGC circuit 32 into RGB color signals and performs interpolation processing to output RGB component signals.
At the same time, a luminance signal Y is obtained based on the RGB component signals, and the luminance signal Y is sent to the level detector 14.

The level detector 14 calculates a potential difference VY-VR between the reference voltage VR and the integrated value VY of the luminance signal Y, and supplies the potential difference VY-VR to the dimmer 15. The dimmer 15 receives the potential difference VY-VR output from the level detector 14, applies a voltage corresponding to the potential difference VY-VR to the light source 7,
Dimming.

On the other hand, the gain setting unit 33 of the white balance adjustment unit 13 receives the identification signal from the objective lens magnification identification unit 31 and adjusts the light control unit including correction of the color reproduction characteristics that vary depending on the magnification of the objective lens 3. The gain is set according to the output of the variable gain amplifier 15, and the gain of each of the variable gain amplifiers 16 to 18 is adjusted.

When the gain of the variable gain amplifier 17 is fixed as described above, when the voltage applied to the light source 7 is low, the gain of the variable gain amplifier 18 is increased and the gain of the variable gain amplifier 16 is decreased. Then, the color temperature on the video signal is corrected by increasing the color temperature on the video signal in response to the decrease in the color temperature of the illumination light.

When the voltage applied to the light source 7 is high,
The gain of the variable gain amplifier 18 is set to be low and the gain of the variable gain amplifier 16 is set to be high.

Therefore, the white balance adjusting unit 13
The RGB component signals are amplified by the respective variable gain amplifiers 16 to 18 and transmitted to the encoder 20.
The encoder 20 sends the RGB component signals amplified by the variable gain amplifiers 16 to 18 to the monitor 6 as a composite video signal. The monitor 6 receives the composite video signal transmitted from the encoder 20 and displays the composite video signal as an observation image.

As described above, in the second embodiment, similarly to the first embodiment, while adjusting the amount of observation image obtained while adjusting the light amount to the minimum value for obtaining an appropriate observation image of the sample. The white balance can be maintained regardless of the change in the light amount of the light source 7.

Each of the variable gain amplifiers 16 to 1 in the white balance adjusting unit 13 according to the magnification of the objective lens 3.
Since the gain adjustment of 8 is performed, an observation image in which a constant white balance is obtained regardless of the color reproduction characteristics depending on the magnification of the objective lens 3 and the color temperature of the illumination light accompanying the dimming is displayed on the monitor 6. Can be.

Also, since the light intensity is automatically adjusted to the minimum light amount necessary to obtain an observation image of appropriate brightness, the battery 2
0 life can be extended. (Third Embodiment) Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. The same parts as those in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

FIG. 3 is a specific configuration diagram of a camera head in the optical microscope device, and FIG. 4 is a general configuration diagram of an optical microscope device provided with the camera head shown in FIG. This optical microscope apparatus records an observation image picked up by a CCD serving as an image pickup means on an image recording medium such as a memory card, instead of a conventional microscope silver halide photographing apparatus.

The photographic straight tube of the microscope 40 shown in FIG.
A camera head 41 is attached, and the CCD 2 is incorporated in the camera head 41 as shown in FIG.

The image processing unit 42 is connected to the output terminals of the variable gain amplifiers 16 to 18 of the white balance adjustment unit 13. The image processing unit 42 performs A / D conversion on the RGB component signals output from the variable gain amplifiers 16 to 18 and performs various types of image processing, writes the image data on the image recording medium 43, and performs R ′
It has a function of transmitting a G′B ′ component signal to the encoder 20.

Next, the operation of the device configured as described above will be described. The illumination light emitted from the light source 7 is applied to a sample of the observation target. The microscope 40 enlarges and projects the observation image of the sample on the imaging surface of the CCD 2 in the camera head 41.

The CCD 2 photoelectrically converts the observed image of the sample in accordance with the driving pulse from the timing generator 9 and outputs the video signal. This video signal is supplied to the S / H circuit 10
, And is amplified by the gain automatically adjusted according to the level of the video signal so that the AGC circuit 11 keeps the level constant.

The color processing unit 12 separates the gain-adjusted video signal into RGB color signals and performs an interpolation process, sends it to the white balance adjustment unit 13 as RGB component signals, and based on the RGB component signals. The luminance signal Y is obtained by performing the calculation of the above equation (1), and this luminance signal Y is sent to the level detector 14.

The level detector 14 calculates a potential difference VY-VR between the reference voltage VR and the integrated value VY of the luminance signal Y, and supplies the potential difference VY-VR to the dimmer 15. The light control unit 15 controls the voltage applied to the light source 7 according to the potential difference VY-VR output from the level detection unit 14, and controls the light amount of the light source 7.

