Granted Patent B2

US 8,358,330 · App. 11/668,420 · Granted Jan 22, 2013

Abstract

Claims (46)

1. A stereoscopic microscope workstation for a user to view an object as a stereoscopic magnified image, comprising:

a stereomicroscope configured to:

(a) acquire a plurality of optical views of the object; and

(b) provide a plurality of optical paths of the plurality of optical views;

at least one high-resolution camera configured to:

(a) acquire the plurality of optical paths from the stereomicroscope;

(b) combine real-time image data acquired from the plurality of optical views into a single data structure, the real-time image data having a resolution of at least 1280×720 pixels for at least one of the optical views; and

(c) transmit, in real-time, the single data structure;

at least one high-resolution display device configured to:

(a) receive the single data structure; and

(b) display, using the received single data structure, a magnified image of the object to the user, at least one of the at least one high-resolution display device having a resolution of at least 1280×720 pixels; and

at least one deflecting element disposed between the object and the stereomicroscope, wherein the at least one deflective element provides a change in a location of a viewing point of the object in the magnified image by rotating about an axis.

2. The stereoscopic microscope workstation of claim 1 , wherein the magnified image of the object is displayed in the same orientation as the object.

3. The stereoscopic microscope workstation of claim 1 , wherein the one or more high-resolution display device comprises a single flat LCD display device, such that the user wears differently-polarized spectacles to achieve a stereoscopic view of the object in the magnified image.

4. The stereoscopic microscope workstation of claim 1 , wherein the display device comprises separate left and right views.

5. The stereoscopic microscope workstation of claim 1 , wherein the stereoscopic microscope workstation is configured in a free-standing configuration.

6. The stereoscopic microscope workstation of claim 1 , which includes spectacles, at least a portion of the spectacles is polarized, thereby providing a stereoscopic view of the magnified image of the object for the user.

7. The stereoscopic microscope workstation of claim 1 , which includes a holder configured to hold the object, thereby controlling the position and motion of the optical views of the object.

8. The stereoscopic microscope workstation of claim 7 , wherein the holder includes a stage, the stage being configured to quantify the relative distance of points-of-interest on the object to provide measurement capabilities.

9. The stereoscopic microscope workstation of claim 1 , which includes a mounting system configured to control the position and motion of the optical views of the object.

10. The stereoscopic microscope workstation of claim 9 , wherein the mounting system is configured to quantify the relative distance of points-of-interest on the object to provide measurement capabilities.

11. A method of operating a stereoscopic microscope workstation, the method comprising:

(a) acquiring, by a stereomicroscope, a plurality of optical views of the object;

(b) providing, by the stereomicroscope, a plurality of optical paths of the plurality of optical views;

(c) acquiring, by a stereoscopic image acquisition device, the plurality of optical paths from the stereomicroscope;

(d) combining, by the stereoscopic image acquisition device, real-time image data acquired from the plurality of optical views into a single data structure, the real-time image data having a resolution of at least 1280×720 pixels for at least one of the optical views;

(e) transmitting, in real-time by the stereoscopic image acquisition device, the single data structure;

(f) receiving, by a display device, the single data structure;

(g) displaying, by the display device, a stereoscopic magnified image of the object to the user;

(h) enabling a user to focus on the magnified image with the user's foveal vision; and

(i) enabling the user to view a manipulation of a tool with the user's peripheral vision, while not losing foveal vision focus on the magnified image of the object,

wherein steps (a)-(i) are performed by a stereoscopic microscope workstation as defined in claim 1 .

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the manipulation of the tool comprises changing a hand tool.

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein the manipulation of the tool comprises positioning the tool closer to the object.

14. A method of operating a stereoscopic microscope workstation, the method comprising:

(a) acquiring, by a stereomicroscope, a plurality of optical views of the object;

(b) providing, by the stereomicroscope, a plurality of optical paths of the plurality of optical views;

(c) acquiring, by a stereoscopic image acquisition device, the plurality of optical paths from the stereomicroscope;

(d) combining, by the stereoscopic image acquisition device, real-time image data acquired from the plurality of optical views into a single data structure, the real-time image data having a resolution of at least 1280×720 pixels for at least one of the optical views;

(e) transmitting, in real-time by the stereoscopic image acquisition device, the single data structure;

(f) receiving, by a display device, the transmitted single data structure;

(g) using the received single data structure, displaying, by the display device, a stereoscopic magnified image of the object to a user; and

(h) enabling the user to focus on a manipulation of a tool with the user's foveal vision, while viewing the magnified image of the object with the user's peripheral vision;

wherein steps (a)-(i) are performed by a stereoscopic microscope workstation as defined in claim 1 .

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the manipulation of the tool comprises changing a hand tool.

16. The method of claim 14 , wherein the manipulation of the tool comprises positioning the tool closer to the object.

Assignments (8)