# US 2017/0257539 A1 · Imaging apparatus

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- Number: US 2017/0257539 A1
- Document ID: US20170257539A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 15/248,555
- 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/US20170257539A1

## CPC

- H04N 23/56: provided with illuminating means
- C12M 23/12: {Well or multiwell plates (C12M25/04 takes precedence)}
- C12M 23/22: {Transparent or translucent parts (glassware for laboratory use B01L3/00)}
- C12M 41/36: {of biomass, e.g. colony counters or by turbidity measurements (electrooptical investigation of individual particles G01N15/14, flow cytometers G01N15/1404)}
- G01N 21/253: {for batch operation, i.e. multisample apparatus (analytical automats G01N35/00)}
- G01N 21/84: Systems specially adapted for particular applications
- 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 21/0088: {Inverse microscopes}
- G02B 21/086: {for transillumination only}
- G02B 21/362: {Mechanical details, e.g. mountings for the camera or image sensor, housings (G02B21/364 takes precedence)}
- G06V 20/693: {Acquisition}
- G01N 21/6452: {Individual samples arranged in a regular 2D-array, e.g. multiwell plates}
- G02B 21/36: arranged for photographic purposes or projection purposes (G02B21/18 takes precedence){or digital imaging or video purposes including associated control and data processing arrangements (image data processing per se G06T)}
- H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- C12M: APPARATUS FOR ENZYMOLOGY OR MICROBIOLOGY; {APPARATUS FOR CULTURING MICROORGANISMS FOR PRODUCING BIOMASS, FOR GROWING CELLS OR FOR OBTAINING FERMENTATION OR METABOLIC PRODUCTS, i.e. BIOREACTORS OR FERMENTERS}
- 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 illuminator includes a light source and an illumination optical system for causing light emitted from the light source to be incident on a sample surface where an imaging object is present. The illumination optical system has an optical axis coaxial with that of an imaging optical system. An image of the light source is formed between the illumination optical system and the imaging optical system. A holder arranges the sample surface between the light source image and the imaging optical system.

## 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;
an imaging element that images an image of the imaging object focused by the imaging optical system; and
an illuminator that illuminates the imaging object from a side opposite to the imaging optical system across the sample container held by the holder, wherein:
the illuminator includes a light source and an illumination optical system that causes light emitted from the light source to be incident on a sample surface where the imaging object is present;
the illumination optical system has an optical axis coaxial with that of the imaging optical system and an exit pupil position located between the illumination optical system and the imaging optical system; and
the holder arranges the sample surface between the exit pupil position and the imaging optical system.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the exit pupil position of the illumination optical system and an entrance pupil position of the imaging optical system coincide with each other.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a numerical aperture of the illumination optical system is equal to or larger than that of the imaging optical system.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the illumination optical system includes a collector lens that collects light from the light source and a condenser lens that collects the light emitted from the collector lens and emits the collected light toward the sample surface.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The imaging apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the light source includes an aperture stop.

### Claim 6 (depends on 4)

The imaging apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising a field stop provided between the collector lens and the condenser lens.

### Claim 7 (depends on 4)

The imaging apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising a light source controller, wherein:
the illumination optical system includes a beam splitter provided between the collector lens and the condenser lens, another light source and another collector lens that collects light emitted from the other light source and causing the collected light to be incident on the condenser lens via the beam splitter;
the other collector lens and the condenser lens constitute an object-side telecentric optical system; and
the light source controller selectively turns on the light source and the other light source.