Method of providing an assembled image using digital microscope, digital microscope system, and program for providing an assembled image using a digital microscope

A digital microscope system comprising:

• an optical system having an objective revolver equipped with a plurality of microscope objectives having objective-specific magnifications;
• an image sensor having a predefined number of image pixels;
• a stage for holding a sample;
• a stage drive assembly for moving the stage in relation to the optical system and the image sensor;
• and
• a control unit for controlling generation of image data for an assembled image, wherein the control unit is configured to:
• receive a user selection regarding an area of interest of the sample, the user selection being indicative of the position and extension of the area of interest;
• depending on the user selection, select a particular one of the plurality of microscope objectives and control the objective revolver to place the particular one of the plurality of microscope objectives into an optical path of the optical system, wherein the particular one of the plurality of microscope objectives is selected based on the extension of the area of interest and the objective-specific magnifications of the plurality of microscope objectives;
• depending on the user selection and the selected particular one of the plurality of microscope objectives, select one of a full resolution mode and a reduced resolution mode;
• control the stage drive assembly to move the stage with respect to the optical system and the image sensor;
• and
• control the generation of individual, partial images of the area of interest, wherein the individual, partial images are generated with the predefined number of image pixels in the full resolution mode and wherein the individual, partial images are generated with a reduced number of image pixels, as compared to the predefined number of image pixels, in the reduced resolution mode.

A non-transitory computer readable medium storing executable computer program instructions, the computer program instructions when executed cause a computer processor to carry out a method for providing an assembled image using a digital microscope, the digital microscope comprising an optical system having an objective revolver equipped with a plurality of microscope objectives having objective-specific magnifications, an image sensor having a predefined number of image pixels, and a stage for holding a sample, the stage being movable in relation to the optical system and the image sensor, the method comprising:

• receiving a user selection regarding an area of interest of the sample, the user selection being indicative of the position and extension of the area of interest;
• depending on the user selection, selecting a particular one of the plurality of microscope objectives and controlling the objective revolver to place the particular one of the plurality of microscope objectives into an optical path of the optical system, wherein said selecting of the particular one of the plurality of microscope objectives is based on the extension of the area of interest and the objective-specific magnifications of the plurality of microscope objectives;
• depending on the user selection and the selected particular one of the plurality of microscope objectives, selecting one of a full resolution mode and a reduced resolution mode;
• instructing the stage to move with respect to the optical system;
• instructing the image sensor to generate image data;
• on the basis of the image data, generating individual images of the area of interest, wherein the individual, partial images are generated with the predefined number of image pixels in the full resolution mode and wherein the individual, partial images are generated with a reduced number of image pixels, as compared to the predefined number of image pixels, in the reduced resolution mode;
• and
• combining the individual, partial images into the assembled image, representing the area of interest.