Abstract:
A system and method of providing a computer microscope is disclosed. The system includes a portable enclosure that encloses an interior, a source of light mounted on the enclosure that illuminates the interior, an imager mounted on the enclosure that can generate an image of the interior, wherein the imager has no image viewer and a communication channel that can provide the image on an output. A computer is connected to the communication channel to be able to display the images from the imager.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/809,320, filed May 30, 2006, which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Microscopes created enlarged images of an object being examined. They have many uses, including the use by students in classroom and labs to educate themselves about a wide range of subjects such as biology and chemistry. Students typically view the image through a viewing mechanism provided by the microscope. 
         [0003]    Images can be viewed and processed using computers, such as a personal computer, using available application software. The computer enables images to be viewed and processed in ways that a microscope does not. 
         [0004]    An effective combination of a microscope and a computer is needed for the classroom. 
       SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
       [0005]    In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, an apparatus is provided that includes an enclosure that encloses an interior, a source of light mounted on the enclosure that illuminates the interior, an imager mounted on the enclosure that can generate an image of the interior, and a communication channel that can provide the image on an output. 
         [0006]    In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the imager has no image viewer 
         [0007]    In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, the interior has a limited size to accommodate the enclosure of small organisms, such as ants. For example, the interior can be 10 cubic feet or less. It can also be 5 cubic feet or less as well as 2 cubic feet or less. In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, the interior has an enclosed space of one cubic foot or less. 
         [0008]    In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, the apparatus includes a display connected to the output that can display the image. 
         [0009]    In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the apparatus includes a display connected to the output that can display the image. The computer can be connected to the communication channel via an internet connection. 
         [0010]    In accordance with a further aspect of the present invention, the computer can process the image. For example, the computer can zoom in or out on the image. 
         [0011]    In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the communication channel is or includes a universal serial bus (USB) circuit. 
         [0012]    The apparatus of the present invention can further include a living organism which is placed in the interior. 
         [0013]    In accordance with a further aspect of the present invention, the computer can provide an input through the communication channel to control the imager, the source of light or both devices. The computer can also provide power to the imager and the light source through the communications channel. 
         [0014]    In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the computer can generate a screen saver from the image received from the imager. 
         [0015]    Corresponding methods are also contemplated by various aspects of the present invention. 
     
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         [0016]      FIG. 1  illustrates a system in accordance with one aspect of the present invention. 
           [0017]      FIG. 2  illustrates an enclosure for an imager in accordance with an aspect of the present invention. 
           [0018]      FIG. 3  illustrates a circuit in accordance with an aspect of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0019]      FIG. 1  illustrates a system in accordance with one aspect of the present invention. An enclosure  10  houses a source of light  12 , an imager  14  and a communication channel  16 . 
         [0020]    In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, the enclosure  10  is portable to allow it to be carried from area to area. Thus, for example, a teacher could move the enclosure  10  from classroom to classroom or from seat to seat to enable different students to use the system of the present invention. In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the enclosure  10  preferably has a limited size to accommodate the enclosure of small organisms, such as ants. Other living organisms can also be studied. For example, bees, caterpillars, moths, frogs and the like can be studied. The interior can be 10 cubic feet or less. It can also be 5 cubic feet or less as well as 2 cubic feet or less. In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, the interior has an enclosed space of one cubic foot or less. The size selected depends on the size of the ecosystem to be studied. 
         [0021]    The enclosure can be made of metal or wood or any other suitable material. The enclosure  10  preferably, but not necessarily, provides a complete enclosure around an interior to keep living organisms inside. Air holes can be provided that are large enough to let air in the enclosure  10  but small enough to keep the organisms inside the enclosure  10 . The enclosure  10  may include a removable component to allow access inside the enclosure  10 . For example, a removable top can be provided. 
         [0022]    The source of light  12  can be any suitable illumination means that illuminates the interior of the enclosure  10  to allow adequate viewing of the contents of the enclosure  10 . For example, it can be an incandescent lamp, a fluorescent lamps, light emitting diodes and combinations thereof. A power switch can be provided on the source of light  12  or on the enclosure  10  so that the light can be selectively turned on or off. Alternatively, as will be explained in greater detail, the power to the source of light  12  can be provided by a device connected to the communication channel  16 . 
         [0023]    The imager  16  can be any suitable device that provides an image, preferably a digital image. The imager  14  preferably includes a charge coupled device (CCD), such as those found in today&#39;s digital cameras. In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, the imager  14  is not a microscope. In accordance with a further aspect of the present invention the imager  14  does not have viewing mechanism. This includes optical viewing means that are typically found on digital cameras and on microscopes. It also includes LCD screens, such as are typically found on digital cameras. This minimizes the expense associated with the present invention. 
         [0024]    The imager  14  preferably includes a lens that allows viewing of the entire interior of the enclosure  10 . The imager  14  may also be mounted in the enclosure  10  to allow movement of the imager  14  to view particular areas inside the enclosure  10 . The movement may be controlled manually or electronically. 
