Image acquiring device and method capable of performing optimum time lapse imaging easily

• US 20040183921A1
• Filed: 01/29/2004
• Published: 09/23/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Olympus Corporation
• Original Assignee: Olympus Corporation
• Inventors: Ueda, Hitoshi
• Granted Patent: US 7,432,959 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/222.1
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/6458 Fluorescence microscopy fluorescence microscopes per se G02B21/0076 and G02B21/16
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/60 Control of cameras or camera modules
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/64 Computer-aided capture of images, e.g. transfer from script file into camera, check of taken image quality, advice or proposal for image composition or decision on when to take image
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/73 by influencing the exposure time

Abstract

An imaging portion performs imaging of a subject. A time lapse imaging condition setting portion sets a time lapse imaging condition including at least an exposure time and an imaging interval, prior to the imaging of the subject by the imaging portion. A determining portion determines a contradiction of the time lapse imaging condition set by the time lapse imaging condition setting portion according to a predetermined criterion. A presenting portion presents at least information relating to the contradiction of the time lapse imaging condition based on a determined result by the determining portion.

Claims

1. An image acquiring device for performing time lapse imaging, comprising:

an imaging portion which performs imaging of a subject;

a time lapse imaging condition setting portion which sets a time lapse imaging condition including at least an exposure time and an imaging interval, prior to the imaging of the subject by the imaging portion;

a determining portion which determines a contradiction of the time lapse imaging condition set by the time lapse imaging condition setting portion according to a predetermined criterion; and

a presenting portion which presents at least information relating to the contradiction of time lapse imaging condition based on a determined result by the determining portion.

2. The image acquiring device for performing time lapse imaging according to claim 1, wherein the determining portion determines the contradiction of the time lapse imaging condition by using a relation between the exposure time and the imaging interval as the predetermined criterion.

3. The image acquiring device for performing time lapse imaging according to claim 2, further comprising:

an avoiding condition generating portion which generates a plurality of time lapse imaging conditions for avoiding the contradiction of the time lapse imaging condition based on the determined result by the determining portion, and causes to present information relating to the plurality of time lapse imaging conditions by the presenting portion;

a selecting portion which selects one of time lapse imaging condition from within the information relating to the plurality of time lapse imaging conditions presented by the presenting portion; and

an instructing portion which instructs the imaging portion to execute time lapse imaging based on the time lapse imaging condition selected by the selecting portion.

4. The image acquiring device for performing time lapse imaging according to claim 3, further comprising:

an exposure time setting portion which sets the exposure time set by the time lapse imaging condition setting portion to the imaging portion; and

a gain setting portion which enables setting of gain of an output signal from the imaging portion,

wherein, when the determining portion determines the contradiction of the time lapse imaging condition in which the exposure time is longer than the imaging interval, the avoiding condition generating portion changes a set value of the exposure time by the exposure time setting portion to an exposure time shorter than the imaging interval, and sets a value of the gain set by the gain setting portion based on a value determined from a ratio of the exposure time after change and the imaging interval.

5. The image acquiring device for performing time lapse imaging according to claim 3, further comprising:

an exposure time setting portion which sets the exposure time set by the time lapse imaging condition setting portion to the imaging portion; and

a brightness correcting portion which enables correction of brightness of an image by an output signal from the imaging portion,

wherein, when the determining portion determines the contradiction of the time lapse imaging condition in which the exposure time is longer than the imaging interval, the avoiding condition generating portion changes a set value of the exposure time by the exposure time setting portion to an exposure time shorter than the imaging interval, and sets a value for correcting the brightness of the image by the brightness correcting portion based on a value determined from a ratio of the exposure time after change and the imaging interval.

