With Plural Optical Axes Patents (Class 359/372)
  • Patent number: 11730365
    Abstract: To make it possible to improve user convenience, provided is a control device including: a control unit configured to control a position and an attitude of a microscope unit by driving an arm unit that supports the microscope unit on the basis of a captured image of an operating site photographed by the microscope unit during an operation so that a position and attitude condition set before the operation is satisfied. The position and attitude condition is a condition that prescribes a position and an attitude of the microscope unit with respect to the operating site to obtain a desired captured image corresponding to the position and attitude condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tomoyuki Ootsuki, Atsushi Miyamoto
  • Patent number: 11598712
    Abstract: A cell evaluation system includes physical measurement unit, a database, and evaluation unit. The evaluation unit refers to a relevance stored in the database, searches reference measurement information based on measurement information of a cell newly measured via the physical measurement unit, and evaluates the cell with biological measurement information associated with the searched reference measurement information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignees: THINKCYTE, INC., THE UNIVERSITY OF TOKYO
    Inventors: Masashi Ugawa, Yoko Kawamura, Sadao Ota
  • Patent number: 11478204
    Abstract: Provided is a medical display control device including a display control unit that causes a first captured medical image and a second captured medical image to be simultaneously displayed, the first captured medical image having been captured in an imaging device in a first imaging mode where imaging is performed with special light, the second captured medical image having been captured in the imaging device in a second imaging mode different from the first imaging mode before the first captured medical image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: SONY OLYMPUS MEDICAL SOLUTIONS INC.
    Inventors: Tomoko Terakado, Keiji Shioda
  • Patent number: 11378657
    Abstract: A time of flight sensor system having a time of flight sensor layer is disclosed. The system includes a covering window layer spaced apart from the time of flight sensor layer, with an exit window and an entrance window, an emitting element in the time of flight sensor layer that transmits an emission signal, a receiving element in the time of flight sensor layer that receives a reception signal, one or more opaque walls, and light baffles incorporated into the one or more opaque walls. The one or more opaque walls extend at least a portion of the distance from the time of flight sensor layer to the covering window layer. The one or more opaque walls reduce the reflection backscatter of emission signals and reception signals. The light baffles in the one or more opaque walls reduce backscatter of emission signals and reception signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: Datalogic IP Tech, S.r.l.
    Inventors: Marco Gnan, Paolo Quattrini
  • Patent number: 11170142
    Abstract: In an approach for providing simulation results of an interaction between a transducer head and a magnetic medium, a computer identifies a first raster scan of a sample via a scanning probe microscope. The computer generates a topography image based on the first raster scan of the sample. The computer identifies one or more reference features within the created topography image. The computer calculates an average height based on the one or more reference features. The computer determines a lift distance associated with a probe of the scanning probe microscope. The computer defines a uniform plane based on the calculated average height and the determined lift distance. The computer performs a second raster scan of the sample based on the defined uniform plane. The computer generates a fly-height image based on the second raster scan. The computer provides simulation results based at least in part on the second raster scan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Ho-Yiu Lam, Jason Liang
  • Patent number: 10168519
    Abstract: Systems and methods for generating light sheets suitable for use in single plane illumination microscopy may include a series of chambers in sequential communication with each other, the series of chambers including an optics system configured to convert a beam of light, such as a laser beam, into a planar light sheet. The series of chambers may include chambers having respective long axes oriented at an acute angle to each other to form a compact zig-zag pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: Applied Scientific Instrumentation, Inc.