         [0025]    The imager  14  can include various controls, such as a zoom in/zoom out capability and power. It can also include nightshot circuitry enabling the capture of images in low light scenarios. Essentially, controls found on today&#39;s digital cameras can be provided in the imager  14 . Controls can also be provided to move the direction of the imager  14 . The inputs to control the imager  14  can be placed on the imager  14  external to the enclosure  14 . Alternatively, the inputs to control the imager  14  may be provided from a device through the communication channel  16  from a computer  24 . 
         [0026]    More than one imager  14  can also be provided to allow the contents of the interior of the enclosure  10  to be viewed from more than one angle. Also, a three dimensional effect can be created with more than one imager  14 . 
         [0027]    An external device  24  is connected to the communication channel  16  either directly or via a connection to the internet  22 . The external device  24  can either be a display or a computer, such as a personal computer, with a display. Direct connection can be provided if the system is being used in a classroom. The internet connection can be used to allow students to view the images being generated while at home. 
         [0028]    The communication channel  16  is preferably a universal serial bus (USB). The protocol for USB is well known. The communication channel  16  can also be a wireless transceiver or a wireless transmitter device. 
         [0029]    In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, the images are generated in the enclosure  10  and transmitted via the communication channel  16  to the external device  24 . Thus, information 
         [0030]      FIG. 2  illustrates the enclosure  10  in accordance with one aspect of the present invention. The source of light  12  is preferably mounted in the top of the enclosure  10 . The mounted may be to the interior wall of the enclosure  10  or may be such that a portion of the source of light  12  extends from the enclosure. Controls  100  for the source of light  12  may be provided on the enclosure  10 . A power cord can also be provided from the enclosure  10  to power the light source  12  and the imager  14 , or power can be provided by battery or from an external device connected through the communications channel  16 . 
         [0031]    The imager  14  is preferably mounted in a side of the enclosure  10  or in the top of the enclosure  10 . Controls  102  for the imager  14  are provided outside the enclosure  10 . 
         [0032]    The communications channel  16  is provided on the enclosure  10 . The wires connecting the communications channel  16  to the source of light  12  and to the imager  14  can be provided on the external surface or the internal surface of the enclosure  10 . 
         [0033]      FIG. 3  illustrates a circuit in accordance with one aspect of the present invention. The communications channel  16  is connected to the source of light  12  and to the imager  14 . Image signals are provided from the imager  14  to the communications channel  16  for output from the enclosure  10 . Control signals can be provided from a device external to the enclosure through the communications channel  16  to the imager  14  and to the light source  12 . Power can similarly be provided from a device external to the enclosure through the communications channel  16  to the imager  14  and to the light source  12 . 
         [0034]    The present invention also contemplates a method. The method includes the steps of illuminating an interior of an enclosure, generating an image of the interior with an imager, and transmitting the image from the enclosure through a communication channel. The size of the interior can be limited as described before. Further, in accordance with one aspect of the present invention, the imager has no image viewer, so that the method in accordance with this aspect of the present invention limits the use of the imager. 
         [0035]    The image is received at a display connected to the communication channel and the image is displayed at the display. 
         [0036]    Alternatively, a computer can be connected to the communications channel and the image can be transmitted from the imager  14  through the communications channel  16  to the computer, and then displayed on a display of the computer. The computer can be any type of computer, such as a personal computer. 
         [0037]    The transmission of the image can be directly from the communications channel  16  to the computer, or can be through the internet. Thus, the computer can be located in a classroom in a school in which the enclosure  10  is located or can be remote from the enclosure  10 . This enables a student to view the contents of the enclosure  10  on a computer located at home. 
         [0038]    The computer can also process the image. The processing can include zooming in, zooming out or any other editing or processing provided by any well known image processing application package available for use on a computer. 
         [0039]    In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the computer processes the image. The processing includes zooming in and zooming out on the image. The processing can also include brightness controls, contrast controls, color controls and other editing and processing features found in today&#39;s image processing application software. 
         [0040]    In another step in accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a living organism is placed in the interior of the enclosure  10 . 
         [0041]    In accordance with a further aspect of the method of the present invention, a computer connected to the imager  14  and the light source  12  through the communication channel  16  provides an input through the communication channel to control the imager  14  and to control the source of light  12 . All of the controls needed for the light source  12  and the imager  14  can either be provided on a control panel  100  and  102  on the enclosure  10  or by a remotely connected computer  24 . In accordance with a further aspect of the method of the present invention, the computer  24  provides power to the imager  14  and/or the light source  12  through the communications channel  16 . 
         [0042]    The method further includes the step of generating a screen saver image from one or more of the images generated by the imager  14  and displaying the screen saver on the computer  24 . 
         [0043]    While this invention is satisfied by embodiments in many different forms, there are shown in the drawings and herein described in detail, embodiments of the invention with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as exemplary of the principles of the present invention and is not intended to limit the scope of the invention to the embodiments illustrated. The scope of the invention is measured by the appended claims and the equivalents.