US 10,473,908 B2Granted

Optical observation device

AssigneeShimadzu Corporation

InventorKazumi Yokota

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Abstract

An optical observation device having an imaging optical system for forming an image of light from an object on a sample stage, a movement information retaining unit for retaining the movement information on the sequence of the movement to each relative position and a plurality of relative positions of the sample stage to the imaging optical system, a moving unit for moving the sample stage and allowing the stage to rest at each relative position, an imaging data acquisition unit for continuously acquiring the imaging data of observation images obtained by the imaging optical system at a time interval shorter than the time to move the stage to each relative position and the time of rest at each resting position, and a discrimination information providing unit for providing to the imaging data discrimination information for distinguishing whether the imaging data is imaged at a timing when the stage is moving.

Claims6

Dependent claims

An optical observation device, comprising:

an imaging optical system comprising at least one from among an eyepiece, aperture, and lens, the imaging optical system configured to form an image of light from an object to be observed placed on a sample stage,
the sample stage, wherein the sample stage is configured to move to a plurality of relative positions in accordance with a sequence and rest at each relative position;
memory configured to retain movement information on the sequence and the plurality of relative positions of the sample stage with respect to the imaging optical system;
a camera configured to continuously acquire imaging data of observation images obtained by the imaging optical system, the imaging data being acquired continuously at a time interval shorter than a time to move the sample stage to each of the relative positions and shorter than a time of rest at each of the relative positions, such that the imaging data is acquired when the sample stage is resting at each of the relative positions and when the sample stage moves between each of the relative positions,
at least one processor configured to receive discrimination information, provided with the imaging data, for distinguishing whether the above-mentioned imaging data is imaged at a time when the sample stage is moving;
and
an illumination light source configured to illuminate the object to be observed, wherein the illumination light source is configured to turn off when the sample stage is moving and turn on when the sample stage is resting, such that the at least one processor receives, via the camera, brightness information as the discrimination information,
wherein the sample stage is configured to move in a direction vertical to a surface on which an object to be observed is mounted on the sample stage.

5 more elements

An optical observation method, comprising:

forming an image of the light from an object to be observed placed on a sample stage by an imaging optical system that comprises at least one from among an eyepiece, aperture, and lens,
moving the sample stage to a plurality of relative positions in accordance with a sequence and allowing the sample stage to rest at each relative position;
retaining movement information on the sequence and the plurality of relative positions of the sample stage with respect to the imaging optical system;
continuously acquiring imaging data of observation images obtained by the imaging optical system, the imaging data being acquired continuously at a time interval shorter than a time to move the sample stage to each of the relative positions and shorter than a time of rest at each of the relative positions, such that the imaging data is acquired when the sample stage is resting at each of the relative positions and when the sample stage moves between each of the relative positions,
providing, to the imaging data, discrimination information for distinguishing whether the above-mentioned imaging data is imaged at a time when the sample stage is moving, and
illuminating the object to be observed by an illumination light source, wherein brightness information is provided to the imaging data by turning off the illumination light source when the sample stage is moving and by turning on the light source when the sample stage is resting,
wherein the sample stage is moved in a direction vertical to a surface on which an object to be observed is mounted on the sample stage.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.