Microscope system

Abstract

A microscope system that is capable of changing a status of observation of a sample comprises an instruction unit for giving instruction for driving one or more optical members including an objective lens or for changing a relative position of the sample and the objective lens; and an image capturing unit for capturing an observed image of the sample as a still image or a live image. The microscope system changes an order for performing operations in accordance with the instruction from the instruction unit, the operations including an operation of driving the one or more optical members or changing the relative position; an operation of switching the illumination light for the sample from being cut-off or reduced to being applied; and an operation of switching the image displayed in a display unit from the still image to the live image.

1 . A microscope system that is capable of changing a status of observation of a sample, comprising:
 an illumination unit for applying illumination light to the sample;   a driving unit for driving one or more optical members including an objective lens;   a position changing unit for changing a relative position of the sample and the objective lens;   a control unit for controlling the illumination light for the sample to be applied, cut off or reduced;   an instruction unit for giving instruction for driving any of the one or more optical members or for changing the relative position;   an image capturing unit for capturing an observed image of the sample as a still image or a live image; and   a display unit for displaying the still image or live image captured by the image capturing unit; wherein   an order for performing operations is changed in accordance with the instruction from the instruction unit, the operations including an operation of driving the one or more optical members or changing the relative position; an operation of switching the illumination light for the sample from being cut-off or reduced to being applied; and an operation of switching an image displayed in the display unit from the still image to the live image.   
     
     
         2 . The microscope system according to  claim 1 , wherein
 when the instruction from the instruction unit is for driving a zoom optical system or for changing the relative position, operations are performed in an order of: the operation of switching the illumination light for the sample from being cut-off or reduced to being applied; followed by the operation of switching the image displayed in the display unit from the still image to the live image; followed by the operation of driving the zoom optical system or changing the relative position.   
     
     
         3 . The microscope system according to  claim 2 , wherein
 the operation of driving the zoom optical system or changing the relative position starts after the operation of switching the image displayed in the display unit from the still image to the live image is completed.   
     
     
         4 . The microscope system according to  claim 2 , further comprising an image capturing conditions storing unit for storing image capturing conditions under which the still image was captured, wherein
 the live image displayed in accordance with the operation of switching the image displayed in the display unit from the still image to the live image is an image captured as the live image under the image capturing conditions stored in the image capturing condition storing unit.   
     
     
         5 . The microscope system according to  claim 1 , wherein
 when the instruction from the instruction unit is for driving the objective lens or a cube, operations are performed in an order of: the operation of driving the objective lens or the cube; followed by the operation of switching the illumination light for the sample from being cut-off or reduced to being applied; followed by the operation of switching the image displayed in the display unit from the still image to the live image.   
     
     
         6 . The microscope system according to  claim 5 , wherein
 the operation of switching the illumination light for the sample from being cut-off or reduced to being applied starts after the operation of driving the objective lens or the cube is completed.   
     
     
         7 . A control method for controlling a microscope system that is capable of changing a status of observation of a sample, wherein
 an order for performing operations is changed in accordance with an instruction for driving one or more optical members including an objective lens or for changing a relative position of the sample and the objective lens, the operations including an operation of driving the one or more optical members or changing the relative position; an operation of switching an illumination light for the sample from being cut-off or reduced to being applied; and an operation of switching an observed image of the sample to be captured and displayed as a live image instead of a still image.   
     
     
         8 . The control method of a microscope system according to  claim 7 , wherein
 in accordance with an instruction for driving a zoom optical system or for changing the relative position, operations are performed in an order of: the operation of switching an illumination light for the sample from being cut-off or reduced to being applied; followed by the operation of switching an observed image of the sample to be captured and displayed as a live image instead of a still image; followed by the operation of driving the zoom optical system or changing the relative position.   
     
     
         9 . The control method of a microscope system according to  claim 7 , wherein
 in accordance with an instruction for driving an objective lens or a cube, operations are performed in an order of: the operation of driving the objective lens or the cube; followed by the operation of switching an illumination light for the sample from being cut-off or reduced to being applied; followed by the operation of switching an observed image of the sample to be captured and displayed as a live image instead of a still image.