    Inventor: Gary D. Rondeau
  • Patent number: 10157457
    Abstract: A method of generating 3D information of a sample using an optical microscope includes: varying the distance between the sample and an objective lens of the optical microscope at pre-determined steps, capturing an image at each pre-determined step, determining a characteristic value of each pixel in each captured image, determining a first captured image that is focused on a first surface of the sample based on the characteristic value of each pixel in each captured image, and determining a measurement of an opening in the first surface of the sample based on the first captured image. The first surface of the sample and the second surface of the sample are within a field of view of each of the captured images. The first captured image includes a pattern overlay. In another example, the opening measurement is determined using a second captured image without a pattern overlay.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2018
    Assignee: KLA-TENCOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: James Jianguo Xu, Ronny Soetarman, Ken Kinsun Lee, Nitigya Kathuria
  • Patent number: 10123696
    Abstract: A laser surgery system includes a light source, an eye interface device, a scanning assembly, a confocal detection assembly and preferably a confocal bypass assembly. The light source generates an electromagnetic beam. The scanning assembly scans a focal point of the electromagnetic beam to different locations within the eye. An optical path propagates the electromagnetic beam from a light source to the focal point, and also propagates a portion of the electromagnetic beam reflected from the focal point location back along at least a portion of the optical path. The optical path includes an optical element associated with a confocal detection assembly that diverts a portion of the reflected electromagnetic radiation to a sensor. The sensor generates an intensity signal indicative of intensity the electromagnetic beam reflected from the focal point location. The confocal bypass assembly reversibly diverts the electromagnetic beam along a diversion optical path around the optical element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: OPTIMEDICA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Georg Schuele, Noah Bareket, David Dewey, John S. Hart, Javier G Gonzalez, Raymond Woo, Thomas Z Teisseyre, Jeffrey A Golda, Katrina B Sheehy, Madeleine C O'Meara, Bruce Woodley
  • Patent number: 10048482
    Abstract: An arrangement for light sheet microscopy including illumination optics with an illumination objective for illuminating a sample, located in a medium on a sample carrier aligned with respect to a plane reference surface, with a light sheet. The arrangement further includes detection optics with a detection objective. The arrangement also includes a separating layer system with at least one layer separating the medium from the illumination and detection objectives. The separating layer system is aligned with a base surface parallel to the reference surface and contacts the medium by this base surface. At least one detection corrective lens, for reducing those aberrations occurring as a result of light to be detected passing obliquely through interfaces of the separating layer system, is configured as free-form lens and is arranged between the detection objective and the separating layer system. Alternatively, it also forms the front lens of the detection objective.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss Microscopy GmbH
    Inventor: Marco Pretorius
  • Patent number: 9535007
    Abstract: A low-noise fluorescence image and a low-noise luminescence image are acquired even if a luminescent substance having a high luminescence level is used. Provided is a measuring apparatus including an illumination optical system that radiates excitation light coming from an excitation light source onto a specimen A, an image acquisition portion that acquires an image by measuring light generated at the specimen, and an image processing portion that, based on a first image, which is acquired by the image acquisition portion without radiating the excitation light, and a second image, which is acquired by the image acquisition portion while radiating the excitation light, generates a fluorescence image by removing a luminescence component from the second image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Toshiyuki Hattori
  • Patent number: 9411144
    Abstract: Various superimposing beam controls that can superimpose beams of light with different optical properties are described. In one aspect, a beam control receives a beam of light and outputs one or more beams. Each beam is output in a different polarization state and with different optical properties. Superimposing beam controls can be incorporated in fluorescence microscopy instruments to split a beam of excitation light into one or more beams of excitation light. Each beam of excitation light has a different polarization and is output with different optical properties so that each excitation beam can be used to execute a different microscopy technique.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: GE HEALTHCARE BIO-SCIENCES CORP.
