WO2012084530A1

WO2012084530A1 - Microscope with a colour image sensor and microscopy method with a colour image sensor

Info

Publication number: WO2012084530A1
Application number: PCT/EP2011/072200
Authority: WO
Inventors: Markus Cappellaro
Original assignee: Carl Zeiss Microimaging Gmbh
Priority date: 2010-12-22
Filing date: 2011-12-08
Publication date: 2012-06-28
Also published as: DE102010063959A1

Abstract

Provision is made of a microscope with a colour image sensor (7), an imaging optical unit (9) for imaging a sample (3) in magnifying fashion onto the colour image sensor (7) and a control unit (6), wherein the colour image sensor (7) has a plurality of pixels (10) arranged in a plane and a colour mask (11) covering the pixels (10), and the colour mask (11) contains a filter cell (12) for each pixel (10), said filter cell being embodied either as a colour cell for colour filtering for one of at least three colour channels or as a transparency cell, which brings about no colour filtering, wherein the colour mask (11) has colour cells for all of the at least three colour channels and transparency cells, and wherein the control unit (6) generates an image on the basis of the image data of the colour image sensor (7).

Description

Microscope with a color image sensor and microscopy method with a

Color sensor

The present invention relates to a microscope with a color image sensor and a microscopy method with a color image sensor.

In microscopy, colored preparations with high color quality often have to be documented very realistically in order to be able to draw exact conclusions from the color information (for example, pathology, cytology, etc.).

At the same time, however, there is often a requirement to obtain fluorescence images of transgenic, e.g. GFP-colored (GFP = green fluorescent protein) to record living cells. This monochrome cameras are much better, since they have a higher sensitivity than color cameras, any color filter used in a single-chip color camera causes no dramatic reduction in resolution and the sensitivity spectrum is not limited to the visible range of light.

In practice, often invested only in a camera for cost reasons, so that with this two types of recording (multi-color recording and monochrome recording) are carried out, so that then a color camera is purchased with the course color images can be recorded. For monochrome images, color information is mathematically removed from the color image. Technically, however, the camera remains a color camera and requires disadvantageous compromises in the recording of fluorescence samples. Particularly in the imaging of living cells, these trade-offs are disadvantageous because living cells are often very sensitive. Since a color camera is much less sensitive to light than a monochrome camera and therefore requires longer exposure times, prolonged exposure to fluorescent excitation light is necessary, harming the living cells and shortening their life. Even a subsequent conversion of the color image into a monochrome image via a corresponding formula (eg weighted sum of RGB components) can not solve this disadvantage, since the optical spectral ratios were already set during recording.

Proceeding from this, it is an object of the invention to provide a microscope with a color camera, with the different recording modes are possible and at the same time the difficulties described above can be avoided as possible. Furthermore, a corresponding microscopy method is to be provided.

The object is achieved by a microscope having a color image sensor, imaging optics for magnifying a sample on the color image sensor and a control unit, wherein the color image sensor has a plurality of in-plane pixels and a color mask covering the pixels and the color mask for each pixel Filter cell containing either a color cell for color filtering for one of at least three color channels or as a transparency cell, which does not cause color filtering, the color mask having color cells for all of the at least three color channels and transparency cells and wherein the control unit based on the image data of the color image sensor generates an image of the sample.

Since the color image sensor of the microscope according to the invention also has transparency cells in the color mask in addition to the color cells, in addition to the color information, it is also possible to record monochrome image information that is not adversely affected (for example, attenuated) by any color filters. Furthermore, a possibly provided IR filter can be swung out, whereby spectral restrictions are eliminated. Thus, it is possible to suitably evaluate the image data of the color image sensor depending on the desired type of recording and thereby to form the desired image. In particular, it is possible to simultaneously record a color image and a monochrome image by means of the color image sensor. At the same time, it is understood here in particular that the exposure of the pixels takes place simultaneously, regardless of whether the associated filter cell is a color cell or a transparency cell. The color image sensor may also be referred to as a multispectral sensor.

The microscope according to the invention can have a movement unit with which the color image sensor can be moved in the plane. This makes it possible to perform different images of the sample with different positions of the color image sensor. These different images can then be used for image generation. Thus, for example, an increase in resolution and / or sensitivity can be achieved. The color mask can be in one piece or in several parts. In particular, the color mask can be made transparent in the region of the transparency cells or can have a corresponding opening. The microscope according to the invention may include a control unit which is designed to a) after a first recording of the sample by means of the color image sensor to control the movement unit so that the color image sensor is displaced in the plane, b) a second image of the sample by means of the color image sensor in the triggering a shifted position, and c) generating an image of the sample based on the images.

