Abstract: An image acquisition apparatus 1A includes a sample stage 10 for placing a sample S thereon, an image pickup device 20 capable of acquiring a two-dimensional image and TDI driving, an image pickup optical system 30 including an objective lens 32, a scanning unit for acquiring an observation image while scanning the sample S by the image pickup device 20 and the image pickup optical system 30, and a focus oscillation control device 40 for controlling oscillation of a focus in the sample S so that an image pickup focus in the sample S oscillates at an oscillation frequency fs in an optical axis direction. The focus oscillation control device 40 sets the oscillation frequency fs so that the oscillation frequency fs substantially coincides with Ns times (Ns is an integer not less than 1) the basic frequency, which is a reciprocal 1/Ti of an image pickup period Ti of TDI driving in the image pickup device 20.

Abstract: An image acquisition apparatus 1A includes a sample stage 10 for placing a sample S thereon, an image pickup device 20 capable of acquiring a two-dimensional image and TDI driving, an image pickup optical system 30 including an objective lens 32, a scanning unit for acquiring an observation image while scanning the sample S by the image pickup device 20 and the image pickup optical system 30, and a focus oscillation control device 40 for controlling oscillation of a focus in the sample S so that an image pickup focus in the sample S oscillates at an oscillation frequency fs in an optical axis direction. The focus oscillation control device 40 sets the oscillation frequency fs so that the oscillation frequency fs substantially coincides with Ns times (Ns is an integer not less than 1) the basic frequency, which is a reciprocal 1/Ti of an image pickup period Ti of TDI driving in the image pickup device 20.

Abstract: A microscope system is constructed by a light guiding optical system 20 having an objective lens 21 and beam splitters 27a and 27b for splitting an optical image of a sample S, a photodetector 31 for acquiring an image of the sample S, and two CCD cameras 33 and 34 for focus control disposed on optical paths split by the beam splitters 27a and 27b. The cameras 33 and 34 are disposed being inclined with respect to the optical path so that the optical paths thereof in the light guiding optical system 20 vary along a z-axis direction in opposite directions to each other. Images acquired by these cameras 33 and 34 are analyzed in a focus controller 37, and the image pickup focal point to the sample S is controlled on the basis of the analysis result, whereby the focus control when an image of the sample is acquired can be suitably performed.

Abstract: A microscope system is constructed by a light guiding optical system 20 having an objective lens 21 and beam splitters 27a and 27b for splitting an optical image of a sample S, a photodetector 31 for acquiring an image of the sample S, and two CCD cameras 33 and 34 for focus control disposed on optical paths split by the beam splitters 27a and 27b. The cameras 33 and 34 are disposed being inclined with respect to the optical path so that the optical paths thereof in the light guiding optical system 20 vary along a z-axis direction in opposite directions to each other. Images acquired by these cameras 33 and 34 are analyzed in a focus controller 37, and the image pickup focal point to the sample S is controlled on the basis of the analysis result, whereby the focus control when an image of the sample is acquired can be suitably performed.

Abstract: A microscope system is constructed by a light guiding optical system 20 having an objective lens 21 and beam splitters 27a and 27b for splitting an optical image of a sample S, a photodetector 31 for acquiring an image of the sample S, and two CCD cameras 33 and 34 for focus control disposed on optical paths split by the beam splitters 27a and 27b. The cameras 33 and 34 are disposed being inclined with respect to the optical path so that the optical paths thereof in the light guiding optical system 20 vary along a z-axis direction in opposite directions to each other. Images acquired by these cameras 33 and 34 are analyzed in a focus controller 37, and the image pickup focal point to the sample S is controlled on the basis of the analysis result, whereby the focus control when an image of the sample is acquired can be suitably performed.

Abstract: An image acquiring apparatus for acquiring images of a sample includes a macro image acquiring unit 20 for acquiring a macro image of the sample, a dark field light source 26 to be used for acquiring a dark field macro image of the sample as a macro image, a macro image processing unit 66 which generates a reference macro image by processing image data of the macro image, and an image pickup condition setting unit 65 which sets an image acquiring range corresponding to a range including an object of image acquisition as an image pickup condition of a micro image of the sample by referring to the reference macro image. This realizes an image acquiring apparatus, an image acquiring method, and an image acquiring program by which a macro image of a sample as an object of image acquisition is preferably acquired.

Abstract: A microscope system is constructed by a light guiding optical system 20 having an objective lens 21 and beam splitters 27a and 27b for splitting an optical image of a sample S, a photodetector 31 for acquiring an image of the sample S, and two CCD cameras 33 and 34 for focus control disposed on optical paths split by the beam splitters 27a and 27b. The cameras 33 and 34 are disposed being inclined with respect to the optical path so that the optical paths thereof in the light guiding optical system 20 vary along a z-axis direction in opposite directions to each other. Images acquired by these cameras 33 and 34 are analyzed in a focus controller 37, and the image pickup focal point to the sample S is controlled on the basis of the analysis result, whereby the focus control when an image of the sample is acquired can be suitably performed.

Abstract: A microscope system is constructed by a light guiding optical system 20 having an objective lens 21 and beam splitters 27a and 27b for splitting an optical image of a sample S, a photodetector 31 for acquiring an image of the sample S, and two CCD cameras 33 and 34 for focus control disposed on optical paths split by the beam splitters 27a and 27b. The cameras 33 and 34 are disposed being inclined with respect to the optical path so that the optical paths thereof in the light guiding optical system 20 vary along a z-axis direction in opposite directions to each other. Images acquired by these cameras 33 and 34 are analyzed in a focus controller 37, and the image pickup focal point to the sample S is controlled on the basis of the analysis result, whereby the focus control when an image of the sample is acquired can be suitably performed.

