Abstract: An illumination unit for microscopes has an MID structure for the free spatial arrangement of different electronic and optical components, so that surfaces of a three-dimensional carrier are available as a replacement for printed circuit boards. The MID structure designed as an illumination unit contains a closed annular main part having an annular free beam opening, where columns are arranged on the main part. On the free ends of the columns, illumination means are provided which can be contacted via conductor paths provided on the surface of the MID structure. The columns contain a cooling structure on a side surface facing away from the free beam opening, and a plug for the power supply and a control unit for controlling the illumination means are provided on the main part of the MID structure. The MID structure designed as an illumination unit is provided in a housing of a microscope objective.

Abstract: A microscope system having a plurality of microscope modules connected to one another for data transfer purposes. The microscope system includes a central clock generator, the clock signal of which is provided to all microscope modules. The microscope modules are configured to use the clock signal or a clock derived therefrom as an internal clock. Moreover, a corresponding method for operating such a microscope system is described.

Abstract: An illumination unit for microscopes has an MID structure for the free spatial arrangement of different electronic and optical components, so that surfaces of a three-dimensional carrier are available as a replacement for printed circuit boards. The MID structure designed as an illumination unit contains a closed annular main part having an annular free beam opening, where columns are arranged on the main part. On the free ends of the columns, illumination means are provided which can be contacted via conductor paths provided on the surface of the MID structure. The columns contain a cooling structure on a side surface facing away from the free beam opening, and a plug for the power supply and a control unit for controlling the illumination means are provided on the main part of the MID structure, The MID structure designed as an illumination unit is provided in a housing of a microscope objective.

Abstract: A microscope system includes a microscope with at least one microscope sensor. Each microscope sensor has a measurement device for recording sample signals; an analog-to-digital converter for converting recorded sample signals to digital data; a data compression device which produces a compressed data stream from the digital data; and a data output interface, which outputs the compressed data stream and a raw data stream that comprises digital data that were not compressed. The microscope system additionally includes a user computer to which the compressed data stream is transmitted and also a data memory to which the raw data stream is transmitted. The user computer calculates real-time images from the compressed data stream and reads and processes the raw data stream from the data memory for subsequent data analysis. In addition, a method for operating such a microscope system is described.

Abstract: A method for timing procedures in a microscope system, which has a plurality of microscope modules configured to carry out various processes, provision is made for a clock signal to be provided to all microscope modules by a central clock generator and for the clock signal to be modulated by a clock modulation circuit in order to produce a defined clock-pulse number. The microscope modules define a start time for carrying out a process by way of the clock-pulse number, carrying out the process as soon as the clock-pulse number is reached. Moreover, a corresponding microscope system is described.

Abstract: A microscope system having a plurality of microscope modules connected to one another for data transfer purposes. The microscope system includes a central clock generator, the clock signal of which is provided to all microscope modules. The microscope modules are configured to use the clock signal or a clock derived therefrom as an internal clock. Moreover, a corresponding method for operating such a microscope system is described.

Abstract: A microscope system includes a microscope with at least one microscope sensor. Each microscope sensor has a measurement device for recording sample signals; an analog-to-digital converter for converting recorded sample signals to digital data; a data compression device which produces a compressed data stream from the digital data; and a data output interface, which outputs the compressed data stream and a raw data stream that comprises digital data that were not compressed. The microscope system additionally includes a user computer to which the compressed data stream is transmitted and also a data memory to which the raw data stream is transmitted. The user computer calculates real-time images from the compressed data stream and reads and processes the raw data stream from the data memory for subsequent data analysis. In addition, a method for operating such a microscope system is described.

Abstract: A method for timing procedures in a microscope system, which has a plurality of microscope modules configured to carry out various processes, provision is made for a clock signal to be provided to all microscope modules by a central clock generator and for the clock signal to be modulated by a clock modulation circuit in order to produce a defined clock-pulse number. The microscope modules define a start time for carrying out a process by way of the clock-pulse number, carrying out the process as soon as the clock-pulse number is reached. Moreover, a corresponding microscope system is described.

Abstract: Forwarding devices and corresponding methods are provided in which a plurality of input data streams are distributed among a plurality of output data streams on the basis of synchronization marking. One example method of forwarding data includes receiving a plurality of input data streams, where at least some of the input data streams include synchronization markers indicating which data of the input data streams are to be output synchronously, in one or more common time segments. Further included in the method is distributing the data to be output synchronously among a plurality of output data streams on the basis of the synchronization markers. The distributing is carried out in such a way that data which, according to the synchronization markers, are to be transmitted in a common time segment are provided in the same time segment in all the output data streams to which the data are to be assigned.

