Abstract:
There is disclosed a camera for a microscope, connected to the microscope including at least one port for outputting an image from an objective lens, for picking up an image outputted from the port, the camera comprising an image pickup element for picking up the image outputted from the port, a display direction controlling section for converting a display direction of the image picked up by the image pickup element to a predetermined display direction, a display direction setting section for setting the predetermined display direction with respect to the display direction controlling section, and a display section for displaying an image having the display direction converted by the display direction controlling section.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
         [0001]    This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from the prior Japanese Patent Applications No. 2000-028320, filed Feb. 4, 2000; and No. 2000-028324, filed Feb. 4, 2000, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    The present invention relates to a camera for a microscope, attached to, for example, an erected or inverted microscope, for picking up an observation image observed by the microscope, and a microscope system including a display for displaying the observation image of the microscope.  
           [0003]    [0003]FIG. 40 is a side view showing a conventional configuration of an erected microscope provided with an electronic camera (digital camera) for the microscope. A microscope main body  1  is provided with a vertically movable stage  2 , and a sample  3  is laid on the stage  2 . A revolver  5  to which an objective lens  4  is attached is rotatably disposed above the stage  2  in the microscope main body  1 . Moreover, a triple lens tube  6  is disposed in an upper part of the microscope main body  1 , an eyepiece  7  is attached to the triple lens tube  6 , and an electronic camera main body  9  of the electronic camera for the microscope is attached to a port  6   a  of the triple lens tube  6  via an adapter  8  for television. An operation unit  9   a  is connected to the electronic camera main body  9  via a cord  9   b.    
           [0004]    [0004]FIG. 41 is a front view of the electronic camera for the microscope. As shown in FIG. 41, a liquid crystal monitor display  10  is integrally attached to the electronic camera main body  9  via a main body fastening member  11 . This liquid crystal monitor display  10  is provided with a monitor screen. This monitor screen is disposed so as to be inclined forward by a predetermined angle beforehand, so that an observer can easily see the monitor screen even when the electronic camera main body  9  is attached to a position higher than that of the observer.  
           [0005]    In the electronic camera for the microscope, the observation image of the sample  3  enlarged by the microscope is picked up by the electronic camera main body  9 , and the observation image picked up by the electronic camera main body  9  or the observation image of the sample  3  enlarged by the microscope is displayed in the monitor screen of the liquid crystal monitor display  10 , so that observation of the sample  3  is possible.  
           [0006]    [0006]FIG. 42 is a side view showing a configuration of an inverted microscope provided with the electronic camera for the microscope. When the electronic camera for the microscope is attached, for example, to the inverted microscope shown in FIG. 42, a problem occurs in a display direction of a monitor image. In the inverted microscope, a stage  13  is disposed on a microscope main body  12 , and the sample  3  is laid on the stage  13 . An objective lens  14  is disposed under the stage  13 , and an observation optical system disposed on an optical axis of the objective lens  14  is optically connected to a triple lens tube  15 . An eyepiece  16  is attached to the triple lens tube  15 . Moreover, similarly as the erected microscope, the electronic camera main body  9  of the electronic camera for the microscope can directly be attached to a port  15   a  of the triple lens tube  15  via the television adapter  8 .  
           [0007]    Furthermore, respective ports (optical paths)  17   a  to  17   c  for photographing by a photograph camera and television camera are disposed in opposite side surfaces and front surface of the microscope main body  12 . Additionally, the respective ports  17   a ,  17   b  of the opposite side surfaces of the microscope main body  12  are referred to as side ports. Respective optical systems are disposed in these ports  15   a ,  17   a  to  17   c.    
           [0008]    Therefore, when the observation image of the sample  3  enlarged by the inverted microscope is picked up, the electronic camera main body  9  is attached to any one of the ports  15   a ,  17   a  to  17   c.    
           [0009]    However, the display direction of the monitor image disadvantageously differs when the electronic camera main body  9  is directly attached to the port  15   a , attached to the port  15   a  via the television adapter  8 , and attached to any one of the ports  17   a  to  17   c  of the opposite side surfaces and front surface of the microscope main body  12 .  
           [0010]    Moreover, in the conventional art, the observer tries to look into the eyepiece to observe the observation image from the objective lens by the microscope. In recent years, however, with development of an image pickup element with a high performance such as CCD, a system has practically been used in which the observation image is picked up by the image pickup element, and the picked-up observation image is directly displayed in a monitor display, so that the eyepiece is omitted.  
           [0011]    However, in the microscope system including the conventional monitor display, since only the image observed via the objective lens by the microscope is displayed in the monitor display, the observer has to perform various operations on a microscope side based on one&#39;s sense and experience. Therefore, the operation is troublesome, a difference in observation result is made by a degree of the observer&#39;s experience, and the system is not easily used.  
         BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0012]    An object of the present invention is to provide an electronic camera for a microscope, by which an observation image can be displayed in a display direction necessary for an observer even when the electronic camera is attached to any configuration unit such as respective ports different from one another in an image direction and a microscope adapter.  
           [0013]    Another object of the present invention is to provide a microscope system in which an observation image and information effective for a system operation can be displayed in a display, and ease of use is improved.  
           [0014]    To achieve the objects, according to the present invention, there is provided a camera for a microscope, connected to the microscope having at least one port for outputting an image from an objective lens, for picking up the image outputted from the port, the camera comprising an image pickup element for picking up the image outputted from the port, a display direction controller for converting a display direction of the image picked up by the image pickup element to a predetermined display direction, a display direction setter for setting the predetermined display direction with respect to the display direction controller, and a display for displaying the image having the display direction converted by the display direction controller.  
           [0015]    Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objects and advantages of the invention may be realized and obtained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out hereinafter. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING  
       [0016]    The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate presently embodiments of the invention, and together with the general description given above and the detailed description of the embodiments given below, serve to explain the principles of the invention.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an observation optical system in an inverted microscope according to an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of an image in a primary image forming position of the observation optical system in a microscope main body of the microscope according to the embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of an observation image observed via an eyepiece in the microscope main body according to the embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of the image formed in a secondary image forming position via an adapter for television attached to a port in the microscope main body according to the embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 5 is a view showing an image obtained from the port on the left side of the microscope main body according to the embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 6 is a view showing an image obtained from the port on the right side of the microscope main body according to the embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 7 is a view showing an image obtained from the port in the front surface of the microscope main body according to the embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 8 is a side view showing an entire configuration in which an electronic camera for a microscope according to the embodiment of the present invention is attached to an erected microscope.  
         [0025]    [0025]FIGS. 9A and 9B are views showing the entire configuration in which the electronic camera for the microscope according to the embodiment of the present invention is attached to an inverted microscope.  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the electronic camera for the microscope according to the embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a configuration of an operation input section according to the embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 12 shows a display direction conversion table according to the embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram showing a modification example of a display direction setter in the electronic camera for the microscope according to the embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a camera-side electrode of the display direction setter according to the modification example of the embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 15 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the electronic camera for the microscope according to the modification example of the embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0032]    [0032]FIGS. 16A to  16 E are diagrams showing port-side electrodes of the display direction setter in the electronic camera for the microscope according to the modification example of the embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0033]    [0033]FIG. 17 is a table showing a relation between the electrode and a port position according to the modification example of the embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0034]    [0034]FIGS. 18A and 18B are schematic diagrams showing positioning of the camera-side electrode of the electronic camera main body and port-side electrode in the respective ports or the television adapter according to the modification example of the embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0035]    [0035]FIG. 19 is a side view showing the entire configuration in which the electronic camera for the microscope according to the embodiment of the present invention is attached to the inverted microscope.  
         [0036]    [0036]FIG. 20 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the microscope electronic camera according to the embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0037]    [0037]FIG. 21 is a table showing the port connected to the electronic camera of the embodiment of the present invention and a display conversion form with respect to a configuring unit ID.  
