Microscope system and autofocusing method

A method, comprising:

• in a microscope system including a microscope:
• controlling the microscope to capture a plurality of first images of a sample,
• wherein each of the plurality of first images is one of a bright field image, a phase difference image, or a differential interference image;
• determining a time difference between a time of capture of a first image of the plurality of first images and a time of capture of a second image of the plurality of first images, wherein the second image of the plurality of first images is captured consecutive to capture of the first image of the plurality of first images;
• determining whether an adjustment of a focus of the microscope is possible within the determined time difference;
• adjusting the focus of the microscope based on information extracted from the plurality of first images and the adjustment of the focus of the microscope that is possible within the determined time difference;
• and
• controlling the microscope to capture a second image of the sample, based on the adjusted focus of the microscope,
• wherein the second image is a different type of image than the captured plurality of first images.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon, computer-executable instructions which, when executed by a controller in a microscope system having a microscope, cause the microscope system to execute operations, the operations comprising:

• controlling the microscope to capture a plurality of first images of a sample,
• wherein each of the plurality of first images is one of a bright field image, a phase difference image, or a differential interference image;
• determining a time difference between a time of capture of a first image of the plurality of first images and a time of capture of a second image of the plurality of first images, wherein the second image of the plurality of first images is captured consecutive to capture of the first image of the plurality of first images;
• determining whether an adjustment of a focus of the microscope is possible within the determined time difference;
• adjusting the focus of the microscope based on information extracted from the plurality of first images and the adjustment of the focus of the microscope that is possible within the determined time difference;
• and
• controlling the microscope to capture a second image of the sample, based on the adjusted focus of the microscope,
• wherein the second image is a different type of image than the captured plurality of first images.

An imaging system, comprising:

• a memory configured to store a plurality of images;
• and
• a controller configured to control the imaging system to:
• capture a plurality of first images of a sample,
• wherein each of the plurality of first images is one of a bright field image, a phase difference image, or a differential interference image;
• determine a time difference between a time of capture of a first image of the plurality of first images and a time of capture of a second image of the plurality of first images, wherein the second image of the plurality of first images is captured consecutive to capture of the first image of the plurality of first images;
• determine whether an adjustment of a focus of a microscope is possible within the determined time difference;
• capture a second image of the sample based on adjustment of the focus of the imaging system,
• wherein the focus of the imaging system is adjusted based on information extracted from the plurality of first images and the adjustment of the focus of the microscope that is possible within the determined time difference, and
• wherein the second image is a different type of image than the captured plurality of first images;
• and
• control the memory to store the captured second image of the sample.