Autofocus imaging
AssigneeKoninklijke Philips N.V.
InventorsBas Hulsken, Sjoerd Stallinga
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Abstract
The present invention relates to the field of digital pathology and in particular to whole slide scanners. Autofocus imaging can be performed by sampling a first number of pixels of a primary image sensor which is a time delay integration (TDI) sensor, and sampling a second number of pixels of an autofocus image sensor, wherein the second number is between one quarter and three quarters of the first number. Thus, continuous autofocus for rapid light scanning may be provided based on an additional image sensor that is tilted with respect to the optical axis.
Claims16
An autofocus imaging system for a microscope, the autofocus imaging system comprising:
- a primary image sensor arrangement comprising a primary image sensor for acquiring primary image data of an object of interest,
- an autofocus image sensor for acquiring autofocus image data of an oblique section of the object of interest;
- wherein the primary image sensor is configured for sampling a first number of pixels per distance in object space;
- wherein the autofocus image sensor is configured for sampling a second number of pixels per distance in object space;
- wherein the second number is between one quarter and three quarters of the first number;
- and
- wherein the primary image sensor is a time delay integration (TIM) sensor.
A method for autofocus imaging of a microscope, the method comprising the following steps:
- acquiring primary image data of an object of interest by a primary image sensor of a primary image sensor arrangement, the primary image sensor being a time delay integration (TDI) line sensor;
- acquiring autofocus image data of an oblique section of the object of interest by an autofocus image sensor;
- sampling a first number of pixels per distance in object space, the first number of pixels being pixels of the TDI line sensor;
- sampling a second number of pixels per distance in object space, the second number of pixels being pixels of the autofocus image sensor;
- wherein the second number is between one quarter and three quarters of the first number.
A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, in which a computer program for autofocus imaging of a microscope is stored which, when executed by a processor of the microscope, causes the processor to carryout the steps of:
- acquiring primary image data of an object of interest from a primary image sensor of a primary image sensor arrangement, the primary image sensor being a time delay integration (TDI) line sensor;
- acquiring autofocus image data of an oblique section of the object of interest from an autofocus image sensor;
- sampling a first number of pixels per distance in object space, the first number of pixels being pixels of the primary image sensor;
- sampling a second number of pixels per distance in object space, the second number of pixels being pixels of the autofocus image sensor;
- wherein the second number is between one quarter and three quarters of the first number.
A non-transitory computer readable program medium having encoded thereon a program element for autofocus imaging of a microscope, which, when being executed by a processor of the microscope, causes the processor to carryout the steps of:
- acquiring primary image data of a n object of interest from a primary image sensor, which is a time delay integration (TDI) line sensor, of a primary image sensor arrangement;
- acquiring autofocus image data of an oblique section of the object of interest from an autofocus image sensor;
- sampling a first number of pixels per distance in object space, the first number of pixels being pixels of the primary image sensor;
- sampling a second number of pixels per distance in object space, the second number of pixels being pixels of the autofocus image sensor;
- wherein the second number is between one quarter and three quarters of the first number.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.