Abstract: An apparatus and method for automated assay of biological specimens positioned on microscope slides. The apparatus comprises an interactive optical subsystem for viewing the biological specimen on the slide and for producing an interactive video signal corresponding to the viewed image. An automated optical subsystem includes a single high power microscope objective for scanning a rack of slides, portions of which having been previously identified for assay in the interactive optical subsystem. The system also includes a processor for processing the interactive and automatic video signals from the two optical subsystems. The processor receives the automatic video signal and performs biological assay functions upon it.

Abstract: A solderless terminal inspecting method and apparatus for determining if a solderless terminal has been satisfactorily crimped against an electric conductor has a main illuminating device for illuminating a solderless terminal having illuminating elements extending in substantially the same direction as a length of a solderless terminal. The inspecting apparatus also includes an auxiliary illuminating device for illuminating a solderless terminal in a direction opposite to the illuminating direction of the main illuminating device. The apparatus also includes an illuminated image receiving device for receiving the illuminated image of the solderless terminal. The image of the solderless terminal received by the image receiving device is binary-coded by using at least one binary level determined according to an area histogram which has been obtained in advance, and an image processing device determines from the image whether the solderless terminal is correctly crimped to the electric conductor.