    Inventor: Jeremy R. Cooper
  • Patent number: 9138593
    Abstract: The light capsule object of the present invention is an ingestible device designed to illuminate the gastric cavity of the stomach for therapeutic purposes directed against Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) bacteria. It comprises: a casing transparent to visible light, in turn containing punctiform light sources, preferably constituted by LEDs, positioned immediately under said casing and capable of emitting light at appropriate wavelength bands (preferably 405 nm and 630 nm); a battery, adapted to power the LED sources for approximately 20-30 minutes (the average transit time in the stomach); a switch which allows a delayed power on and allows the tablet to be still “off” when it is swallowed. The light emitted by the capsule strikes the H. pylori bacteria anchored on the gastric wall. The light radiation is preferentially absorbed by molecules of porphyrin produced by the bacterium which works as photosensitizing agent by inducing the formation of cytotoxic molecular species.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: UNIVERSITA' DEGLI STUDI DI FIRENZE
    Inventors: Calogero Surrenti, Franco Fusi, Elisabetta Surrenti, Giovanni Romano, Barbara Orsini, Monica Monici
  • Patent number: 9127931
    Abstract: A thickness-information acquisition apparatus includes: an image acquisition section configured to acquire a phase-difference image of a sample; a correlation-distribution computation section configured to compute a correlation distribution of an image in the phase-difference image with respect to pixels of another image in the phase-difference image; and a thickness-information acquisition section configured to acquire information on the thickness of the sample in accordance with the correlation distribution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Takashi Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 9006657
    Abstract: In an optical measuring device, the visual observation section includes: a white light source which emits white light; a first objective lens arranged between the white light source and measurement object, through which the white light emitted from the white light source and return light from the measurement object transmit; a plurality of tube lenses which change a magnification of the return light passing through the first objective lens to a predetermined magnification; and a lens switching mechanism which can selectively switch the tube lenses so as to select one of the tube lenses to be arranged on the return light, and the special observation section includes: a special light source which emits special light; and a second objective lens arranged between the special light source and measurement object, through which the special light emitted from the special light source and return light from the measurement object transmit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Mitutoyo Corporation
    Inventors: Kenji Okabe, Tatsuya Nagahama, Nobuya Kaneko
  • Patent number: 8982455
    Abstract: A modular laser scanning system where the laser scanner and various optical “building blocks” are contained in separate mechanical and optical modules. These modules can be combined to provide flexible systems with unique laser scanning capabilities or combinations of techniques. Additionally, the combining of these modules is achieved through the use of a mechanical and optical coupling standard.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Intelligent Imaging Innovations, Inc.
    Inventor: Glen Ivan Redford
  • Publication number: 20150054937
    Abstract: The invention relates to a light microscope comprising a polychromatic light source for emitting illumination light in the direction of a sample, focussing means for focussing illumination light onto the sample, wherein the focussing means, for generating a depth resolution, have a longitudinal chromatic aberration, and a detection device, which comprises a two-dimensional array of detector elements, for detecting sample light coming from the sample. According to the invention, the light microscope is characterized in that, for detecting both confocal portions and non-confocal portions of the sample light, a beam path from the sample to the detection device is free of elements for completely masking out non-confocal portions. In addition, the invention relates to a method for image recording using a light microscope.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2013
    Publication date: February 26, 2015
    Applicant: Carl Zeiss Microscopy GmbH
    Inventors: Helmut Lippert, Ralf Netz, Tiemo Anhut, Nils Langholz, Matthias Langhorst
  • Publication number: 20140168403
    Abstract: A digital microscope system, having one or several objectives, a tube lens system, a digital image recording device, a stand, a holder for a specimen and an illuminating apparatus, and optionally at least one magnification changer. One or several objectives, the tube lens system, the digital image recording device and the illuminating apparatus are integrated into a compact optical assembly, and the optical assembly is joinable to the stand in several versions that differ with regard to the spatial position and orientation of the optical assembly relative to the stand and to the specimen. The spatial position and orientation of the optical assembly relative to the stand and to the specimen may correspond, in a first version of the joining, to an upright microscope configuration and, in a second version of the joining, to an inverted microscope configuration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2013
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Inventors: Johannes WINTEROT, Hans TANDLER, Johannes KNOBLICH
  • Patent number: 8746931
    Abstract: Light incoupling structures for lighting applications, such as lightguides, are described herein. The incoupling structures include an optically substantially transparent medium for transporting light emitted by a light source and an optical element including at least one hole in the medium for coupling light together with optional further optical elements. A lighting element includes a light source with related integrated optics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Modilis Holdings LLC
    Inventor: Kari J. Rinko
  • Patent number: 8692867
