# US 11,304,775 B2 · Method for automatedly aligning a stand for a microscope, stand for a microscope and microscope assembly > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,304,775 B2 - Document ID: US11304775B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/250,223 - Filed: 2019-01-17 - Published: 2019-07-25 - Granted: 2022-04-19 - Earliest claimed: 2018-01-19 - Assignees: Leica Instruments (Singapore) Pte. Ltd. - Applicants: Leica Instruments (Singapore) Pte. Ltd. - Inventors: Jason Huang; Chin Yi Liaw - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11304775B2 ## CPC - A61B 90/25: Supports therefor - G02B 7/001: {Counterbalanced structures, e.g. surgical microscopes} - G02B 21/0012: {Surgical microscopes (counterbalanced structures for surgical microscopes G02B7/001)} - G05D 3/12: using feedback - A61B 90/36: {Image-producing devices or illumination devices not otherwise provided for} - G02B 21/24: Base structure - G02B 21/241: {Devices for focusing (focusing in general G02B7/28)} - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS - G05D: SYSTEMS FOR CONTROLLING OR REGULATING NON-ELECTRIC VARIABLES ## Abstract The invention relates to a method for automatedly aligning a stand (12) for a microscope (14), wherein the stand (12) for the microscope (14) comprises controllable positioning means (16) for positioning the microscope (14) and controllable orienting means (18) for orienting the microscope (14). The method comprises defining a target point (24) to be observed by the microscope (14), wherein the target point (24) is located within a coordinate range accessible by the stand (12), stabilizing the microscope (14) at a user determined position in an automated manner by means of the controllable positioning means (16) of the stand, and adjusting an orientation of the microscope (14) at the user determined position to the target point (24) in an automated manner using the controllable orienting means (18) of the stand. The invention further relates to a stand, a microscope assembly (10), a control unit, a computer program and a computer-readable data storage. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for automatedly aligning a stand for a microscope, wherein the stand comprises a controllable positioning means for positioning the microscope and a controllable orienting means for orienting the microscope, the method comprising the steps of: a) defining a target point to be observed by the microscope, wherein the target point is located within a coordinate range accessible by the stand; b) stabilizing the microscope at a user determined position in an automated manner using the controllable positioning means of the stand; and c) adjusting an orientation of the microscope at the user determined position to the defined target point in an automated manner using the controllable orienting means of the stand; wherein the target point is defined in a control unit for the controllable positioning means, before steps b) and c) are performed, on the basis of a user input and/or on the basis of provided object data and/or by determining and saving a focus point to which the microscope is focused when a predetermined user input is provided. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein adjusting the orientation of the microscope to the target point in the step c) comprises orienting the microscope such that the target point is located along an optical axis of the microscope. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method according to claim 2, wherein adjusting the orientation of the microscope to the target point in step c) further comprises adjusting a focus parameter of the microscope to focus the microscope to the target point. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the steps b) and c) are carried out at least partially simultaneously. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the step b) is carried out before the step c). ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the step c) is carried out before the step b). ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the controllable positioning means and the controllable orienting means collectively comprise a plurality of linkages, and wherein stabilizing the microscope in the step b) comprises mechanically balancing the microscope by adjusting at least one of the controllable positioning means and/or the controllable orienting means such that the microscope rests at the user determined position; and/or blocking at least one of the plurality of linkages. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the microscope is arranged by the user at the user determined position. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method according claim 1, wherein at least the steps b) and c) are carried out automatedly in a continuous manner. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein at least the steps b) and c) are carried out in response to a user input requesting a re-alignment of the microscope to the target point. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) A control unit for a stand for a microscope, wherein the control unit is configured to cause the stand to carry out the method according to claim 1. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) A computer-readable data storage medium having a computer program stored thereon, wherein the computer program is configured such that execution of the computer program by a control unit of a stand for a microscope causes the stand to carry out the method according to claim 1. ### Claim 13 A stand for a microscope for automatedly aligning the microscope to a target point, the stand comprising: controllable positioning means for positioning the microscope with respect to an object to be observed with the microscope; controllable orienting means for orienting the microscope with respect to the object; and a control unit configured to: a) define a target point to be observed by the microscope, wherein the target point is located within a coordinate range accessible by the stand; b) stabilize the microscope at a user determined position in an automated manner using the controllable positioning means of the stand; and c) adjust an orientation of the microscope at the user determined position to the target point in an automated manner using the controllable orienting means of the stand; wherein the target point is defined in the control unit before steps b) and c) are performed, on the basis of a user input and/or on the basis of provided object data and/or by determining and saving a focus point to which the microscope is focused when a predetermined user input is provided. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The stand according to claim 13, wherein the control unit is further configured to adjust a focus parameter of the microscope to focus the microscope to the target point. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) A microscope assembly comprising a stand according to claim 13 and a microscope attached to the stand. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The microscope assembly according to claim 15, wherein the microscope assembly is configured to automatedly control a focusing parameter of the microscope.