Microscope image acquiring system with separate microscope and imaging instrument controllers that operate cooperatively

A microscope digital image acquiring system 1 includes a microscope 2 composed of a microscope unit 10 forming an enlarged image of an object O and a microscope controller 20 controlling movement of the microscope unit 10, an imaging instrument 3 composed of a camera head unit 30 that is attached to the microscope 2 and has an imaging device detecting the enlarged image of the object O and a camera controller 40 that receives a detected signal output from the imaging device and outputs image information of the object O. The microscope controller 20 and the camera controller 40 operate cooperatively in response to control commands sent externally. The system 1 has a connecting cable 52 connecting with both instruments 20 and 40 to carry out communication with each other. Both instruments 20 and 40 operate cooperatively by communicating control commands with each other through the connecting cable 52.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a microscope digital image acquiring system composed of a microscope and an imaging instrument.

BACKGROUND ART

As shown inFIG. 14, a microscope digital image acquiring system is composed of a microscope83and an imaging instrument86. The microscope83is constructed by a microscope unit81forming an optical system and imaging an enlarged image of an object and a microscope controller82controlling the optical system of the microscope unit81to focus on the object by using an AF unit95. The imaging instrument86is constructed by a camera head unit84that is attached to the microscope83and includes an imaging device (such as a CCD) for detecting the enlarged image of the object and a camera controller85that processes the signal detected by the imaging device to output imaging information. Each of the microscope83and the imaging instrument86is connected with an external controller such as a computer87which controls the microscope83and the imaging instrument86to obtain a digital image of the object. In this case, these instruments83,86, and87have power cables92,93, and94, respectively, and a lot of connecting cables88,89,90, and91connect these instruments with each other.

Processes carried out by the computer87to obtain a digital image from the microscope83are shown inFIG. 15. After supplying power in step S160, processes that the computer87collects instrument information of the microscope83in steps S161and S162, processes that the computer87collects instrument information of the imaging instrument86in steps S163and S164, processes that the computer87sends a control command to the microscope controller82to control the microscope unit81to make the optical system focus on the object on the basis of the instrument information in steps S165through S173, and processes that the computer sends a control command to the camera controller85to obtain image information of the object in steps S174and S175are carried out with exchanging data (control command) between a lot of instruments, so that a lot of processes are carried out simultaneously.

A microscope digital image acquiring system is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-95125 in which a microcomputer carries out a lot of processes simultaneously as same as the above-described case.

However, in the disclosure of Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-95125, since a microcomputer in an image processor has to frequently communicate with a microscope control unit, a frame memory, and a camera control unit and carries out processes, so that it has been feared that response and operability become worse and processing speed becomes slow.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is made in view of the aforementioned problems and has an object to provide a microscope digital image acquiring system constructed by connecting a microscope controller and a camera controller by a communication means to exchange control command with each other so as to operate the microscope controller and the camera controller cooperatively resulting in obtaining high processing speed.

In order to achieve the object, the microscope digital image acquiring system according to the present invention includes a microscope that is composed of a microscope unit that is constructed by an optical system forming an enlarged image of an object, and a microscope controller that is connected to the microscope unit and controls movement of the microscope unit, an imaging instrument that is composed of a camera head unit that is attached to the microscope and has an imaging device detecting the enlarged image come out from the optical system, and a camera controller that is connected to the camera head unit, receives a detected signal output from the imaging device, and outputs image information of the object, a movement instruction means (for example, the operating section22in the embodiment) that carries out movement instruction to the system, and a communication means (for example, the connecting cable52in the embodiment) that is connected to the camera controller and the microscope controller and carries out communication between the camera controller and the microscope controller. It is preferable that on the basis of the instruction by the movement instruction means, the camera controller and the microscope controller operate cooperatively by sending control commands of instructed movement with each other through the communication means.

It is preferable that the microscope controller and the camera controller operate on the basis of the control command sent externally.

It is preferable that the camera controller controls the movement of the microscope unit by sending the control command to the microscope controller.

It is preferable that the microscope unit has a focusing instrument (for example, the sample stage drivers14in the embodiment) that makes the optical system focus on the object, and the microscope controller has a focusing function that makes the optical system focus on the object by controlling the movement of the focusing instrument on the basis of the control command, and the camera controller calculates focusing information for focusing the optical system from the detected signal obtained from the camera head unit and makes the optical system focus on the object by the focusing function by sending the control command to the microscope controller on the basis of the focusing information.