    Abstract: An image acquisition device having a wide field of view includes a lens and image sensor configured to capture an original wide field of view (WFoV) image with a field of view of more than 90°. The device has an object detection engine that includes one or more cascades of object classifiers, e.g., face classifiers. A WFoV correction engine may apply rectilinear and/or cylindrical projections to pixels of the WFoV image, and/or non-linear, rectilinear and/or cylindrical lens elements or lens portions serve to prevent and/or correct distortion within the original WFoV image. One or more objects located within the original and/or distortion-corrected WFoV image is/are detectable by the object detection engine upon application of the one or more cascades of object classifiers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: DigitalOptics Corporation Europe Limited
    Inventors: Petronel Bigioi, Alexandru Drimbarean, Mihnea Gangea, Piotr Stec, Peter Corcoran
  • Patent number: 8634133
    Abstract: A slit 9 having a predetermined length is formed in a mirror 8 and an illumination light L of illumination part 10 irradiates an observation area E in a manner of zero-angle illumination to an optical axis K. The illumination part is movable to form an oblique path of the illumination light L which passes through the slit 9. A shadow appears due to the oblique path of the illumination light L and it facilitates a stereoscopic observation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: Mitaka Kohki Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masao Doi, Toshio Yamazaki
  • Publication number: 20130229707
    Abstract: An observation apparatus comprising: a beam-splitter including first and second plane-parallel plates respectively having first and second faces and third and fourth faces parallel to one another, and a light-splitting section allowing T % of incident light from a first-and-third-face side to pass therethrough to a second-and-fourth-face side, as transmitted light, while reflecting (100?T) % thereof in a direction parallel with the first to fourth faces as reflected light; and first and second observation optical systems to observe an entire observation target and partially magnify and observe the target, respectively, the first and second plane-parallel plates including light-reducing sections, allowing T % of the incident light to pass therethrough, in areas through which neither the incident nor transmitted light pass, the beam splitter arranged so that the first and third faces oppose the target and the transmitted and reflected lights are guided to the first and second observation optical systems, respec
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2013
    Publication date: September 5, 2013
    Applicant: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd
    Inventor: Akira SAKAGUCHI
  • Publication number: 20130155218
    Abstract: The invention relates to a microscope having an illumination beam path with wide field illumination of a sample and a first detection beam path having a spatially resolved surface receiver, which is reached by a first part of the detection light coming from the sample via the first detection beam path, or an image divider assembly for a microscope. In order to lengthen the optical path length, at least a second part of the detection light coming from the sample is masked out of the detection beam path and, via deflection means belonging to the detection beam path, is led into a second detection beam path and, preferably via further deflection means, is deflected back in the direction of the detection in such a way that detection light is applied to at least two partial regions beside one another on the surface receiver.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2010
    Publication date: June 20, 2013
    Inventors: Dr. Thomas Kalkbrenner, Michael Goelles
  • Publication number: 20130094071
    Abstract: A fast modular port switching device is described. The device can be used with an optical microscope to facilitate using multiple devices with the microscope. The port switching is done with a galvanometer for switching very fast. The device is modular so it can be combined with any number of similar devices for building a complex, multi-modal imaging system. Also described is the combination of a port switcher with automated spherical aberration correction. Even further described is a similar device where the outputs are recombined, thus making the device a fast filter switcher.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2012
    Publication date: April 18, 2013
    Applicant: INTELLIGENT IMAGING INNOVATIONS, INC.
    Inventor: INTELLIGENT IMAGING INNOVATIONS, INC.
  • Patent number: 8305684
    Abstract: A microscope apparatus configured to enlarge entrance pupils while maintaining the rotational symmetry of optical systems of a plurality of optical paths after ejection of light from an objective lens to bring out the performance of the objective lens. A microscope apparatus includes an objective lens having a function of collecting light from the object; and optical paths in which all lens groups are rotational symmetric systems and through which light exited from the objective lens passes, wherein when a sum of maximum diameters of entrance pupils of optical systems forming any two of the optical paths is set as ?Di, and an axial luminous flux diameter determined from a maximum aperture angle ? and a focal distance f of the objective lens is set as Dobj, a condition of the following expression is satisfied, ?Di>Dobj where Dobj=2·f·sin ?.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventor: Masahiro Mizuta
  • Patent number: 8275226
    Abstract: A multi-mode optical fiber delivers light from a radiation source to a multi-focal confocal microscope with reasonable efficiency. A core diameter of the multi-mode fiber is selected such that an etendue of light emitted from the fiber is not substantially greater than a total etendue of light passing through a plurality of pinholes in a pinhole array of the multi-focal confocal microscope. The core diameter may be selected taking into account a specific optical geometry of the multi-focal confocal microscope, including pinhole diameter and focal lengths of relevant optical elements. For coherent radiation sources, phase randomization may be included. A multi-mode fiber enables the use of a variety of radiation sources and wavelengths in a multi-focal confocal microscope, since the coupling of the radiation source to the multi-mode fiber is less sensitive to mechanical and temperature influences than coupling the radiation source to a single mode fiber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: Spectral Applied Research Ltd.
