Peripheral interface, data stream, and data transfer method

A laser scanning microscope comprising:

• a peripheral interface;
• a control computer including a central processing unit configured for generating a data stream of control data to the peripheral interface, wherein the data stream includes an instruction for a modification of the data stream output to the peripheral device by the peripheral interface, and wherein the instruction contains at least one unconditional jump command to continue the output at a stream position which is determined from the jump command or is derivable from the jump command;
• and
• a component controlled by the control computer,
• wherein the peripheral interface includes a controller for receiving as an input data stream the data stream sent from the control computer, for identifying in the input data stream the instruction for a modification of the data stream, for modifying the data stream for output by the peripheral interface in accordance with the identified instruction to continue the output at a stream position which is determined from the jump command or is derivable from the jump command, and for delivering the modified data stream from the peripheral interface to the component.

A method for the transfer of a data stream from a central processing unit of a control computer to a peripheral device controlled by the control computer, across a peripheral interface of the control computer, the peripheral interface including a controller, the method comprising the steps of:

• sending a data stream generated by the central processing unit to the peripheral interface, wherein the data steam sent by the central processing unit includes an instruction for a modification of the data stream output to the peripheral device by the peripheral interface, and wherein the instruction contains at least one unconditional jump command to continue the output at a stream position which is determined from the jump command or is derivable from the jump command;
• receiving the data steam at the peripheral interface as an input data stream;
• with the controller of the peripheral interface, identifying in the input data stream the instruction for a modification of the output data stream;
• with the controller of the peripheral interface, modifying the output data stream in accordance with the identified instruction;
• and
• delivering the output data stream from the peripheral interface to the peripheral device.

A method for the transfer of a data stream from a central processing unit of a control computer to a peripheral device controlled by the control computer, across a peripheral interface of the control computer, the peripheral interface including a controller, the method comprising the steps of:

• sending a data stream generated by the central processing unit to the peripheral interface, wherein the data steam sent by the central processing unit includes an instruction for a modification of the data stream output to the peripheral device by the peripheral interface, and wherein the instruction contains a conditional or unconditional jump command to continue the output at a stream position which is determined from the jump command or is derivable from the jump command;
• receiving the data steam at the peripheral interface as an input data stream;
• with the controller of the peripheral interface, identifying in the input data stream the instruction for a modification of the output data stream;
• with the controller of the peripheral interface, modifying the output data stream in accordance with the identified instruction;
• delivering the output data stream from the peripheral interface to the peripheral device;
• and
• with the controller of the peripheral interface, identifying an interruption in the data input data stream being received and then outputting a substitute data stream, wherein the substitute data stream is formed prior to a changeover to subsequent normal control data, so that the substitute data stream places the peripheral device in the same state as does the normal control data preceding the substitute data stream.

A peripheral interface for transferring a data stream between a control computer and a peripheral device that is a component of a laser scanning microscope, wherein the control computer includes a central processing unit for sending a data stream across the peripheral interface for controlling the peripheral device, wherein the data stream sent by the central processing unit to the peripheral interface includes an instruction for a modification of the data stream output to the peripheral device by the peripheral interface, and wherein the instruction contains a conditional or unconditional jump command to continue the output at a stream position which is determined from the jump command or is derivable from the jump command, the peripheral interface comprising:

• a controller for receiving as an input data stream the data stream sent by the central processing unit to the peripheral interface, for identifying in the input data stream the instruction for a modification of the data stream, for modifying the data stream for output by the peripheral device in accordance with the identified instruction to continue the output at a stream position which is determined from the jump command or is derivable from the jump command, and for delivering the modified data stream from the peripheral interface to the peripheral device;
• wherein:
• the peripheral device is a scanner with a periodic movement, wherein one movement period corresponds to the time for recording of two pixel lines, and
• the control computer provides the data stream block-by-block to the scanner during a measurement, and for each movement period, generates one data block Bn′ with a segment Bn that contains control data for the scanner and with a segment SOS that contains substitute data for control of the scanner.

A laser scanning microscope comprising:

• a peripheral interface;
• a control computer for sending a data stream of control data to the peripheral interface, wherein the data stream includes an instruction for a modification of the data stream output to the peripheral device by the peripheral interface, and wherein the instruction contains a conditional or unconditional jump command to continue the output at a stream position which is determined from the jump command or is derivable from the jump command;
• and
• a component controlled by the control computer,
• wherein:
• the peripheral interface includes a controller for receiving as an input data stream the data stream sent from the control computer, for identifying in the input data stream the instruction for a modification of the data stream, for modifying the data stream for output by the peripheral interface in accordance with the identified instruction to continue the output at a stream position which is determined from the jump command or is derivable from the jump command, and for delivering the modified data stream from the peripheral interface to the component;
• the component controlled by the control computer is a scanner with a periodic movement, wherein one movement period corresponds to the time for recording of two pixel lines, and
• the control computer provides the data stream block-by-block to the scanner during a measurement, and for each movement period, generates two data blocks Bn′ and Bn+1′ with a segment Bn that contains control data for the scanner and with a segment SOS that contains substitute data for control of the scanner.