It is preferable that the microscope unit has an illumination means (for example, the light source controller11in the embodiment) for illuminating the object and the microscope controller has an illumination adjusting function that adjusts illuminance by controlling the illumination means on the basis of the control command, and the camera controller calculates light intensity information for adjusting illuminance of the illumination means from the detected signal obtained from the camera head unit, sends the control command to the microscope controller on the basis of the light source information, and adjusts illuminance by the illumination adjusting function.

It is preferable that the microscope controller sends the control command to the camera controller, obtains the detected signal from the camera head unit, and processes the detected signal.

It is preferable that the microscope unit has a focusing instrument that makes the optical system focus on the object, and the camera controller has a focusing information calculating function that calculates focusing information for making the optical system focus on the object from the detected signal obtained from the camera head unit on the basis of the control command, and the microscope controller sends the control command to the camera controller, makes the camera controller calculate the focusing information by the focusing information calculating function, and controls the movement of the focusing instrument on the basis of the focusing information to make the optical system focus on the object.

It is preferable that the microscope unit has an illumination means for illuminating the object, and the camera controller has a light source intensity information calculating function that calculates light source intensity information for adjusting illuminance of the illumination means from the detected signal obtained from the camera head on the basis of the control command, and the microscope controller sends the control command to the camera controller, makes the camera controller calculate the light source intensity information by the light source intensity information calculating function, and adjusts illuminance on the basis of the light source intensity information.

In the microscope digital image acquiring system constructed as described above, it is preferable that the communication means has a pair of connectors, one of the connectors is arranged on the microscope, and the other connector is arranged on the imaging instrument, and the system is constructed such that upon connecting the imaging instrument to the microscope, the communication means is connected by the connectors.

It is preferable that the communication means is constructed by a USB cable.

It is preferable that the camera controller has an internal memory or an external memory or both, and the camera controller stores in the internal memory or the external memory the instrument information of the imaging instrument and that of the microscope obtained through the communication means in connection with the image information.

It is preferable that the microscope controller obtains a firmware for the microscope controller stored in the internal memory or the external memory in advance through the communication means and rewrites the firmware of the microscope controller.

It is preferable that each of the microscope and the imaging instrument has an initial setting means that carries out initial setting by exchanging unit ID with each other by using the communication means.

It is preferable that the imaging instrument has a first interface that receives the control command from the movement instruction means and a second interface that sends the control command to the microscope.

It is preferable that the imaging instrument controls the camera head unit in response to the control command to detect an enlarged image of the object, and controls the microscope through the second interface.

It is preferable that the microscope has a fourth interface that receives the control command from the movement instruction means, and a third interface that sends the control command to the camera head unit.

It is preferable that the microscope controls the movement of the microscope in response to the control command to form an enlarged image of the object, and controls the imaging instrument through the third interface.

It is preferable that the microscope has a fourth interface that receives the control command from the movement instruction means, a third interface that sends the control command to the camera head unit, and a signal line that directly connects the second interface and the third interface, and the imaging instrument and the microscope operate cooperatively.

EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Preferred embodiments are explained below with reference to accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1is a schematic diagram showing a microscope digital image acquiring system according to the present invention.

InFIG. 1, a microscope digital image acquiring system1is composed of a microscope2explained later, and an imaging instrument3explained later that detects an image of an object come out from the microscope2and outputs image information. In addition to them, an external controller60, explained later, that controls movements of the microscope2and the imaging instrument3is arranged.

The imaging instrument3is equipped with a first interface4athat receives a control command from the external controller60and a second interface4bthat sends a control command to the microscope2via the imaging instrument3. A signal line (explained later as52) directly connecting the second interface4band a third interface4cis arranged to connect the external controller60, the imaging instrument3, and the microscope2in series, so that the second interface4band the third interface4ccan communicate a control command between the external controller60and the microscope2via the imaging instrument3.

As another connection state, a fourth interface4dthat receives a control command from the external controller60may be arranged on the microscope2in series so as to flow the control signal in order from the external controller60, the microscope2, and to the imaging instrument3(shown inFIG. 1by broken line).

