Infrared microscope stage control

• US 6,006,140 A
• Filed: 03/05/1996
• Issued: 12/21/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Perkinelmer Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Perkinelmer Incorporated
• Inventors: Carter, Ralph L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Grant, William
• Assistant Examiner(s): Marc, McDieunel, Marc, McDieunel
• Application Number:
  US08/611,264
• Time in Patent Office: 1,386 Days
• Field of Search: 364/167.02, 364/413.1, 364/552, 250/311, 250/306, 250/339.08, 356/237, 382/133
• US Class Current: 700/56
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 21/26 Stages; Adjusting means therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 21/367 providing an output produced by processing a plurality of individual source images, e.g. image tiling, montage, composite images, depth sectioning, image comparison

Abstract

A system for controlling a motor driven stage of a microscope (10) includes video camera (22) for creating a video image of a sample on the stage. A computer (12) and associated display are used to create an image of the sample on the display. Graphical markers are superimposed on the image and facilitate the identification of and subsequent acquisition of data from points at which IR data is to be obtained. Also disclosed is a method of creating a display of an area of the sample greater than that which can be viewed by the area.

Claims

1. A method of operating an IR-microscope by controlling a motor driven stage of a microscope which has a video camera for viewing a sample on the stage, said method comprising creating on a display means of a computer coupled to the video camera an image of the sample, creating and superimposing on said image one or more graphical markers, using said marker or markers to create coordinate data identifying positions of interest on said sample, storing said data and using said stored coordinate data subsequently to control the positioning of said stage such that the stage is moved successively to the or each position of interest and IR-data is acquired for the or each position of interest.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein said method is carried out using a Windows®

type operating system.

3. A method according to claim 2, wherein data relating to a number of windows is stored in a single file.

4. A method according to claim 3, wherein the data stored relates both to the image of the sample and the acquired IR-data.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein said display is arranged to display a video image of the sample simultaneously with a display of data relating to the stage control.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein a graphical marker operating in one window under the control of a pointer control and as a mouse is used to adjust the display in that one window, that adjustment being reflected in another window or windows displaying corresponding data.

7. A method according to claim 1, wherein such markers are used to create data relating to an area of a sample which is to be mapped.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein said coordinate data is numeric.

9. A method of operating an IR-microscope by controlling a motor driven stage of a microscope which has a video camera for viewing a sample on said stage and an associated computer and display means for displaying a video image of an area viewed by said camera, said method comprising creating on said display means an image of an area of interest on said sample, storing data representative of said image, adjusting the position of said stage to identify another area of said sample and storing data representing that image, repeating said steps for a selected number of areas of said sample, combining said data to create an image of a larger area of said sample which is made up of said individual areas of interest, creating and superimposing on said larger area image one or more graphical markers, using said marker or markers to create coordinate data identifying positions on said sample, and subsequently using said coordinate data to control the positioning of said stage, such that the stage is moved successively to the or each position of interest and IR-data is acquired for the or each position of interest.

10. A method according to claim 9, wherein said method is carried out using a Windows®

type operating system.

11. A method according to claim 10, wherein said display is arranged to display a video image of the sample simultaneously with a display of data relating to the stage control.

12. A method according to claim 10, wherein data relating to a number of windows is stored in a single file.

13. A method according to claim 12, wherein the data stored relates both to the image of the sample and the acquired IR-data.

14. A method according to claim 9, wherein a graphical marker operating in one window under the control of a pointer control and as a mouse is used to adjust the display in that one window, that adjustment being reflected in another window or windows displaying corresponding data.

15. A method according to claim 9, wherein such markers are used to create data relating to an area of a sample which is to be mapped.

16. The method according to claim 9, wherein said individual areas of interest are adjacent to one another and arranged in a two dimensional pattern.

17. A system for acquiring IR-data including an IR-microscope unit, a motor driven stage, said microscope having a video camera for viewing a sample on the stage, said system including a display means, and a computer for controlling said display means to create on said display an image of a sample on its microscope stage, said computer being arranged to create and superimpose on said image one or more graphical markers which can be used to create coordinate data identifying positions of interest which are used subsequently to position the stage for analysis of the sample, such that the stage is moved successively to the or each position of interest and IR-data is acquired for the or each position of interest.

18. The appartus according to claim 17, wherein said coordinate data is numeric.

19. A system for acquiring IR-data including an IR-microscope with a motor driven stage, said microscope having a video camera for viewing a sample on the stage, said system including a display means and a computer for controlling the display to create on said display an image of an area of a sample on the microscope stage, said computer being arranged to store data representative of an image of the viewed area, to move the stage to another area and store data representative of that area, to repeat these steps for a selected number of areas and to combine the stored data to provide an image of the sample which is larger than the individual areas, said computer also being arranged to come to be displayed and superimposed on the larger area image one or more graphical members which are used to create coordinate data identifying positions of interest on the sample which can be stored and used subsequently to position the stage for analysis of the sample, such that the stage is moved successively to the or each position of interest and IR-data is acquired for the or each position of interest.

20. The system according to claim 19, wherein the selected number of areas are adjacent to one another and arranged in a two dimensional pattern.