Magnifying observation apparatus, and image display method and microscopy switching method thereof

1. A magnifying observation apparatus comprising:

an observation condition processing unit configured to decide a first switching order for switching between a plurality of microscopies, and a second switching order for switching between a plurality of detailed settings of each of the plurality of microscopies;

a first switching unit configured to switch between the plurality of microscopies in the first switching order decided by the observation condition processing unit;

a second switching unit configured to switch between the plurality of detailed settings in the second switching order decided by the observation condition processing unit;

an image generating unit configured to generate a plurality of first images of a sample by capturing an image of the sample using each of the plurality of microscopies switched by the first switching unit, and to generate a plurality of second images of the sample by capturing an image of the sample using each of the plurality of detailed settings switched by the second switching unit;

a display unit configured to display plural images generated by the image generating unit; and

a selecting unit configured to allow a user to select an image from among the plural images displayed by the display unit,

wherein the display unit is configured to: (i) each time the image generating unit generates a new first image, display the new first image on a screen of the display unit, and (ii) each time the image generating unit generates a new second image, display the new second image on the screen of the display unit.

2. The magnifying observation apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the first switching unit is configured to, when an image from among the plurality of first images generated by the image generating unit is selected using the selecting unit, switch to a microscopy from among the plurality of microscopies corresponding to the selected image, and

wherein the second switching unit is configured to, when the first switching unit switches to the microscopy corresponding to the selected image, switch between the plurality of detailed settings of the microscopy corresponding to the selected image in the second switching order.

3. The magnifying observation apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the display unit is configured to:

each time the image generating unit generates a new first image, add the new first image to the screen of the display unit as a thumbnail image so as to display the plurality of first images generated by the image generating unit as a listing; and

each time the image generating unit generates a new second image, add the new second image to the screen of the display unit as a thumbnail image so as to display the plurality of second images generated by the image generating unit as a listing.

4. The magnifying observation apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the second switching unit is configured to, when an image from among the plurality of second images generated by the image generating unit is selected using the selecting unit, switch to a detailed setting from among the plurality of detailed settings of the microscopy of the selected image.

5. The magnifying observation apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein the display unit is configured to display a live image of the sample with the detailed setting of the microscopy of the selected image after the switch by the second switching unit.

6. The magnifying observation apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of detailed settings are directed to at least one of an exposure time of an image capturing element included in the image generating unit, a brightness level of a light source included in the magnifying observation apparatus, and a diameter of an aperture unit included in the magnifying observation apparatus.

7. The magnifying observation apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the image generating unit is configured to:

generate the plurality of first images by executing an image process for an original image of the sample that is obtained by capturing the image of the sample with each of the plurality of microscopies; and

generate the plurality of second images by executing an image process for an original image of the sample that is obtained by capturing the image of the sample with each of the plurality of detailed settings of each of the plurality of microscopies.

8. The magnifying observation apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the image generating unit is configured to generate plural first or second images from one original image of the sample by executing different image processes.

9. The magnifying observation apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the observation condition processing unit is configured to decide the first switching order by deciding a descending order of use frequencies of the plurality of microscopies.

10. The magnifying observation apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the observation condition processing unit is configured to decide the second switching order by deciding a descending order of use frequencies of the plurality of detailed settings of each of the plurality of microscopies.

11. The magnifying observation apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the observation condition processing unit is configured to decide at least one of the first and second switching orders for each type of sample.

12. The magnifying observation apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the observation condition processing unit is configured to decide at least one of the first and second switching orders for each user.

13. The magnifying observation apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the observation condition processing unit is configured to decide a switching order manually set by the user as at least one of the first and second switching orders.

14. The magnifying observation apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the magnifying observation apparatus is settable into one of a live observation mode for observing the sample and an observation condition setting mode for setting an observation condition for observing the sample, and

wherein when a desired image is selected from among the plurality of first images displayed on a listing during the observation condition setting mode: (i) the first switching unit switches to a microscopy from among the plurality of microscopies used to generate the selected desired first image, (ii) the magnifying observation apparatus transfers the operation mode to the live observation mode, and (iii) the display unit displays a live image of the sample under the switched microscopy.

15. The magnifying observation apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein the image process includes at least one of an HDR process, a halation removal process, a particular color enhancement process, and an edge enhancement process, which are executed for the original image.

16. The magnifying observation apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of microscopies include a brightfield observation, a darkfield observation, a differential interference observation, a polarization observation, an oblique observation, a fluorescence observation, and an observation implemented by combining the brightfield observation and the darkfield observation.

17. A magnifying observation method comprising:

deciding a first switching order for switching between a plurality of microscopies;

switching between the plurality of microscopies in the decided first switching order;

generating a plurality of first images of a sample under the plurality of microscopies by capturing an image of the sample using each of the plurality of switched microscopies;

each time a new first image is generated, displaying the newly generated first image;

allowing a user to select an image from among the displayed plurality of first images;

when the image is selected, deciding a second switching order for switching between a plurality of detailed settings of a microscopy from among the plurality of switched microscopies corresponding to the selected image;

switching between the plurality of detailed settings in the decided second switching order;

generating a plurality of second images of the sample under the plurality of detailed settings by capturing an image of the sample using each of the plurality of switched detailed settings; and

each time a new second image is generated, displaying the newly generated second image.