6. The image acquiring device for performing time lapse imaging according to claim 3, further comprising:

an exposure time setting portion which sets the exposure time set by the time lapse imaging condition setting portion to the imaging portion;

a gain setting portion which enables setting of gain of an output signal from the imaging portion; and

a brightness correcting portion which enables correction of brightness of an image by the output signal from the imaging portion,

wherein, when the determining portion determines the contradiction of the time lapse imaging conditions in which the exposure time is longer than the imaging interval, the avoiding condition generating portion changes a set value of the exposure time by the exposure time setting portion to an exposure time shorter than the imaging interval, and sets a value of the gain set by the gain setting portion to a value determined from a ratio of the exposure time after change and the imaging interval, and when a set gain value exceeds a maximum gain value, sets the maximum gain value as the value of the gain set by the gain setting portion and sets a value for correcting the brightness of the image by the brightness correction part based on a value determined from a ratio of the value of the gain determined from the ratio and the maximum gain value.

7. The image acquiring device for performing time lapse imaging according to claim 1, wherein the imaging portion includes an imaging portion of a microscopic image acquiring device.

8. An image acquiring method for performing time lapse imaging, comprising:

preparing an imaging portion which performs imaging of a subject;

setting a time lapse imaging condition including at least an exposure time and an imaging interval, prior to the imaging of the subject by the imaging portion;

determining a contradiction of the time lapse imaging condition set by including at least the exposure time and the imaging interval according to a predetermined criterion; and

presenting at least information relating to the contradiction of the time lapse imaging condition based on a determined result of the contradiction of the time lapse imaging condition, by a presenting portion.

9. The image acquiring method for performing time lapse imaging according to claim 8, wherein the determining determines the contradiction of the time lapse imaging condition by using a relation between the exposure time and the imaging interval as the predetermined criterion.

10. The image acquiring method for performing time lapse imaging according to claim 9, further comprising:

generating a plurality of time lapse imaging conditions for avoiding the contradiction of the time lapse imaging condition based on the determined result of the contradiction of the time lapse imaging condition, and presenting information relating to the plurality of time lapse imaging conditions by the presenting portion;

selecting one of time lapse imaging condition from within the information relating to the plurality of time lapse imaging conditions presented by the presenting portion; and

instructing the imaging portion to execute time lapse imaging based on the time lapse imaging condition selected from within the plurality of time lapse imaging conditions.

11. The image acquiring method for performing time lapse imaging according to claim 10, further comprising:

preparing an exposure time setting portion which sets the exposure time by the setting of the time lapse imaging condition to the imaging portion; and

preparing a gain setting portion which enables setting of gain of an output signal from the imaging portion,

wherein, when the determining determines the contradiction of the time lapse imaging condition in which the exposure time is longer than the imaging interval, the generating the plurality of time lapse imaging conditions changes a set value of the exposure time by the exposure time setting portion to an exposure time shorter than the imaging interval, and sets a value of the gain set by the gain setting portion based on the value of the gain determined from a ratio of the exposure time after change and the imaging interval.

12. The image acquiring method for performing time lapse imaging according to claim 10, further comprising:

preparing an exposure time setting portion which sets the exposure time by the setting of the time lapse imaging condition to the imaging portion; and

preparing a brightness correcting portion which enables correction of brightness of an image by an output signal from the imaging portion,

wherein, when the determining determined the contradiction of the time lapse imaging condition in which the exposure time is longer than the imaging interval, the generating the plurality of time lapse imaging conditions changes a set value of the exposure time by the exposure time setting portion to an exposure time shorter than the imaging interval, and sets a value for correcting the brightness of the image by the brightness correcting portion based on a value determined from a ratio of the exposure time after change and the imaging interval.

13. The image acquiring method for performing time lapse imaging according to claim 10, further comprising:

preparing an exposure time setting portion which sets the exposure time by the setting of the time lapse imaging condition to the imaging portion;

preparing a gain setting portion which enables setting of gain of an output signal from the imaging portion; and

preparing a brightness correcting portion which enables correction of brightness of an image by the output signal from the imaging portion,

wherein, when the determining determines the contradiction of the time lapse imaging condition in which the exposure time is longer than the imaging interval, the generating the plurality of time lapse imaging conditions changes a set value of the exposure time by the exposure time setting portion to an exposure time shorter than the imaging interval, and sets a value of the gain set by the gain setting portion to a value determined from a ratio of the exposure time after change and the imaging interval, and when a set gain value exceeds a maximum gain value, sets the maximum gain value as the value of the gain set by the gain setting portion and sets a value for correcting the brightness of the image by the brightness correcting portion based on a value determined from a ratio of the value of the gain determined from the ratio and the maximum gain value.

