Confocal microscope system and controller thereof
AssigneeNikon Corporation
InventorHiroyuki Hakozaki
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A controller of a confocal microscope is provided with an image capturing function and a temporarily storing function. On the other hand, the host computer is provided with an image display, image recording, and other processing functions. Further, the controller and the host computer are connected to each other with an asynchronous communication interface. With such a system configuration, it is possible to maintain high independence of the controller and the host computer. Accordingly, even in the course of the image capture by the controller, other processings can be smoothly executed on the host computer side.
Claims7
A confocal microscope system comprising:
- a) a confocal microscope;
- b) a controller having:
- an image capture unit for generating image data on the basis of an image signal acquired by said confocal microscope;
- a temporary storage unit for temporarily storing said image data generated by said image capture unit;
- and
- an asynchronous transmission unit for asynchronously transmitting said image data which is temporarily stored in said temporary storage unit;
- and
- c) a host computer having:
- an asynchronous reception unit for sending an asynchronous transfer request to said asynchronous transmission unit and for asynchronously fetching said image data which is stored in said temporary storage unit;
- and
- an image processing unit for processing said image data which is fetched by said asynchronous reception unit.
A controller for controlling a confocal microscope to generate image data of a sample, and to transmit said image data of said sample to a host computer, comprising:
- a scan control unit for controlling said confocal microscope to move an observation point of said confocal microscope with respect to said sample to scan;
- an image capture unit for fetching an image signal of said light receiving unit in synchronism with a scan and move signal from said scan control unit so as to generate said image data of said sample based on a relation between said fetched image signal and said observation point;
- a temporary storage unit for temporarily storing said image data which is generated by said image capture unit;
- and
- an asynchronous transmission unit for transmitting said image data which is temporarily stored in said temporary storage unit in response to an asynchronous transfer request from said host computer.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.