Abstract: Forwarding devices and corresponding methods are provided in which a plurality of input data streams (30A-30D) are distributed among a plurality of output data streams (313A-313D) on the basis of synchronization marking.

Abstract: A laser scanning microscope for laser scanning a sample is provided. The laser scanning microscope includes a scanner that is operated at a predefined scanning speed and that is configured to change a direction of illumination light generated to illuminate the sample. A detector is configured to detect light that is returned from the sample and an amplifier assembly is connected to the detector and is configured to amplify a detection signal that is generated by the detector. The amplifier assembly includes an adjustable capacitor and a capacitance of the adjustable capacitor is adjusted depending on the scanning speed of the scanner.

Abstract: Method for the operation of a laser scanning microscope. The microscope includes an illumination beam path in which at least one illumination light source is arranged, a detection beam path in which at least one photomultiplier (PMT) is incorporated as detector, and a control unit for controlling fluorescence experiments. A sample is alternately illuminated at high intensity via the control unit, and the fluorescence decay behavior of sample points and/or sample regions is subsequently detected. The PMT is switched on and off depending on the illumination mode by the control unit via a switch directly in the high-voltage supply of the PMT.

Abstract: A laser scanning microscope for laser scanning a sample is provided. The laser scanning microscope includes a scanner that is operated at a predefined scanning speed and that is configured to change a direction of illumination light generated to illuminate the sample. A detector is configured to detect light that is returned from the sample and an amplifier assembly is connected to the detector and is configured to amplify a detection signal that is generated by the detector. The amplifier assembly includes an adjustable capacitor and a capacitance of the adjustable capacitor is adjusted depending on the scanning speed of the scanner.

Abstract: Method for the operation of a laser scanning microscope. The microscope includes an illumination beam path in which at least one illumination light source is arranged, a detection beam path in which at least one photomultiplier (PMT) is incorporated as detector, and a control unit for controlling fluorescence experiments. A sample is alternately illuminated at high intensity via the control unit, and the fluorescence decay behavior of sample points and/or sample regions is subsequently detected. The PMT is switched on and off depending on the illumination mode by the control unit via a switch directly in the high-voltage supply of the PMT.

Abstract: A peripheral interface for use with a control computer and a peripheral device. The peripheral interface has a controller receiving an input data stream from the control computer and delivering an output data stream to the peripheral device, the controller obtaining an instruction from the input data stream for a modification of the output data stream. Prior art devices transfer data streams for peripheral devices blockwise by means of DMA using peripheral interfaces. In conventional peripheral interfaces, a burdensome real-time operating system must be used on the control computer in order have a sufficiently short reaction time to bring about a continuous, uninterrupted data stream. The invention achieves the object using a non-real-time operating system.

Abstract: A peripheral interface and process for data transfer, especially for laser scanning microscopes. The peripheral interface permits a gap-free transfer of data with high transmission speed using a non-real-time-enabled operating system of the control computer. A peripheral connection for a peripheral device and a control unit serving for one-way transmission of a predetermined amount of data from the control computer to the peripheral device and/or vice versa accesses via a system bus of a control computer, a work memory region of the control computer serves as buffers preassigned to it, where the control unit prepares for the control computer a progress report of the transfer for retrieval and the control unit of the control computer is informed of the progress of the processing of the buffer independently of the transfer.

Abstract: A peripheral interface for use with a control computer and a peripheral device. The peripheral interface has a controller receiving an input data stream from the control computer and delivering an output data stream to the peripheral device, the controller obtaining an instruction from the input data stream for a modification of the output data stream. Prior art devices transfer data streams for peripheral devices blockwise by means of DMA using peripheral interfaces. In conventional peripheral interfaces, a burdensome real-time operating system must be used on the control computer in order have a sufficiently short reaction time to bring about a continuous, uninterrupted data stream. The invention achieves the object using a non-real-time operating system.

Abstract: A peripheral interface and process for data transfer, especially for laser scanning microscopes. The peripheral interface permits a gap-free transfer of data with high transmission speed at low cost and using a non-real-time-enabled operating system of the control computer. In a peripheral interface having a connection for a system bus of a control computer, a peripheral connection for a peripheral device and a control unit serving for one-way transmission of a predetermined amount of data from the control computer to the peripheral device and/or vice versa accesses via the system bus, a work memory region of the control computer serves as buffers preassigned to it, where the control unit prepares for the control computer a progress report of the transfer for retrieval and the control unit of the control computer is informed of the progress of the processing of the buffer independently of the transfer, in which case it allows for the progress of the processing when accessing the buffer.