# US 2017/0257538 A1 · Imaging apparatus and imaging method > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2017/0257538 A1 - Document ID: US20170257538A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/248,425 - Filed: 2016-08-26 - Published: 2017-09-07 - Earliest claimed: 2016-03-01 - Assignees: SCREEN Holdings Co., Ltd. - Applicants: Screen Holdings Co., Ltd. - Inventors: Masahiko KOKUBO - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20170257538A1 ## CPC - H04N 23/56: provided with illuminating means - G01N 21/253: {for batch operation, i.e. multisample apparatus (analytical automats G01N35/00)} - G01N 33/487: of liquid biological material - G02B 21/0032: {Optical details of illumination, e.g. light-sources, pinholes, beam splitters, slits, fibers (G02B21/0036 - G02B21/008; means for illumination of specimens in general G02B21/06)} - G02B 21/362: {Mechanical details, e.g. mountings for the camera or image sensor, housings (G02B21/364 takes precedence)} - G06V 20/693: {Acquisition} - G01N 2201/061: Sources - G01N 2201/10: Scanning - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION - G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q) - G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS - G06V: IMAGE OR VIDEO RECOGNITION OR UNDERSTANDING ## Abstract An imaging apparatus includes an imager with an imaging optical system to having an object-side hypercentric property, an illuminator with a plurality of illumination optical systems having mutually different exit pupil positions and a mover for relatively moving these with respect to a well plate. Imaging is performed simultaneously with stroboscopic illumination when the imager is located at a predetermined imaging position, and illumination optical systems are switched according to the imaging position. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An imaging apparatus that images a raw sample as an imaging object carried together with liquid in a sample container with a bottom surface having optical transparency, the apparatus comprising: a holder that holds the sample container; an imaging optical system, arranged to face the sample container held by the holder, that has an object-side hypercentric property; a two-dimensional imaging element that images an image of the imaging object focused by the imaging optical system; a mover that relatively integrally moves the imaging optical system and the two-dimensional imaging element with respect to the imaging object in a direction orthogonal to an optical axis of the imaging optical system; an illuminator that illuminates the imaging object from a side opposite to the imaging optical system across the sample container held by the holder; and a controller that controls the two-dimensional imaging element, the mover and the illuminator, wherein: the illuminator includes a plurality of illumination optical systems that has mutually different exit pupil positions and coaxially emit lights toward the imaging object; the controller causes one of the plurality of illumination optical systems to emit light and causes the two-dimensional imaging element to image the imaging object when a relative position of the imaging optical system with respect to the imaging object reaches any one of a plurality of imaging positions determined in advance while causing the mover to relatively move the imaging optical system and the two-dimensional imaging element with respect to the imaging object; and the illumination optical system for emitting the light is switched according to the imaging position. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein one of the illumination optical systems constitute telecentric illumination for causing light, whose chief ray is parallel to the optical axis of the imaging optical system, to be incident on the imaging object. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The imaging apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the plurality of illumination optical systems include the one whose exit pupil position is closer than the imaging object when viewed from the illumination optical system. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein lights emitted from the plurality of illumination optical systems are coaxial with the optical axis of the imaging optical system. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an imaging field of view on the bottom surface of the sample container is smaller than the bottom surface of the sample container. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: the holder holds the sample container in a substantially horizontal posture; the illuminator is arranged above the sample container held by the holder and illuminates the imaging object from above; and the two-dimensional imaging element is arranged below the sample container held by the holder and performs imaging by causing light incident from the illuminator via a liquid surface of the liquid and emitted from the bottom surface of the sample container to be incident on the imaging optical system. ### Claim 7 An imaging method that images a raw sample as an imaging object carried together with liquid in a sample container with a bottom surface having optical transparency, the method comprising: arranging an imaging optical system having an object-side hypercentric property and a two-dimensional imaging element for imaging an image of the imaging object focused by the imaging optical system to face the sample container and arranging an illuminator for illuminating the imaging object on a side opposite to the imaging optical system across the sample container; moving the imaging optical system and the two-dimensional imaging element with respect to the imaging object, relatively; and imaging the imaging object by the two-dimensional imaging element and emitting light from the illuminator when a relative position of the imaging optical system with respect to the imaging object reaches any one of a plurality of imaging positions determined in advance, wherein: the illuminator includes a plurality of illumination optical systems having mutually different exit pupil positions, emitted lights propagating toward the imaging object being coaxial with each other; and light is emitted selectively from one of the plurality of illumination optical systems and the illumination optical system for emitting the light is switched according to the imaging position in the imaging step.