Abstract: A method of adjusting an optical apparatus that acquires an image of a sample includes the steps of moving a focusing section included in the optical apparatus in a direction in which a contrast of a first image of the sample increases, and adjusting an aberration amount occurring in the optical apparatus in a direction in which a contrast of a second image of the sample increases.

Abstract: A sample observation apparatus includes a memory and a main controller. The main controller stores a first number of photoelectrons required in a raw image for generating a super-resolution image. The main controller calculates the number of image data sets to be added together for generating the raw image based on the first number of photoelectrons stored in the memory and a predetermined image acquisition condition, acquires multiple sets of image data of the same region of a sample by repeatedly detecting light from the same region based on the calculated number of image data sets, and generates the raw image by adding together the acquired multiple sets of image data of the same region.

Abstract: A microscope system includes: an microscope provided with electronic units; a display configured to display operation information; a touch panel configured to detect a position of contact of an object from outside; a setting unit configured to set areas corresponding respectively to multiple operation functions in a detection area of the touch panel; a pressure detector configured to detect a value of a pressure applied in the position of contact; and a drive controller configured to generate, based on the position of contact that is detected by the touch panel, the number of positions of contact, a change of the position of contact over time, and the value of the pressure detected by the pressure detector, an instruction signal of an instruction to change an observation status in which the specimen is observed with the electronic unit corresponding to operation function that is set by the setting unit.

Abstract: A microscope system includes: an microscope provided with electronic units; a display configured to display operation information; a touch panel configured to detect a position of contact of an object from outside; a setting unit configured to set areas corresponding respectively to multiple operation functions in a detection area of the touch panel; a pressure detector configured to detect a value of a pressure applied in the position of contact; and a drive controller configured to generate, based on the position of contact that is detected by the touch panel, the number of positions of contact, a change of the position of contact over time, and the value of the pressure detected by the pressure detector, an instruction signal of an instruction to change an observation status in which the specimen is observed with the electronic unit corresponding to operation function that is set by the setting unit.

Abstract: To avoid unstable light radiation during switching of a phase modulation amount and stimulate desired stimulation points simultaneously, provided is a photo-stimulator which includes an AOM switching on/off of radiation of stimulation light to a specimen S; an LCOS-SLM being capable of modulating a phase of stimulation light once radiation to the specimen S has been turned on by the AOM; and a controller controlling the LCOS-SLM to switch a phase modulation amount of stimulation light and controlling the AOM to switch on/off of radiation of stimulation light, wherein the controller causes the AOM to turn off radiation of stimulation light before the LCOS-SLM starts switching a phase modulation amount, and causes the AOM to turn on radiation of stimulation light after the LCOS-SLM completes switching a phase modulation amount.

Abstract: A laser scanning microscope includes a light irradiating portion that irradiates a sample; a PMT that detects fluorescence from the sample and outputs an intensity signal; a data processing portion that converts the intensity signal to brightness information at each pixel; a full-scale setting portion that can set a normal full scale that is smaller than the intensity signal when a light stimulus is given and an expanded full scale that is larger than the normal full scale, as a maximum range of the intensity signal that can be converted to brightness information; and a control portion that determines whether to switch between a normal observation mode and a stimulation observation mode; wherein the full-scale switching portion sets the normal full scale in the normal observation mode and sets the expanded full scale in the stimulation observation mode.

Abstract: The number of stimulated spots and/or the area of a stimulated spot is easily increased or decreased while keeping the irradiation power for each stimulated spot constant.

Abstract: With the object of expanding the dynamic range of an intensity signal and suppressing degradation of a light detecting portion, a laser scanning microscope of the present invention includes a light irradiating portion that irradiates a sample with laser light; a PMT that detects fluorescence from the sample and that outputs an intensity signal; a data processing portion that converts the intensity signal to brightness information at each pixel; a full-scale setting portion that can optionally set a normal full scale that is smaller than the intensity signal of the fluorescence from the sample when a light stimulus is given thereto and an expanded full scale that is larger than the normal full scale, as a maximum range of the intensity signal that can be converted to brightness information; and a control portion that determines whether to switch between a normal observation mode in which the brightness information of the sample when the light stimulus is not given thereto is obtained and a stimulation observat

Abstract: A good super-resolution image can be generated, while eliminating a troublesome task necessary for generating a raw image. Provided is a sample observation apparatus including a memory, which stores a first number of photoelectrons required in a raw image for generating a super-resolution image, and a main controller, which calculates the number of image data sets to be added together for generating the raw image based on the first number of photoelectrons stored in the memory and a predetermined image acquisition condition, which acquires multiple sets of image data of the same region of a sample by repeatedly detecting light from the same region based on the calculated number of image data sets, and which generates the raw image by adding together the acquired multiple sets of image data of the same region.

Abstract: The number of stimulated spots and/or the area of a stimulated spot is easily increased or decreased while keeping the irradiation power for each stimulated spot constant.

Abstract: To avoid unstable light radiation during switching of a phase modulation amount and stimulate desired stimulation points simultaneously, provided is a photo-stimulator which includes an AOM switching on/off of radiation of stimulation light to a specimen S; an LCOS-SLM being capable of modulating a phase of stimulation light once radiation to the specimen S has been turned on by the AOM; and a controller controlling the LCOS-SLM to switch a phase modulation amount of stimulation light and controlling the AOM to switch on/off of radiation of stimulation light, wherein the controller causes the AOM to turn off radiation of stimulation light before the LCOS-SLM starts switching a phase modulation amount, and causes the AOM to turn on radiation of stimulation light after the LCOS-SLM completes switching a phase modulation amount.