For example, the shift may be performed by always shifting the size of a pixel (pixel shift). In this case, the full resolution is present in each spectral field. Alternatively, it is possible to perform a shift (sub-pixel shift) smaller than the size of a pixel. This allows inter-pixel positions to be captured so that image information is captured from positions between the pixels that would otherwise not contribute to image formation. A combination of pixel and subpixel shift is possible.

The control unit can also be designed to achieve a higher resolution in at least one of the color channels or a monochrome channel of the transparency cells in step c) compared to the number of corresponding color or transparency cells.

Furthermore, the control unit can be designed to generate a color image in step c), in which the image data of the pixels covered by transparency cells are taken into account. In particular, the luminance values of the pixels covered by transparency cells can be taken into account. If the pixels covered by transparency cells are sensitive to wavelengths outside the visible spectrum, these signals can also be taken into account.

The control unit may be designed to perform step b) several times with different positions of the color image sensor in order to perform a plurality of second images with the different positions of the color image sensor. These several second images can then be taken into account in step c) during the generation of the image, in particular for improving the spatial resolution. In particular, pixel and subpixel shift can be combined. The control unit may further be configured to generate a color image and a monochrome image based on the image data of a single shot or a single shot, taking into account for the color image image data of the color cell covered pixels and for the monochrome image image data of the pixels covered by transparency cells ,

In a further development, by means of the control unit the microscope can be selectively converted into a color image mode in which a color image of the sample is generated based on the image data of the color cell covered pixels, and in a monochrome image mode in which a monochrome image of the sample is based on the image data obtained by transparency cells covered pixel is generated to be switched. For the selection of the corresponding mode advantageously no change of the hardware of the microscope must be performed. The modes differ essentially by the electrical control of the color image sensor and / or the evaluation of the provided image data to generate the desired color image or monochrome image.

Of course, in both the color image mode and the monochrome image mode, multiple images with different positions of the color image sensor can be used to generate the desired image. This implementation of the multiple recordings can be done in the manner described.

Furthermore, by means of the control unit, the microscope can still be switched to a combined image mode in which both a color image and a monochrome image of the sample is generated, wherein image data of the pixels covered by color cells and, for the monochrome image, of the pixels covered by transparency cells are taken into account, preferably for the color image become.

In the microscope according to the invention, an infrared cut filter can be arranged in the beam path from the sample to the color image sensor in order to ensure, for example, correct color reproduction. In particular, the infrared blocking filter can be moved from a position in the beam path to a position outside the beam path and vice versa. This makes it possible to selectively provide an infrared cut filter in the beam path, if desired or required for color fast shooting. With the microscope according to the invention a previously unattained universally applicable applicability for color and fluorescence images with variable resolution and speed is provided without additional requirements for the microscope, such as colored lighting or additional components in the beam path, must be provided. The microscope according to the invention is therefore equally suitable for colored specimens (eg in pathology) and for monochrome fluorescence preparations (eg in the uptake of living cells). All this can be achieved in the microscope according to the invention with low cost and effort.

In the microscope according to the invention can thus be reacted very flexibly to the corresponding requirements of each sample. Only a suitable shooting mode (e.g., color picture mode, monochrome picture mode, composite picture mode) or camera mode needs to be selected. Camera mode is understood to mean in particular the combination of the execution of the at least one recording and the corresponding image generation. The microscope according to the invention can therefore be easily adapted to different recording conditions. Essentially, the control of the color image sensor, the scanning unit and / or the evaluation of the image data must be changed.

The microscope according to the invention can be designed as a fluorescence microscope, as a multichannel fluorescence microscope, as a phase contrast microscope, as a transmitted light, incident light and / or bright field microscope or else as another microscope. Of course, all conventional contrasting techniques can be implemented, such as e.g. Bright field, dark field, phase contrast, differential interference contrast, polarization, fluorescence, etc., and any combinations thereof.

The control unit in the microscope according to the invention can be constructed as a single control unit or also from two or more control submodules.

The sample to be magnified may be in particular a medical and / or biological sample or other materials. They are e.g. colored, fluorescent or non-colored material samples (e.g., ground steels) can be examined very well with the microscope according to the invention.