         [0038]    [0038]FIG. 22 is a diagram showing a configuration of the modification example of an operation input section according to the embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0039]    [0039]FIG. 23 is a diagram showing a configuration of a microscope system according to the embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0040]    [0040]FIG. 24 is a diagram showing a display example in a display according to the embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0041]    [0041]FIG. 25 is a diagram showing the configuration of the microscope system according to another embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0042]    [0042]FIG. 26 is a diagram showing the configuration of the microscope system according to another embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0043]    [0043]FIGS. 27A and 27B are diagrams showing the configuration of the microscope system according to another embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0044]    [0044]FIGS. 28A and 28B are diagrams showing the configuration of the microscope system according to another embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0045]    [0045]FIG. 29 is a diagram showing the configuration of the microscope system according to another embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0046]    [0046]FIG. 30 is a diagram showing the configuration of the microscope system according to another embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0047]    [0047]FIG. 31 is a diagram showing the display example in the display according to the embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0048]    [0048]FIG. 32 is a diagram showing the configuration of the microscope system according to another embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0049]    [0049]FIGS. 33A and 33B are diagrams showing the configuration of the microscope system according to another embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0050]    [0050]FIG. 34 is a diagram showing the configuration of the microscope system according to another embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0051]    [0051]FIG. 35 is a diagram showing the configuration of the microscope system according to another embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0052]    [0052]FIG. 36 is a diagram showing the configuration of the microscope system according to another embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0053]    [0053]FIGS. 37A and 37B are diagrams showing the configuration of the microscope system according to another embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0054]    [0054]FIG. 38 is a diagram showing the configuration of the microscope system according to the embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0055]    [0055]FIG. 39 is a diagram showing the configuration of the microscope system according to another embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0056]    [0056]FIG. 40 is a side view showing a configuration of an erected microscope provided with the electronic camera for the microscope according to the embodiment of the present invention and a conventional example.  
         [0057]    [0057]FIG. 41 is a front view showing the electronic camera for the microscope according to the embodiment of the present invention and the conventional example.  
         [0058]    [0058]FIG. 42 is a side view showing a configuration of an inverted microscope provided with the electronic camera for the microscope according to the embodiment of the present invention and the conventional example. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0059]    An embodiment of the present invention will be described hereinafter with reference to the drawings.  
         [0060]    [0060]FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an observation optical system in an inverted microscope shown in FIG. 42. In this observation optical system, an image of a sample  3  (shown by character ‘F’ in FIG. 1) is formed in a primary image forming position via an image forming lens  19  from an objective lens  14 .  
         [0061]    [0061]FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the image in the primary image forming position of the observation optical system in a microscope main body  12  of the microscope, and FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of an observation image observed via an eyepiece  16  in the microscope main body  12 . As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the image in the primary image forming position has the same display direction as that of the image (observation image) observed via the eyepiece  16 .  
         [0062]    [0062]FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of the image formed in a secondary image forming position via an adapter for television attached to a port  15   a  in the microscope main body  12 . Different from the image in the primary image forming position, the image formed in the secondary image forming position via a lens  20  of the television adapter attached to the port  15   a  has a display direction rotated by 180° from the observation image via the eyepiece  16  as shown in FIG. 4.  
         [0063]    Furthermore, in the respective observation optical systems including respective ports  17   a  to  17   c  in opposite side surfaces and front surface of the microscope main body  12 , when configuration s such as the number of included reflecting mirrors differ, respective images obtained via the respective ports  17   a  to  17   c  differ from one another in the display direction. For example, as shown in FIG. 5, the image obtained via the port  17   a  on the left side of the microscope main body  12  has a display direction rotated in the left direction by 90° with respect to the observation image via the eyepiece  16  shown in FIG. 3. Moreover, as shown in FIG. 6, the image obtained via the port  17   b  on the right side of the microscope main body  12  has a display direction rotated in the right direction by 90° and further horizontally reversed (front/back converted) with respect to the observation image via the eyepiece  16  shown in FIG. 3. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 7, the image obtained via the port  17   c  in the front surface of the microscope main body  12  has a display direction vertically reversed, or {horizontally reversed (front/back converted)+rotated by 180°} with respect to the observation image via the eyepiece  16  shown in FIG. 3.  
         [0064]    Therefore, when an electronic camera main body  9  is attached to one of the television adapter and any one of the respective ports  17   a  to  17   c , the respective display directions of the observation images displayed in the monitor screen of a liquid crystal monitor display  10  seem to be different with respect to the image observed via the eyepiece  16  as viewed from an observer. In this case, it is difficult for the observer to frame or focus the image on the monitor screen of the liquid crystal monitor display  10 , for example, during photography.  
         [0065]    Moreover, also when the electronic camera for the microscope is attached to the erected microscope shown in FIG. 40, the problem similar to the aforementioned problem occurs with some microscope configuration unit with the electronic camera attached thereto. That is, in the microscope of FIG. 40, the position of the image pickup element of the electronic camera is the primary image forming position or the secondary image forming position of the microscope in accordance with the type of the television adapter  8 ,  
         [0066]    For example, in the observation optical system of FIG. 1, with the television adapter including a lens corresponding to the lens  20 , and the television adapter having no lens, the respective observation images of the microscope projected on the image pickup elements rotate from each other by 180°.  
         [0067]    Therefore, for the observation image displayed in the monitor screen of the liquid crystal monitor display  10  of the electronic camera main body  9 , the display direction sometimes differs with respect to the image observed via the eyepiece  16  in accordance with the television adapter type as viewed from the observer. Also in this case, it is difficult to frame or focus the image on the monitor screen of the liquid crystal monitor display  10 , for example, during photography.  
         [0068]    [0068]FIG. 8 is a side view showing an entire configuration in which the electronic camera for the microscope (digital camera) according to a first embodiment of the present invention is attached to the erected microscope. In FIG. 8, the same components as those of FIG. 40 are denoted with the same reference numerals. In FIG. 8, an electronic camera main body  30   a  is attached to a port  6   a  of a microscope main body  1  via the television adapter  8  with respect to the erected microscope. Additionally, the television adapter  8  may be removed from the microscope main body  1 , so that the electronic camera main body  30   a  can directly be attached to the port  6   a  of the microscope main body  1 .  
         [0069]    [0069]FIG. 9A is a side view showing the entire configuration in which the electronic camera for the microscope according to the first embodiment of the present invention is attached to an inverted microscope, and FIG. 9B is a front view. In FIGS. 9A, 9B, the same components as those of FIG. 42 are denoted with the same reference numerals. In FIGS. 9A and 9B, the electronic camera main body  30   a  is attached to the side port  17   b  on the right side (as faced) with respect to the inverted microscope. This electronic camera main body  30   a  can directly be attached to the port  15   a  of the microscope main body  12 . Furthermore, the electronic camera main body  30   a  can be attached to the port  15   a  via the television adapter  8 , and can also be attached to the left-side port  17   a  (on the left side as faced) or the front-surface port  17   c.    
         [0070]    [0070]FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the electronic camera for the microscope. The electronic camera main body  30   a  is provided with an image pickup element  31  such as CCD, and an output terminal of the image pickup element  31  is connected to a display direction controller  33  via a preprocessor  32 . The display direction controller  33  is connected to a display direction setter  34  and display processor  35 . The display direction controller  33  and display direction setter  34  can arbitrarily change the direction and front/back of the image obtained by picking up the observation image.  
         [0071]    The display direction setter  34  sets the direction of the observation image to be displayed on the monitor screen of the liquid crystal monitor display  10  with respect to the display direction controller  33 . The display direction setter  34  has a function of setting arbitrary direction obtained by any combination of vertical reverse, {horizontal reverse (front/back conversion)+180° rotation}, horizontal reverse (front/back conversion), rotation by an arbitrary angle, and the like with respect to a correlation of the image pickup element  31  set as a default with the display direction on the monitor screen of the liquid crystal monitor display  10 .  
