Abstract:
Specimen laser-scanning microscope with rasterizing illumination and detector resources (resources), which rasterizes and scan detects a specimen. A real-time control device (device) performs synchronous reading-out with the rasterizing pixel cycle. A data port serially communicates with the device using a bidirectional high-speed data stream and with the resources via a serial, bidirectional high-speed data stream with a data conversion to/from parallel to serial. The high-speed data stream is made up of data packets with data bits and type bits and no additional header or protocol bits. The data bits contain data from/on the resources and the type bits code the type of data. Type information is stored in the resources as well as the device. The type information defines processing functions for data types coded by the type bits, and the resources and/or the device determine the data type using type bits and process data coded in the data bits.
Abstract:
A method of optical detection of characteristic quantities of an illuminated specimen comprising detecting a signal that is backscattered, reflected and/or fluoresced and/or transmitted from the specimen by a spatially resolving detector wherein radiation coming from the specimen is imaged on the detector, shifting the position of the radiation which is measured in a spatially resolved manner relative to the detector and determining intermediate values by an algorithm from the signals measured in different shifts for purposes of increasing the spatial resolution of the detector. An arrangement for performing the method is also disclosed.
Abstract:
In light detection systems for illuminating specimens having a plurality of detection channels, particularly channels employing laser scanning microscopes, an improved method comprises assigning an upper and/or lower limiting value which is adjustable for at least one channel and changing the channel to be detected with respect to its mode of operation when the limiting value is reached.
Abstract:
A control system for a scanner is disclosed, especially for a laser scanning microscope, with an oscillating motor for driving an oscillating mirror serving for the linearly oscillating deflection of a beam bundle, with a control unit for supplying the oscillating motor with an exciting current which is variable with respect to the control frequency, frequency curve, and amplitude, with a function generator which is connected with the control unit, and with a measurement value transducer for obtaining a sequence of information about the deflection positions of the oscillating mirror.The measurement value transducer is connected with the function generator by way of a logic unit for determining correction values for the exciting current. Accordingly, it is advantageously possible, by evaluating the information supplied by the measurement value transducer about the actual deflection position of the oscillating mirror, to determine correction values with the assistance of the logic unit. These correction values can be used, in turn, to influence the control frequencies emitted by the function generator in such a way that deviations are minimized or completely prevented.
Abstract:
A peripheral interface and process for data transfer, especially for laser scanning microscopes. The peripheral interface permits a gap-free transfer of data with high transmission speed at low cost and using a non-real-time-enabled operating system of the control computer. In a peripheral interface having a connection for a system bus of a control computer, a peripheral connection for a peripheral device and a control unit serving for one-way transmission of a predetermined amount of data from the control computer to the peripheral device and/or vice versa accesses via the system bus, a work memory region of the control computer serves as buffers preassigned to it, where the control unit prepares for the control computer a progress report of the transfer for retrieval and the control unit of the control computer is informed of the progress of the processing of the buffer independently of the transfer, in which case it allows for the progress of the processing when accessing the buffer. The peripheral device can be part of a laser scanning microscope.
Abstract:
A method of optical detection of characteristic quantities of an illuminated specimen comprising detecting a signal that is backscattered, reflected and/or fluoresced and/or transmitted from the specimen by a spatially resolving detector wherein radiation coming from the specimen is imaged on the detector, shifting the position of the radiation which is measured in a spatially resolved manner relative to the detector and determining intermediate values by an algorithm from the signals measured in different shifts for purposes of increasing the spatial resolution of the detector. An arrangement for performing the method is also disclosed.
Abstract:
A method for optical detection of characteristic quantities of the wavelength-dependent behavior of an illuminated specimen, such as the emission behavior and/or absorption behavior, preferably the fluorescence and/or enzyme fluorescence comprises determining at least one spectral centroid and/or a maximum of the emission radiation and/or of the absorbed radiation. An arrangement for performing the method is disclosed.
Abstract:
A method for detecting and analyzing light signals, in which a light signal impinges an optoelectric converter, where it is converted into an electric signal and the electric signal subsequent to the conversion is distributed into several analysis channels (13.1-13.4), within each analysis channel (13.1), (i) a signal analysis is performed, which is different from the signal analysis for the other analysis channels (13.2-13.4) and (ii) an output signal is created. In such a method, one or more output signals are selected for further processing and output using a specified, changeable selection criterion.
Abstract:
A microscope with optical components which are provided in the illumination beam path and/or observation beam path and/or detection beam path for exerting different spectral influences on at least one of the beam paths mentioned above. An arrangement comprising a light source emitting a plurality of wavelengths and at least one spectral sensor detecting the light of this light source after interacting with a component are provided, preferably outside these beam paths. The interaction is carried out by transmission or reflection of the light by the component. The detected values of the spectral sensor are compared to pre-stored values and correlation with pre-stored values is advantageously carried out in a storage. The correlation is carried out together with a position signal of a component changer. The detected values are stored separately and together with a position signal of a component changer when there is no correlation with pre-stored values.
Abstract:
A method for detecting the maximum quantity of possible positions of an exchangeable nosepiece or slide in a microscope system is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of: starting from an initial position which corresponds to a first position, adjusting the maximum position; comparing the maximum position to a position registered in a memory; and storing the results of the comparison.