As shown inFIG. 2, the microscope2and the imaging instrument3can operate cooperatively even if the external controller60is not exist. Moreover, the microscope2and the imaging instrument3can be controlled by a control command by the external controller60as shown inFIG. 5. The first through fourth interfaces4a,4b,4c,and4dhave connectors to respectively connect the microscope2, the imaging instrument3, and the external controller60to a communication means. By using the connector (explained later as72) for the second interface4band the connector (explained later as71) for the third interface4c,the microscope2and the imaging instrument can be removably constructed.

Embodiments of the present invention are explained below in detail.

InFIG. 2, a microscope digital image acquiring system1is composed of a microscope2that forms an enlarged image of an object (specimen) o to be observed and an imaging instrument3that detects an image of the object o come out from the microscope2and outputs image information.

The microscope2is composed of a microscope unit10that constructs an optical system forming the enlarged image of the object o and a microscope controller20that controls movements of the microscope unit10. The microscope unit10is composed of an illumination light source11afor observing the object o, a light source controller11that controls illuminance and the like of the illumination light source11a,a filter14dfor adjusting the illumination light, filter changers12for changing the filter14d,condenser lenses13for collecting the illumination light to illuminate the object o, a stage14aon which the object o is placed, sample stage drivers14that move the stage14aalong the optical axis for focusing, variable magnification lenses15for selecting magnification of the enlarged image, zoom lenses16for adjusting zooming of the enlarged image, a beam splitter17that divides the light from the object o into a light to be directly observed by the naked eye and a light to be output to an imaging instrument3(explained later) as imaging information, and eyepieces18that form an image for observing by the naked eye.

The light ray comes out from the illumination light source11apasses through the filter14d,is converged by the condenser lens13, and illuminates the object o placed on the stage14a.The light ray passed through the object o enlarging the image of the object o by the variable magnification lens15and the zoom lens16enters into the beam splitter17. A portion of light ray entering into the beam splitter17is reflected and a portion of light ray passes through the beam splitter17. The light ray passing through the beam splitter17is incident into the imaging instrument3. On the other hand, the light ray reflected by the beam splitter17forms an image by the eyepiece18to be observed by an observer.

The light source controller11, the filter changers12, the sample stage drivers14, the variable magnification lenses15, and the zoom lenses16are controlled their movements by the microscope controller20through internal bus arranged in the microscope2. In the microscope controller20, an operating section (instruction means)22capable of carrying out various operations for the microscope unit10(such as an instruction to move the stage14aupward/downward, and an instruction to turn a revolver) is arranged. Generally, the microscope unit10and the microscope controller20are integrally arranged in a housing19. A power section23is arranged in the microscope controller20and supplied with power from utility power through a power line and the power is also supplied to the microscope unit10.

The imaging instrument3is composed of a camera head unit30having a solid-state imaging device (CCD) that detects the enlarged image of the object O come out from the microscope unit10and a camera controller40that receives a detected signal output from the camera head unit30and outputs image information. The solid-state imaging device of the camera head unit30is located on the optical axis of the optical system of the microscope unit10. Accordingly, the light passing through the beam splitter17forms an image on an imaging plane of the solid-state imaging device through an imaging lens (not shown).

The camera controller40receives a detected signal from the camera head unit30and outputs image information of the object o in which luminance and the like is adjusted on the basis of the detected signal. An operating section (instructing means)42that carries out operation for acquiring image information (release a shutter, change resolution, and the like) and that for displaying the acquired image information (LCD monitor display) is arranged in the camera controller40. The operating section42may be integrally constructed with the camera controller40or constructed separately.

Since the camera head unit30is generally located above the microscope2(microscope unit10), when the camera head unit30and the camera controller40are integrally constructed, operability becomes worse, so that the camera head unit30and the camera controller40are generally separately arranged. Accordingly, the camera head unit30and the camera controller40are connected by a connecting cable51and a detected signal detected by the solid-state imaging device of the camera head unit30is sent to the camera controller40through the connecting cable51.

In the above-described microscope digital image acquiring system1, in order to obtain image information of the object o, it is necessary that the microscope2and the imaging instrument3are operated cooperatively. In the present invention, in order to cooperatively operate the microscope2and the imaging instrument3, the microscope controller20and the camera controller40are made to be able to operate independently without connecting an external controller such as a computer so as to control operations of the microscope unit10and to acquire and process detected signals from the camera head unit30by exchanging control command with each other.

