Microscope controller and microscope system comprising microscope controller

1. A microscope controller which controls an operation of each of a plurality of electric units included in a microscope system, the microscope controller comprising:

a touch panel unit which receives an input provided by a physical contact from outside and which has a display function;

a control unit which establishes a plurality of functional areas within a display region of the touch panel unit as regions for operating each of the plurality of electric units, and which generates a control instruction signal for controlling a corresponding one of the plurality of electric units when an input provided by a physical contact from outside to any of the plurality of functional areas is detected; and

a communication control unit which transmits the control instruction signal generated by the control unit to an external device that controls an operation of the corresponding electric unit,

wherein when a first input provided by a physical contact from outside to a predetermined functional area of the plurality of functional areas is detected, the control unit reestablishes a plurality of the functional areas within the display region of the touch panel unit so as to enlarge the predetermined functional area or so as to enlarge a plurality of specific functional areas including the predetermined functional area, and

wherein when a second input provided by a physical contact from outside to any of the reestablished plurality of functional areas is detected, the control unit generates a control instruction signal for controlling an electric unit corresponding to the functional area with respect to which the second input is detected.

2. The microscope controller according to claim 1 , wherein the predetermined functional area enlarged via the reestablishing is a functional area that, when the physical contact from outside to the predetermined functional area is made by a drag operation, enables an operation for causing an electric unit corresponding to the predetermined functional area to be continuously operated in conjunction with the drag operation.

3. The microscope controller according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of specific functional areas are enlarged via the reestablishing and include a functional area for operating an electric unit for moving a sample or an objective lens in an optical axis direction of a stage, and a functional area for operating an electric unit for moving the sample or the objective lens in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis direction of the stage.

4. The microscope controller according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of functional areas established or reestablished in the display region of the touch panel unit include at least one of a functional area for operating an electric unit for moving a sample or an objective lens in an optical axis direction of a stage, a functional area for operating an electric unit for moving the sample or the objective lens in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis direction of the stage, a functional area for operating an electric unit for switching a lighting control quantity of a light source, a functional area for operating an electric unit for switching an optical magnification, a functional area for operating an electric unit for switching a position of an optical element turret, and a functional area for operating an electric unit for switching a microscopic examination method.

5. The microscope controller according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of functional areas established or reestablished in the display region of the touch panel unit include a given functional area in which when a physical contact from outside is made by a drag operation, a corresponding electric unit is continuously operated in conjunction with the drag operation, and

wherein when the physical contact from outside starting in the given functional area is made by the drag operation and when the physical contact made by the drag operation continues to another functional area, the control unit generates a control instruction signal for controlling only the electric unit corresponding to the given functional area in which the physical contact made by the drag operation was started.

6. The microscope controller according to claim 1 , wherein of the plurality of functional areas established or reestablished in the display region of the touch panel unit, when an input provided by a physical contact from outside is detected in a certain functional area, which is a functional area in which if the physical contact from outside is provided by a drag operation, a corresponding electric unit is continuously operated in conjunction with the drag operation, the control unit generates a control instruction signal for controlling an electric unit corresponding to the certain functional area based on a position at which the physical contact stops.

7. The microscope controller according to claim 1 , wherein when an input provided by a physical contact from outside to the display region of the touch panel unit is detected, the control unit determines whether or not the physical contact is in accordance with a specific operation defined in advance, and

wherein when it is determined that the physical contact is in accordance with the specific operation, the control unit generates a control instruction signal for controlling an electric unit corresponding to the specific operation.

8. The microscope controller according to claim 7 , wherein the specific operation includes an operation in which a same position on a predetermined region established within the display region of the touch panel unit is touched two times consecutively within a fixed time period.

9. The microscope controller according to claim 7 , wherein the specific operation includes an operation in which a physical contact made by a drag operation is performed in a circular motion on a predetermined region established in the display region of the touch panel unit within a fixed time period.

10. The microscope controller according to claim 7 , wherein in accordance with the specific operation, the control unit generates the control instruction signal for controlling one of an electric unit for switching a lighting control quantity of a light source, an electric unit for switching an optical magnification, an electric unit for switching an optical element turret position, and an electric unit for switching a microscopic examination method.

11. The microscope controller according to claim 7 , wherein the specific operation and one of the plurality of electric units corresponding to the specific operation, are determined by a user in advance.

12. A microscope system comprising the microscope controller according to claim 1 .

13. An electric unit controlling method for a microscope controller which controls an operation of each of a plurality of electric units included in a microscope system, wherein the microscope controller comprises a touch panel unit which receives an input provided by a physical contact from outside and which has a display function, the method comprising:

establishing a plurality of functional areas in a display region of the touch panel unit as regions for operating each of the plurality of electric units;

when a first input provided by a physical contact from outside to a predetermined functional area of the plurality of functional areas is detected, reestablishing a plurality of the functional areas within the display region of the touch panel unit so as to enlarge the predetermined functional area or so as to enlarge a plurality of specific functional areas including the predetermined functional area;

when a second input provided by a physical contact from outside to any of the reestablished plurality of functional areas is detected, generating a control instruction signal for controlling an electric unit corresponding to the functional area with respect to which the second input is detected; and

transmitting the control instruction signal to an external device that controls an operation of the electric unit corresponding to the functional area with respect to which the second input is detected.

14. The electric unit controlling method according to claim 13 , further comprising:

when an input provided by a physical contact from outside to the display region of the touch panel unit is detected, determining whether or not the physical contact is in accordance with a specific operation defined in advance;

when it is determined that the physical contact is in accordance with the specific operation defined in advance, generating a control instruction signal for controlling an electric unit corresponding to the specific operation; and

transmitting the control instruction signal to the external device that controls an operation of the electric unit corresponding to the specific operation.

15. A microscope system comprising the microscope controller according to claim 2 .

16. A microscope system comprising the microscope controller according to claim 3 .

17. A microscope system comprising the microscope controller according to claim 4 .

18. A microscope system comprising the microscope controller according to claim 5 .

19. A microscope system comprising the microscope controller according to claim 6 .