         [0072]    In the display direction setter  34 , for example, respective port numbers of the erected or inverted microscope are set via an operation input section  34   a  (attachment port input section). For the port numbers, for example, the respective ports  6   a ,  15   a  in the erected or inverted microscope are set to port “1”, the ports  6   a ,  15   a  to which the electronic camera main body is attached via the television adapter  8  are set to port “2”, the left-side port  17   a  in the inverted microscope is set to port “3”, the right-side port  17   b  in the inverted microscope is set to port “4”, and the front-surface port  17   c  in the inverted microscope is set to port “5”.  
         [0073]    [0073]FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a configuration of the operation input section  34   a . In the operation input section  34   a , switches  34   a l,  34   a   2 ,  34   a   3 ,  34   a   4 ,  34   a   5  corresponding to the respective ports “1” to “5” are disposed for the observer to set the respective ports “1” to “5”.  
         [0074]    The display direction setter  34  has a function as a display direction calculator for computing/processing the display direction of image data obtained by the image pickup element  31  in the liquid crystal monitor display  10  in accordance with the set port number.  
         [0075]    [0075]FIG. 12 shows a display direction conversion table owned by the display direction setter  34 . A concrete display direction processing control in the display direction setter  34  is performed according to a display direction conversion table A shown in FIG. 12. The display direction setter  34  establishes settings so as to perform no display direction conversion processing with respect to the image data obtained by the image pickup element  31  when the port number is “1”, perform the display direction conversion processing for 180° rotation with respect to the image data obtained by the image pickup element  31  when the port number is “2”, perform the display direction conversion processing for right 90° rotation with respect to the image data obtained by the image pickup element  31  when the port number is “3”, perform the display direction conversion processing for horizontal reverse (front/back conversion) and left 90° rotation with respect to the image data obtained by the image pickup element  31  when the port number is “4”, and to perform the display direction conversion processing for vertical reverse, or {horizontal reverse (front/back conversion)+180° rotation} with respect to the image data obtained by the image pickup element  31  when the port number is “5”. The display direction setter  34  indicates such content of a display direction conversion calculation processing in accordance with the port number to the display direction controller  33 .  
         [0076]    The display direction controller  33  performs the display direction conversion processing with respect to the image data received from the image pickup element  31  via the preprocessor  32  in accordance with instructions from the display direction setter  34 , and sends the converted/processed image data to the display processor  35 . The display processor  35  receives the image data subjected to the display direction conversion processing by the display direction controller  33 , performs a processing on the image data such that the data can be displayed in the liquid crystal monitor display  10 , and sends the image data to the liquid crystal monitor display  10 . In the display processor  35 , an external output terminal  36  for sending the image data to external displays other than the liquid crystal monitor display  10  is disposed.  
         [0077]    Moreover, the display direction controller  33  is connected to an image recorder  37 . The image recorder  37  has a function of: receiving the image data from the display direction controller  33 , that is, the image data having the same display direction as that of the image displayed in the liquid crystal monitor display  10  in accordance with the instruction from an image record instructor  38  disposed in the operation unit  9   a ; and recording the image data in a recording medium such as an image memory.  
         [0078]    An operation of the electronic camera for the microscope configured as described above will next be described.  
         [0079]    (1) When the electronic camera main body  30   a  is directly attached to the port  6   a  or  15   a  in the erected or inverted microscope, the observer operates the operation input section  34   a  to input the port number “1” in the display direction setter  34 . The display direction setter  34  sets a processing method by the display direction controller  33  to “no conversion” in accordance with information on the port number “1” in the display direction conversion table A shown in FIG. 12.  
         [0080]    On the other hand, the image pickup element  31  picks up an enlarged image of the sample  3  obtained by the observation optical system of the microscope main body  1  or  12 , and outputs an image signal. The image signal is sent to the display direction controller  33  via the preprocessor  32 .  
         [0081]    The display direction controller  33  follows the setting of the display direction setter  34  to perform no display direction conversion processing on the image data obtained by the image pickup element  31 , and sends the image data to the display processor  35 . As a result, the image having the same display direction as that of the observation image observed via the eyepiece  16 ( 7 ) is displayed in the monitor screen of the liquid crystal monitor display  10  as shown in FIG. 3.  
         [0082]    In this state, when the observer inputs an image recording instruction to the image recorder  37  via the image record instructor  38  of the operation unit  9   a , the image recorder  37  receives the image data from the display direction controller  33 , that is, the image data having the same display direction as that of the image displayed in the liquid crystal monitor display  10 , and records the image data in the recording mediums such as the image memory and a memory card.  
         [0083]    (2) When the electronic camera main body  30   a  is attached to the port  6   a  or  15   a  in the erected or inverted microscope via the television adapter  8 , the observer operates the operation input section to input the port number “2” in the display direction setter  34 . The display direction setter  34  sets the processing method by the display direction controller  33  to “180° rotation” in accordance with information on the port number “2” in the display direction conversion table A shown in FIG. 12.  
         [0084]    The display direction controller  33  follows the setting of the display direction setter  34  to perform the display direction conversion processing for rotating the image data obtained by the image pickup element  31  by 180°, and sends the image data to the display processor  35 . As a result, the image having the same display direction as that of the observation image observed via the eyepiece  16 ( 7 ) is displayed in the monitor screen of the liquid crystal monitor display  10  as shown in FIG. 3.  
         [0085]    In this state, when the observer inputs the image recording instruction to the image recorder  37  via the image record instructor  38  of the operation unit  9   a , the image recorder  37  receives the image data from the display direction controller  33 , that is, the image data having the same display direction as that of the image displayed in the liquid crystal monitor display  10 , and records the image data in the recording mediums such as the image memory and memory card.  
         [0086]    (3) When the electronic camera main body  30   a  is attached to the left-side port  17   a  in the inverted microscope, the observer operates the operation input section to input the port number “3” in the display direction setter  34 . The display direction setter  34  sets the processing method by the display direction controller  33  to “right 90° rotation” in accordance with information on the port number “3”, in the display direction conversion table A shown in FIG. 12.  
         [0087]    The display direction controller  33  follows the setting of the display direction setter  34  to perform the display direction conversion processing for rotating the image data obtained by the image pickup element  31  by right 90°, and sends the image data to the display processor  35 . As a result, the image having the same display direction as that of the observation image observed via the eyepiece  16  shown in FIG. 3 is displayed in the monitor screen of the liquid crystal monitor display  10 .  
         [0088]    In this state, when the observer inputs the image recording instruction to the image recorder  37  via the image record instructor  38  of the operation unit  9   a , the image recorder  37  receives the image data from the display direction controller  33 , that is, the image data having the same display direction as that of the image displayed in the liquid crystal monitor display  10 , and records the image data in the recording mediums such as the image memory and memory card.  
         [0089]    (4) When the electronic camera main body  30   a  is attached to the right-side port  17   b  in the inverted microscope, the observer operates the operation input section to input the port number “4” in the display direction setter  34 . The display direction setter  34  sets the processing method by the display direction controller  33  to “horizontal reverse+left 90° rotation” in accordance with information on the port number “4” in the display direction conversion table A shown in FIG. 12.  
         [0090]    The display direction controller  33  follows the setting of the display direction setter  34  to perform the conversion processing for subjecting the image data obtained by the image pickup element  31  to the horizontal reverse (front/back conversion) and left 90° rotation, and sends the image data to the display processor  35 . As a result, the image having the same display direction as that of the observation image observed via the eyepiece  16  shown in FIG. 3 is displayed in the monitor screen of the liquid crystal monitor display  10 .  
         [0091]    In this state, when the observer inputs the image recording instruction to the image recorder  37  via the image record instructor  38  of the operation unit  9   a , the image recorder  37  receives the image data from the display direction controller  33 , that is, the image data having the same display direction as that of the image displayed in the liquid crystal monitor display  10 , and records the image data in the recording mediums such as the image memory and memory card.  
