Method and apparatus for automatically detecting focusing point and image processing method and apparatus using the same

A method for carrying out an image processing of a picked-up image of a first portion of a first object, based on a video signal of said picked-up image outputted from an area sensor which has picked up said image of said first object formed by a microscope, said method comprising the steps of:

• (a) setting a first area which includes a second portion of a second object that has the same focusing point as that of said first portion of said first object as an area for detecting a focusing point, an image of said second object being formed at a position different from said image of said first portion of said first object but within the same picture area obtained by picking up said image of said first object by said area sensor;
• (b) detecting a focusing point of said area sensor on said second portion of said second object based on a video signal of said focusing-point detecting area out of a video signal from said area sensor;
• (c) controlling a relative position between said area sensor and said first object so that a position of said first portion of said first object with respect to said area sensor becomes said detected focusing point;
• and
• (d) executing an image processing of said picked-up image of said first portion of said first object based on said video signal obtained from said area sensor, after said step (c).

In an apparatus which comprises a microscope and an area sensor for picking up an image of a first object formed by said microscope and for outputting a video signal of said image of said first object and which carries out an image processing of the picked-up image of a first portion of said first object based on said video signal, an apparatus for automatically detecting a focusing point of said area sensor on said first portion of said first object, comprising:

• a second object disposed so as to form an image of said second object at a position different from said image of said first portion of said first object but within the same picture area obtained by picking up said image of said first object by said area sensor;
• means for extracting a video signal of an image within a focusing-point detecting area that includes a second portion of said second object having the same focusing point as that of said first portion of said first object of which image is to be processed, based on a video signal from said area sensor;
• means for detecting a focusing point of said area sensor on said second portion of said second object, based on a video signal of a picture within said focus-point detecting area;
• and
• means for outputting said detected focusing point as a focusing point of said area sensor on said first portion of said first object of which image is to be processed.

An apparatus comprising a microscope and an area sensor for picking up an image of a first object formed by said microscope and for outputting a video signal of said image of said first object and which carries out an image processing of said picked-up image of a first portion of said first object based on said video signal, further comprising:

• a second object disposed so as to form an image of said second object at a position different from said image of said first portion of said first object but within the same picture area obtained by picking up said image of said first object by said area sensor;
• means for extracting a video signal of a picture within a focusing-point detecting area that includes a second portion of said second object having the same focusing point as that of said first portion of said first object of which image is to be processed, based on a video signal from said area sensor;
• means for detecting a focusing point of said area sensor on said second portion of said second object, based on a video signal of a picture within said focusing-point detecting area;
• means for controlling a relative position between said area sensor and said first object so that a position of said first portion of said first object with respect to said area sensor becomes said detected focusing point;
• and
• means for carrying out an image processing of said picked-up image of said first portion of said first object based on a video signal obtained from said area sensor, after said relative positioning control.