Abstract: The present invention is aimed at easily providing an image which is in focus at any position in the image to be an observation target of a user and is free from misalignment in the image in a virtual microscope or the like. An image outputting server 10 includes an image storing part 11 for storing a plurality of image data with different focal points taken in an imaging direction which are images of a predetermined imaging target, specified area inputting means 12 for inputting information specifying an area in the image data, focal point information obtaining means 13 for obtaining information indicating the matching degree of a focal point in a specified area of each of the plurality of image data, image selection means 14 for selecting an image data to be output from the plurality of image data on the basis of the matching degree of the focal point, and outputting means 15 for outputting the thus selected image data.

Abstract: An analyzer for measuring an FRET (fluorescence resonance energy transfer) efficiency of a specimen containing a donor and an acceptor. The analyzer has an illuminator, an optical system, a detector and a calculator. The illuminator emits light for donor excitation and acceptor bleaching. The detector detects fluorescence from the specimen. The calculator calculates the FRET efficiency using the output of the detector. The detector independently detects the fluorescence in wavelength regions. One of the regions has a larger overlap with the fluorescence spectrum of the acceptor than with that of the donor.

Abstract: An image acquiring apparatus for acquiring images of a sample includes a macro image acquiring unit 20 for acquiring a macro image of the sample, a dark field light source 26 to be used for acquiring a dark field macro image of the sample as a macro image, a macro image processing unit 66 which generates a reference macro image by processing image data of the macro image, and an image pickup condition setting unit 65 which sets an image acquiring range corresponding to a range including an object of image acquisition as an image pickup condition of a micro image of the sample by referring to the reference macro image. This realizes an image acquiring apparatus, an image acquiring method, and an image acquiring program by which a macro image of a sample as an object of image acquisition is preferably acquired.

Abstract: A microscope system comprises a light guiding optical system 20 containing an objective lens 21 and a beam splitter 25 for splitting an optical image of a sample S to a first optical path and a second optical path, a photodetector 31 disposed on the first optical path used to acquire an image of the sample S, and a CCD camera 32 disposed on the second optical path for acquiring a two-dimensional image for focus control. The camera 32 is disposed being inclined at an angle of ? with respect to the optical path so that the optical path length in the light guiding optical system 20 varies along the z-axis direction. The image acquired by the camera 32 is analyzed by a focus controller 37, and the focal point for image pickup with respect to the sample S is controlled on the basis of the analysis result. Accordingly, there can be implemented a microscope system in which image acquisition of the sample and focus control for image pickup can be simultaneously performed.

Abstract: A microscope system is constructed by a light guiding optical system 20 having an objective lens 21 and beam splitters 27a and 27b for splitting an optical image of a sample S, a photodetector 31 for acquiring an image of the sample S, and two CCD cameras 33 and 34 for focus control disposed on optical paths split by the beam splitters 27a and 27b. The cameras 33 and 34 are disposed being inclined with respect to the optical path so that the optical paths thereof in the light guiding optical system 20 vary along a z-axis direction in opposite directions to each other. Images acquired by these cameras 33 and 34 are analyzed in a focus controller 37, and the image pickup focal point to the sample S is controlled on the basis of the analysis result, whereby the focus control when an image of the sample is acquired can be suitably performed.

Abstract: A microscope system comprises a light guiding optical system 20 containing an objective lens 21 and a beam splitter 25 for splitting an optical image of a sample S to a first optical path and a second optical path, a photodetector 31 disposed on the first optical path used to acquire an image of the sample S, and a CCD camera 32 disposed on the second optical path for acquiring a two-dimensional image for focus control. The camera 32 is disposed being inclined at an angle of ? with respect to the optical path so that the optical path length in the light guiding optical system 20 varies along the z-axis direction. The image acquired by the camera 32 is analyzed by a focus controller 37, and the focal point for image pickup with respect to the sample S is controlled on the basis of the analysis result. Accordingly, there can be implemented a microscope system in which image acquisition of the sample and focus control for image pickup can be simultaneously performed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a slide glass and others for providing color information as comparative references that can be used in color evaluation and color correction of an image of a measured sample taken with a microscope. The slide glass is used in the microscope and used for acquiring an image of a measured sample, and has a glass plate on which a sample is to be mounted, and one or more micro color filters placed on one surface of the glass plate. Each of these micro color filter groups has two or more color-reference micro color filters for acquisition of colors as comparative references to be used in the color evaluation and color correction of the image. The color-reference micro color filters belonging to an identical micro color filter group are placed so as not to overlap with each other on one surface of the glass plate, and have at least three reference colors different from each other among all hues.

Abstract: An analyzer for measuring an FRET (fluorescence resonance energy transfer) efficiency of a specimen containing a donor and an acceptor. The analyzer has an illuminator, an optical system, a detector and a calculator. The illuminator emits light for donor excitation and acceptor bleaching. The detector detects fluorescence from the specimen. The calculator calculates the FRET efficiency using the output of the detector. The detector independently detects the fluorescence in wavelength regions. One of the regions has a larger overlap with the fluorescence spectrum of the acceptor than with that of the donor.