In order to communicate control command and a controlled result by the control command with each other, a connecting cable52is arranged between the microscope controller20and the camera controller40. The connecting cable52is connected to connectors21and41arranged on the microscope controller20and the camera controller40, respectively. Incidentally, the connector21is arranged on the third interface4cand the connector41is arranged on the second interface4b.

Although power for driving the camera head unit30and the camera controller40may be supplied separately by arranging power sections on respective instruments to supply utility power, it is possible to construct to supply utility power supplied to the microscope controller20via the connecting cables51and52as shown inFIG. 2. In this construction, since the power line23is only one, it becomes easy to arrange instruments and handle cables.

In such connecting cables51and52for supplying power and communication (in particular, the connecting cable52for connecting the microscope2and the imaging instrument3), a USB (Universal Serial Bus) standard cable (hereinafter called “USB cable”) can be used to increase versatility. By the way, a connecting cable for communication is not limited to the USB cable and, for example, there are IEEE1394, LVDS, SCSI, LAN cable, and the like.

As an example of cooperative operation between the microscope2and the imaging instrument3, there is focusing control by controlling operation of the stage14aon the basis of the detected signal detected by the camera head unit30, exposure control by controlling illuminance of the illumination light source11a,and the like.

In the case of focusing control, a focusing state (hereinafter the value showing the state of focusing is called as “focusing information (AF value)”) of the optical system is obtained from the image contrast of the object o by using the detected signal from the camera head unit30, and the stage14a(sample stage drivers14) is controlled so that AF value becomes maximum as shown inFIG. 3.

On the other hand, in the case of exposure control, an illuminance state (hereinafter called “light source intensity information (AE value)”) of the optical system is similarly obtained from the image luminance of the object o by using the detected signal from the camera head unit30, and the illuminance of the illumination light source11a(light source controller11) is adjusted (controlled) so that the illuminance state becomes optimum.

As described above, by constructing the microscope controller20and the camera controller40to operate cooperatively, communication operations between instruments shown by the blocks with a triangle mark at right upper side in the flowchart of a conventional system inFIG. 15become unnecessary or reduce, so that processing of each instrument becomes simple, response becomes fast, and processing speed and operability can be increased as a whole. By arranging a central processing unit capable of carrying out real-time processing on the microscope controller20and the camera controller40and connecting both of the instruments20and40by an exclusive communication cable (such as connecting cable52), both of the instruments20and40become possible to carry out real-time processing, so that it becomes possible to carry out cooperative operation such as focusing control by sending a control command to the microscope controller20on the basis of a focusing information (AF value) derived from the detected signal obtained by the camera controller40as described above.

Moreover, the number of cables connecting instruments with each other becomes fewer, so that it becomes easy to handle cables resulting in improving working efficiency upon setting instruments.

In this construction, when the microscope2and the imaging instrument3operate cooperatively, it is necessary to carry out initial setting that sets both of the instruments2and3to be optimum condition by communicating instrument information with each other, so that each of the microscope controller20and the camera controller40has an initial setting means that instrument information of one instrument is sent to the other instrument through the connecting cable52upon supplying power (start-up) so as to obtain instrument information of the other instrument each other. In particular, after supplying power the camera controller40sends a unit ID of the camera head unit30set in advance to the microscope controller20through the connecting cable52. On the other hand, the microscope controller20sends a unit ID of the microscope unit10set in advance to the camera controller40through the connecting cable52. The microscope controller20and the camera controller40received respective unit IDs set initial settings for the microscope unit10and the camera head unit30connected respectively to become optimum state. With this construction, since instrument information of respective instruments2and3are sent and set to each other upon supplying power to respective instruments2and3, user can save labor to set in accordance with connected instrument, so that operability increases. Incidentally, when a unit ID of the other party cannot be obtained, initial setting is carried out in a given standard state.

As shown inFIG. 4, image information of the object o obtained as described above can be stored in an internal memory (hard disk and the like)44arranged on the camera controller40, and an external memory (flash memory, magneto-optical disk I/O drive, and the like)47connected to an external memory connector45through a cable46, so that managing and using the acquired image information become easy. By the way, it becomes easy to manage and keep image information by storing information such as instrument information (exposure information such as exposure, exposure time, and the like) of the camera head unit30, unit ID of the microscope unit10obtained through the connecting cable52, light source, magnification, filter, and the like in connection with image information (packaged manner).

