Abstract: An image processing device is configured to: generate a histogram of pixel values of a plurality of pixels contained in an image; set a background pixel value by using a peak value of the generated histogram; set a noise range with respect to the set background pixel value; and replace the pixel values that fall in the set noise range with a single arbitrary pixel value.

Abstract: An observation device includes: an illumination unit that generates illumination light to be radiated onto cells floating in a culture fluid inside a culture vessel; a light receiving unit that receives observation light coming from the cells that have been irradiated with the illumination light, the observation light being imaged by an image-forming optical system; and a casing that has a transmissive section so as to transmit the illumination light and the observation light and that accommodates the illumination unit and the light receiving unit, wherein the casing has an elongated cylindrical form that is configured to be inserted into the culture fluid via a port used to insert a tube into the culture vessel.

Abstract: An observation device includes an objective lens disposed below a container to collect light from a specimen; a surface light source that is disposed at a pupil position of the objective lens in the optical path of the illumination light, that causes illumination light to enter the container from below, and that can change a light emission pattern in a direction intersecting an emission optical axis, an imaging optical system that captures light from the specimen generated by the specimen being irradiated with the illumination light from the surface light source and focused by the objective lens below the container; and a controller that corrects a light emission pattern on a basis of the light emission pattern and at least one of a brightness, contrast, and the relationship between the number of pixels and the luminance of an acquired image with the light emission pattern.

Abstract: An observation device includes: an illumination unit that generates illumination light to be radiated onto cells floating in a culture fluid inside a culture vessel; a light receiving unit that receives observation light coming from the cells that have been irradiated with the illumination light, the observation light being imaged by an image-forming optical system; and a casing that has a transmissive section so as to transmit the illumination light and the observation light and that accommodates the illumination unit and the light receiving unit, wherein the casing has an elongated cylindrical form that is configured to be inserted into the culture fluid via a port used to insert a tube into the culture vessel.

Abstract: An illumination device includes: an objective; a first scanning device that moves a focusing position of light in an optical-axis direction of the objective; and a relay optical system that is configured to correct an aberration that is generated in the objective by the first scanning device moving the focusing position, the relay optical system being arranged on an optical path between the first scanning device and the objective.

Abstract: An illumination device includes: an objective; a first scanning device that moves a focusing position of light in an optical-axis direction of the objective; and a relay optical system that is configured to correct an aberration that is generated in the objective by the first scanning device moving the focusing position, the relay optical system being arranged on an optical path between the first scanning device and the objective.

Abstract: An observation apparatus includes: an illumination optical system that radiates illumination light into a container from outside the container; an objective lens that collects signal light from a cell in the container; a detection optical system that detects the signal light collected by the objective lens; and a retroreflective member that has an array of a plurality of small reflective components, is disposed across from the illumination optical system with the container interposed therebetween, and reflects the illumination light transmitted through the container.

Abstract: An image processing device is configured to: generate a histogram of pixel values of a plurality of pixels contained in an image; set a background pixel value by using a peak value of the generated histogram; set a noise range with respect to the set background pixel value; and replace the pixel values that fall in the set noise range with a single arbitrary pixel value.

Abstract: A microscope illumination device includes a white LED light source and an illumination optical system. The white LED light source includes a substrate, a plurality of LED chips, and a fluorescent substance layer provided to cover the plurality of LED chips, the plurality of LED chips being arrayed on the substrate and being configured to emit excitation light. The illumination optical system includes a field stop and a light diffusion element that is arranged between the white LED light source and the field stop. The microscope illumination device satisfies 0.2<d/p<1??(1) where p is a minimum interval between centers of the plurality of LED chips and d is a size of each of the plurality of LED chips.

Abstract: An observation device includes an objective lens disposed below a container to collect light from a specimen; a surface light source that is disposed at a pupil position of the objective lens in the optical path of the illumination light, that causes illumination light to enter the container from below, and that can change a light emission pattern in a direction intersecting an emission optical axis, an imaging optical system that captures light from the specimen generated by the specimen being irradiated with the illumination light from the surface light source and focused by the objective lens below the container; and a controller that corrects a light emission pattern on a basis of the light emission pattern and at least one of a brightness, contrast, and the relationship between the number of pixels and the luminance of an acquired image with the light emission pattern.

Abstract: A microscope apparatus 10 includes a detection optical system 12 that captures light from a sample S and an illumination optical system 11 that radiates an illumination light onto the sample S. The illumination optical system 11 includes a cylindrical lens 5 that has a power in a first-axis direction and does not have a power in a second-axis direction that is perpendicular to the first-axis direction, a cylindrical lens 6 that has a power in the second-axis direction and does not have a power in the first-axis direction, and a scanner 4 that scans the illumination light in a width direction. The illumination optical system 11 is configured such that the first-axis direction is the width direction described above, and the cylindrical lenses 5 and 6 are arranged posterior to the scanner 4.

