Subpixel line scanning
AssigneeLeica Biosystems Imaging, Inc.
InventorYunlu Zou
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Subpixel line scanning. A slide scanning device comprises a plurality of line sensors, each comprising a plurality of pixel sensors. Each line sensor is offset from an adjacent line sensor by a fraction of a length of each pixel sensor, and generates a line image of the same field of view at its respective offset. For each of a plurality of positions on a sample, a processor combines the line images of the same field of view, generated by the plurality of line sensors at their respective offsets, to produce a plurality of subpixels for each of at least a subset of pixels within the line images of the same field of view, and generates an upsampled line image of the position comprising the plurality of subpixels. Then, the processor combines the up-sampled line images of each of the plurality of positions on the sample into an image.
Claims12
An imaging device for a slide scanning device comprising:
- a line scan camera comprising a two-dimensional array of pixel sensors, wherein the two-dimensional array comprises columns parallel to a first axis and rows parallel to a second axis that is orthogonal to the first axis;
- wherein the line scan camera is configured to successively receive a same field of view of a sample to each of a plurality of rows in the two-dimensional array provided by an objective lens;
- and
- at least one hardware processor configured to, for each of a plurality of positions on the sample:
- control one or more of the position of the sample, the objective lens, and the line scan camera, such that the field of view of the sample, provided to the plurality of rows in the two-dimensional array, moves across the plurality of rows in the two-dimensional array at a non-zero angle with respect to the first axis and the second axis, such that each row in the plurality of rows senses the same field of view at an offset equal to a different fraction of a length of each pixel sensor,
- combine line images of the same field of view, to produce a plurality of subpixels for each of at least a subset of pixels within the line images of the same field of view, wherein the defined shape of each of the pixels is sized to generate square shaped subpixels when the line images are combined,
- generate an up-sampled line image of the position comprising the produced plurality of subpixels, and
- combine the up-sampled line images of each of the plurality of positions on the sample into an image.
A method comprising using at least one hardware processor to:
- receive image data from a line scan camera comprising a two-dimensional array of pixel sensors, wherein the two-dimensional array comprises columns parallel to a first axis and rows parallel to a second axis that is orthogonal to the first axis;
- receive successively a same field of view of a sample to each of a plurality of rows in the two-dimensional array provided by an objective lens;
- for each of a plurality of positions on the sample:
- control one or more of the position of the sample, the objective lens, and the line scan camera, such that the field of view of the sample, provided to the plurality of rows in the two-dimensional array, moves across the plurality of rows in the two-dimensional array at a non-zero angle with respect to the first axis and the second axis, such that each row in the plurality of rows senses the same field of view at an offset equal to a different fraction of a length of each pixel sensor,
- combine line images of the same field of view, to produce a plurality of subpixels for each of at least a subset of pixels within the line images of the same field of view, wherein the defined shape of each of the pixels is sized to generate square shaped subpixels when the line images are combined,
- generate an up-sampled line image of the position comprising the produced plurality of subpixels;
- and
- combine the up-sampled line images of each of the plurality of positions on the sample into an image.
A non-transitory computer-readable having instructions stored thereon, wherein the instructions, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to:
- receive image data from a line scan camera comprising a two-dimensional array of pixel sensors, wherein the two-dimensional array comprises columns parallel to a first axis and rows parallel to a second axis that is orthogonal to the first axis;
- receive successively a same field of view of a sample to each of a plurality of rows in the two-dimensional array provided by an objective lens;
- for each of the plurality of positions on the sample;
- control one or more of the position of the sample, the objective lens, and the line scan camera, such that the field of view of the sample, provided to the plurality of rows in the two-dimensional array, moves across the plurality of rows in the two-dimensional array at a non-zero angle with respect to the first axis and the second axis, such that each row in the plurality of rows senses the same field of view at an offset equal to a different fraction of a length of each pixel sensor,
- combine line images of the same field of view, to produce a plurality of subpixels for each of at least a subset of pixels within the line images of the same field of view, wherein the defined shape of each of the pixels is sized to generate square shaped subpixels when the line images are combined,
- generate an up-sampled line image of the position comprising the produced plurality of subpixels;
- and
- combine the up-sampled line images of each of the plurality of positions on the sample into an image.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.