Patent ID: 6646678
Filing Date: 2003-11-11
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
A photographing system comprising:a photographing apparatus including: (1) a lens movable in an optical axis direction; (2) a plurality of sample-tray disposing sections on which a sample tray holding a predetermined sample thereon is selectively disposed, said sample-tray disposing sections each having a different distance from said lens in said optical axis direction; (3) sample-tray disposing section detection means for detecting one sample-tray disposing section of said plurality of sample-tray disposing sections on which said sample tray has been disposed; (4) a light source provided so that it can switch emission and non-emission of exciting light or illuminating light with respect to said predetermined sample on said sample tray disposed on the detected sample-tray disposing section; (5) photoelectric reading means for photoelectrically reading out an image of said predetermined sample, formed on its light-receiving surface by said lens; (6) lens movement means for moving said lens in said optical axis direction in accordance with said one sample-tray disposing section detected by said sample-tray disposing section detection means such that the image of said predetermined sample is formed onto said light-receiving surface of said photoelectric reading means; (7) an exciting-light cut filter provided between said lens and said photoelectric reading means so that it can be inserted in or removed from an optical path of light constituting the image of said predetermined sample, said filter having bands set so as to transmit florescence emitted from said predetermined sample and prevent passage of said exciting light; (8) a variable diaphragm provided between said lens and said photoelectric reading means and in proximity to said lens; and (9) a black box shielded from light, said components (1) to (8) being housed inside said black box; and an image processing computer for performing predetermined image processing with respect to an image signal representing the image of said predetermined sample read out by said photoelectric reading means; wherein said photographing system further comprises: filter detection means for detecting an inserted or removed state of said exciting-light cut filter; diaphragm detection means for detecting a diaphragmed state of said variable diaphragm; and image processing condition determination means for determining a condition for said predetermined image processing to be performed by said image processing computer with respect to said image signal read out by said photoelectric reading means, in accordance with the inserted or removed state of said filter detected by said filter detection means, the diaphragmed state of said variable diaphragm detected by said diaphragm detection means; and said one sample-tray disposing section detected by said sample-tray disposing section detection means.