Sakura Finetek U.s.a., Inc.

Sensovation Ag

Sven Hensler

Paul Anthony Hing

Christian Romer

The invention is based on an autofocus method in which light from a light source is focused at a measurement light focus in a sample and is reflected from there and the reflected light is guided through an optical system in two light paths onto at least two detector elements. In order to achieve fast and accurate automatic focusing on the sample, it is proposed that the measurement light focus is moved in layers of the sample which reflect light to different extents, and the detector elements are arranged in such a way that, in this case, profiles of a radiation property registered by the detector elements are different and a focus position is set in a manner dependent on the profiles.

Autofocus method and autofocus device

A method including sensing an image without magnification of a portion of a tissue sample; displaying the sensed image on a display; and performing at least one of the following: refreshing a sensed image at a predetermined rate, storing the sensed image, modifying the sensor to display pixel ratio, and sensing a magnified view of an area of the portion of the tissue sample. A digital microscope comprising: at least one image sensor; a first optic configured to project an image with a magnification of one or less; a second optic disposed between the at least one sensor and the stage, the second optic configured to project an image with a magnification greater than one; and a computer operable to direct an image capture by the at least one image sensor of a portion of a microslide on the stage projected through the first optic or the second optic.

Digital microscope and method of sensing an image of a tissue sample

The invention is based on an autofocus method in which light from a light source () is focused at a measurement light focus () in a sample () and is reflected from there and the reflected light is guided through an optical system () in two light paths () onto at least two detector elements (). In order to achieve fast and accurate automatic focusing on the sample, it is proposed that the measurement light focus () is moved in layers of the sample () which reflect light to different extents, and the detector elements () are arranged in such a way that, in this case, profiles of a radiation property registered by the detector elements () are different and a focus position is set in a manner dependent on the profiles.

An autofocus apparatus and a method achieve a higher level of speed and robustness, and are particularly suited for fluorescence microscopy of biological samples, automated microscopy and scanning microscopy. A high speed is achieved via a light pattern in the sample, detected spatially resolved by a detector generating at least two signals corresponding to a reflex pattern of the light pattern. The two signals are subtracted generating a positioning signal and the focus of the objective in the sample is adjusted depending on the positioning signal.

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Gaienhofen, Germany

Sven Hensler