         [0092]    (5) When the electronic camera main body  30   a  is attached to the front-surface port  17   c  in the inverted microscope, the observer operates the operation input section to input the port number “5” in the display direction setter  34 . The display direction setter  34  sets the processing method by the display direction controller  33  to “vertical reverse” (“horizontal reverse+180° rotation”) in accordance with information on the port number “5” in the display direction conversion table A shown in FIG. 12.  
         [0093]    The display direction controller  33  follows the setting of the display direction setter  34  to perform the display direction conversion processing for subjecting the image data obtained by the image pickup element  31  to vertical reverse (“horizontal reverse (front/back conversion)+180° rotation”), and sends the image data to the display processor  35 . As a result, the image having the same display direction as that of the observation image observed via the eyepiece  16  shown in FIG. 14 is displayed in the monitor screen of the liquid crystal monitor display  10 .  
         [0094]    In this state, when the observer inputs the image recording instruction to the image recorder  37  via the image record instructor  38  of the operation unit  9   a , the image recorder  37  receives the image data from the display direction controller  33 , that is, the image data having the same display direction as that of the image displayed in the liquid crystal monitor display  10 , and records the image data in the recording mediums such as the image memory and memory card.  
         [0095]    As described above, according to the first embodiment, when the electronic camera main body  30   a  is attached to the respective ports  6   a ,  15   a  in the erected or inverted microscope, attached via the television adapter  8 , or attached to the respective ports  17   a  to  17   c  in the inverted microscope, the conversion processing is performed in accordance with these ports to subject the image data obtained by the image pickup element  31  to rotation, vertical reverse (“horizontal reverse (front/back conversion)+180° rotation”), or horizontal reverse (front/back conversion) in the display direction controller  33 , and the image data is sent to the display processor  35 . Therefore, even when the electronic camera main body  30   a  of the electronic camera for the microscope is attached to any one of the ports  6   a ,  15   a ,  17   a  to  17   c , the image having the same display direction as that of the observation image observed via the eyepiece  16  shown in FIG. 3 by the observer can be displayed in the monitor screen of the liquid crystal monitor display  10 . Therefore, it becomes easy to frame or focus the image on the monitor screen of the liquid crystal monitor display  10 , for example, during photography.  
         [0096]    Moreover, when the rotation angle of the conversion processing is changed with respect to the image data regarding the respective port numbers “1” to “5” stored in the display direction conversion table A, the observer can display the image at a desired rotation angle in the monitor display. Furthermore, the image data having the same display direction as that of the image to be displayed in the liquid crystal monitor display  10  can be recorded in the recording mediums such as the image memory and memory card by the image recorder  37 .  
         [0097]    [0097]FIG. 22 is a diagram showing a configuration of an operation input section  34   a ′ as the modification example of the operation input section  34   a . In the electronic camera for the microscope, the operation input section  34   a ′ which can directly designate the image display direction may be used instead of the operation input section  34   a . In the operation input section  34   a ′, switches  34   a   1 ′,  34   a   2 ′,  34   a   3 ′,  34   a   4 ′,  34   a   5 ′ for the observer to directly set the display direction of the observation image are disposed. In this case, the display direction setter  34  outputs the display direction inputted via the switch in the operation input section  34   a ′ as it is to the display direction controller  33 .  
         [0098]    The first embodiment may be modified as follows.  
         [0099]    (1) In the first embodiment, as shown in the display direction conversion table A of FIG. 12, the image conversion processing directions are set with respect to the respective ports “1” to “5”, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the display direction conversion table A may arbitrarily be varied so as to rotate/process the image by a desired angle in a direction desired by the observer.  
         [0100]    (2) In the first embodiment, the operation input section is operated to input the port number to the display direction setter  34 , but as shown in FIG. 13, an electronic camera main body  30   b , respective ports  6   a ,  15   a ,  17   a  to  17   c  or television adapter  8  may be provided with respective contact electrodes  40 ,  41  for setting the respective display directions (camera-side electrode, port-side electrode as attachment port recognizing section), and the electronic camera main body  30  may be provided with a function of judging the port to which the main body is attached.  
         [0101]    [0101]FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a camera-side electrode of the display direction setter  34  according to the modification example, and FIG. 15 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the electronic camera for the microscope according to the modification example. As shown in FIGS. 14 and 15, camera-side electrodes  40  consisting of four electrodes (contact switches) are disposed in the electronic camera main body  30   b . Here, the respective electrodes of the camera-side electrodes  40  are denoted with “1”, “2”, “3”, “4”. These electrodes are connected to a connection port recognizing section  34   b.    
         [0102]    On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 16A, a port-side electrode  41  is disposed in a position corresponding to the electrode “1” of the camera-side electrodes  40  in the port  6   a  or  15   a  in the erected or inverted microscope. Moreover, as shown in FIG. 16B, the port-side electrode  41  is disposed in a position corresponding to the electrode “2” of the camera-side electrodes  40  in the television adapter  8 . Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 16C, the port-side electrodes  41  are disposed in the positions corresponding to the electrodes “1” and “2” of the camera-side electrodes  40  in the left-side port  7   a . As shown in FIG. 16D, the port-side electrode  41  is disposed in a position corresponding to the electrode “3” of the camera-side electrodes  40  in the right-side port  7   b . As shown in FIG. 16E, the port-side electrodes  41  are disposed in the positions corresponding to the electrodes “1” and “3” of the camera-side electrodes  40  in the front-surface port  7   c.    
         [0103]    When the electronic camera main body  30   b  is attached to the respective ports  6   a ,  15   a ,  17   a  to  17   c  or the television adapter  8  in this manner, the camera-side electrode  40  electrically contacts the port-side electrode  41 , and corresponding electric signals are generated in the respective ports  6   a ,  15   a ,  17   a  to  17   c  or the television adapter  8  to which the electronic camera main body  30   b  is attached.  
         [0104]    Thereby, the connection port recognizing section  34   b  extracts the electric signal generated by the electric contact of the camera-side electrode  40  with the port-side electrode  41 . Furthermore, the connection port recognizing section  34   b  has a table shown in FIG. 17, and refers to the table to recognize/set the port number in response to the extracted electric signal. The display direction setter  34  reads the processing method of the display direction corresponding to the port number from the display direction conversion table A shown in FIG. 12, and sets the processing method in the display direction controller  33 . The display direction controller  33  follows the setting of the display direction setter  34 , and performs the conversion processing with respect to the image data obtained by the image pickup element  31 .  
         [0105]    Additionally, the camera-side electrode  40  of the electronic camera main body  30  and the port-side electrode  41  in the respective ports  6   a ,  15   a ,  17   a  to  17   c  and television adapter  8  are positioned as follows.  
         [0106]    As shown in FIG. 18A, a hole  42  is formed in a mount of the electronic camera main body  30   b . A positioning pin  42   a  which is urged by a spring and cooperates with a release button  44  to freely go into/out of the hole is disposed in the hole  42 . Moreover, as shown in FIG. 18B, a positioning hole  43  is formed in the mount of the respective ports  6   a ,  15   a ,  17   a  to  17   c  or the television adapter  8 .  
         [0107]    When the electronic camera main body  30   b  is attached to the respective ports  6   a ,  15   a ,  17   a  to  17   c  or the television adapter  8 , and the positioning pin  42   a  is aligned with the hole  43  in the respective mounts, the pin  42   a  is inserted into the hole  43 , and the electronic camera main body  30  is fixed to the respective ports  6   a ,  15   a ,  17   a  to  17   c  or the television adapter  8 . Additionally, a positioning mechanism by the pin  42   a  and hole  43  may be omitted.  
         [0108]    (3) A sensor may be disposed in a port connection portion of the electronic camera main body  30   b . In this case, targets are disposed in order to generate different signals in the respective ports  6   a ,  15   a ,  17   a  to  17   c  or the television adapter  8  with respect to the sensor, the display direction setter  34  inputs the signal generated by the target and detected by the sensor, and the port with the electronic camera main body  30   b  attached thereto is judged.  
