Photographing system

• US 6,646,678 B1
• Filed: 12/14/1999
• Issued: 11/11/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co Limited (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Kobayashi, Takashi
• Primary Examiner(s): Vu, Ngoc-Yen, VU, NGOC YEN T
• Application Number:
  US09/460,432
• Time in Patent Office: 1,428 Days
• Field of Search: 348/61, 348/135, 348/207.99, 348/207.1, 348/211.99, 348/211.4, 348/211.5, 348/211.6, 348/222.1, 348/311, 348/320, 348/322, 348/324, 348/335, 348/340, 348/342, 348/345, 348/347, 348/351, 348/373-375, 348/362-364, 396/72, 396/77, 396/79, 396/89, 396/101, 396/166, 396/170, 396/429
• US Class Current: 348/207.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/55 Optical parts specially adapted for electronic image sensors; Mounting thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/56 provided with illuminating means
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/70 SSIS architectures; Circuits associated therewith

Abstract

The inserted or removed state of an exciting-light cut filter, the diaphragmed state of a variable diaphragm, a tray rail holding a tray thereon, and the state of illuminating light, set in a photographing apparatus by an operator, are detected by a filter detection sensor, a diaphragm detection sensor, a tray detection sensor, and an illuminating-light switch unit, respectively. These results of detection are input to an image processing condition determination unit of a personal computer.

Claims

1. A photographing system comprising:

a photographing apparatus including;

(1) a lens movable in an optical axis direction;

(2) a plurality of sample-tray disposing sections on which a sample tray holding a predetermined sample thereon is selectively disposed, said sample-tray disposing sections each having a different distance from said lens in said optical axis direction;

(3) sample-tray disposing section detection means for detecting one sample-tray disposing section of said plurality of sample-tray disposing sections on which said sample tray has been disposed;

(4) a light source provided so that it can switch emission and non-emission of exciting light or illuminating light with respect to said predetermined sample on said sample tray disposed on the detected sample-tray disposing section;

(5) photoelectric reading means for photoelectrically reading out an image of said predetermined sample, formed on its light-receiving surface by said lens;

(6) lens movement means for moving said lens in said optical axis direction in accordance with said one sample-tray disposing section detected by said sample-tray disposing section detection means such that the image of said predetermined sample is formed onto said light-receiving surface of said photoelectric reading means;

(7) an exciting-light cut filter provided between said lens and said photoelectric reading means so that it can be inserted in or removed from an optical path of light constituting the image of said predetermined sample, said filter having bands set so as to transmit florescence emitted from said predetermined sample and prevent passage of said exciting light;

(8) a variable diaphragm provided between said lens and said photoelectric reading means and in proximity to said lens; and

(9) a black box shielded from light, said components (1) to (8) being housed inside said black box; and

an image processing computer for performing predetermined image processing with respect to an image signal representing the image of said predetermined sample read out by said photoelectric reading means;

wherein said photographing system further comprises;

filter detection means for detecting an inserted or removed state of said exciting-light cut filter;

diaphragm detection means for detecting a diaphragmed state of said variable diaphragm; and

image processing condition determination means for determining a condition for said predetermined image processing to be performed by said image processing computer with respect to said image signal read out by said photoelectric reading means, in accordance with the inserted or removed state of said filter detected by said filter detection means, the diaphragmed state of said variable diaphragm detected by said diaphragm detection means; and

said one sample-tray disposing section detected by said sample-tray disposing section detection means.

2. The photographing system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said photoelectric reading means is an interline type charged-coupled device equipped with a cooling element.

3. The photographing system as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a camera controller for controlling said photoelectric reading means so that photoelectric reading to be performed by said photoelectric reading means is switched to reading, which is performed reiteratively in a shorter time period than reading for said predetermined image processing, for outputting said image signal as a video signal.

4. The photographing system as set forth in claim 3, wherein said photoelectric reading means is an interline type charged-coupled device equipped with a cooling element.

5. The photographing system as set forth in claim 1, further comprising:

door detection means for detecting a closed or open state of a door formed in said black box; and

a light source controller for switching on said light source independently of the inserted or removed state of said exciting-light cut filter when the open state of said door is detected by said door detection means.

6. The photographing system as set forth in claim 5, wherein said photoelectric reading means is an interline type charged-coupled device equipped with a cooling element.

7. The photographing system as set forth in claim 5, further comprising a camera controller for controlling said photoelectric reading means so that photoelectric reading to be performed by said photoelectric reading means is switched to reading, which is performed reiteratively in a shorter time period than reading for said predetermined image processing, for outputting said image signal as a video signal.

8. The photographing system as set forth in claim 7, wherein said photoelectric reading means is an interline type charged-coupled device equipped with a cooling element.

9. The photographing system as set forth in claim 1, further comprising interrelating means for interrelating switching of the emission and non-emission of said exciting light, which is performed by said light source, with the inserted or removed state of said exciting-light cut filter so that said exciting light is emitted when said exciting-light cut filter is in said optical path and is not emitted when said exciting-light cut filter is out of said optical path.

10. The photographing system as set forth in claim 9, wherein said photoelectric reading means is an interline type charged-coupled device equipped with a cooling element.

11. The photographing system as set forth in claim 9, further comprising a camera controller for controlling said photoelectric reading means so that photoelectric reading to be performed by said photoelectric reading means is switched to reading, which is performed reiteratively in a shorter time period than reading for said predetermined image processing, for outputting said image signal as a video signal.

12. The photographing system as set forth in claim 11, wherein said photoelectric reading means is an interline type charged-coupled device equipped with a cooling element.

13. The photographing system as set forth in claim 9, further comprising:

door detection means for detecting a closed or open state of a door formed in said black box; and

a light source controller for switching on said light source independently of the inserted or removed state of said exciting-light cut filter when the open state of said door is detected by said door detection means.

14. The photographing system as set forth in claim 13, wherein said photoelectric reading means is an interline type charged-coupled device equipped with a cooling element.

15. The photographing system as set forth in claim 13, further comprising a camera controller for controlling said photoelectric reading means so that photoelectric reading to be performed by said photoelectric reading means is switched to reading, which is performed reiteratively in a shorter time period than reading for said predetermined image processing, for outputting said image signal as a video signal.

16. The photographing system as set forth in claim 15, wherein said photoelectric reading means is an interline type charged-coupled device equipped with a cooling element.