Cytological imaging systems and methods
First Claim
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1. An automatic focusing method for an optical system, comprising:
- performing an initial coarse focus action along a focal axis at a scan position corresponding to a point on a surface of a slide;
respectively performing a plurality of subsequent fine focus actions along a plurality of focal axes at a plurality of scan positions corresponding to different points on the slide surface, wherein the performance of each of the fine focus actions comprises determining a fine in-focus coordinate along the respective focal axis, determining an area of fine focus jurisdiction surrounding the respective point, and correlating the fine in-focus coordinate to the respective fine focus jurisdiction area; and
determining if another scan position corresponds to a point within at least one previously determined fine focus jurisdiction area.
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Abstract
The present invention relates to the analysis of specimens. Specifically, the invention relates to methods and apparatus for reviewing specimen slides, including apparatus for holding the slides. The invention also relates to an automatic focusing method for an imaging system and methods for accommodating vibration in the imaging system. In particular, the methods and apparatus may be applied to the automated analysis of cytological specimen slides.
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23 Claims
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1. An automatic focusing method for an optical system, comprising:
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performing an initial coarse focus action along a focal axis at a scan position corresponding to a point on a surface of a slide; respectively performing a plurality of subsequent fine focus actions along a plurality of focal axes at a plurality of scan positions corresponding to different points on the slide surface, wherein the performance of each of the fine focus actions comprises determining a fine in-focus coordinate along the respective focal axis, determining an area of fine focus jurisdiction surrounding the respective point, and correlating the fine in-focus coordinate to the respective fine focus jurisdiction area; and determining if another scan position corresponds to a point within at least one previously determined fine focus jurisdiction area. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification