Patent ID: 8339702

Claim:
A microscope system, comprising: a microscope apparatus including a plurality of drive units; a display unit which displays an operation screen for operation of the microscope apparatus; a pointing device for inputting by a pointer an operation instruction to the microscope apparatus on the operation screen; and a control unit which determines a position of the pointer on the operation screen, switches a drive unit to be controlled from among the plurality of drive units depending on the determined position of the pointer on the operation screen, and controls an operation of the switched drive unit depending on an operation of the pointing device; wherein: the plurality of drive units include at least one of a scaling mechanism for scaling an object magnification, a drive stage capable of moving a specimen in a direction of or a direction perpendicular to an optical observation path, and a dimming mechanism; the operation screen includes a first area, a second area, a third area and a fourth area; and the control unit operates the drive stage in the direction of the optical observation path depending on the operation of the pointing device when the pointer is located in the first area on the operation screen, operates the drive stage in the direction perpendicular to the optical observation path depending on the operation of the pointing device when the pointer is located in the second area on the operation screen, allows the scaling mechanism to scale a magnification depending on the operation of the pointing device when the pointer is located in the third area on the operation screen, and performs dimming control depending on the operation of the pointing device when the pointer is located in the fourth area on the operation screen.