Microscope with LED illumination source

• US 7,433,026 B2
• Filed: 12/20/2005
• Issued: 10/07/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cytyc Corporation (Hologic Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Cytyc Corporation (Hologic Incorporated)
• Inventors: Zahniser, David, Wolpert, Scott
• Primary Examiner(s): Punnoose; Roy M
• Application Number:
  US11/313,365
• Publication Number:
  US 20070139638A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,022 Days
• Field of Search: 356/39
• US Class Current: 356/39
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/18 using diffraction elements, e.g. grating gratings per se G02B
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 21/08 Condensers
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 21/084 having annular illumination around the objective
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 10/141 Control of illumination
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/693 Acquisition

Abstract

Techniques are provided for illuminating cytological specimens using light emitting diodes (LEDs). In one implementation, a pulse width modulated (PWM) LED source allows for color and intensity adjustment. A user may select the desired color and intensity of light, or the desired color and intensity may be electronically calculated. Using various colors of LEDs, such as red, blue, and green LEDs, various colors can be produced by modulating each LED duty cycle, for example, using a PWM controller.

Claims

1. A method for viewing a biological specimen, comprising:

illuminating the biological specimen with a light source having light emitting diodes (LEDs) arranged in a plurality of unique color groupings;

generating a magnified image of the illuminated biological specimen;

receiving an input to effect a desired light characteristic of light emitted by the light source;

computing, by control circuitry, a respective light intensity for each of the LED color groupings based on the input;

generating a plurality of drive signals, each of which has a drive signal characteristic based on the computed light intensity for a corresponding one of the LED color groupings; and

supplying the plurality of LED color groupings with the respective plurality of drive signals, wherein light intensities of the LED color groupings are independently controlled to effect the desired light characteristic.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the LEDs comprise LED dies disposed on a single substrate.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the desired light characteristic comprises a color balance.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the desired light characteristic further comprises a light intensity.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the input is a manual input.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the input is an automated input.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the input is based on a viewing condition of the biological specimen.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the viewing condition is a type of stain used on the biological specimen.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the drive signal characteristic is an amplitude.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the drive signal characteristic is a pulse width.

11. A system for viewing a biological specimen, comprising:

a microscope configured for generating a magnified image of the biological specimen;

a light source configured for illuminating the biological specimen, the light source having light emitting diodes (LEDs) arranged in a plurality of unique color groupings;

an input device configured for receiving information to effect a desired characteristic of light emitted by the light source; and

control circuitry configured for supplying the plurality of LED color groupings with a respective plurality of drive signals, each of which has a characteristic based on the information received by the input device, wherein light intensities of the LED color groupings are independently controlled to effect the desired light characteristic.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the LEDs comprise LED dies disposed on a single substrate.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the desired light characteristic comprises a color balance.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the desired light characteristic further comprises a light intensity.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein the input device comprises a user input device configured for selecting the desired light characteristic.

16. The system of claim 11, further comprising a processor configured for computing the desired light characteristic.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the processor is configured for computing the desired light characteristic based on a viewing condition.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the viewing condition is a type of stain used on the biological specimen.

19. The system of claim 11, wherein the drive signal characteristic is an amplitude.

20. The system of claim 11, wherein the drive signal characteristic is a pulse width.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the control circuitry includes a pulse width modulation controller configured for generating pulse width modulated control signals.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the control circuitry further includes drive circuitry configured for supplying pulse width modulated drive signals to the respective plurality of LED color groupings in response to the control signals.

23. A method for viewing a biological specimen, comprising:

illuminating the biological specimen with a light source having light emitting diodes (LEDs);

generating a magnified image of the illuminated biological specimen;

receiving an input to effect a desired light characteristic of light emitted by the light source;

computing, by control circuitry, a respective light intensity for each of the LEDs based on the input;

generating one or more pulse width modulated drive signals, each of which has a pulse width based on the computed light intensity for a corresponding one of the LEDs; and

supplying the LEDs with the one or more pulse width modulated drive signals, wherein light intensities of the LEDs are controlled to effect the desired light characteristic.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the LEDs comprise LED dies disposed on a single substrate.

25. The method of claim 23, wherein the desired light characteristic comprises a color balance.

26. The method of claim 23, wherein the desired light characteristic comprises a light intensity.

27. The method of claim 23, wherein the input is a manual input.

28. The method of claim 23, wherein the input is an automated input.

29. The method of claim 23, wherein the input is based on a viewing condition of the biological specimen.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the viewing condition is a type of stain used on the biological specimen.

31. The method of claim 23, wherein the one or more pulse width modulated drive signals comprises a plurality of pulse width modulated drive signals that are respectively supplied to the LEDs, wherein the light intensities of the LEDs are independently controlled to effect the desired light characteristic.

32. The method of claim 23, wherein the LEDs are arranged into a plurality of unique color groupings, and the one or more pulse width modulated drive signals comprises a plurality of pulse width modulated drive signals that are respectively supplied to the plurality of LED color groupings, wherein light intensities of the LED color groupings are independently controlled to effect the desired light characteristic.

33. The method of claim 23, further comprising computing the pulse width for each pulse width modulated drive signal.

34. A system for viewing a biological specimen, comprising:

a microscope configured for generating a magnified image of the biological specimen;

a light source configured for illuminating the biological specimen, the light source having light emitting diodes (LEDs);

an input device configured for dynamically receiving information to effect a desired characteristic of light emitted by the light source; and

control circuitry configured for supplying the LEDs with one or more pulse width modulated drive signals, each of which has a characteristic based on the information received by the input device, wherein light intensities of the LEDs are controlled to effect the desired light characteristic.

35. The system of claim 34, wherein the LEDs comprise LED dies disposed on a single substrate.

36. The system of claim 34, wherein the desired light characteristic comprises a color balance.

37. The system of claim 36, wherein the desired light characteristic further comprises a light intensity.

38. The system of claim 34, wherein the input device comprises a user input device configured for selecting the desired light characteristic.

39. The system of claim 34, further comprising a processor configured for computing the desired light characteristic.

40. The system of claim 39, wherein the processor is configured for computing the desired light characteristic based on a viewing condition.

41. The system of claim 40, wherein the viewing condition is a type of stain used on the biological specimen.

42. The system of claim 34, wherein the one or more pulse width modulated drive signals comprises a plurality of pulse width modulated drive signals that are respectively supplied to the LEDs, wherein the light intensities of the LEDs are independently controlled to effect the desired light characteristic.

43. The system of claim 34, wherein the LEDs are arranged into a plurality of unique color groupings, and the one or more pulse width modulated drive signals comprises a plurality of pulse width modulated drive signals that are respectively supplied to the plurality of LED color groupings, wherein light intensities of the LED color groupings are independently controlled to effect the desired light characteristic.

44. The system of claim 34, wherein the control circuitry includes a pulse width modulation controller configured for generating pulse width modulated control signals.

45. The system of claim 44, wherein the control circuitry further includes drive circuitry configured for supplying the pulse width modulated drive signals to the LEDs, in response to the control signals.