    Inventor: Richard Berman
  • Patent number: 8264767
    Abstract: A surgical observation system provided with a supporting arm movable in the three-dimensional direction includes an endoscope objective unit having a tubular insertion section and provided with objective optical systems, a microscope objective unit provided with objective optical systems having a focusing optical system and variable magnification optical systems, and a mounting and dismounting section provided in the supporting arm, mountable and dismountable with respect to the objective units by having interchangeability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: Olympus Medical Systems Corp.
    Inventor: Junichi Nozawa
  • Patent number: 8221304
    Abstract: There is disclosed an operation microscope in which an observing and displaying system of an operating instrument are selected, and an endoscope image for observing a dead angle of the microscope and a navigation image are selectively displayed in a microscope observation field, so that a tomographic image, three-dimensionally constructed image, and the like can be selectively displayed in a display screen in accordance with a treatment position displayed in a monitor or an observation position of the operation microscope.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventors: Keiji Shioda, Kazuhito Nakanishi, Masakazu Mizoguchi, Takashi Fukaya, Wataru Ohno, Masahiko Kinukawa, Masaaki Ueda, Motokazu Nakamura, Toru Shinmura, Kazuo Morita
  • Publication number: 20120127567
    Abstract: The invention pertains to an objective with two viewing directions for an endoscope, with a first distal objective part aligned with its axis in the first viewing direction, a second objective part aligned with its axis in the second viewing direction, and with a proximal objective part directed with its axis on an image sensor or an image guide, as well as a switching device having a prism for switchably deflecting the light path from the first or second distal objective part into the proximal objective part, wherein the switching device includes a ray switching device that can be brought mechanically into the light path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2010
    Publication date: May 24, 2012
    Applicant: OLYMPUS WINTER & IBE GMBH
    Inventors: Peter Schouwink, Takayuki Kato
  • Patent number: 8164622
    Abstract: Systems and methods for microscope slide scanning using multiple sensor arrays that receive imagery data from a single optical axis are provided. A single, high quality, easily obtained microscope objective lens is used to project an image onto two or more sensor arrays. The sensor arrays can be linear or two dimensional and imaging takes place along a single optical axis. Simultaneous sensor acquisition and parallel data processing reduce the image acquisition time by a factor of N, where N represents the number of sensors employed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: Aperio Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Greg Crandall
  • Publication number: 20120050850
    Abstract: A microscope includes a first imaging optical system that images light beams from a cell tissue sample, a second imaging optical system having a light beam splitting element which splits a portion of the light beams from the cell tissue sample from the first imaging optical system, an imaging element which captures phase contrast images of a portion of the light beams, which have been split, from the cell tissue sample, and one or a plurality of optical elements which forms the phase contrast images on the imaging element, and a filter inserting unit that inserts an optical filter absorbing light of a predetermined wavelength into an optical path of the second imaging optical system, wherein the filter inserting unit inserts the optical filter absorbing light of a wavelength corresponding to a complementary color of a color of an observed target according to the color of the observed target.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2011
    Publication date: March 1, 2012
    Applicant: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takashi Yamamoto, Norihiro Tanabe
  • Patent number: 8120693
    Abstract: An imaging unit including an image sensor, an incident-side prism, an exit-side prism, and an intermediate optical system positioned therebetween, wherein light incident on the incident-side prism passes through the incident-side prism, the intermediate optical system and the exit-side prism to be incident on the image sensor, the imaging unit includes a housing supporting the incident-side prism, the exit-side prism and the intermediate optical system such that incident and exit optical axes of the incident-side prism, an optical axis of the intermediate optical system, and incident and exit optical axes of the exit-side prism all lie on a common plane; and a cover board, on which the image sensor is mounted, fixed to the housing so that the image sensor faces an exit surface of the exit-side prism, the cover board closing an opening of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: Hoya Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Nomura, Isao Okuda, Eijiroh Tada, Atsumi Kaneko
