Microscope system and method for operating a microscope system
AssigneeCarl Zeiss Microscopy GmbH
InventorsMirko Liedtke, Andreas Kühm, Burkhard Roscher, Nico Presser, Christian Kämmer
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A microscope system having a plurality of microscope modules connected to one another for data transfer purposes. The microscope system includes a central clock generator, the clock signal of which is provided to all microscope modules. The microscope modules are configured to use the clock signal or a clock derived therefrom as an internal clock. Moreover, a corresponding method for operating such a microscope system is described.
Claims14
A microscope system, comprising a plurality of microscope modules that are connected to one another for data transfer purposes;
- a central clock generator that generates a clock signal;
- and
- a clock modulation circuit configured to modulate the clock signal in order to encode an information item by
- modulating a distance between rising clock pulse edges while leaving a distance between falling clock pulse edges constant or
- modulating a distance between falling clock pulse edges while leaving a distance between rising clock pulse edges constant;
- said clock signal with the encoded information item being provided to all microscope modules;
- the microscope modules being configured to
- read the information item encoded in the clock signal;
- use the clock signal or a clock derived therefrom as an internal clock;
- calculate data on the basis of the internal clock;
- and
- transfer calculated data to another one of the microscope modules on the basis of the clock signal.
A method for operating a microscope system, having a plurality of microscope modules which transfer data among one another, said method comprising
- providing a clock signal from a central clock generator;
- modulating the clock signal in order to encode an information item by
- modulating a distance between rising clock pulse edges while leaving a distance between falling clock pulse edges constant or
- modulating a distance between falling clock pulse edges while leaving a distance between rising clock pulse edges constant;
- transmitting the clock signal with the encoded information item to all microscope modules;
- the microscope modules
- read the information item encoded in the clock signal;
- use the clock signal or a clock derived therefrom as an internal clock,
- calculate data on the basis of the internal clock, and
- transfer calculated data to another one of the microscope modules on the basis of the clock signal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.