It is possible to construct such that a firmware for the microscope controller20is stored in advance in the internal memory44or (an external memory medium loaded on) the external memory47arranged on the camera controller40and the microscope controller20downloads the firmware stored in the internal memory44or the external memory47through the connecting cable52and rewrites the firmware of the microscope2. As described above, by making it possible to download the firmware of the microscope2from the camera controller40and rewrite the firmware, it becomes easy to rewrite the firmware of the microscope2.

As shown inFIG. 5, it is possible to construct such that the external controller60such as a computer is connected to the camera controller40or the microscope controller20through the first interface4aor the fourth interface4dand image information is obtained by sending a control command from the external controller60. In this case, as for the external communication means with the external controller60, there is a way for using LAN cables61,61a,and61b,or USB cables62, and63.

As shown inFIG. 5A, when the external controller60is connected to the camera controller40(the first interface4a), the camera controller40receives the control command from the external controller60and a control command for the imaging instrument3is carried out by the camera controller40and a control command for the microscope2is sent from the second interface4bto the microscope controller20through the connecting cable52and the third interface4cand carried out by the microscope controller20.

Alternatively, as shown inFIG. 5B, when the external controller60is connected to the microscope controller20(the fourth interface4d), the microscope controller20receives the control command from the external controller60and a control command for the microscope2is carried out by the microscope controller20and a control command for the imaging instrument3is sent from the third interface4cto the camera controller40through the connecting cable52and the second interface4band carried out by the camera controller40.

In this construction, since the microscope digital image acquiring system1can be operated from a remote place, the scope of access can be broadened. By the way, as for the external communication means, for example, IEEE1394, LVDS, and SCSI may be used.

In the system construction explained inFIG. 2, the case that the connecting cable52for connecting the microscope2and the imaging instrument3connects the microscope controller20and the camera controller40is explained. However, in the way to connect the microscope2and the imaging instrument3, it is possible to construct as shown inFIG. 6such that a connector71is arranged on the microscope controller20, a connector72(the second interface4b) is arranged on the camera head unit30, and the connectors71and72are connected to the third interface4cthrough a connecting cable53. In this case, communication between the microscope controller20and the camera controller40is carried out through the connecting cable51, the camera head unit30, and the connecting cable53. In this case, if the connecting cable53for connecting the microscope controller20and the camera head unit30is arranged in the housing19of the microscope2in advance, the number of cables upon setting the system1can be fewer, so that working efficiency increases.

As shown inFIG. 7, it is possible to construct such that a connector70(71,72) arranged on the microscope2(housing19) and the camera head unit30, respectively, is arranged at one end of the connecting cable53and upon fitting the imaging instrument3(camera head unit30) on the microscope2, these connectors71and72contacts with each other so as to connect the microscope controller20and the camera head unit30with the connecting cable53, so that working efficiency increases upon setting the system. By the way, in the case ofFIG. 7, the connector70is separated into the connectors71aand72afor communication and connectors71band72bfor power supply.

In the system construction explained with reference toFIG. 2, although power is supplied from the microscope controller20, it is possible to supply power from the camera controller40as shown inFIG. 8, so that power supplying means can be designed flexibly in accordance with system construction. In this case, according to the way of connecting the microscope2and the imaging instrument3there are two cases that the microscope2is supplied power from the camera controller40(seeFIG. 8A) and that the microscope2is supplied power from the camera head unit30(seeFIG. 8B).

EMBODIMENTS

In the microscope digital image acquiring system1constructed as described above, image information of the object o is acquired by exchanging control command between the microscope controller20and the camera controller40. Embodiments of processing construction for acquiring image information are explained below.

First Embodiment

A flowchart according to a first embodiment of the present invention is shown inFIG. 9. In step S101, power is supplied to the microscope2and the imaging instrument3. In step S102, a control command for instructing to send instrument information is sent from the camera controller40to the microscope controller20. In step S103, in response to receiving the control command, the microscope controller20sends the instrument information of the microscope2to the camera controller40. In step S104, the camera controller40. sends a control command for starting focusing control to the microscope controller20. In step S105, in response to receiving the control command, the microscope controller20starts focusing control to make the sample stage drivers14move the stage14aalong the optical axis. In step S106, the camera controller40obtains a detected signal from the camera head unit30and, in step S107, the camera controller40calculates AF information from the detected signal and sends the AF information to the microscope controller20, and the steps S106and S107are repeated. On the other hand, in step S108, every time upon receiving AF information from the camera controller40, the microscope controller20checks whether the stage14areaches the in-focus state or not from the AF information. in step S109, when the stage14areaches in-focus state, the microscope controller20stops the stage14a. In step S110, the microscope controller20sends a control command for acquiring image information to the camera controller40. In step Sill, upon receiving the control command, the camera controller40stops sending AF information (S106, S107) and outputs image information of the object o by using the detected signal from the camera head unit30.