  • Publication number: 20120038978
    Abstract: A microscope includes a first imaging optical system that images sample transmitted light transmitted through a sample provided on a stage, and a second imaging optical system that images a part of the sample transmitted light branched from the first imaging optical system. Here, the second imaging optical system includes a light beam branching element that branches the part of the sample transmitted light from the first imaging optical system, and has a thickness of a predetermined threshold or more, an imaging element that images a phase difference image of the branched sample transmitted light, one or a plurality of optical elements that images an image of the phase difference image of the branched sample transmitted light on the imaging element, and a filter that shields a part of the branched sample transmitted light imaged on the imaging element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2011
    Publication date: February 16, 2012
    Applicant: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Norihiro Tanabe, Takashi Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 8106943
    Abstract: A microscope image pickup system is one having a microscope apparatus enabled to change an observation state by driving one or more optical members, which comprises: an image pickup unit for picking up an image of an observation object; an image process unit for applying an image process to an image picked up by the image pickup unit; an input unit for inputting a process factor of the image process unit, wherein an observation state of the microscope apparatus and/or an image pickup condition of the image pickup unit are set up and an image is picked up so as to pick up an image of an image quality being equal to, or better than, that of an image to which an image process is applied on the basis of the process factor input from the input unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventor: Yasuko Ishii
  • Publication number: 20120008194
    Abstract: Provided is an imaging optical system that can prevent enlargement of the entire optical system of a microscope apparatus while holding a wide distance between optical axes to allow enlargement to a low-power range. A variable power optical system 3 used in a parallel stereoscopic microscope apparatus 100 and the like includes a plurality of optical paths in which optical axes are arranged substantially parallel, includes a plurality of lens groups that change the magnification of a diameter of a luminous flux entering substantially parallel to each of the optical paths to eject the luminous flux as substantially parallel luminous fluxes, and at least two lens groups move along the optical axis in each optical path according to the change in the magnification.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2011
    Publication date: January 12, 2012
    Applicant: Nikon Corporation
    Inventors: Masahiro MIZUTA, Hiroaki Nakayama, Yumiko Ouchi
  • Publication number: 20110317258
    Abstract: Microscope, particularly laser scanning microscope, for optical detection of light radiation excited in a specimen, having a detection beam path for detecting spectral components of the light radiation in a plurality of detection channels, wherein the light radiation arrives at a variable longpass filter or shortpass filter from which reflected and/or transmitted components are reflected back with a parallel offset, and the latter arrive at a detector after at least one back-reflection of this kind.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2010
    Publication date: December 29, 2011
    Applicant: Carl Zeiss Microlmaging GmbH
    Inventor: Ralf Wolleschensky
  • Publication number: 20110292180
    Abstract: A microscope having a night vision apparatus, which apparatus can be impinged upon by beam paths proceeding from a specimen or object to be observed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2011
    Publication date: December 1, 2011
    Applicant: LEICA MICROSYSTEMS (SCHWEIZ) AG
    Inventor: Ulrich Sander
  • Publication number: 20110273767
    Abstract: A movable objective lens assembly that includes an infinity-corrected objective lens providing the microscope with an optical field of view. The assembly permits the imaging of a specimen under investigation over an area of the specimen much larger than the field of view of the objective lens without moving the microscope and/or a specimen stage relative to one another. The assembly includes a mirror system and the linearly movable infinity-corrected objective lens. The mirror system includes a plurality of mirrors that provide a folded optical path that allows the objective lens to be moved relative to the specimen without moving the entire microscope. The mirror system and the objective lens are pivotably mounted relative to the rest of the microscope so as to allow the objective lens to be located substantially anywhere within a circular, or circular-sectoral, viewing area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2011
    Publication date: November 10, 2011
    Applicant: MICROBRIGHTFIELD, INC.
