System and Method for Enhanced Predictive Autofocusing
First Claim
1. In an imaging device having an objective and a stage for holding a sample to be imaged, a method for autofocusing, comprising:
- determining a measured focus value corresponding to at least a first of a plurality of logical image segments;
imaging the first logical image segment using the measured focus value;
determining a predicted focus value for a second of the plurality of logical image segments using the measured focus value and a stored focus variation parameter; and
imaging the second logical image segment using the predicted focus value.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
In an imaging device having an objective and a stage for holding a sample to be imaged, a method for autofocusing is presented. The method includes determining a measured focus value corresponding to at least a first of a plurality of logical image segments. Further, the method includes imaging the first logical image segment using the measured focus value. The method also includes determining a predicted focus value for a second of the plurality of logical image segments using the measured focus value and a stored focus variation parameter. In addition, the method includes imaging the second logical image segment using the predicted focus value.
-
Citations
21 Claims
-
1. In an imaging device having an objective and a stage for holding a sample to be imaged, a method for autofocusing, comprising:
-
determining a measured focus value corresponding to at least a first of a plurality of logical image segments; imaging the first logical image segment using the measured focus value; determining a predicted focus value for a second of the plurality of logical image segments using the measured focus value and a stored focus variation parameter; and imaging the second logical image segment using the predicted focus value. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
-
-
16. An imaging device, comprising:
-
an objective lens; a primary image sensor configured to generate a primary image of a sample at a primary frame rate; an auxiliary image sensor configured to generate one or more auxiliary images of the sample at an auxiliary frame rate that is faster than the primary frame rate; a controller configured to adjust a focus value between the objective lens and the sample along an optical axis to autofocus the image of the sample; a scanning stage to support the sample and move the sample in at least a lateral direction that is substantially orthogonal to the optical axis, wherein the controller is configured to; determine a measured focus value corresponding to at least a first of a plurality of logical image segments; image the first logical image segment using the measured focus value; determine a predicted focus value for a second of the plurality of logical image segments using the measured focus value and a stored focus variation parameter; and image the second logical image segment using the predicted focus value. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
-
-
19. An imaging device, comprising:
-
an objective lens; a primary image sensor configured to generate a primary image of a sample at a primary frame rate; an auxiliary image sensor configured to generate one or more auxiliary images of the sample at an auxiliary frame rate that is faster than the primary frame rate; a controller configured to adjust a focus value between the objective lens and the sample along an optical axis to autofocus the image of the sample; a scanning stage to support the sample and move the sample in at least a lateral direction that is substantially orthogonal to the optical axis, wherein the controller comprises; a macro image and scan planning component to determine a scan plan of the sample; an autofocusing component to acquire and process auxiliary images; a motion control component to control motion of the sample relative to the objective; and a timing component to synchronize timing for acquisition of the auxiliary images, the primary images, or both. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21)
-
Specification