Image acquisition device and method and system for creating focus map for specimen
AssigneeHamamatsu Photonics K.K.
InventorsFumio Iwase, Masatoshi Okugawa
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An image acquisition device reciprocates a focal position of an objective lens with respect to a sample in the optical axis direction of the objective lens, while moving a field position of the objective lens with respect to the sample. This makes it possible to acquire contrast information of image data at the field position of the objective lens sequentially as the field position moves with respect to the sample. The image acquisition device acquires the image data by the rolling readout of the image pickup element according to the reciprocation of the focal position of the objective lens.
Claims10
An apparatus for capturing an image comprising:
- a stage configured to support a sample;
- an objective lens configured to face to the sample;
- a two-dimensional image sensor including a plurality of pixel columns and configured to capture an optical image of the sample;
- a calculator configured to calculate focus information of the sample according to image data from the image sensor;
- a generator configured to generate a focus map of the sample according to the focus information;
- a first driver configured to move a field position of the objective lens with respect to the sample;
- a second driver configured to change a focal position of the objective lens with respect to the sample;
- and
- a controller configured to control the image sensor, first driver, and second driver;
- wherein the image sensor is adapted to perform rolling readout;
- wherein the controller controls the first and second driver so as to reciprocate the focal position of the objective lens with respect to the sample in an optical axis direction of the objective lens while moving the field position of the objective lens with respect to the sample and acquires the image data by the rolling readout of the image sensor;
- and
- wherein the generator generates the focus map according to a plurality of pieces of the focus information calculated by calculator.
A method for producing a focus map of a sample by using a two-dimensional image sensor, adapted to perform rolling readout, including a plurality of pixel columns, the method comprising:
- acquiring image data by the rolling readout of the image sensor during the time when, while moving a field position of an objective lens with respect to a sample held on a stage, at least one of the stage and objective lens is moved such as to shift a focal position of the objective lens with respect to the sample in an optical axis direction of the objective lens;
- acquiring focus information of the sample according to the image data;
- and
- producing a focus map according to a plurality of pieces of focus information in the sample.
A system for producing a focus map of a sample, the system comprising:
- a stage configured to support a sample;
- an objective lens configured to face to the sample;
- an image sensor configured to capture an optical image of the sample, the image sensor being constituted by a two-dimensional image sensor, adapted to perform rolling readout, having including a plurality of pixel columns;
- a calculator configured to calculate focus information of the sample according to image data from the image sensor;
- and
- a generator configured to produce a focus map of the sample according to the focus information;
- wherein the image sensor acquires focus information of the sample according to the image data during the time when, while moving a field position of an objective lens with respect to the sample, at least one of the stage and objective lens is moved such as to shift a focal position of the objective lens with respect to the sample in an optical axis direction of the objective lens.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.