         [0109]    [0109]FIG. 19 is a side view showing the entire configuration in which the electronic camera for the microscope according to the second embodiment of the present invention (digital camera) is attached to the inverted microscope, and FIG. 20 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the electronic camera for the microscope. In FIGS. 19 and 20, the same components as those of FIGS. 9A and 10 are denoted with the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted.  
         [0110]    First, the configuration of the microscope and electronic camera for the microscope of the second embodiment will first be described. Four connection ports  17   a  (not shown),  17   b ,  17   c ,  12   a  are disposed in the inverted microscope main body  12 , and an electronic camera main body  30   c  is attached to the right-side port  17   b . The electronic camera main body  30   c  can be attached to the port  12   a  of the inverted microscope via the port  15   a  of a triple lens tube unit  15 . Moreover, the television adapter  8  is attached to the port  15   a , and the electronic camera main body  30   c  can also be attached to the television adapter  8 . Furthermore, the electronic camera main body  30   c  can also be attached to the left-side port  17   a  or the front-surface port  17   c  of the inverted microscope.  
         [0111]    Port ID storage sections  60   a  (not shown),  60   b ,  60   c ,  60   d ,  61 ,  62  each formed of a memory or the like are disposed in the respective connection ports  17   a ,  17   b ,  17   c ,  12   a , triple lens tube unit  15 , and television adapter  8 . In the respective port ID storage sections  60   a  to  60   d ,  61 ,  62 , IDs of the corresponding ports  17   a ,  17   b ,  17   c ,  12   a , triple lens tube unit  15 , and television adapter  8  are stored as “ID1”, “ID2”, “ID3”, “ID4”, “ID5”, “ID6”.  
         [0112]    These port ID storage sections  60   a  to  60   d ,  61 ,  62  are connected to a port and unit recognizing section  34   c  of the electronic camera main body  30   c  directly or via a configuration unit. The connection is realized via a contact S. The port and unit recognizing section  34   c  is connected to the display direction setter  34 . In the port and unit recognizing section  34   c  of the electronic camera main body  30   c , a table showing display conversion forms of the port connected to the electronic camera  30  and configuration unit IDs is stored as shown in FIG. 21. Since other configuration s of the electronic camera are similar to those of the first embodiment, description thereof is omitted.  
         [0113]    An operation of the microscope and electronic camera configured as described above will next be described. When the electronic camera main body  30   c  is attached to the right-side port  17   b  of the microscope main body  12 , the port and unit recognizing section  34   c  of the electronic camera main body  30   c  is connected to the port ID storage section  60   b . Therefore, when the port ID stored in the section is read, it is recognized that the electronic camera main body  30   c  is attached to the right-side port  17   b . Thereby, the port and unit recognizing section  34   c  of the electronic camera main body  30   c  refers to the table of FIG. 21, and sets the display direction controller  33  via the display direction setter  34 , so that the display conversion form is “horizontal reverse, left 90° rotation” corresponding to the port ID “ID2”.  
         [0114]    Moreover, when the electronic camera main body  30   c  is attached to the television adapter  8 , the port and unit recognizing section  34   c  of the electronic camera main body  30   c  is connected to the port ID storage sections  60   d ,  61 ,  62 . It is recognized that the port  12   a , triple lens tube unit  15 , and television adapter  8  are connected. Therefore, the port and unit recognizing section  34   c  of the electronic camera main body  30   c  refers to the table of FIG. 21, and sets the operation to the display direction controller  33  via the display direction setter  34 , so that the display conversion form is “no conversion”+“no conversion”+“180° rotation” corresponding to the port IDs “ID4”, “ID5”, “ID6” in order to cancel an optical action of each unit. Since other operations of the electronic camera are similar to those of the first embodiment, description thereof is omitted.  
         [0115]    As described above, according to the second embodiment, in addition to the effect of the first embodiment, even when various configuration units are connected to the port of the microscope, the electronic camera automatically recognizes the configured unit, and the display direction can be converted in order to cancel optical actions of the respective units. Therefore, even with any microscope configuration, the observer can constantly observe the image having the same display direction as that of the image observed via the eyepiece without especially considering the microscope configuration.  
         [0116]    As described above in detail, according to the present invention, there can be provided the electronic camera for the microscope which can display the observation image in the display direction necessary for the observer even when attached to any one of the respective ports different in image direction from one another.  
         [0117]    [0117]FIG. 23 is a diagram showing a configuration of a microscope system according to a third embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 23, an observation sample  102  is laid on a stage  101 . A lighting light source  103  of a halogen lamp, a mercury light, or the like is disposed under the stage  101 . A lighting optical system  105  and condenser lens  106  are disposed between the lighting light source  103  and the stage  101  in a lighting path  104 . The observation sample  102  is irradiated with a lighting light from the lighting light source  103  as a transmitting light from below the stage  101  via the lighting optical system  105  and condenser lens  106 .  
         [0118]    An objective lens  107  is disposed opposite to the observation sample  102  above the stage  101 . The observation image from the objective lens  107  is formed on an image pickup surface of an image pickup element  109  of CCD or the like via a projection lens (eyepiece)  108 . The image pickup element  109  is connected to a camera control unit (hereinafter abbreviated as CCU)  110 . Moreover, the CCU  110  is connected to a monitor display  113  via a memory circuit  112 .  
         [0119]    The CCU  110  sets image pickup conditions such as exposure (AE), exposure time, and gain with respect to the image pickup element  109 , and adjusts color balance, gradation characteristics, and the like of the observation image picked up by the image pickup element  109 . A light source control circuit  111  adjusts a light amount of the lighting light source  103 . In the memory circuit  112 , the observation image adjusted in the CCU  110  and a state of light amount adjustment by the light source control circuit  111  are recorded, and these are displayed in the display  113  in a superposed manner.  
         [0120]    An operation of the microscope system configured as described above will next be described. When the observer lays the observation sample  102  on the stage  101 , and turns on the lighting light source  103 , the observation sample  102  is irradiated with the lighting light from the lighting light source  103  as a transmission light from below the stage  101  via the lighting optical system  105  and condenser lens  106 . When the transmission light passes through the observation sample  102 , the observation image obtained via the objective lens  107  is picked up by the image pickup element  109  via the projection lens (eyepiece)  108 . The image is adjusted in the CCU  110 , and subsequently stored in the memory circuit  112 . The light source control circuit  111  sends and stores the state of the light amount adjustment as state information to the memory circuit  112 .  
         [0121]    Thereby, the observation image of the observation sample  102  stored in the memory circuit  112  is superposed and displayed as the light amount adjustment content of the light source control circuit  111  on the display screen of the display  113 .  
         [0122]    [0122]FIG. 24 is a diagram showing a display example in the display  113 . On the display screen of the display  113 , an observation image A of the observation sample  102  is superposed and displayed with, for example, a voltage value B supplied to the lighting light source  103  as the light amount adjustment amount to the lighting light source  103  by the light source control circuit  111 . Additionally, as a display form of state information of the light amount adjustment, for example, the voltage value may be replaced with a bar graph, so that the bar graph is displayed.  
         [0123]    As described above, according to the third embodiment, on the display screen of the display  113 , the observation image picked up the image pickup element  109  and transmitted via the objective lens  107  is superposed and displayed with the state of the light amount adjustment for the lighting light source  103  by the light source control circuit  111 . Therefore, the observer grasps the information of the light amount adjustment on the display screen, and can use the content to adjust the light amount of the lighting light source  103 . Thereby, the sample can be observed under stable observation conditions without being influenced by observer&#39;s sense or experience.  