Abstract: In the present invention, cells cultured inside the wells of a microplate are observed easily and clearly regardless of the height or curvature state of the liquid surface of the culturing liquid. Provided is an observation device that includes an illumination optical system that irradiates a transparent sample with illumination light from a light source, an objective lens that collects observation light from the sample, a detection optical system that detects the observation light collected by the objective lens, and a retroreflective member that is arranged opposite the objective lens with the sample interposed therebetween and in which a plurality of very small reflective elements are arrayed. The objective lens and the illumination optical system are arranged below the sample in the direction of gravity.

Abstract: A microscope apparatus includes an illumination optical system. The illumination optical system includes an illumination lens that irradiates a sample with light, and two or more reflection members that have a shift function for changing a light-reflection position and/or a rotation function for changing a light-reflection-angle direction. Each of the two or more reflection members is located at a pupil position of the illumination lens, a position pupil-conjugate to the illumination lens, or a position conjugate to a rear focal position of the illumination lens.

Abstract: A spectroscopic detection device includes a laser light source configured to emit a laser beam, an objective configured to irradiate a sample with the laser beam, a scanner arranged in an illumination optical path between the laser light source and the objective, a light detector configured to detect light from the sample, a plurality of optical filters arranged in a detection optical path between the objective and the light detector, and a driving device. The driving device rotates the plurality of optical filters in such a manner that at least one of the optical filters has its rotational axis in a direction different from a rotational axis of the other optical filter.

Abstract: A microscope illumination device includes a white LED light source and an illumination optical system. The white LED light source includes a substrate, a plurality of LED chips, and a fluorescent substance layer provided to cover the plurality of LED chips, the plurality of LED chips being arrayed on the substrate and being configured to emit excitation light. The illumination optical system includes a field stop and a light diffusion element that is arranged between the white LED light source and the field stop. The microscope illumination device satisfies 0.2<d/p<1 ??(1) where p is a minimum interval between centers of the plurality of LED chips and d is a size of each of the plurality of LED chips.

Abstract: A microscope apparatus 10 includes a detection optical system 12 that captures light from a sample S and an illumination optical system 11 that radiates an illumination light onto the sample S. The illumination optical system 11 includes a cylindrical lens 5 that has a power in a first-axis direction and does not have a power in a second-axis direction that is perpendicular to the first-axis direction, a cylindrical lens 6 that has a power in the second-axis direction and does not have a power in the first-axis direction, and a scanner 4 that scans the illumination light in a width direction. The illumination optical system 11 is configured such that the first-axis direction is the width direction described above, and the cylindrical lenses 5 and 6 are arranged posterior to the scanner 4.

Abstract: In the present invention, cells cultured inside the wells of a microplate are observed easily and clearly regardless of the height or curvature state of the liquid surface of the culturing liquid. Provided is an observation device that includes an illumination optical system that irradiates a transparent sample with illumination light from a light source, an objective lens that collects observation light from the sample, a detection optical system that detects the observation light collected by the objective lens, and a retroreflective member that is arranged opposite the objective lens with the sample interposed therebetween and in which a plurality of very small reflective elements are arrayed. The objective lens and the illumination optical system are arranged below the sample in the direction of gravity.

Abstract: An illumination device includes: an objective; a first scanning device that moves a focusing position of light in an optical-axis direction of the objective; and a relay optical system that is configured to correct an aberration that is generated in the objective by the first scanning device moving the focusing position, the relay optical system being arranged on an optical path between the first scanning device and the objective.

Abstract: A fluorescence observation apparatus includes a fluorescence observation unit, which includes a scanner that scans ultrashort pulsed laser light from a light source, a pupil projection lens that focuses the laser light scanned by the scanner, an image-forming lens that converts the focused laser light to substantially collimated light and causes the laser light to be incident on an objective lens, and a dichroic mirror that splits off fluorescence that is generated by the laser light focused on a sample by the objective lens and is collected by the objective lens. A photodetector detects the fluorescence split off by the dichroic mirror. A multi-mode optical fiber connects the fluorescence observation unit and the photodetector. A swiveling mechanism causes the fluorescence observation unit to swivel about an axis near the focal position of the objective lens. And a light-source optical fiber connects the light source and the fluorescence observation unit.

Abstract: A fluorescence observation unit includes a scanner that scans ultrashort pulsed laser light, a pupil projection lens that focuses the scanned ultrashort pulsed laser light, an image-forming lens that converts the focused ultrashort pulsed laser light to substantially collimated light and causes the ultrashort pulsed laser light to be incident on the objective lens, and a dichroic mirror that splits off, from the optic path of the ultrashort pulsed laser light, fluorescence generated in a sample due to irradiation with the ultrashort pulsed laser light and collected by the objective lens. The image-forming lens includes a first optical system having positive refractive power, and a second optical system having negative refractive power and disposed at a position closer to the scanner than the first optical system is. The dichroic mirror is disposed between the first optical system and the second optical system.