# US 10,310,242 B2 · Observation apparatus, method for controlling observation apparatus, and non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing control program for observation apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,310,242 B2 - Document ID: US10310242B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/672,202 - Filed: 2017-08-08 - Published: 2018-02-15 - Granted: 2019-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2016-08-09 - Assignees: Olympus Corporation - Applicants: Olympus Corporation - Inventors: Takato Aoki - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10310242B2 ## CPC - G02B 21/006: {focusing arrangements; selection of the plane to be imaged} - C12M 41/36: {of biomass, e.g. colony counters or by turbidity measurements (electrooptical investigation of individual particles G01N15/14, flow cytometers G01N15/1404)} - C12M 41/48: {Automatic or computerized control (automatic analysis G01N35/00)} - G02B 21/008: {Details of detection or image processing, including general computer control} - G02B 21/26: Stages; Adjusting means therefor - G02B 21/365: {Control or image processing arrangements for digital or video microscopes (G02B21/361, G02B21/362 take precedence)} - 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} - G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS - C12M: APPARATUS FOR ENZYMOLOGY OR MICROBIOLOGY; {APPARATUS FOR CULTURING MICROORGANISMS FOR PRODUCING BIOMASS, FOR GROWING CELLS OR FOR OBTAINING FERMENTATION OR METABOLIC PRODUCTS, i.e. BIOREACTORS OR FERMENTERS} ## Abstract An observation apparatus includes an imaging unit that includes an imaging section and an illumination section, a driving mechanism that moves the imaging unit, a position control section, a vessel position acquisition section, an illumination control section, an imaging control section that causes the imaging section to image a sample. The illumination section includes a plurality of emitting sections configured to emit illumination light and illuminates the sample. The position control section and the vessel position acquisition section acquire position information on the imaging unit and the sample, respectively. The illumination control section selects which of the emitting sections emits illumination light and causes the selected emitting section to emit main illumination light based on the position information on the sample and the imaging unit. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An observation apparatus comprising: an imaging unit comprising: an imaging section that includes an imaging optical system and an image sensor and that images a sample to output an image signal; and an illumination section that includes a plurality of emitting sections which are configured to emit illumination light and are located away from an optical axis of the imaging optical system and that illuminates the sample; a driving mechanism that moves the imaging unit; and at least one control circuit which acquires position information on the imaging unit, acquires position information on the sample, selects which of the emitting sections emits illumination light based on the position information on the sample and the position information on the imaging unit, causes the selected emitting section to emit main illumination light, and causes the imaging section to perform imaging. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The observation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control circuit selects the emitting section that is nearer to a central portion of the sample from the emitting sections. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The observation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control circuit selects the emitting section further based on histories of lighting the emitting sections. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The observation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control circuit selects the emitting section further based on accumulated lighting time periods of the emitting sections. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The observation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control circuit acquires the position information on the sample based on the image signal output from the imaging section. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The observation apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a sensor that is configured to detect a position of the sample, wherein the control circuit acquires the position information on the sample based on an output from the sensor. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The observation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control circuit divides a scanning range of the imaging unit into a plurality of areas based on the position information on the sample, and selects an emitting section that emits illumination light from the emitting sections based on which of the areas the imaging unit is in. ### Claim 8 A method for controlling an observation apparatus that comprises: an imaging unit comprising an imaging section that includes an imaging optical system and an image sensor and that images a sample to output an image signal, and comprising an illumination section that includes a plurality of emitting sections which are configured to emit illumination light and are located away from an optical axis of the imaging optical system and that illuminates the sample; and a driving mechanism that moves the imaging unit, the method comprising: causing the driving mechanism to move the imaging unit; acquiring position information on the imaging unit; acquiring position information on the sample; selecting which of the emitting sections emits illumination light based on the position information on the sample and the position information on the imaging unit; causing the selected emitting section to emit main illumination light; and causing the imaging section to perform imaging. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method for controlling an observation apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the selecting includes selecting the emitting section that is nearer to a central portion of the sample from the emitting sections. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The method for controlling an observation apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the selecting includes selecting the emitting section based on histories of lighting the emitting sections. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The method for controlling an observation apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the selecting includes selecting the emitting section based on accumulated lighting time periods of the emitting sections. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The method for controlling an observation apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the acquiring position information on the sample includes acquiring the position information on the sample based on the image signal output from the imaging section. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) The method for controlling an observation apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the acquiring position information on the sample includes acquiring the position information on the sample based on an output from a sensor that is configured to detect the position of the sample. ### Claim 14 (depends on 8) The method for controlling an observation apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising dividing a scanning range of the imaging unit into a plurality of areas based on the position information on the sample, wherein the selecting includes selecting an emitting section that emits illumination light from the emitting sections based on which of the areas the imaging unit is in. ### Claim 15 A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing a control program for an observation apparatus that comprises: an imaging unit comprising an imaging section that includes an imaging optical system and an image sensor and that images a sample to output an image signal, and comprising an illumination section that includes a plurality of emitting sections which are configured to emit illumination light and are located away from an optical axis of the imaging optical system and that illuminates the sample; and a driving mechanism that moves the imaging unit, wherein the control program causes a computer to execute: causing the driving mechanism to move the imaging unit; acquiring position information on the imaging unit; acquiring position information on the sample; selecting which of the emitting sections emits illumination light based on the position information on the sample and the position information on the imaging unit; causing the selected emitting section to emit main illumination light; and causing the imaging section to perform imaging. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing a control program for an observation apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the selecting includes selecting the emitting section that is nearer to a central portion of the sample from the emitting sections. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing a control program for an observation apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the selecting includes selecting the emitting section based on histories of lighting the emitting sections. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing a control program for an observation apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the selecting includes selecting the emitting section based on accumulated lighting time periods of the emitting sections. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing a control program for an observation apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the acquiring position information on the sample includes acquiring the position information on the sample based on the image signal output from the imaging section. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing a control program for an observation apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the acquiring position information on the sample includes acquiring the position information on the sample based on an output from a sensor that is configured to detect the position of the sample.