In this construction, since control command is sent from the camera controller40to the microscope controller20and focusing control can be carried out on the microscope controller20side, processing can be simplified in comparison with the conventional method (seeFIG. 15). Moreover, by setting focusing function (S105, S108, and S109) in the microscope controller20and sending a control command from the camera controller40, the microscope controller20and the camera controller40operate cooperatively, so that processes are broken up to become easy to control resulting in increasing response. Accordingly, processing speed and operability increase as a whole.

Second Embodiment

A flowchart according to a second embodiment is shown inFIG. 10. In the first embodiment, although processing starts from process of the camera controller40, in the second embodiment, processing starts from process of the microscope controller20. In step S121, power is supplied. In step S122, the microscope controller20sends to the camera controller40a control command for instructing to send instrument information of the imaging instrument3. In step S123, the camera controller40sends the instrument information of the imaging instrument3. In step S124, the camera controller40sends a control command for starting focusing control to the microscope controller20. In step S125, in response to receiving the control command for starting focusing control, the microscope controller20starts focusing control to make the sample stage drivers14move the stage14aalong the optical axis. In step S126, the microscope controller20sends a control command to calculate AF information to the camera controller40. In step S127, in response to receiving the control command to calculate AF information, the camera controller40obtains detected signal from the camera head unit30. In step S128, the camera controller40calculates AF information from the detected signal and send AF information to the microscope controller20. In step S129, upon receiving AF signal, the microscope controller20checks whether the stage14areaches in-focus state or not. When the stage14adoes not reach the in-focus state, the flow goes back to step S126. When the stage14areaches the in-focus state, the flow goes to step S130and the stage14ais stopped. In step S131, the microscope controller20sends a control command to acquire image information to the camera controller40. In step S132, upon receiving the control command, the camera controller40acquires detected signal from the camera head controller30and outputs image information of the object O.

In the second embodiment, the system is constructed such that a focus information calculating function (S127, and S128) for calculating AF information is arranged on the camera controller40and AF information is acquired by sending a control command from the microscope controller20to the camera controller40. In this construction also, processing can be simplified in comparison with the conventional method (seeFIG. 15). The microscope controller2and the camera controller40communicate control command with each other and both of the instruments operate cooperatively, so that processes are broken up to become easy to control resulting in increasing response. Accordingly, processing speed and operability can be increased as a whole.

Third Embodiment

A flowchart according to a third embodiment is shown inFIG. 11. In step S141, power is supplied. In step S142, the camera controller40sends to the microscope controller20a control command for instructing to send instrument information. In step S143, the microscope controller20sends instrument information to the camera controller40. In step S144, the camera controller40sends a control command for starting focusing control to the microscope controller20. In step S145, upon receiving the control command, the microscope controller20moves the stage14aalong the optical axis by means of the sample stage drivers14. In step S146, when the stage14astarts moving, the camera controller40obtains detected signal from the camera head unit30. In step S147, the camera controller40calculates AF information from the detected signal and checks whether the stage14ahas reached an in-focus state or not. The steps S146and S147are repeated until the stage14areaches the in-focus state. In step S148, when it is judged that the stage14ais in-focus state, the camera controller40sends a control command for instructing to stop the stage14ato the microscope controller20. In step S149, upon receiving the control command for instructing to stop, the microscope controller20stops the stage14aand, in step S150, sends a control command for instructing to acquire image information to the camera controller40. In step S151, upon receiving the control command, the camera controller40acquires a detected signal from the camera head unit30and outputs image information of the object O.

In the third embodiment, upon focusing control, whether the stage14ais to be stopped or not is judged only by the camera controller40, so that the processing becomes simpler than the first and second embodiments.