In particular, the color image sensor may be a CCD sensor or a CMOS sensor, and e.g. be designed as an HDTV sensor with 1920 x 1080 image pixels. Further, the color image sensor may be capable of taking approximately 50-60 frames per second and outputting the corresponding image data.

It is further provided a microscopy method in which a sample is magnified imaged on a color image sensor, wherein as a color image sensor, a sensor is used, which has a plurality of pixels arranged in a plane as well as a pixel covering Color mask, wherein the color mask for each pixel contains a filter cell which is formed either as a color cell for color filtering for one of at least three color channels or as a transparency cell, which does not cause color filtering, and wherein the color mask color cells for all of the at least three color channels and transparency cells having.

For example, with the microscopy method of the present invention, it is possible to simultaneously record a color image and a monochrome image. At the same time, it is understood here in particular that the exposure of the pixels takes place simultaneously, regardless of whether the associated filter cell is a color cell or a transparency cell. Further, for example, the image data of the pixels covered by transparency cells may be taken into account in the generation of the color image, e.g. to improve the contrast range of the color image and the color interpolation.

In the microscopy method according to the invention, a) a first image of the sample can be taken by means of the color image sensor, b) then the color image sensor is displaced in the plane, c) a second image of the sample is taken in the displaced position by the color image sensor, and d) based On the recordings a picture of the sample can be generated. Furthermore, the image can be generated with a higher resolution in at least one of the color channels or a monochrome channel of the transparency cells in comparison to the number of corresponding color or transparency cells.

In the microscopy method according to the invention, the image can be generated as a color image, wherein the image data of the pixels covered by the transparency cells are taken into account in the image generation in order, e.g. to improve the contrast range of the color image and the color interpolation.

Furthermore, in the microscopy method according to the invention, the steps b) and c) can be carried out several times to perform a plurality of second exposures with different positions of the color image sensor.

In the microscopy method according to the invention, a color image and a monochrome image can be generated based on the image data of a single image, taking into account for the color image image data of the pixels covered by the color cells and for the monochrome image image data of the pixels covered by transparency cells. It is understood that the features mentioned above and those yet to be explained below can be used not only in the specified combinations but also in other combinations or alone, without departing from the scope of the present invention. In particular, the microscope according to the invention can be developed so that steps of the microscopy method according to the invention can be realized with it. The microscopy method according to the invention can also be developed so that it has steps that can be carried out or performed with the microscope according to the invention. The invention will be explained in more detail for example with reference to the accompanying drawings, which also disclose characteristics essential to the invention. Show it:

Fig. 1 is a schematic view of an embodiment of the microscope according to the invention; Fig. 2 is a schematic plan view of a part of the color image sensor 7 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a schematic plan view of an embodiment of the moving unit 8 in Fig. 1; 4 shows a further embodiment of the movement unit 8;

Fig. 5 is a schematic representation of a portion of the sample;

6 shows a schematic representation for the assignment of the filter cells to the image cells of the sample;

Fig. 7 is a schematic representation with a further assignment of the filter cells to the

Image cells of the sample;

8-10 show unit cells of other distributions of the filter cells of the color mask;

Fig. 1 1 and 12 possible unit cells in the formation of the filter mask as

Complementary filter mask;

Fig. 13 is a schematic diagram for explaining the sensitivity of color and transparency pixels, and

FIGS. 14 and 15 are further illustrations for explaining the spectral sensitivity of color and transparency pixels. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the microscope 1 according to the invention comprises a sample table 2 which carries a sample 3, a receiving unit 4 which is connected to the sample table 2 via a schematically illustrated stand 5, and a control unit 6.

The recording unit 4 includes a color image sensor 7, a movement unit 8 for moving the color image sensor 7, and imaging optics 9 for magnifying imaging of the sample 3 or part of the sample 3 onto the color image sensor 7. The distance (in the z direction) between the imaging optics 9 and the sample table 3 and thus the sample 2 can be adjusted by means of the stand 5 under the control of the control unit 6. Furthermore, the sample table 3 can be moved in the x-direction and perpendicular to the plane of the drawing in the y-direction in order to position the sample 2.

As the enlarged schematic plan view of a portion of the color image sensor 7 can be seen in Figure 2, the color image sensor 7 comprises a plurality of pixels 10 arranged in rows and columns (of which only three are shown in phantom in Figure 2) and one of the pixels 1 0th covering color mask 1 1 on.