    Inventors: Jacob R. Glaser, Christoph Schmitz, Jeffrey H. Sprenger
  • Patent number: 8054561
    Abstract: An optical system is described for merging a first and a second partial image beam emanating from a specimen into a resultant image beam allowing modification of the areal proportion of the respective first or second partial image beam in the resultant image beam. A stop arrangement comprises at least a first and a second movable stop element each comprising at least one stop region adapted to be brought into a working position with the first or second partial image beam. Movably arranged connecting means for connecting the two stop elements are provided to modify the respective areal proportions of the partial image beams in the resultant image beam by movement of the connecting means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: Leica Microsystems CMS GmbH
    Inventor: Claus Bender
  • Patent number: 8054542
    Abstract: A scanning laser microscope includes a laser light source; an acousto-optic deflector having a crystal, being arranged in an optical path of a laser beam emitted from the laser light source and capable of changing a traveling direction of the laser beam when frequencies of acoustic waves applied to the crystal are changed; a frequency control unit configured to simultaneously apply acoustic waves having a plurality of frequencies to the crystal of the acousto-optic deflector; an objective lens configured to converge the laser beam emitted from the laser light source to form a beam spot on a specimen; and an optical scanning device configured to two-dimensionally scan the scanning spot by deflecting the laser beam in two directions perpendicular to each other. The acousto-optic deflector, the optical scanning device, and a pupil of the objective lens are arranged at positions optically conjugate with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Sasaki, Yasunari Matsukawa
  • Publication number: 20110221749
    Abstract: A micro-mirror well. In one embodiment the micro-mirror well includes a plurality of planar mirrors arranged around an axis of symmetry and inclined to form a pyramid well, where each of the plurality of planar mirrors is capable of reflecting light emitting from an object of interest placed inside the pyramid well.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2011
    Publication date: September 15, 2011
    Applicant: VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Kevin Truett Seale, Ronald S. Reiserer, John P. Wikswo
  • Patent number: 8018651
    Abstract: A microscope having a night vision apparatus, which apparatus can be impinged upon by beam paths proceeding from a specimen or object to be observed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: Leica Instruments (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
    Inventor: Ulrich Sander
  • Patent number: 7988297
    Abstract: Non-rigidly coupled, overlapping, non-feedback optical systems for spatial filtering of Fourier transform optical patterns and image shape characterization comprises a first optical subsystem that includes a lens for focusing a polarized, coherent beam to a focal point, an image input device that spatially modulates phase positioned between the lens and the focal point, and a spatial filter at the Fourier transform pattern, and a second optical subsystem overlapping the first optical subsystem includes a projection lens and a detector. The second optical subsystem is optically coupled to the first optical subsystem.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: Look Dynamics, Inc.
    Inventor: Rikk Crill
  • Patent number: 7961385
    Abstract: An assistant microscope add-on device for a surgical microscope (1) comprises an objective (22) inclined relative to an object plane (10) with an object field (10?), wherein the objective defines an objective plane (22?) and an objective axis (16?) perpendicular thereto forming an angle ? larger than 0° to the surface normal of the object plane (10). A tube (23) and an eyepiece (24) having an eyepiece lens (27) defining an eyepiece plane (27?) and an eyepiece axis (35) perpendicular thereto. Due to the oblique viewing angle, an intermediate image plane (26) to be imaged by the eyepiece (24) is inclined relative to the objective plane (22?). The resulting aberration is eliminated by the eyepiece axis (35) and the objective axis (16?) forming an angle ? of larger than 0°, wherein the angle ? is so chosen that the eyepiece axis (35) is substantially perpendicular to the intermediate image plane (26). Consequently, the object field (10?) is imaged free of distortion and sharply across the entire image area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: Leica Instruments (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
    Inventor: Ulrich Sander
  • Patent number: 7949161
    Abstract: An obtainment unit obtains microscopic images in a time series obtained by picking up images of a specimen as a motion image and also obtains microscope information that is information correlated with each of the microscopic images and the information that indicates an observation state of the microscope when the microscopic image has been picked up. An image synthesis unit synthesizes individual microscopic images constituting the motion image based on position information which is included in the microscope information and which indicate positions of the specimen when the microscopic image has been picked up, thereby synthesizing a wider view image than the microscopic image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventors: Hideyuki Kawanabe, Takashi Yoneyama, Tetsuya Shirota
  • Publication number: 20110102887
    Abstract: A fast modular port switching device is used with an optical microscope to facilitate using multiple devices with the microscope. The port switching is done with a galvanometer for switching very fast. The device is modular so it can be combined with any number of similar devices for building a complex, multi-modal imaging system. Also described is the combination of a port switcher with automated spherical aberration correction. Also described is a similar device where the outputs are recombined, thus making the device a fast filter switcher.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2010
    Publication date: May 5, 2011
    Applicant: INTELLIGENT IMAGING INNOVATIONS, INC.