Abstract: An illumination device includes a phase-modulation type spatial light modulator that is arranged at a position optically conjugate to a pupil position of an illumination lens between a light source and the illumination lens for irradiating light emitted from the light source on a sample, and a pupil projecting optics system for projecting at least one area within the pupil of the illumination lens onto a plurality of different areas of the spatial light modulator.

Abstract: An image can be prevented from becoming unclear over time during long-term observation. The invention provides a microscope apparatus including a specimen container for containing a specimen; an objective lens disposed opposite the specimen container for collecting light from the specimen in the specimen container; an immersion-liquid supplying unit for supplying immersion liquid to a space between the objective lens and the specimen container; and an immersion-liquid removing unit for removing the immersion liquid from the space between the objective lens and the specimen container. The immersion-liquid removing unit includes a nozzle for ejecting compressed air to the space between the objective lens and the specimen container.

Abstract: A scanning laser microscope includes a laser light source; an acousto-optic deflector having a crystal, being arranged in an optical path of a laser beam emitted from the laser light source and capable of changing a traveling direction of the laser beam when frequencies of acoustic waves applied to the crystal are changed; a frequency control unit configured to simultaneously apply acoustic waves having a plurality of frequencies to the crystal of the acousto-optic deflector; an objective lens configured to converge the laser beam emitted from the laser light source to form a beam spot on a specimen; and an optical scanning device configured to two-dimensionally scan the scanning spot by deflecting the laser beam in two directions perpendicular to each other. The acousto-optic deflector, the optical scanning device, and a pupil of the objective lens are arranged at positions optically conjugate with each other.

Abstract: A microscope system comprises a microscope including a motorized stage on which is mounted a container containing a specimen and which can adjust the position of the container, a scanner scanning laser light radiated onto the specimen, an objective lens focusing the scanned laser light, an image-acquisition unit acquiring a specimen image by detecting fluorescence produced in the specimen, and a dark box containing these components; a storage unit storing the mounting position of the container on the motorized stage; an image-acquisition-position setting unit setting acquisition positions of partial images of the inside of the container, on the basis of the stored mounting position of the container; a control section controlling the microscope so as to acquire the partial images for each container on the basis of the set acquisition positions; and a map-image generating section arranging the partial images to generate a map image.

Abstract: A multiphoton-excitation laser scanning microscope capable of efficiently collecting fluorescence emitted from a specimen to acquire a brighter multiphoton-excitation fluorescence image is provided. This multiphoton-excitation laser scanning microscope includes a multiphoton-excitation laser light source for emitting ultrashort pulsed laser light, a light-scanning unit configured to scan a specimen with the ultrashort pulsed laser light emitted from the multiphoton-excitation laser light source in two dimensions, an objective lens configured to focus the ultrashort pulsed laser light scanned by the light-scanning unit on the specimen, a collector lens disposed opposite the objective lens, with the light-scanning unit disposed therebetween, to collect fluorescence emitted from the specimen, and a light detector configured to detect the fluorescence collected by the collector lens. The collector lens has a higher numerical aperture and a larger field number than the objective lens.

Abstract: It is possible to check for observation success or failure and the observation history without waiting for observation to be completely finished, thus saving time and energy required for observation, and avoiding lost opportunities for observation of precious samples etc. Provided is a microscope apparatus including an image acquisition unit for acquiring a plurality of frame images while varying a plurality of parameters; an image saving unit for successively saving the frame images acquired by the image acquisition unit; a property-information saving unit for saving property information in which identifying information of the saved frame images is associated with the parameters; and a control unit for controlling these units, wherein the control unit saves updated property information in the property-information saving unit each time the frame image is saved in the image saving unit.

Abstract: A scanning microscope includes an objective lens for focusing illumination light onto a specimen; a scanning device for deflecting and scanning the illumination light; a pupil-projection optical system for illuminating a pupil of the objective lens with the scanned illumination light; and a total-magnification specifying unit for specifying a total magnification. An optical-system selecting unit changes at least one of the objective lens and the pupil-projection optical system such that a magnification of an optical system including the objective lens and the pupil-projection optical system is equal to or less than the total magnification specified by the total-magnification specifying unit and that the numerical aperture of the optical system is maximized. A deflection-angle determination unit determines a deflection angle of the illumination light deflected by the scanning device based on the ratio of the magnification of the optical system to the total magnification to achieve the total magnification.

Abstract: A scanning laser microscope includes a laser light source; an acousto-optic deflector having a crystal, being arranged in an optical path of a laser beam emitted from the laser light source and capable of changing a traveling direction of the laser beam when frequencies of acoustic waves applied to the crystal are changed; a frequency control unit configured to simultaneously apply acoustic waves having a plurality of frequencies to the crystal of the acousto-optic deflector; an objective lens configured to converge the laser beam emitted from the laser light source to form a beam spot on a specimen; and an optical scanning device configured to two-dimensionally scan the scanning spot by deflecting the laser beam in two directions perpendicular to each other. The acousto-optic deflector, the optical scanning device, and a pupil of the objective lens are arranged at positions optically conjugate with each other.

Abstract: The invention provides a multiphoton-excitation observation apparatus comprising a light-source unit for emitting pulsed laser light; an observation apparatus main unit for irradiating a specimen with laser light emitted from the light-source unit and observing fluorescence emitted from the specimen; an incidence adjusting device, disposed between the light-source unit and the observation apparatus main unit, for adjusting the beam diameter of the laser light emitted from the light-source unit; and a control apparatus for controlling the incidence-adjusting unit according to the depth of an observation plane in the specimen.