The color mask 1 1 comprises filter cells 12, which are arranged in the same manner as the pixels 10 in rows and columns, wherein in each case exactly one filter cell 12 is assigned to a pixel 10 and covers it. In Figure 2, the filter cells 12 are shown schematically as squares, wherein the filtering effect is described by the letters contained in each filter cell 12. The letters are only for the description of the filter effect and are of course not included in the actual filter mask 1 1.

The letters R, G and B stand for color filters, where the letter R describes the red channel, the letter G the green channel and the letter B the blue channel. The filter cells of these three color channels can be referred to as color cells.

The filter cells 12 with the letter W stand for filter cells in which no color filtering takes place. These filter cells can therefore also be referred to as transparency cells. The color and transparency cells are arranged in a regular pattern, wherein in the embodiment described here there is a unit cell 13 of 4x4 filter cells 12, as indicated schematically in FIG. The unit cell 13 is arranged repeatedly in the x and y directions, resulting in the filter cell distribution indicated in FIG. In Fig. 2, only a part of the color filter 7 is shown schematically, which is designed here as an HDTV sensor with 1920 x 1080 pixels 10.

As can be seen in the illustration in FIG. 2, half of the filter cells 12 are transparency cells and arranged such that a displacement of the color image sensor 7 in the x or y direction by exactly one filter cell 12 leads to complete area coverage with transparency cells. Such a shift can be carried out, for example, by means of the movement unit 8. An embodiment of the movement unit 8 is shown schematically in plan view in FIG. The color image sensor 7 is seated on a carrier 20 which is connected to a frame 25 via four piezo elements 21, 22, 23 and 24. By appropriate control of the respective opposite piezo elements, the desired displacement in the x and y direction can then be carried out. If, for example, the piezo elements 21 and 23 are driven, a shift in the y direction will take place.

FIG. 4 schematically shows a further embodiment of the movement unit 8. This embodiment differs essentially from the embodiment of Figure 3 in that only two piezo elements 21 and 22 are necessary. At the piezoelectric elements 21 and 22 opposite sides of the carrier 20 spring elements 26 and 27 are provided, via which the carrier 20 is connected to the frame 25. By controlling the piezoelectric element 21, a shift in the x-direction can be performed. For a displacement in the y-direction, the piezoelectric element 22 is driven.

During operation of the microscope 1 according to the invention, the desired region of the sample 3 is magnified on the color image sensor 7 by means of the imaging optics 9.

The color image sensor 7 picks up the enlarged image and supplies the corresponding image data to the control unit 6.

If only a single shot is taken, for example, the intensity information of the pixels 10 which are below the transparency cells and hereinafter also referred to as transparency pixels may be used to interpolate the image data of the pixels below the color cells and subsequently also as color pixels serve to produce an interpolated color image. The intensity information is the intensity of the entire spectrum detectable with the pixels. The interpolated color image may be e.g. have an increased contrast range, especially in low-light areas. Thus, an improvement in the overall photosensitivity of the color image can be achieved. Furthermore, the image data of the transparency pixels can also be used to generate a monochrome image that was taken simultaneously with the color image.

The generation of the desired images from the image data is carried out by the control unit 6 or by a computer, not shown, to which the image data of the color image sensor are supplied. The generated image or the images produced can be displayed and / or stored on an output unit 15 (eg a screen), for example.

Further, the color image sensor 7 can be operated to generate a live image in color and / or a monochrome live image, e.g. be displayed on the screen 15 or is. It can e.g. 60 shots per second are made.

Further, it is possible to perform at least two shots successively so that the individual shots are performed with different positions of the color image sensor 7 in the xy plane. For this purpose, the color image sensor in the xy plane is correspondingly displaced by means of the movement unit 8. For example, a shift of the color image sensor 7 between the two images by the size of a pixel in the x or y direction can be performed. In this case, the two images achieve full resolution in the monochrome channel and improved resolution in the color channels with increased contrast. In this case, full resolution is understood to mean, in particular, that based on the at least two images, a photograph can be composed which has image data of the same pixel type (for example transparency pixels, red, green or blue color pixels) for all pixel positions of the color image sensor 7. It can e.g. a monochrome image with 1920 x 1080 pixels are generated.

The full resolution can also be understood with reference to sample 3 as follows. In FIG. 5, part of the sample 3, which can be assigned to a unit cell 13 of the color image sensor 7, is shown schematically, it being possible to divide the corresponding region of the sample 3 into 4 × 4 image cells 30 due to the above-mentioned assignment are shown with rounded corners.