         [0124]    Moreover, an example in which the observer manually adjusts the light amount of the lighting light source has been described above, but the lighting light amount may automatically be controlled. In this configuration, the CCU  110  is connected to the light source control circuit  111  as shown by a broken line of FIG. 23, and a set content of image pickup conditions of the image pickup element  109  is transmitted to the light source control circuit  111  from the CCU  110 . The light source control circuit  111  has a function of automatically adjusting the light amount of the lighting light source  103  in accordance with the received content of the image pickup conditions. Moreover, the state of the light amount adjustment is transmitted and stored as the state information of the light source to the memory circuit  112  via the light source control circuit  111 . On the display screen of the display  113 , together with the sample observation image, the state of the lighting light amount obtained by the light source control circuit  111  is superposed and displayed.  
         [0125]    In this case, since the light amount of the lighting light source  103  is automatically adjusted in accordance with the set content of the image pickup conditions for the image pickup element  109 , a clear observation image with a good S/N ratio can be obtained. Moreover, since the light amount of the lighting light source  103  can remarkably be reduced, for example, by raising a gain for the image pickup element  109 , even the operation with a low power consumption is possible.  
         [0126]    [0126]FIG. 25 is a diagram showing the configuration of the microscope system according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 25, the same components as those of FIG. 23 are denoted with the same reference numerals. In this configuration, LED  121  is used as a lighting light source, and the light amount of the LED  121  is automatically adjusted by a light source control circuit  122 .  
         [0127]    Even in this configuration, together with the observation image, the state information of the light amount adjustment for the LED  121  can be superposed and displayed on the display screen of the display  113 . Therefore, the effect can similarly be obtained. Moreover, since the LED  121  is used in the lighting light source, the configuration of the light source control circuit  122  can be simplified, a current to be supplied to the lighting light source is reduced, power consumption can be lowered, and the system can inexpensively be configured.  
         [0128]    [0128]FIG. 26 is a diagram showing the configuration of the microscope system according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 26, the same components as those of FIG. 25 are denoted with the same reference numerals. In this configuration, an LED light source  132  including a plurality of LEDs  131  is used as the lighting light source, and the LED  131  of the LED light source  132  is selected by an LED control circuit  133 .  
         [0129]    Even in this configuration, together with the observation image, a selection state of the LED  131  of the LED light source  132  can be superposed and displayed on the display screen of the display  113 . Therefore, the effect can similarly be obtained. Moreover, since the LED  131  for use can be selected by the LED control circuit  133 , the optimum lighting conditions can be set for each observation sample  102 , and the sample can be observed in more satisfactory observation conditions. Furthermore, since a plurality of LEDs  131  are used, the amount of irradiation light of the observation sample  102  increases. Since the amount of the light incident upon the image pickup element  109  increases, the image with a good S/N ratio can be obtained.  
         [0130]    [0130]FIGS. 27A and 27B are diagrams showing the configuration of the microscope system according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention. In FIGS. 27A and 27B, the same components as those of FIG. 25 are denoted with the same reference numerals.  
         [0131]    In this configuration, the image pickup element  109  is connected to a focus evaluation circuit  141 , and the focus evaluation circuit  141  is connected to a focus indicator  142 . The focus evaluation circuit  141  calculates a contrast of the image picked up by the image pickup element  109 , detects the present focus state, and displays the result as operation information in the focus indicator  142 . For example, as shown in FIG. 27B, the focus indicator  142  is arranged besides the display  113 , and the focus state can be distinguished at a glance.  
         [0132]    In this configuration, the observation image is displayed on the display screen of the display  113 , the focus state is successively displayed in the focus indicator  142 , and the observer can grasp the present focus state via the focus indicator  142  while observing the sample. Quick focusing is possible, and efficient sample observation can be realized.  
         [0133]    [0133]FIGS. 28A and 28B are diagrams showing the configuration of the microscope system according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention. In FIGS. 28A and 28B, the same components as those of FIGS. 27A and 27B are denoted with the same reference numerals.  
         [0134]    In this configuration, a result of contrast calculation of the pickup image executed in the focus evaluation circuit  141  is stored as operation information in the memory circuit  112 , and superposed and displayed with the observation image of the observation sample  102  stored in the memory circuit  112  on the display screen of the display  113 . That is, the focus indicator is displayed with the observation image in the display  113 , for example, as shown in FIG. 28B.  
         [0135]    Since the contrast calculation result in the focus evaluation circuit  141  is superposed and displayed with the observation image on the display screen of the display  113 , the configuration is more advantageous in respect of visibility and operability during sample observation. Moreover, since the focus indicator can be omitted, the system configuration is also simplified.  
         [0136]    [0136]FIG. 29 is a diagram showing the configuration of the microscope system according to an eighth embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 29, the same components as those of FIG. 27A are denoted with the same reference numerals.  
         [0137]    In this configuration, the focus evaluation circuit  141  is connected to a control circuit  143 , and the control circuit  143  is connected to a stage driving motor  144 . When the contrast calculation result of the pickup image obtained by the focus evaluation circuit  141  is inputted, the control circuit  143  controls the stage driving motor  144  in accordance with the result to move the stage  101  to the focus position.  
         [0138]    In this configuration, since the focusing operation for the observation sample  102  can automatically be performed, the operability can be enhanced during the sample observation.  
         [0139]    [0139]FIG. 30 is a diagram showing the configuration of the microscope system according to a ninth embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 30, the same components as those of FIG. 25 are denoted with the same reference numerals.  
         [0140]    In this configuration, a projection zoom lens  151  is inserted between the objective lens  107  and the image pickup element  109 , and a magnification of the observation image picked up by the image pickup element  109  can be adjusted/varied. Moreover, the projection zoom lens  151  is connected to a zoom magnification detection circuit  152 , and the objective lens  107  (revolver) is connected to an objective lens magnification detection circuit  153 . The zoom magnification detection circuit  152  and objective lens magnification detection circuit  153  are connected to a total calculation circuit  154 . The total calculation circuit  154  is connected to the memory circuit  112 .  
         [0141]    The zoom magnification detection circuit  152  detects a zoom magnification of the projection zoom lens  151 , and the objective lens magnification detection circuit  153  detects the magnification of the objective lens  107  inserted to an observation optical axis. Moreover, the total calculation circuit  154  calculates the projection magnification in the observation optical system from the magnifications detected by the zoom magnification detection circuit  152  and objective lens magnification detection circuit  153 . Information regarding the magnifications is stored as set information in the memory circuit  112 , and superposed and displayed with the observation image of the observation sample  102  stored in the memory circuit  112  on the display screen of the display  113 .  
         [0142]    [0142]FIG. 31 is a diagram showing the display example in the display  113 . Magnification information C such as the zoom magnification of the projection zoom lens  151 , the magnification of the objective lens  107 , and the projection magnification of the observation optical system calculated by the total calculation circuit  154  are superposed and displayed with the observation image A of the observation sample  102  on the display screen of the display  113 .  
         [0143]    In this configuration, since the magnification information C is displayed with the observation image on the display screen of the display  113 , the observer can use the magnification information C as a standard to observe the sample, and the sample can be observed under observation conditions without being influenced by the observer&#39;s sense or experience.  
         [0144]    Additionally, the example in which the projection zoom lens  151  is disposed has been described above, but a zoom objective lens may be used instead of the objective lens  107 .  
         [0145]    [0145]FIG. 32 is a diagram showing the configuration of the microscope system according to a tenth embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 32, the same components as those of FIG. 25 are denoted with the same reference numerals.  
         [0146]    In this configuration, the CPU  110  has a function of setting the image pickup conditions for the image pickup element  109 , and adjusting the observation image picked up by the image pickup element  109 , and further has an electronic zoom function for enlarging or reducing the picked up observation image by an image processing. Moreover, the electronic zoom magnification in the CCU  110  is obtained by a magnification conversion processing circuit  155 , and the processing result is stored as the set information in the memory circuit  112 , and superposed and displayed with the observation image of the observation sample  102  recorded in the memory circuit  112  on the display screen of the display  113 .  
