IP Library Granted Patent US 9,229,211
Granted Patent B2
US 9,229,211 · App. 13/755,966 · Granted Jan 5, 2016

Imaging apparatus, imaging control program, and imaging method

Inventor: Takashi Yamamoto (Kanagawa, JP)
Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
G02B21/36G02B21/367
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,229,211
App. No.
13/755,966
Granted
Jan 5, 2016
Kind
B2
Abstract

An imaging apparatus includes: a first imaging area setting unit configured to divide an imaging range that includes a sample into a plurality of areas and set each of the plurality of areas as a first imaging area; a first imaging unit configured to capture a first image at an in-focus position of the first imaging area; a second imaging area setting unit configured to set an area that extends over adjacent first imaging areas as a second imaging area in a case where in-focus positions of the adjacent first imaging areas are so different from each other that the difference exceeds a predetermined value; a second imaging unit configured to capture a second image at an in-focus position of the second imaging area; and an image combining unit configured to combine the first image with the second image.

Claims (31)

1. An imaging apparatus, comprising:

a first imaging area setting unit configured to divide an imaging range that includes a sample into a plurality of areas and set each of the plurality of areas as a first imaging area;

a first imaging unit configured to capture a first image at an in-focus position of the first imaging area;

a second imaging area setting unit configured to set a second imaging area that includes a portion of a pair of adjacent first imaging areas;

a second imaging unit configured to capture a second image at an in-focus position of the second imaging area;

an image combining unit configured to combine the first image with the second image; and

wherein the in-focus position of the pair of adjacent first imaging areas is different.

2. The imaging unit according to claim 1 , wherein

the second imaging unit is configured to set a center of the in-focus positions of the adjacent first imaging areas as an in-focus position of the second imaging area.

3. The imaging unit according to claim 1 , wherein

the first imaging unit is configured to detect the in-focus position of the first imaging area by using a phase difference image of the first imaging area.

4. The imaging unit according to claim 1 , wherein

the image combining unit is configured to combine a central part of the first image with a central part of the second image.

5. An imaging control program stored in a non-transitory computer readable medium for causing a computer to function as:

a first imaging area setting unit configured to divide an imaging range that includes a sample into a plurality of areas and set each of the plurality of areas as a first imaging area;

a first imaging unit configured to capture a first image at an in-focus position of the first imaging area;

a second imaging area setting unit configured to set a second imaging area that includes a portion of a pair of adjacent first imaging areas;

a second imaging unit configured to capture a second image at an in-focus position of the second imaging area;

an image combining unit configured to combine the first image with the second image; and

wherein the in-focus position of the pair of adjacent first imaging areas is different.

6. An imaging method, comprising:

dividing an imaging range that includes a sample into a plurality of areas and setting each of the plurality of areas as a first imaging area by a first imaging area setting unit;

capturing a first image at an in-focus position of the first imaging area by a first imaging unit;

setting a second imaging area that includes a portion of a pair of adjacent first imaging areas;

capturing a second image at an in-focus position of the second imaging area by a second imaging unit; and

combining the first image with the second image by an image combining unit;

wherein the in-focus position of the pair of adjacent first imaging areas is different.

7. The imaging unit according to claim 1 , wherein

the first image unit captures a high magnification image for the first imaging area before the second imaging area setting unit sets the second imaging area on a low magnification image.

8. The imaging unit according to claim 1 , wherein

the second imaging area includes a half size imaging area from each of the pair of adjacent first imaging areas.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 6, 2013
From: YAMAMOTO, TAKASHI
To: SONY CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 029765/0063 →
Priority Claims (2)
JP 2012-032637 · Feb 17, 2012 · national
JP 2012-212185 · Sep 26, 2012 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20130215251A1 · Aug 22, 2013