FIG. 6 shows how the assignment of the filter cells 12 to the image cells 30 of the sample 3 is at a first position of the color image sensor 7, of the color mask 11 a unit cell 13 and a column adjoining it on the left with four further filter cells 12 ,

FIG. 7 shows a position offset by one pixel width in the x-direction (relative to the position according to FIG. 6) of the color image sensor 7. As can be seen from the two figures 6 and 7, are covered by two cells for all image cells 30, the corresponding intensity values by means of the two shown in Fig. 6 and 7 positions of the color mask 1 1 all the image cells 30 by transparency cells Transparency cells covered pixels can be detected. There is thus the aforementioned full resolution. Of course, more than two shots with different positions can be performed. This makes it possible, for example, to achieve an identical resolution in all three color channels and in particular a full resolution in all three color channels. Here, an identical resolution in all three color channels is understood to mean, in particular, that there are 30 pixel values for each of the three color channels for the same number of image cells, or that the number of pixel values of the individual color channels corresponds to the ratio of the color filters of the color mask 11. In the color filter mask described here, this would mean that the number of pixels for red and blue is the same and exactly half the number of pixels is green.

Furthermore, the moving unit 8 can also effect a displacement in the x or y direction, which is smaller than the size of a pixel 10. Thus, images are possible at intermediate positions, whereby the resolution of the recorded image can be increased. In this case, a subpixel resolution is possible.

Further, the imaging optics 9 may include an infrared cut-off filter 14 to prevent infrared radiation from hitting the color pixels 10, which would distort color picking, as the pixels are often also sensitive to infrared radiation.

The infrared blocking filter 14 is in particular movably mounted and can be removed from the beam path from the sample 3 to the color image sensor 7. Thus, in a monochrome recording (in which the image data of the monochrome pixels are evaluated), a higher sensitivity can be achieved.

The distribution of the filter cells 12 shown in FIG. 2 is only to be understood as an example. Of course, any other suitable distribution can be chosen. Examples are shown in FIGS. 8, 9 and 10. From these it can also be seen that the unit cell 13 can be of different sizes.

Also, the filter mask 1 1 must not be designed as an RGB filter mask. It can also be designed, for example, as a CMY complementary filter mask. Figures 1 and 12 show examples of CYGM and CMYW filter masks, again showing only a unit cell, where C is cyan, Y is yellow, G is green, M is magenta, and W is a transparency cell.

The already explained advantage of the transparency cells with respect to the color cells is to be clarified by the sensitivity curves shown by way of example in FIG. In FIG. 13, the relative sensitivity (y-axis) is measured over the wavelength in nm (x-axis) for pixels which are covered by color cells (in which case an infrared filter is connected upstream), and for pixels which are covered by transparency cells, curve 31 represents the relative sensitivity of a blue pixel (ie, a pixel covered by a blue color filter), curve 32 the relative sensitivity of a green pixel, curve 33 the relative sensitivity of a red pixel, and curve 34 the relative sensitivity of a red pixel Transparency pixels shows. It can be seen from the illustration of Figure 13 that the spectral sensitivity range is much wider for a transparency pixel than for color pixels. Thus, the range from the blue spectrum at about 400 nm to the near infrared at about 1000 nm.

Furthermore, the quantum efficiency and thus the probability of detection of photons in the case of transparency pixels in the visible wavelength range (400 nm-700 nm) is higher and more constant than in the case of the color pixels.

In the range above 700 nm, the color pixels are not sensitive and can not detect photons, while the transparency pixel still generates a signal.

Thus, the transparency pixels are superior to the color pixels for fluorescent signals. The microscope according to the invention can therefore be used very flexibly for different recording modes with excellent quality. In Figs. 14 and 15, the principal difference between color and transparency pixels is shown quantitatively in the manner that the same sensor (once with color filter and once without color filter) was illuminated and the output signal was measured. The bars 35, 36 and 37 show the output signal of the sensor with color mask and thus the output signal of a color pixel in the illumination with different wavelengths. The bar 35 shows the signal response (in arbitrary units) at 625 nm, the bar 36 at 565 nm illumination and the bar 37 at 430 nm illumination. Immediately to the right is the signal response without color filter (at the same illumination wavelength) , As can be seen from these bars 38 to 40, the intensity is always much higher. Thus, the signal response of the color cell is only 52 to 66% of the signal response of the transparency cell.

