Abstract: A controller of a confocal microscope is provided with an image capturing function and a temporary storing function. On the other hand, the host computer is provided with an image display, image recording, and other processing functions. Further, the controller and the host computer are connected to each other with an asynchronous communication interface. With such a system configuration, it is possible to maintain high independence of the controller and the host computer. Accordingly, even in the course of the image capture by the controller, other processings can be smoothly executed on the host computer side.

Abstract: A controller of a confocal microscope is provided with an image capturing function and a temporarily storing function. On the other hand, the host computer is provided with an image display, image recording, and other processing functions. Further, the controller and the host computer are connected to each other with an asynchronous communication interface. With such a system configuration, it is possible to maintain high independence of the controller and the host computer. Accordingly, even in the course of the image capture by the controller, other processings can be smoothly executed on the host computer side.

Abstract: A confocal microscope has a light source, a scanning device for two-dimensionally scanning light from the light source on a specimen, an objective lens arranged between the scanning device and the specimen, a driving device for moving the objective lens and the specimen relative to each other in the optical axis direction of the objective lens, a control circuit for simultaneously driving the scanning device and the driving device, and controlling the scanning speed of the scanning device and the moving speed of the driving device, an image acquisition device for detecting light from the specimen while the scanning device and the driving device are being driven, and acquiring slice images of the specimen on planes respectively perpendicular to two inclined axes which are symmetrical about the optical axis or an axis inclined from the optical axis, and a display device for displaying a stereoscopic image of the specimen on the basis of the images acquired by the image acquisition device.

Abstract: A flow cell (112) used for detecting a characteristic of a continuously-flowing fluid comprises a narrow inlet path (118) for the fluid, a flow cell portion (112) having a diameter larger than that of the narrow inlet path (118), and flow-regulating portion (122) which is disposed between the narrow inlet path (118) and the flow cell portion (112) and has a diameter substantially the same as that of the flow cell portion (112) and a plurality of holes (134a to 134d), such that the fluid is introduced from the narrow inlet path (118) into the flow cell portion (112) by way of each of the holes (134a to 134d) of the flow-regulating portion (122).