# US 10,502,943 B2 · Microscope system and autofocusing method > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,502,943 B2 - Document ID: US10502943B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/903,120 - Filed: 2014-10-29 - Published: 2016-08-25 - Granted: 2019-12-10 - Earliest claimed: 2013-11-07 - Assignees: Sony Corporation - Applicants: Sony Corporation - Inventors: Shinji Watanabe; Kazuki Aisaka - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10502943B2 ## CPC - G02B 21/244: {using image analysis techniques} - G02B 21/0076: {arrangements using fluorescence or luminescence} - G02B 21/0084: {time-scale detection, e.g. strobed, ultra-fast, heterodyne detection} - G02B 21/12: affording bright-field illumination (G02B21/14 takes precedence) - G02B 21/16: adapted for ultraviolet illumination {; Fluorescence microscopes (G02B21/0076 takes 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 ## Abstract An imaging system, comprising a controller configured to control the imaging system to: capture a first image of a sample, the first image being one of a bright field image, a phase difference image, and a differential interference image; and capture, based at least in part on information obtained from the first image, a second image of the sample, the second image being a different type of image than the first image. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A microscope system, comprising: a microscope; and a controller configured to control 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; 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 the microscope is possible within the determined time difference; adjust 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 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. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The microscope system of claim 1, wherein the second image is an image of fluorescence emitted by the sample. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The microscope system of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to control the microscope to capture the second image based on a light source that comprises a specified wavelength. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The microscope system of claim 1, further comprising: a movable stage, wherein the sample is on the movable stage, and wherein the controller is further configured to: determine a first amount corresponding to movement of the movable stage based on the extracted information from the plurality of first images, and control the movement of the movable stage by the determined first amount. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The microscope system of claim 1, wherein controller is further configured to calculate a general motion vector corresponding to the plurality of first images, based on the extracted information. ### Claim 6 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. ### Claim 7 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4, wherein the second image is an image of fluorescence emitted by the sample. ### Claim 8 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4, wherein the microscope system comprises a movable stage, wherein the sample is on the movable stage, the method further comprising: determining a first amount corresponding to movement of the movable stage based on the extracted information from the plurality of first images, and moving the movable stage by the determined first amount. ### Claim 9 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4, further comprising: calculating a general motion vector corresponding to the plurality of first images, based on the extracted information. ### Claim 10 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. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein the second image is an image of fluorescence emitted by the sample. ### Claim 12 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.