Microscope having a contrast-increasing image a acquisition apparatus
View Patent ↗The invention concerns a microscope having an image sensor ( 5 ) for recording the microscope images. The specimen ( 3 ) to be examined can be scanned by means of a stop ( 2 ) in the beam path of the illumination unit and a positioning unit which moves the specimen ( 3 ) or the stop ( 2 ). Opening the stop ( 2 ) or removing it from the beam path permits the entire image to be scanned with the image sensor ( 5 ).
1. A microscope comprising an illumination device and a two-dimensional image sensor for electronic sensing of a microscopic image of a specimen on a specimen carrier, wherein the illumination device comprises a stop that can be selectably brought into a beam path; positioning means for scanning operatively arranged to move the specimen, its specimen carrier, and the stop in the beam path in such a way that the area of the specimen to be examined is scanned by a light beam passing through the stop; and memory means for storing image data during scanning so that the image data can be retrieved after scanning.
2. The microscope as defined in claim 1 , wherein the stop comprises a slit-shaped stop opening that extends from one side of the area to be imaged to the opposite side, and scanning is accomplished in an axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the stop opening.
3. The microscope as defined in claim 1 , wherein the stop comprises one point-like stop opening, and scanning is accomplished over the surface of the area of the specimen to be examined.
4. The microscope as defined in claim 1 , wherein the stop comprises a plurality of point-like stop openings.
5. The microscope as defined in claim 2 wherein the size and width of the stop opening corresponds approximately to the size and width of one image point of an image sensor.
6. The microscope as defined in claim 3 wherein the size and width of the stop opening corresponds approximately to the size and width of one image point of an image sensor.
7. The microscope as defined in claim 4 wherein the size and width of the stop openings correspond approximately to the size and width of one image point of an image sensor.
8. The microscope as defined in claim 5 further comprising an analysis unit operatively arranged to analyze the image of the stop on the image sensor and evaluate the image data of the image point or points that lie in the center of the imaged image point or points and forward them to the memory means for storage.
9. The microscope as defined in claim 6 further comprising an analysis unit operatively arranged to analyze the image of the stop on the image sensor and evaluate the image data of the image point or points that lie in the center of the imaged image point or points and forward them to the memory means for storage.
10. The microscope as defined in claim 7 further comprising an analysis unit operatively arranged to analyze the image of the stop on the image sensor and evaluate the image data of the image point or points that lie in the center of the imaged image point or points and forward them to the memory means for storage.
11. A microscope as recited in claim 1 wherein said positioning means comprises means for moving said specimen within said beam path.
12. A microscope as recited in claim 1 wherein said positioning means comprises means for moving said specimen carrier with its engaged specimen within said beam path.
13. A microscope as recited in claim 1 , wherein said positioning means comprises means for moving said stop within said beam path.
14. A microscope as recited in claim 1 , wherein said positioning means comprises means for moving said specimen and said stop within said beam path.