In this case, as described above, the gain function of the AGC circuit 11 operates so that the illumination intensity on the sample becomes the minimum light amount for obtaining a sufficient video signal level with respect to the dynamic range of the CCD 2.

On the other hand, the gain setting section 19 of the white balance adjustment section 13 sets each gain of each of the variable gain amplifiers 16 to 18 according to the potential difference VY-VR output from the dimming section 15.

Thus, the white balance adjustment unit 13
The variable gain amplifiers 16 to 18 respectively amplify the RGB component signals. The image processing unit 42 receives the RGB component signals output from each of the variable gain amplifiers 16 to 18 and converts these component signals into an A / D signal.
The conversion and various image processing are performed, the image data is written to the image recording medium 43, and the R′G′B ′ component signal is sent to the encoder 20.

The encoder 20 sends the RGB component signals from the image processing section 42 to the monitor 6 as composite video signals. The monitor 6 displays the composite video signal transmitted from the encoder 20 as an observation image.

As described above, in the third embodiment, the respective gains of the variable gain amplifiers 16 to 18 for amplifying the RGB component signals which are enlarged and projected by the microscope 40 and separated from the video signal from the CCD 2 are respectively adjusted. Since the light intensity is automatically changed in accordance with the output of the light control unit 15 for controlling the light amount of the light source 7, the sample control can be performed without using the ND filter which is indispensable for the light control at the time of the conventional silver halide photography. The white balance of the obtained observation image can be maintained irrespective of the change in the light amount of the light source 7 while adjusting to the minimum light amount at which an appropriate observation image can be obtained, irrespective of the color temperature of the illumination light, and without a mechanical mechanism. An image having a predetermined white balance can be easily recorded on the image recording medium 43.

Further, the progressive type CC is provided in the CCD 2.
By using D, an observation image can be taken without a mechanical shutter necessary for exposure of a conventional microscope silver halide photography apparatus.

The image recording medium 43 is not limited to a memory card, but may be a magneto-optical disk, for example. The present invention is not limited to the first to third embodiments, but may be modified as follows.

For example, in the first to third embodiments, white balance adjustment is performed based on the fact that the relationship between the applied voltage and the color temperature of the light source 7 can be easily predicted from the characteristics of the light source (eg, lamp) 7. Gain setting unit 1 in unit 13
Although the dimming voltage of the light source 7 is input to the light source 9, the color temperature of the illumination light actually emitted from the light source 7 is detected by a sensor or the like in consideration of the individual differences in the characteristics of the light source 7 and the temperature. It may be provided to the gain setting unit 19.

[0083]

As described in detail above, claims 1 to 5 of the present invention.
According to 3, the white balance of the obtained image can be maintained irrespective of the change in the light amount of the light source while adjusting the light amount to the minimum value at which an appropriate image can be obtained.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, a constant white balance can be obtained with respect to a change in the color temperature of the light source due to dimming for obtaining an image of appropriate brightness according to the magnification of the magnifying optical system. Obtainable.

[Brief description of the drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram showing a video microscope according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram showing a camera head in an optical microscope apparatus according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an overall configuration diagram in which a camera head according to a third embodiment is provided in an optical microscope device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Probe, 2 ... CCD, 3 ... Objective lens, 4 ... Illumination head, 5 ... Control part, 6 ... Monitor, 7 ... Light source, 9 ... Timing generation part, 10 ... Sample hold circuit (S / H circuit), 11 , 32: Automatic gain control circuit (AGC circuit), 12: Color processing unit, 13: White balance adjustment unit, 14: Level detection unit, 15: Dimming unit, 16-18: Variable gain amplifier, 19, 33: Gain Setting section, 30: magnification display section, 31: objective lens magnification identification section, 40: microscope, 41: camera head, 42: image processing section, 43: image recording medium.

Claims (3)

[Claims] A light source for illuminating an observation target; an imaging unit for capturing an enlarged observation image of the observation target via an enlargement optical system; a monitor for displaying an enlarged observation image captured by the imaging unit; An optical microscope device comprising: a light control unit that controls the light amount of the light source according to a video signal level from the image pickup unit; wherein the light control unit controls the light amount of the light source by the light control unit. An optical microscope apparatus comprising a white balance adjusting means for adjusting a white balance for the video signal. 2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the white balance adjustment unit has a function of changing each gain for each color signal obtained by separating the video signal from the imaging unit in accordance with the amount of light amount control of the light source. The optical microscope device according to claim 1. 3. A magnification identifying means for identifying magnification information of the magnifying optical system for enlarging and projecting the observation object onto the image pickup means, wherein the white balance adjusting means is provided. 2. The optical microscope apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the white balance adjustment by said white balance adjustment means is made variable.