Video microscopy method

1. Process for video microscopy in which

an object ( 9 ) on a movable microscope stage ( 8 ) is imaged on a video camera ( 10 ) by means of a microscope ( 1 ) having an optical axis ( 2 ) passing through a microscope optical system ( 3 ) and a microscope objective ( 4 ) on an objective revolver ( 6 ), with motorized and coded stage control ( 8 ), with a video camera ( 10 ) at a camera output ( 5 ) centered on the optical axis ( 2 ) and with a readable coding of the magnification setting on the objective revolver ( 6 ),

the analog output signal from the video camera ( 10 ) is digitized with an A/D image converter ( 11 ) and temporarily stored in an image memory,

the digital signal is transferred to a personal computer ( 12 ) and displayed on a monitor ( 13 ) connected to the computer,

characterized in that

a) at any desired magnification V 1 of the video system, an image detail ( 15 ) preferably lying outside the optical axis ( 2 ) is selected by clicking with a computer mouse ( 16 ) linked to the PC ( 12 ),

b) the image coordinates {right arrow over (r)} 1 =(x 1 , y 1 ) of the selected image detail ( 15 ) relative to the center ( 18 ) of the monitor image ( 17 ) are determined by reading the applicable digital line and column values for the image from the image memory and converting to the proper scale with the selected magnification V 1 of the video system and the camera pixel width,

c) and after a change from the magnification V 1 to a different magnification V m the microscope stage ( 7 ) is moved in the proper direction by Δ{right arrow over (p)}={right arrow over (r)} 1 (1/V m −1/V 1 ), and analogously for a magnification change from a value V n to a value V p , so that the selected image detail ( 15 ) appears in at least approximately a fixed position on the monitor screen ( 17 ).

2. Process according to claim 1 ,

characterized in that

in case of a change to a higher magnification the object ( 9 ) is moved by Δ{right arrow over (p)}+Δ{right arrow over (p k )} such that with Δ{right arrow over (p)} k preselected according to the magnification, with Δ{right arrow over (p)} k =k·1/100·Δ{right arrow over (p)} and 0≦k≦100, the image detail ( 15 ) is moved farther toward the center of the field ( 18 ).

3. Process according to claim 2 ,

characterized in that

only image details ( 15 ) in a certain marginal region of the monitor ( 13 ) are moved by Δ{right arrow over (p)}+Δ{right arrow over (p)} k , while other image details ( 15 ) are only moved by Δ{right arrow over (p)}.

4. Process according to claim 2 ,

characterized in that

values of Δ{right arrow over (p)} k , with 0≦k≦20, are preselected, depending on the magnification.

5. Process according to claim 1 ,

characterized in that

the necessary image coordinates {right arrow over (r)} 1 =(x 1 , y 1 ) are read from an image memory of the A/D image converter ( 11 ).

6. Process according to claim 1 ,

characterized in that

the digital image signal is store in another image memory and the necessary image coordinates {right arrow over (r)} 1 =(x 1 , y 1 ) are read from this other image memory.

7. Process according to claim 6 ,

characterized in that

the other image memory is integrated in the monitor ( 13 ).

8. Process according to claim 1 ,

characterized in that

the microscope stage ( 7 ) is moved according to the invention after a change in magnification and only after that is the new video image displayed on the monitor ( 13 ).

9. Process according to claim 1 ,

characterized in that

after a change in magnification the illumination of the microscope ( 1 ) is automatically adjusted to preselected values for the field diaphragm, the aperture diaphragm, and the intensity of the light source.

10. Process according to claim 9 ,

characterized in that

the preselected values are adjusted in dependence on the current magnification.

11. Process according to claim 9 ,

characterized in that

the preselected values are adjusted in dependence on an output signal from an image brightness sensor.