         [0147]    Even in this configuration, the observation image is displayed with the magnification information in the display screen of the display  113 , the observer can use the magnification information as the standard to observe the sample, and the sample can be observed under stable observation conditions.  
         [0148]    [0148]FIGS. 33A and 33B are diagrams showing the configuration of the microscope system according to an eleventh embodiment of the present invention. In FIGS. 33A, 33B, the same components as those of FIG. 25 are denoted with the same reference numerals.  
         [0149]    In this configuration, the memory circuit  112  is connected to a recording medium  161  such as smart media and compact flash. Moreover, the memory circuit  112  and recording medium  161  are connected to a recording medium control circuit  162 . The recording medium control circuit  162  is connected to an input operation section  163 , and writing of a content stored in the memory circuit  112  to the recording medium  161  and reading of the content stored in the recording medium  161  to the memory circuit  112  are controlled by the operation of the input operation section  163 .  
         [0150]    Moreover, operation information in the input operation section  163  and read/write information for the recording medium  161  are stored as the operation information in the memory circuit  112 , and superposed and displayed with the observation image of the observation sample  2  stored in the memory circuit  112  on the display screen of the display  13 . That is, for example, as shown in FIG. 33B, image format display types such as JPEG and TIFF and image recording mode types such as SQ, HQ and SHQ modes are displayed as a set state of image recording with the observation image on the display screen of the display  113 . Additionally, the image recording mode determines a compression ratio during recording. The SQ mode sets a highest compression ratio, and the compression ratio decreases in order of HQ and SHQ.  
         [0151]    In this configuration, the observer can operate the input operation section  163  to freely move the content stored in the memory circuit  112  to the recording medium  161 , and move the content recorded in the recording medium  161  to the memory circuit  112 . Moreover, the operation content information in the input operation section  163 , read/write state in the recording medium  161 , and the like are displayed with the observation image on the display screen of the display  113 . Therefore, the observer can confirm the information while observing the sample. Satisfactory sample observation is possible.  
         [0152]    [0152]FIG. 34 is a diagram showing the configuration of the microscope system according to a twelfth embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 34, the same components as those of FIG. 25 are denoted with the same reference numerals.  
         [0153]    In the configuration, the CCU  110  is connected to an output control circuit  164 . The output control circuit  164  is connected to an external output terminal  165  and input operation section  166 . By operation in the input operation section  166 , information stored in the memory circuit  112 , such as the image pickup conditions in the CCU  110  for the image pickup element  109  and the image adjustment conditions of the observation image are outputted to the external output terminal  165  via the output control circuit  164 . Furthermore, the operation information in the input operation section  166  and information outputted via the external output terminal  165  are superposed and displayed as the operation information with the observation image of the observation sample  102  stored in the memory circuit  112  on the display screen of the display  113 .  
         [0154]    In this configuration, the observer can operate the input operation section  166  to extract the information such as the image pickup conditions in the CCU  110  and image adjustment conditions to the outside via the external output terminal  165 . Moreover, the operation information in the input operation section  166  and the information outputted via the external output terminal  165  are displayed with the observation image on the display screen of the display  113 . Therefore, the observer can confirm these information while satisfactorily observing the sample.  
         [0155]    [0155]FIG. 35 is a diagram showing the configuration of the microscope system according to a thirteenth embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 35 the same components as those of FIG. 25 are denoted with the same reference numerals.  
         [0156]    In this configuration, the CCU  110  is connected to an input setting section  171 . The input setting section  171  sets image pickup conditions in the CCU  110  for the image pickup element  109 , such as automatic exposure (AE), exposure time and gain, and image adjustment conditions for the observation image, such as color balance and gradation characteristics. Moreover, the information such as the image pickup conditions and image adjustment conditions are inputted as the set information to the memory circuit  112  by the CCU  110 , and are superposed and displayed with the observation image of the observation sample  102  stored in the memory circuit  112  on the display screen of the display  113 .  
         [0157]    In this configuration, the observer can operate the input setting section  171  to freely set the image pickup conditions for the image pickup element  109  and the image adjustment conditions for the observation image in the CCU  110 . Moreover, the information set by the input setting section  171  is displayed with the observation image on the display screen of the display  113 . Therefore, the observer can confirm the information while satisfactorily observing the sample.  
         [0158]    [0158]FIG. 36 is a diagram showing the configuration of the microscope system according to a fourteenth embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 36 the same components as those of FIG. 25 are denoted with the same reference numerals.  
         [0159]    In this configuration, the memory circuit  112  is connected to an image input circuit  172 , and the image input circuit  172  is connected to an external input terminal  173 . The external input terminal  173  is connected to a camera  174 .  
         [0160]    In this configuration, the camera  174  uses a silver salt film for photographing the observation image via the objective lens  107  separately from the image pickup element  109 . Moreover, the image input circuit  172  extracts the image pickup conditions information inputted via the external input terminal  173 , such as automatic exposure (AE) and exposure time in the camera  174 , and stores the information as the set information in the memory circuit  112 . The set information is superposed and displayed with the observation image of the observation sample  102  stored in the memory circuit  112  on the display screen of the display  113 .  
         [0161]    Even in this configuration, since the information such as the photography conditions extracted via another camera  174  is displayed with the observation image in the display screen of the display  113 , the observer can utilize the information to satisfactorily observe the sample.  
         [0162]    [0162]FIGS. 37A and 37B are diagrams showing the configuration of the microscope system according to a fifteenth embodiment of the present invention. In FIGS. 37A, 37B, the same components as those of FIG. 25 are denoted with the same reference numerals.  
         [0163]    In this configuration, the display  113  has a touch panel switch  181  on the display screen. With the touch panel switch  181 , the image pickup conditions for the image pickup element  109  and image adjustment conditions for the observation image in the CCU  110  can be set, and superposed and displayed on the display screen of the display  113 . The touch panel switch outputs a signal in accordance with a pressed position (coordinate) of the switch on the display screen. The touch panel switch  181  is connected to a switch control circuit  182 .  
         [0164]    The switch control circuit  182  sends data of each switch image displayed on the display screen of the display  113  to the memory circuit  112 . On receiving the position signal from the touch panel switch  181 , the switch control circuit converts the position signal to a setting signal of the image pickup conditions and image adjustment conditions, and outputs the setting signal to the CCU  110 . Moreover, the switch control circuit  182  inputs the information such as the image pickup conditions and image adjustment conditions for the CCU  110  as the set information to the memory circuit  112 . These set information are superposed and displayed with the observation image of the observation sample  102  stored in the memory circuit  112  on the display screen of the display  113 .  
         [0165]    For example, ON/OFF of an automatic white balance will be described as an example of image adjustment for the CCU  110 . In this case, for example, as shown in FIG. 37B, image data for displaying an automatic white balance ON/OFF switch  83  is stored in the switch control circuit  182 . When the image data is sent to the memory circuit  112 , the switch is displayed in the display screen of the display  113  as shown in FIG. 37B. When the observer presses the corresponding switch portion, a signal of the pressed position is sent to the switch control circuit  182  from the touch panel switch  181 , converted to an automatic white balance ON/OFF signal for the CCU  110  in the switch control circuit  182 , and sent to the CCU  110 . Thereby, the CCU  110  sets the automatic white balance ON/OFF.  
         [0166]    Moreover, the touch panel switch  181  can also be used to input an operation instruction for each operation section of the microscope. Another example will be described in which the LED control circuit  122  for adjusting the light amount of the LED  121  as the operation section of the microscope is connected to the switch control circuit  182 , and the touch panel switch  181  is used to input the operation instruction to the LED control circuit  122 .  
         [0167]    In this case, for example, as shown in FIG. 37B, image data for displaying a lamp light amount adjustment switch  184  is stored in the switch control circuit  182 . When the image data is sent to the memory circuit  112 , the switch  184  is displayed in the display screen of the display  113  as shown in FIG. 37B. When the observer presses a switch  184  portion, the signal of the pressed position is sent to the switch control circuit  182  from the touch panel switch  181 , and the signal is converted to an operation instruction signal for the LED control circuit  122  in the switch control circuit  182 , and sent to the LED control circuit  122 . Thereby, an LED light amount is adjusted in the LED control circuit  122 .  
