Microscope system
AssigneeOlympus Optical Co., Ltd.
InventorsTakashi Yoneyama, Nobuaki Sakai
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
In a microscope system in which at least one of a stage on which a sample 4 is mounted and an objective lens 6 can move relatively in a direction of an optical axis, a contact judgment section 12 judges the possibility of contact between the sample 4 and the objective lens 6 based on a result of comparison between a detection output from a contact sensor 11 which detects contact between the sample 4 and the objective lens 6 and a preset threshold value, excessive contact between the sample 4 and the objective lens 6 is avoided based on a result of this judgment, and a threshold value in the contact judgment section 12 is updated based on the output from the contact sensor 11 every predetermined time.
Claims28
A microscope system in which an objective lens for observing an observation object can be relatively moved in a direction of an optical axis with respect to a stage on which said observation object is mounted, said microscope system comprising:
- detecting means for detecting a contact state corresponding to non-contact and contact between said observation object and said objective lens and outputting a signal in accordance with said contact state;
- judging means for judging that said contact state between said observation object and said objective lens has exceeded a predetermined value based on an output from said detecting means and outputting an excessive contact signal, said judging means including threshold value setting means for setting a threshold value which is a reference for judgment on contact and a comparator section for comparing said set threshold value with an output from said detecting means, said threshold value setting means resetting a threshold value based on an output from said detecting means in a state in which said observation object is separated from said objective lens;
- and
- controlling means for controlling relative movement of said stage and said objective lens in response to said excessive contact signal.
A microscope system in which an objective lens for observing an observation object can be moved relatively in a direction of an optical axis with respect to a stage on which said observation object is mounted, said microscope system comprising:
- detecting means for detecting a contact state corresponding to non-contact and contact between said observation object and said objective lens and outputting a signal in accordance with said contact state;
- direct-current component eliminating means for eliminating a direct-current component from said detection signal outputted from said detecting means and generating a contact judgment signal;
- judging means for judging that said contact state between said observation object and said objective lens has exceeded a predetermined value based on said contact judgment signal and outputting an excessive contact signal;
- and
- controlling means for controlling relative movement of said stage and said objective lens in response to said excessive contact signal.
A microscope apparatus comprising:
- a stage on which an observation object is mounted;
- a plurality of objective lenses used for observing said observation object;
- objective lens selecting means for selecting one objective lens from a plurality of said objective lenses and arranging said objective lens on an optical axis of a microscope;
- moving means for relatively moving said selected objective lens with respect to said stage at a relative speed depending on said selected objective lens;
- detection elements, provided at said objective lenses respectively, for detecting a contact state corresponding to non-contact and contact between said observation object and said selected objective lens depending on selection of said objective lens, and outputs a detection signal according to said contact state;
- filtering means for generating a contact judgment signal obtained by eliminating a direct-current component from said detection signal;
- judging means for judging that said contact state between said observation object and said objective lens has exceeded a predetermined value based on said contact judgment signal and outputting an excessive contact signal;
- and
- controlling means for controlling relative movement of said stage and said objective lens in response to said excessive contact signal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.