Method and system for processing scan-data from a confocal microscope
First Claim
1. A system for processing scan signals from a confocal microscope having a scanning device, the system comprising:
- at least three different analog electrical signals generated by the confocal microscope, wherein a first analog electrical signal is proportional to the intensity of light reflected from a specimen, a second analog electrical signal is proportional to an illumination reference, and a third analog electrical signal is proportional to a positional signal generated by the scanning device;
a first analog-to-digital converter receiving a first analog electrical signal and converting it into a first digital signal;
a second analog-to-digital converter receiving a second analog electrical signal and converting it into a second digital signal;
a third analog-to-digital converter receiving a third analog electrical signal and converting it into a third digital signal; and
a control and processing unit using at least one programmable device for real time processing of the first, second and third digital signals received from the converters.
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Abstract
The invention discloses a method and system for processing scan signals from a confocal microscope. The confocal microscope comprises an illumination source and a scanning device with a scanning mirror system. A control and processing unit is provided, which unit uses a plurality of programmable devices for the real time processing of digital signals. The control and processing unit has at least three input ports and one output port. A first detector generates analog signals corresponding to the light reflected from a specimen within the microscope and a second detector generates analog signals corresponding to the intensity of the light from the illumination source. In addition, a position signal of the scanning laser beam is provided to the control and processing unit. Analog-to-digital converters receive the analog signals, generate digital signals and provide the digital signals to the input ports of the control and processing unit.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A system for processing scan signals from a confocal microscope having a scanning device, the system comprising:
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at least three different analog electrical signals generated by the confocal microscope, wherein a first analog electrical signal is proportional to the intensity of light reflected from a specimen, a second analog electrical signal is proportional to an illumination reference, and a third analog electrical signal is proportional to a positional signal generated by the scanning device;
a first analog-to-digital converter receiving a first analog electrical signal and converting it into a first digital signal;
a second analog-to-digital converter receiving a second analog electrical signal and converting it into a second digital signal;
a third analog-to-digital converter receiving a third analog electrical signal and converting it into a third digital signal; and
a control and processing unit using at least one programmable device for real time processing of the first, second and third digital signals received from the converters. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A confocal microscope with a system for processing scan-signals comprising:
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an illumination source directing a light beam onto a specimen;
a control and processing unit having a plurality of programmable devices, at least three input ports and one output port;
a first detector receiving the light reflected from the specimen;
a second detector receiving the light from the illumination source;
a scanning device generating a position signal; and
a first analog-to-digital converter receiving a signal generated by the first detector, a second analog-to-digital converter receiving a signal generated by the second detector, and a third analog-to-digital converter receiving the position signal generated by the scanning device, the first, the second and the third analog-to-digital converters outputting signals to the input ports of the control and processing unit. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method for processing scan signals from a confocal miscoscope, the method comprising:
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generating at least three analog signals a, first signal corresponding to the light reflected from a specimen, a second signal corresponding to an illumination reference of the confocal microscope, and a position signal;
digitizing the first signal, the second signal and the position signal to provide digital signals comprising a first digital signal, a second digital signal and a digital;
position signal, respectively;
providing a control and processing unit receiving the digital signals, the control and processing unit having a plurality of programmable devices for real time processing of digital signals;
buffering the digital position signal in a line buffer of the control and processing unit;
correcting the first digital signal for intensity fluctuations by subtracting the second digital signal from the first digital signal and thereby generating a corrected digital detection signal; and
combining the corrected digital detection signal with the digital position signal to provide a combined signal. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification