Microscope device for a computer system

Abstract

A computer microscope system having a housing, imager circuit including an imaging device and support circuits, and optical unit is coupled to a computer system running a microscope control program to provide convenient imaging of objects at one or more magnification levels. The microscope control program provides control and user interface between the microscope, computer hardware and the user, thus allowing for easy manipulation of the microscope (and the images generated) by the user.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method comprising: 
 removably supporting a microscope imaging unit on a base;    providing a first light coupled to said unit and a second light coupled to said base;    monitoring for removal of said unit from said base; and    automatically turning said second light off in response to removal of said unit from said base.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  including determining when said unit has been removed from said base by monitoring contacts between said unit and said base.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  including providing a graphical user interface that allows the user to enter light control signals and determining whether the user has requested that one of said first or second lights be turned off, and in response to said request turning off the requested light.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  further including adjusting the light intensity of said first and second lights based on the available power.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  including monitoring the available power and determining whether to operate either of said first or second lights.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  including monitoring the available power and determining whether to operate both of said first and second lights.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  including determining whether said first or second light is on.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  including turning on said first light in response to removal of said unit from said base.  
     
     
         9 . An article comprising a medium storing instructions that enable a processor-based system to: 
 monitor for the removal of a microscope imaging unit from a microscope imaging unit supporting base;    determine whether said unit has been removed from said base; and    in response to the removal of said unit from said base, turn off a light coupled to said base.    
     
     
         10 . The article of  claim 9  further storing instructions that enable the processor-based system to determine when said unit has been removed from said base by monitoring contacts between said unit and said base.  
     
     
         11 . The article of  claim 9  further storing instructions that enable the processor-based system to provide a graphical user interface that allows the user to enter light control signals and determine whether the user has requested that one of a first or second lights be turned off and in response to said request turning off the requested light.  
     
     
         12 . The article of  claim 9  further storing instructions that enable the processor-based system to adjust the light intensity of a first and a second light based on the available power.  
     
     
         13 . The article of  claim 9  further storing instructions that enable the processor-based system to monitor the available power and determine whether to operate either of a first or second lights.  
     
     
         14 . The article of  claim 9  further storing instructions that enable the processor-based system to monitor the available power and determine whether to operate both of a first and second lights.  
     
     
         15 . The article of  claim 9  further storing instructions that enable the processor-based system to determine whether a first or a second light is on.  
     
     
         16 . The article of  claim 9  including storing instructions that enable the processor-based system to turn a light on said imaging unit on in response to the removal of said unit from said base.  
     
     
         17 . A microscope comprising: 
 a microscope imaging unit;    a base removably supporting said microscope imaging unit;    a first light coupled to said unit and a second light coupled to said base;    a circuit to monitor for removal of said unit from said base; and    a control circuit that automatically turns said second light off in response to removal of said unit from said base.    
     
     
         18 . A method comprising: 
 detecting the on/off state of at least one light associated with a microscope;    analyzing an image captured by an imaging unit associated with said microscope; and    setting the color balance of said imaging unit at least in part based on an analysis of said image, the on/off state of said light, and the nature of said light.    
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  including detecting the presence of a filter on said microscope, and adjusting the color balance based on the presence of said filter.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18  including detecting the state of each of two lights, determining the nature of each of said lights and setting the color balance for said imaging unit.  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 18  including detecting the on/off state of a first light associated with said imaging unit and a second light associated with a base which removably supports said imaging unit.  
     
     
         22 . An article comprising a medium storing instructions that enable a processor-based system to: 
 detect the on/off state of at least one light associated with a microscope;    analyze an image captured by an imaging unit associated with said microscope; and    set the color balance of said imaging unit at least in part based on an analysis of said image recorded by an imaging unit, the on/off state of said light, and the nature of said light.    
     
     
         23 . The article of  claim 22  further storing instructions that enable the processor-based system to detect the presence of a filter on said microscope and adjust the color balance based on the presence of said filter.  
     
     
         24 . The article of  claim 22  further storing instructions that enable the processor-based system to detect the state of each of two lights, determine the nature of each of said lights, and set the color balance for said imaging unit.  
     
     
         25 . A microscope comprising: 
 a digital imaging sensor;    a first light associated with said imaging sensor;    a detector to detect the on or off state of said light;    an image analyzer to analyze an image captured by said imaging sensor; and    a device to set the color balance of said imaging sensor at least in part based on the analysis of said image, the on/off state of said light and the nature of said light.    
     
     
         26 . A method comprising: 
 automatically turning on a light to expose an object to be imaged by a digital imaging microscope;    automatically capturing an image after said light has been turned on; and    automatically turning said light off after said image has been captured.    
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26  including repeatedly turning said light on, capturing an image and turning said light off until a predetermined amount of time has expired.  
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27  including determining whether a preset time has arrived and automatically turning said light on when said preset time has arrived.  
     
     
         29 . An article comprising a medium storing instructions that enable a processor-based system to: 
 automatically turn on a light to expose an object to be imaged by a digital imaging microscope;    automatically capture an image after said light has been turned on; and    automatically turn said light off after said image has been captured.    
     
     
         30 . A digital imaging microscope comprising: 
 a control circuit including a timer to automatically turn a light on to expose an object to be imaged;    an image capture device that automatically captures an image after said light has been turned on; and    said control circuit automatically turning said light off after said image has been captured.