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US 11,520,133 B2Granted
Systems, devices and methods for automatic microscope focus
AssigneeNanotronics Imaging, Inc.
InventorsJohn B. Putman, Matthew C. Putman, Vadim Pinskiy, Denis Y. Sharoukhov
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An automatic focus system for an optical microscope that facilitates faster focusing by using at least two offset focusing cameras. Each offset focusing camera can be positioned on a different side of an image forming conjugate plane so that their sharpness curves intersect at the image forming conjugate plane. Focus of a specimen can be adjusted by using sharpness values determined from images taken by the offset focusing cameras.
Claims20
A method for automatically focusing a microscope, comprising:
- receiving, by a computing system from a first camera of the microscope, a first image of a specimen positioned on a stage of the microscope at a first position, wherein the first camera comprises a first image sensor, the first camera positioned at a first offset distance to an image forming conjugate plane;
- receiving, by the computing system from a second camera of the microscope, a second image of the specimen positioned on the stage of the microscope at the first position, wherein the second camera comprises a second image sensor, the second camera positioned at a second offset distance to the image forming conjugate plane;
- measuring, by the computing system, a first sharpness value of the specimen based on the first image and a second sharpness value of the specimen based on the second image;
- causing, by the computing system, adjustment of the stage of the microscope to a second position distinct from the first position;
- receiving, by the computing system from the first camera, a third image of the specimen positioned on the stage of the microscope at the second position;
- receiving, by the computing system from the second camera of the microscope, a fourth image of the specimen positioned on the stage of the microscope at the second position;
- measuring, by the computing system, a third sharpness value of the specimen based on the third image and a fourth sharpness value of the specimen based on the fourth image;
- and
- focusing, by the computing system, the first camera and the second camera by adjusting a relative distance between the first position and the second position, until images generated by the first camera and the second camera are within a threshold sharpness level.
6 more elements
A system, comprising:
- a processor in communication with a microscope;
- and
- a memory having programming instructions stored thereon, which, when executed by the processor, performs one or more operations, comprising:
- receiving, from a first camera of the microscope, a first image of a specimen positioned on a stage of the microscope at a first position, wherein the first camera comprises a first image sensor, the first camera positioned at a first offset distance to an image forming conjugate plane;
- receiving, from a second camera of the microscope, a second image of the specimen positioned on the stage of the microscope at the first position, wherein the second camera comprises a second image sensor, the second camera positioned at a second offset distance to the image forming conjugate plane;
- measuring a first sharpness value of the specimen based on the first image and a second sharpness value of the specimen based on the second image;
- causing adjustment of the stage of the microscope to a second position distinct from the first position;
- receiving, from the first camera, a third image of the specimen positioned on the stage of the microscope at the second position;
- receiving, from the second camera of the microscope, a fourth image of the specimen positioned on the stage of the microscope at the second position;
- measuring, by a computing system, a third sharpness value of the specimen based on the third image and a fourth sharpness value of the specimen based on the fourth image;
- and
- focusing the first camera and the second camera by adjusting a relative distance between the first position and the second position, until images generated by the first camera and the second camera are within a threshold sharpness level.
9 more elements
A non-transitory computer readable medium including one or more sequences of instructions, which, when executed by one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to perform operations, comprising:
- receiving, by a computing system from a first camera of a microscope, a first image of a specimen positioned on a stage of the microscope at a first position, wherein the first camera comprises a first image sensor, the first camera positioned at a first offset distance to an image forming conjugate plane;
- receiving, by the computing system from a second camera of the microscope, a second image of the specimen positioned on the stage of the microscope at the first position, wherein the second camera comprises a second image sensor, the second camera positioned at a second offset distance to the image forming conjugate plane;
- measuring, by the computing system, a first sharpness value of the specimen based on the first image and a second sharpness value of the specimen based on the second image;
- causing, by the computing system, adjustment of the stage of the microscope to a second position distinct from the first position;
- receiving, by the computing system from the first camera, a third image of the specimen positioned on the stage of the microscope at the second position;
- receiving, by the computing system from the second camera of the microscope, a fourth image of the specimen positioned on the stage of the microscope at the second position;
- measuring, by the computing system, a third sharpness value of the specimen based on the third image and a fourth sharpness value of the specimen based on the fourth image;
- and
- focusing, by the computing system, the first camera and the second camera by adjusting a relative distance between the first position and the second position, until images generated by the first camera and the second camera are within a threshold sharpness level.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.