ADJUSTABLE DIGITAL MICROSCOPE DISPLAY

• US 20140327757A1
• Filed: 05/01/2014
• Published: 11/06/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/01/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bio-Rad Laboratories Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Bio-Rad Laboratories Incorporated
• Inventors: CHU, Daniel Y., SHEN, Zuo Cheng, DOE, Nicholas, QUIROZ, Emmanuel
• Granted Patent: US 9,829,696 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/79
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 21/241 Devices for focusing focusing in general G02B7/28
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 21/26 Stages; Adjusting means therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 21/365 Control or image processing arrangements for digital or video microscopes G02B21/361, G02B21/362 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 21/368 details of associated display arrangements, e.g. mounting of LCD monitor

Abstract

The present invention relates in general to microscopy systems. In particular, the present invention relates to microscopes rendering digital images of samples, with the capability to digitally control the focus of the microscope system, and the software used to control the operation of the digital microscope system. Further, the present invention relates to a microscope structure that allows for compact and multi-functional use of a microscope, providing for light shielding and control with samples that require specific light wavelength characteristics, such as fluorescence, for detection and imaging.

Claims

1. A method of controlling a display for a digital microscope comprising:

receiving first imaging information from an camera unit of the digital microscope;

receiving positioning information including a position of a lens of the camera unit with respect to a sample under inspection on a sample stage of the digital microscope;

receiving control information from a control interface operable to receive user control inputs, wherein the control information includes commands for performing focusing functions with respect to images of the sample under inspection as displayed on the display screen of the digital microscope;

receiving second imaging information from an orientation camera disposed above the sample under inspection on the sample stage of the digital microscope; and

displaying images of the sample under inspection on a display of the digital microscope based on the positioning information and the control information.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising displaying thumbnail images of the sample under inspection based on the second imaging information received from the orientation camera.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising capturing images displayed on the display based on further user input received at the control interface.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising storing the captured image in a memory location within the digital microscope.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising tracking the location of the lens of the camera unit with respect to the sample under inspection and displaying the tracking information on the display screen.

6. A display system for a digital microscope comprising:

a controller having a processor and a memory coupled therewith via an interconnect bus, the memory adapted to store modules and instructions for operating the display system of the digital microscope;

an imaging interface coupled with the controller and configured to receive first imaging information from an camera unit of the digital microscope;

a positioning interface coupled with the controller and configured to receive positioning information including a position of a lens of the camera unit with respect to a sample under inspection on a sample stage of the digital microscope;

a user control interface coupled with the controller and configured to receive control information based on user control inputs, wherein the control information includes commands for performing focusing functions with respect to images of the sample under inspection as displayed on the display screen of the digital microscope;

an orientation camera interface coupled with the controller and configured to receive second imaging information from an orientation camera disposed above the sample under inspection on the sample stage of the digital microscope;

a display screen; and

a display module configured to display images of the sample under inspection on the display screen of the digital microscope based on the positioning information and the control information.

7. The display system of claim 6 wherein the display module is further configured to display thumbnail images of the sample under inspection based on the second imaging information received from the orientation camera.

8. The display system of claim 6 wherein images of the sample under inspection are captured based on user input received at the user control interface.

9. The display system of claim 6 wherein the memory is further adapted to store the captured image in a memory location within the digital microscope.

10. The display system of claim 6 further comprising a tracking module configured to track the location of the lens of the camera unit with respect to the sample under inspection and to send commands to the display module to display tracking information on the display screen.

11. A digital microscope comprising:

a magnification lens;

a camera unit coupled with the magnification lens and adapted to provide first imaging information with respect to samples under inspection;

a sample observation stage adapted to receive samples thereon for inspection by the digital microscope;

an orientation camera disposed above the sample observation stage and adapted to provide second imaging information with respect to the samples under inspection; and

a display screen configured to display images of the samples under inspection based on the first imaging information and the second imaging information.

12. The digital microscope of claim 11 wherein the first imaging information from the camera unit includes a magnified view of the samples under inspection on the sample stage of the digital microscope and the second imaging information includes an overhead perspective view of the samples under inspection.

13. The digital microscope of claim 11 wherein the second imaging information from the orientation camera provides a larger viewing area with respect to the samples under inspection than the camera unit of the digital microscope.

14. The digital microscope of claim 13 wherein the larger viewing area is a wide angle viewing area.

15. The digital microscope of claim 13 wherein the larger viewing area is displayed separately in a display window in a preview mode before viewing the magnified image of the samples under inspection.

16. A method of using a digital microscope comprising:

receiving first imaging information with respect to samples under inspection from a camera unit coupled with a magnification lens of the digital microscope;

receiving second imaging information from an orientation camera disposed above a sample observation stage that holds the samples for inspection by the digital microscope; and

a display screen configured to display images of the samples under inspection based on the first imaging information and the second imaging information.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the first imaging information from the camera unit includes a magnified view of the samples under inspection on the sample stage and the second imaging information includes an overhead perspective view of the samples under inspection.

18. The method of claim 16 wherein the second imaging information from the orientation camera provides a larger viewing area with respect to the samples under inspection than the camera unit of the digital microscope.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the larger viewing area is a wide angle viewing area.

20. The method of claim 18 further comprising displaying the larger viewing area separately in a preview mode before viewing magnified images of the samples under inspection.