         [0168]    In this configuration, the observer can use the touch panel switch  181  superposed and disposed on the display screen of the display  113  to set the image pickup conditions for the image pickup element  109  and image adjustment conditions for the observation image in the CCU  110 . Moreover, since the information such as the image pickup conditions of the image pickup element  109  inputted via the touch panel switch  181  and the image adjustment conditions for the observation image are displayed with the observation image in the display screen of the display  113 , the observer can confirm the information while satisfactorily observing the sample. Furthermore, the observer can also operate the respective operation sections of the microscope via the touch panel switch  181 .  
         [0169]    [0169]FIG. 38 is a diagram showing the configuration of the microscope system according to a sixteenth embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 38, the same components as those of FIG. 25 are denoted with the same reference numerals.  
         [0170]    In this configuration, the display  113  includes a displaying light source  191  for use as a back light of the display screen, the displaying light source  191  is connected to a lighting adjustment circuit  192 , and the lighting adjustment circuit  192  is connected to a light amount detection element  193 .  
         [0171]    The light amount detection element  193  detects brightness in a periphery of the microscope. The lighting adjustment circuit  192  adjusts the light amount of the displaying light source  191  to be optimum for brightness in a use environment in accordance with a detected output of the light amount detection element  193 . Moreover, the lighting adjustment circuit  192  inputs light amount adjustment information of the displaying light source  191  as state information to the memory circuit  112 . The state information is superposed and displayed with the observation image of the observation sample  102  stored in the memory circuit  112  on the display screen of the display  113 .  
         [0172]    In this configuration, the brightness of the back light of the display screen by the displaying light source  191  is adjusted to be optimum in accordance with a detected output of the light amount detection element  193 . Therefore, the observation image which can constantly easily be observed can be obtained even under the use environment (room brightness) of the microscope. Moreover, since the information on the light amount adjustment by the lighting adjustment circuit  192  is displayed with the observation image on the display screen of the display  113 , the observer can confirm the information while satisfactorily observing the sample.  
         [0173]    Additionally, in the respective embodiments, the case in which various information are simultaneously displayed with the observation image on the display screen of the display  113  has been described, but the observation image may be displayed with various information effective for system operation while switching the screen display.  
         [0174]    As described above, according to the present invention, the observation image and information effective for the system operation can be displayed in the display. Thereby, there can be provided the microscope system with improved convenience of use.  
         [0175]    That is, according to the present invention, since the observation image, and additionally the information effective for the system operation can be displayed in the display section. Therefore, the observer grasps various information on the screen, uses the content of the information as the standard, and can operate the system. Moreover, according to the present invention, since the observation image and the information effective for the system operation can simultaneously be displayed on the same display screen of the display section, the visibility and operability during sample observation becomes further advantageous. Furthermore, according to the present invention, the operation information, set information and state information can selectively be displayed as the information advantageous for the system operation.  
         [0176]    [0176]FIG. 39 is a diagram showing the configuration of the microscope system according to a seventeenth embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 39, an observation sample  202  is laid on a stage  201 . A lighting light source  203  formed of a halogen lamp, a mercury light, or the like is disposed below the stage  201 . Moreover, a lighting optical system  205  and condenser lens  206  are disposed in a lighting light path  204  between the lighting light source  203  and the stage  201 . The observation sample  202  is irradiated with a lighting light from the lighting light source  203  as a transmission lighting from below the stage  201  via the lighting optical system  205  and condenser lens  206 .  
         [0177]    An objective lens  207  is disposed opposite to the observation sample  202  and upward the stage  201 . An observation image from the objective lens  207  is reflected by a light path split prism  301  via a projection lens (eyepiece)  208 , and formed on an image pickup surface of an image pickup element  209  such as CCD in an electronic camera  200 . The observation image transmitted through the light path split prism  301  is further reflected by a light path split prism  302  via a photograph eyepiece  305 , and formed on a silver salt film camera  303  connected to a port  309 . The observation image transmitted through the light path split prism  302  is formed on an instant camera  304  connected to a port  310 .  
         [0178]    The image pickup element  209  is connected to a camera control unit (hereinafter referred to as CCU)  210 . Moreover, the CCU  210  is connected to a monitor display  213  via a display direction controller  306  and memory circuit  212 .  
         [0179]    The CCU  210  sets image pickup conditions such as automatic exposure (AE), exposure time, and gain for the image pickup element  209 , and adjusts the color balance, gradation characteristics, and the like of the observation image picked up by the image pickup element  209 . The display direction controller  306  is connected to a display direction setter  307 , and the display direction setter  307  is connected to a camera changeover switch  308 . Moreover, the camera changeover switch  308  is connected to an external input terminal  73 . The external input terminal  73  inputs photography conditions information such as the AE and exposure time of the respective cameras from the silver salt film camera  303  and instant camera  304 , and transmits the information to the memory circuit  212  via an external input circuit  72 . The memory circuit  212  stores the image data inputted via the display direction controller  306  and information inputted from the external input circuit  72 , and superposes and displays the image data on the display  213 .  
         [0180]    In the microscope system configured as described above, the observation image formed on the silver salt film camera  303  is the same as the observation image picked up by the image pickup element  209 , but the observation image formed on the instant camera  304  is an observation image whose front/back is reversed with respect to the observation image picked up by the image pickup element  209 .  
         [0181]    In this case, during photography by the instant camera  304 , the observer selects the instant camera  304  via the camera changeover switch  308  to frame the image. In accordance with the selection in the camera changeover switch  308 , the display direction setter  307  sets the display direction controller  306  such that the front/back of the image data is reversed. Thereby, the display direction controller  306  reverses the front/back of the image data inputted from the CCU  210 , and stores the data in the memory circuit  212 .  
         [0182]    Furthermore, since the camera changeover switch  308  selects the information corresponding to the instant camera  304  as the photography conditions information outputted via the external input terminal  73 , the information is transmitted to the external input circuit  72  via the external input terminal  73 . The external input circuit  72  takes the photography conditions information, stores the information as the set information in the memory circuit  212 , and superposes and displays the information with the image data recorded in the memory circuit  212  on the display screen of the display  213 .  
         [0183]    Moreover, during photography by the silver salt film camera  303 , the observer selects the silver salt film camera  303  via the camera changeover switch  308  to frame the image. In accordance with the selection in the camera changeover switch  308 , the display direction setter  307  sets the display direction controller  306  such that the front/back of the image data is not reversed. Thereby, the display direction controller  306  stores the image data inputted from the CCU  210  in the memory circuit  212  without changing the image data.  
         [0184]    Furthermore, since the camera changeover switch  308  selects the information corresponding to the silver salt film camera  303  as the photography conditions information outputted via the external input terminal  73 , the information is transmitted to the external input circuit  72  via the external input terminal  73 . The external input circuit  72  takes the photography conditions information, stores the information as the set information in the memory circuit  212 , and superposes and displays the information with the image data recorded in the memory circuit  212  on the display screen of the display  213 .  
         [0185]    In this configuration, a specimen is photographed with the camera connected to the port in which the front/back of the observation image is different from that of the formed image. In this case, the image having the same image forming relation as that of the selected camera is displayed in the display. Therefore, the observer easily frames the image. Moreover, when the photography conditions of the selected camera are simultaneously superposed and displayed in the display, more satisfactory photography can be performed.  
         [0186]    Additionally, the electronic camera for the microscope in the aforementioned embodiments may be configured as a digital camera for the microscope, and may be configured using a personal computer or a video camera.  
         [0187]    Additional advantages and modifications will readily occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specific details and representative embodiments shown and described herein. Accordingly, various modifications may be made with out departing from the spirit or scope of the general inventive concept as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.