Fourth Embodiment

As shown inFIG. 5A, an external controller60(such as a PC) is connected to the first interface4aof the camera controller40. A control command from the external controller60is received by the camera controller40. A control command to the imaging instrument3is carried out by the camera controller40. A control command to the microscope2is sent to the microscope controller20from the second interface4bthrough the connecting cable52and the third interface4cand the microscope2is controlled by the microscope controller20.

In this case, since the camera controller40can find out the control command of the microscope2sent to the microscope controller20, the setting of the camera head unit30can be changed in accordance with the control command. An example of the flowchart of this case is shown inFIG. 12.

InFIG. 12, in step S201, for example, a control command for changing an objective of the microscope2is issued from the external controller60. In step S202, the control command is sent to the camera controller40. In step S203, the camera controller40interprets the control command. In step S204, since the control command is for the microscope controller20, the camera controller40passes the control command to the microscope controller20through the second interface4band the third interface4c. In step S205, the microscope controller20changes the objective of the microscope2in accordance with the control command.

In step S206, in this case, since the camera controller40has already interpreted the control command, the camera controller40estimates that user's request for focusing control occurs upon changing the objective of the microscope2. In step S207, the camera controller40changes mode to a high frame rate in order to allow the user to focus without trouble.

In this manner, the contents of the control command sent from the external controller60to the microscope controller20is interpreted by the camera controller40, so that it becomes possible to set the state of the camera head unit30preferable to the user without further instruction given from the user.

In the fourth embodiment, when a user directly operates the microscope2, the state alteration information is sent from the microscope controller20to the camera controller40through the third interface4cand the second interface4band to the external controller60through the first interface4a. In this instance, it may be constructed such that by detecting the above-described state alteration, the camera controller40adapts the camera head unit30suitable to the state.FIG. 13is an example of flowchart for such case.

As shown inFIG. 13, in step S211, when a user adjusts the light source of the microscope2, in step S212, that the light source has been adjusted is sent to the external controller60through the microscope controller20. In step S213, the information is detected and interpreted by the camera controller40and, in step S214, transferred to the external controller60as a command. In step S215, upon receiving the command, the external controller60changes display in accordance with the contents of the command.

In step S216, in this instance, since the camera controller40has already interpreted the contents of the command, the camera controller40estimates that exposure adjustment will occur to the camera head unit30, so that, in step S217, the camera controller40changes the AE mode of the camera head unit30in order to allow the user to observe without trouble.

As described above, it becomes possible that when a user has directly operated the microscope2, the contents of the command from the microscope controller20to the external controller60is interpreted by the camera controller40and the state of the camera head unit30is set to the state preferable to the user.

In the above-described first through fourth embodiments, although it is explained that the focusing control is carried out by moving the stage14aof the microscope unit10, in exposure control also, it is possible to construct such that functions are broken up into the microscope controller20and the camera controller40and the microscope controller20and the camera controller40are controlled cooperatively. For example, the camera controller40obtains a detected signal from the camera head unit30, calculates an AE value (light intensity information), sends a control command on the basis of the AE value to the microscope controller20, and controls the light source controller11. Alternatively, it is realized such that a control command is sent from the microscope controller20to the camera controller40to make the camera controller40calculate an AE value by the light source intensity information calculation function of the camera controller40, and the microscope controller20controls the light source controller11on the basis of the AE value. As described above, when the exposure control is broken up into the microscope controller20and the camera controller40, the processing becomes simple, so that processing speed can be increased. Moreover, by cooperatively carrying out control of the light source controller11on the basis of the AE value and exposure time control of the imaging device of the camera head unit30, more delicate exposure control is possible, so that dynamic range of the image information can be broadened.

The operation to acquire a digital image (image information) of the microscope2is not related to the above-described processing, and may be constructed to operate from the operating section22arranged on the microscope controller20or the operating section42arranged on the camera controller40.

As described above, in a microscope digital image acquiring system according to the present invention, a microscope controller and a camera controller are constructed to operate cooperatively by connecting the microscope controller and the camera controller with a communication means to communicate control command with each other. Accordingly, processes are broken up into the instruments and communicating processes between the instruments reduces resulting in increasing response, so that processing speed and operability increase as a whole system. Furthermore, since the number of cables and the like connecting instruments with each other reduces, it becomes easy to handle cables, so that working efficiency increases upon arranging instruments.