Microscope with LED illumination source

• US 20070139638A1
• Filed: 12/20/2005
• Published: 06/21/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cytyc Corporation (Hologic Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Cytyc Corporation (Hologic Incorporated)
• Inventors: Zahniser, David, Wolpert, Scott
• Granted Patent: US 7,433,026 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 356/39
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/18 using diffraction elements, e.g. grating gratings per se G02B
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 21/08 Condensers
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 21/084 having annular illumination around the objective
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 10/141 Control of illumination
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/693 Acquisition

Abstract

Techniques are provided for illuminating cytological specimens using light emitting diodes (LEDs). In one implementation, a pulse width modulated (PWM) LED source allows for color and intensity adjustment. A user may select the desired color and intensity of light, or the desired color and intensity may be electronically calculated. Using various colors of LEDs, such as red, blue, and green LEDs, various colors can be produced by modulating each LED duty cycle, for example, using a PWM controller.

Claims

1. A method for viewing a biological specimen, comprising:

illuminating the biological specimen with a light source having light emitting diodes (LEDs) arranged in a plurality of unique color groupings;

generating a magnified image of the illuminated biological specimen;

selecting a desired characteristic of light emitted by the light source;

generating a plurality of drive signals, each of which has a characteristic based on the selected light characteristic; and

supplying the plurality of LED color groupings with the respective plurality of drive signals, wherein light intensities of the LED color groupings are independently controlled to effect the desired light characteristic.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the LEDs comprise LED dies disposed on a single substrate.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the desired light characteristic comprises a color balance.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the desired light characteristic further comprises a light intensity.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the desired light characteristic is selected in response to a manual input.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the desired light characteristic is selected in response to an automated input.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the desired light characteristic is selected based on a viewing condition of the biological specimen.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the viewing condition is a type of stain used on the biological specimen.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the drive signal characteristic is an amplitude.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the drive signal characteristic is a pulse width.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising computing desired light intensities of the LED color groupings based on the selected light characteristic, and determining the characteristics of the drive signals based on the computed light intensities.

12. A system for viewing a biological specimen, comprising:

a microscope configured for generating a magnified image of the biological specimen;

a light source configured for illuminating the biological specimen, the light source having light emitting diodes (LEDs) arranged in a plurality of unique color groupings;

an input device configured for receiving information to effect a desired characteristic of light emitted by the light source; and

control circuitry configured for supplying the plurality of LED color groupings with a respective plurality of drive signals, each of which has a characteristic based on the information received by the input device, wherein light intensities of the LED color groupings are independently controlled to effect the desired light characteristic.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the LEDs comprise LED dies disposed on a single substrate.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the desired light characteristic comprises a color balance.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the desired light characteristic further comprises a light intensity.

16. The system of claim 12, wherein the input device comprises a user input device configured for selecting the desired light characteristic.

17. The system of claim 12, further comprising a processor configured for computing the desired light characteristic.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the processor is configured for computing the desired light characteristic based on a viewing condition.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the viewing condition is a type of stain used on the biological specimen.

20. The system of claim 12, wherein the drive signal characteristic is an amplitude.

21. The system of claim 12, wherein the drive signal characteristic is a pulse width.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the control circuitry includes a pulse width modulation controller configured for generating pulse width modulated control signals.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the control circuitry further includes drive circuitry configured for supplying pulse width modulated drive signals to the respective plurality of LED color groupings in response to the control signals.

24. A method for viewing a biological specimen, comprising:

illuminating the biological specimen with a light source having light emitting diodes (LEDs);

generating a magnified image of the illuminated biological specimen;

dynamically selecting a desired characteristic of light emitted by the light source;

generating one or more pulse width modulated drive signals, each of which has a pulse width based on the desired light characteristic; and

supplying the plurality of LEDs with the one or more pulse width modulated drive signals, wherein light intensities of the LEDs are controlled to effect the desired light characteristic.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the LEDs comprise LED dies disposed on a single substrate.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein the desired light characteristic comprises a color balance.

27. The method of claim 24, wherein the desired light characteristic comprises a light intensity.

28. The method of claim 24, wherein the desired light characteristic is selected in response to a manual input.

29. The method of claim 24, wherein the desired light characteristic is selected in response to an automated input.

30. The method of claim 24, wherein the desired light characteristic is selected based on a viewing condition of the biological specimen.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein the viewing condition is a type of stain used on the biological specimen.

32. The method of claim 24, wherein the one or more pulse width modulated drive signals comprises a plurality of pulse width modulated drive signals that are respectively supplied to the plurality of LEDs, wherein the light intensities of the LEDs are independently controlled to effect the desired light characteristic.

33. The method of claim 24, wherein the LEDs are arranged into a plurality of unique color groupings, and the one or more pulse width modulated drive signals comprises a plurality of pulse width modulated drive signals that are respectively supplied to the plurality of LED color groupings, wherein light intensities of the LED color groupings are independently controlled to effect the desired light characteristic.

34. The method of claim 24, further comprising computing a pulse width for each pulse width modulated signal based on the selected light characteristic.

35. A system for viewing a biological specimen, comprising:

a microscope configured for generating a magnified image of the biological specimen;

a light source configured for illuminating the biological specimen, the light source having light emitting diodes (LEDs);

an input device configured for dynamically receiving information to effect a desired characteristic of light emitted by the light source; and

control circuitry configured for supplying the plurality of LEDs with one or more pulse width modulated drive signals, each of which has a characteristic based on the information received by the input device, wherein light intensities of the LEDs are controlled to effect the desired light characteristic.

36. The system of claim 35, wherein the LEDs comprise LED dies disposed on a single substrate.

37. The system of claim 35, wherein the desired light characteristic comprises a color balance.

38. The system of claim 35, wherein the desired light characteristic further comprises a light intensity.

39. The system of claim 35, wherein the input device comprises a user input device configured for selecting the desired light characteristic.

40. The system of claim 35, further comprising a processor configured for computing the desired light characteristic.

41. The system of claim 40, wherein the processor is configured for computing the desired light characteristic based on a viewing condition.

42. The system of claim 41, wherein the viewing condition is a type of stain used on the biological specimen.

43. The system of claim 35, wherein the one or more pulse width modulated drive signals comprises a plurality of pulse width modulated drive signals that are respectively supplied to the plurality of LEDs, wherein the light intensities of the LEDs are independently controlled to effect the desired light characteristic.

44. The system of claim 35, wherein the LEDs are arranged into a plurality of unique color groupings, and the one or more pulse width modulated drive signals comprises a plurality of pulse width modulated drive signals that are respectively supplied to the plurality of LED color groupings, wherein light intensities of the LED color groupings are independently controlled to effect the desired light characteristic.

45. The system of claim 35, wherein the control circuitry includes a pulse width modulation controller configured for generating pulse width modulated control signals.

46. The system of claim 45, wherein the control circuitry further includes drive circuitry configured for supplying the pulse width modulated drive signals to the plurality of LEDs in response to the control signals.