Multifunctional control unit for a microscope

A microscope control system to control operation of a microscope comprising:

• a hand operated device adapted to be manipulated by a single hand of a user of said microscope and including a plurality of control buttons, at least one of said control buttons operable to perform a plurality of functions, said hand operated device being moveable by said user's hand to generate speed signals and being capable of generating a position signal and further including a rotatable wheel which generates focusing signals to control focusing of said microscope;
• and
• control means, responsive to control signals generated by said hand operated device upon actuation of said control buttons, said rotatable wheel and upon movement of said hand operated device, for controlling movement of a stage of said microscope and for controlling focusing of said microscope, said control means comprising:
• first context sensitive means, responsive to first and second actuation of a first of said control buttons, said first actuation causing initiation of a first microscope function and said second actuation on said microscope of a second function which is dependent on said first function;
• and
• second context sensitive means, responsive to first and second actuation of a second of said control buttons, said first actuation causing initiation of a first microscope function and said second actuation causing actuation on a personal computer, which is coupled to said control means, of a second function which is dependent on said first function.

A cytotechnologist work station comprising:

• a microscope which includes an electronically controlled stage and an electronically controlled focusing mechanism;
• a mouse, operable by a single hand of a user of said work station, to control movement of said stage and focusing of a lens of said microscope;
• and
• an electronic control unit which receives control signals from said mouse comprising,
• means, responsive to a first of said control signals, to initiate movement of said stage in a scan pattern;
• means, responsive to a second of said control signals, to stop movement of said stage when in said scan pattern;
• means, responsive to a third of said control signals, to cause movement of said stage in accordance with movement of said mouse;
• and
• means, responsive to a fourth of said control signals, generated by actuation of a button on said mouse, to perform a first function and to perform a second function, upon subsequent actuation of said button, said second function being determined by said first function.

A microscope control unit operable by a user of a microscope to control movement of a stage of said microscope and to control focusing of said microscope, said control unit comprising:

• means, responsive to a first user input, for causing initiation of a scan pattern of a specimen positioned on said stage;
• means, responsive to a second user input, to cause the speed of said scan pattern to change;
• mean, responsive to a third user input, to cause focusing of said specimen;
• means, responsive to a fourth user input, to cause said scan pattern to pause to allow said user to view a desired portion of said specimen;
• means, responsive to a fifth user input, to cause movement of said stage in accordance with said fifth user input while said scan pattern is paused;
• means, responsive to a sixth user input, to cause selection of an objective of said microscope;
• means, responsive to a seventh user input, to cause generation of a logical marker which is indicative of a position desired to be marked by said user for subsequent viewing;
• means, responsive to an eighth user input, to cause resumption of said scan sequence;
• and
• means, responsive to a ninth user input, to terminate said scan sequence.