In Figure 1 5, the signal responses are shown for the case that the illumination was performed with a white emitting light emitting diode. As can be seen from bars 35 to 40, reaches a color pixel in the red channel only 27% of the modulation of the transparency pixel. The high signal intensity of the transparency pixel is explained by the fact that the transparency pixel receives all of the energy distributed across the spectrum, while a color pixel can only convert the energy portion from the corresponding associated waveband to a signal.

This can be used, for example, for very short exposure times in monochrome images by means of the microscope according to the invention. The microscope 1 according to the invention can furthermore also have a light source, not shown, as well as further elements which are necessary for the operation of the microscope 1 and are known to the person skilled in the art.

Claims

claims

1 . Microscope with

a color image sensor (7),

imaging optics (9) for magnifying imaging of a sample (3) on the color image sensor

(7)

and a control unit (6),

wherein the color image sensor (7) has a plurality of pixels (1 0) arranged in a plane and a color mask (1 1) covering the pixels (10) and the color mask (1 1) has a filter cell (12) for each pixel (10) contains, which is formed either as a color cell for color filtering for one of at least three color channels or as a transparency cell, which does not cause color filtering,

wherein the color mask (1 1) has color cells for all of the at least three color channels and transparency cells, and

wherein the control unit (6) generates an image based on the image data of the color image sensor (7).

2. A microscope according to claim 1, comprising a moving unit (8) with which the color image sensor (7) is movable in the plane.

3. A microscope according to claim 2, wherein the control unit (6) is adapted to a) after a first recording of the sample (3) by means of the color image sensor (7) to control the movement unit (8) so that the color image sensor (7) in the plane is moved,

b) trigger a second image of the sample (3) by means of the color image sensor (7) in the shifted position, and

c) generate the image of the sample based on the images.

4. A microscope according to claim 3, wherein the control unit (6) is adapted to in step c) in the generated image in comparison to the number of corresponding color or transparency cells higher resolution in at least one of the color channels or a monochrome channel of the transparency cells achieve.

5. A microscope according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the control unit (6) is adapted to generate in step c) a color image, in which the image data of the transparency cells covered by pixels are taken into account.

6. A microscope according to any one of claims 3 to 5, wherein the control unit (6) is adapted to perform the step b) several times with different positions of the color image sensor (3) to several second images with the different positions of the color image sensor (7). perform.

7. A microscope according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the control unit (6) is adapted to generate a color image and monochrome image based on the image data of a single shot, wherein for the color image image data of the pixels covered by color cells and for the monochrome image image data taken into account by pixels covered by transparency cells.

8. A microscope according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein by means of the control unit (6) the microscope (1) is selectively generated in a color image mode in which a color image of the sample is generated based on the image data of the color cell covered pixels, and in a monochrome image mode, in which a monochrome image of the sample is generated based on the image data of the pixels covered by transparency cells, can be switched.

9. Microscope according to one of the above claims, comprising an infrared blocking filter (14) in the beam path from the sample (3) to the color image sensor (7), wherein the infrared blocking filter (14) from the position in the beam path to a position au ßerhalb the beam path and vice versa can be moved.

10. A microscopy method in which a sample is imaged magnified on a color image sensor, wherein a sensor is used as a color image sensor having a plurality of pixels arranged in a plane and a color mask covering the pixels, wherein the color mask contains a filter cell for each pixel, which is formed either as a color cell for color filtering for one of at least three color channels or as a transparency cell which does not cause color filtering, and wherein the color mask has color cells for all of the at least three color channels and transparency cells.

1 1. A microscopy method according to claim 10, wherein

a) a first image of the sample is taken by means of the color image sensor,

b) after that the color image sensor is shifted in the plane,

c) performing a second photograph of the sample by means of the color image sensor in the shifted position, and

d) an image of the sample is generated based on the images.

12. The microscopy method according to claim 11, wherein the image with a higher resolution in at least one of the color channels or a monochrome channel of the transparency cells in

Comparison to the number of corresponding color or transparency cells is generated.

13. The microscopy method according to claim 11 or 12, wherein the image is generated as a color image in which the image data of the pixels covered by transparency cells are taken into account.

14. A microscopy method according to any one of claims 1 1 to 13, wherein the steps b) and c) are performed several times to perform a plurality of second shots with different positions of the color image sensor.

15. A microscopy method according to claim 10, wherein a color image and a monochrome image are generated based on the image data of a single image, taking into account for the color image image data of the color cell covered pixels and for the monochrome image image data of the pixels covered by the transparency cells.