    Inventor: Glen Ivan Redford
  • Patent number: 7894130
    Abstract: A stereomicroscope (20) has first and second main beam paths (21, 22) whose spacing defines a stereo base (23), a microscope axis (24) proceeding through the center of the stereo base (23) parallel to the main beam paths; and an optical beam splitter device (30) for generating an assistant's beam path (31) and a documentation beam path (32), the assistant's beam path being outcoupled from the first main beam path in a first position of the beam splitter device, and from the second main beam path in a second position, and the documentation beam path being outcoupled from the other main beam path; and the direction of the assistant's beam path in the first position being rotated 180° relative to the assistant's beam path in the second position; and the outcoupled documentation beam path extending, in both positions of the beam splitter device, perpendicular to the outcoupled assistant's beam path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: Leica Instruments (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Lothar Knuenz, Heinz Suhner
  • Publication number: 20100302628
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a microscope of which visibility, controllability and operability can be improved. In the microscope, an optical path and optical path of an image forming system are set so as to be perpendicular to each other when viewed from the top. In other words, in this microscope, there exists an ocular optical system that guides light, which propagates the optical path to optical path of the image forming system, to a user. The optical path is formed in a direction perpendicular to a direction of the light from a sample emitted from the ocular optical system to the user. The present invention can be applied to an inverted microscope.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2008
    Publication date: December 2, 2010
    Applicant: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Toru Murayama, Atsushi Takeuchi, Yumiko Ouchi, Yuki Yoshida
  • Patent number: 7791794
    Abstract: A surgical microscope (100) has viewing beams (109a, 109b) passing through a microscope imaging optic which includes a microscope main objective system (101) having a magnification system of variable magnification. The microscope imaging optic transposes a convergent viewing beam (109a, 109b) from the object region (114) into a parallel beam. The surgical microscope includes an OCT-system (120) for examining the object region (114). The OCT-system (120) makes available an OCT-scanning beam (190) which is guided through the microscope imaging optic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss Surgical GmbH
    Inventors: Peter Reimer, Christoph Hauger, Alfons Abele, Markus Seesselberg
  • Patent number: 7782529
    Abstract: A scanning microscope including a light source for generating an illumination light beam, a beam deflection apparatus for guiding solely the illumination light beam via an illumination light path over and/or through a sample, at least one objective for focusing the illumination light beam onto and/or into the sample, components for generating a manipulation illumination pattern, components for imaging the manipulation illumination pattern onto and/or into the sample via a manipulation light path, and a detection device that receives detected light emanating from the sample. The manipulation light path omits the beam deflection apparatus and is separate from the illumination light path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2010
    Assignee: Leica Microsystems CMS GmbH
    Inventor: Werner Knebel
  • Publication number: 20100202042
    Abstract: A multiple magnification optical system (220) for viewing a specimen has a single objective lens (100) focused upon a specimen (115) at a given working distance (180). A graded-index lens (120) is positioned to receive light passing through the objective lens (100) from the specimen (115) and preserve the phase of the light entering from the objective (100). A beam splitter (130) splits the light exiting the gradient-index lens (120) into a first optical axis (200) and a second optical axis (210). The objective lens (100) is located within the chamber of a vacuum instrument, and the beam splitter (130) and parts following in the optical train are located outside the vacuum chamber. A first lens (130) is aligned in the first optical axis (200) between the beam splitter (130) and a first camera (150) to focus a magnified image at the first camera (150).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2010
    Publication date: August 12, 2010
    Applicant: OMNIPROBE, INC.
    Inventors: Herschel M. Marchman, Gonzalo Amador