14. The image acquiring method for performing time lapse imaging according to claim 8, wherein the imaging portion includes an imaging portion of a microscopic image acquiring device for fluorescence photography.

15. An image acquiring device for performing time lapse imaging, comprising:

imaging means for performing imaging of a subject;

time lapse imaging condition setting means for setting a time lapse imaging condition including at least an exposure time and an imaging interval, prior to the imaging of the subject by the imaging means;

determining means for determining a contradiction of the time lapse imaging condition set by the time lapse imaging condition setting means according to a predetermined criterion; and

presenting means for presenting at least information relating to the contradiction of the time lapse imaging condition based on a determined result by the determining means.

16. The image acquiring device for performing time lapse imaging according to claim 15, wherein the determining means determines the contradiction of the time lapse imaging condition by using a relation between the exposure time and the imaging interval as the predetermined criterion.

17. The image acquiring device for performing time lapse imaging according to claim 16, further comprising:

avoiding condition generating means for generating a plurality of time lapse imaging conditions for avoiding the contradiction of the time lapse imaging condition based on the determined result by the determining means, and causing to present information relating to the plurality of time lapse imaging conditions by the presenting means;

selecting means for selecting one of time lapse imaging condition from within the information relating to the plurality of time lapse imaging conditions presented by the presenting means; and

instructing means for instructing the imaging means to execute time lapse imaging based on the time lapse imaging condition selected by the selecting means.

18. The image acquiring device for performing time lapse imaging according to claim 17, further comprising:

exposure time setting means for setting the exposure time set by the time lapse imaging condition setting means to the imaging means; and

gain setting means for enabling setting of gain of an output signal from the imaging means,

wherein, when the determining means determines the contradiction of the time lapse imaging condition in which the exposure time is longer than the imaging interval, the avoiding condition generating means changes a set value of the exposure time by the exposure time setting means to an exposure time shorter than the imaging interval, and sets a value of the gain set by the gain setting means based on the value determined from a ratio of the exposure time after change and the imaging interval.

19. The image acquiring device for performing time lapse imaging according to claim 17, further comprising:

exposure time setting means for setting the exposure time set by the time lapse imaging condition setting means to the imaging means; and

brightness correcting means for enabling correction of brightness of an image by an output signal from the imaging means,

wherein, when the determining means determines the contradiction of the time lapse imaging condition in which the exposure time is longer than the imaging interval, the avoiding condition generating means changes a set value of the exposure time by the exposure time setting means to an exposure time shorter than the imaging interval, and sets a value for correcting the brightness of the image by the brightness correcting means based on a value determined from a ratio of the exposure time after change and the imaging interval.

20. The image acquiring device for performing time lapse imaging according to claim 17, further comprising:

exposure time setting means for setting the exposure time set by the time lapse imaging condition setting means to the imaging means;

gain setting means for enabling setting of gain of an output signal from the imaging means; and

brightness correcting means for enabling correction of brightness of the image by the output signal from the imaging means,

wherein, when the determining means determines the contradiction of the time lapse imaging condition in which the exposure time is longer than the imaging interval, the avoiding condition generating means changes a set value of the exposure time by the exposure time setting means to an exposure time shorter than the imaging interval, and sets a value of the gain set by the gain setting means to the value determined from a ratio of the exposure time after change and the imaging interval, and when a set gain value exceeds a maximum gain value, sets the maximum gain value as the value of the gain set by the gain setting means and sets a value for correcting the brightness of the image by the brightness correction means based on the value determined from a ratio of the value of the gain determined from the ratio and the maximum gain value.

21. The image acquiring device for performing time lapse imaging according to claim 15, wherein the imaging means includes imaging means of a microscopic image acquiring device.