Split-image, multi-power microscopic image display system and method

Abstract

A split-image, multi-power microscopic image display system and method wherein the image of an object positioned on a slide is split into two optical paths, and is magnified to a varying degree in each optical path, the resulting respectively magnified images being displayed on respective monitor devices. The initial optical path includes an objective and a splitter; the paths of lower magnification and higher magnification each include a TV camera and a TV monitor, and may include various optical elements in accordance with the four disclosed embodiments. Further features of the invention include the following: provision of a microcomputer with data entry means, and respective mixers disposed between the TV cameras and their monitors for insertion of identifying information into the video signal, with subsequent display on the monitors of the identifying information and the image of the object being microscopically viewed; provision of a photographic printer for producing a hardcopy record of the image viewed; and provision of a lens switching arrangement for selection of various objectives without the necessity of refocusing after a lens is switched into position.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for displaying magnified images of an object having respective first and second magnifications, comprising: providing an objective, characterized by the first magnification, through which the image of the object passes to produce an objective optical output having the first magnification;   splitting the objective optical output into first and second optical outputs for passage through respective first and second optical paths;   .Iadd.providing at least one optical element in the first optical path for .Iaddend.increasing the magnification of the first optical output in said first optical path to produce a third optical output characterized by the second magnification;   
     
     
       providing the third optical output to a first camera which produces a first video output characterized by the second magnification; .[.bending.]. .Iadd.providing .Iaddend.the second optical output to .[.direct it toward.]. a second camera which produces a second video output characterized by the first magnification; and   processing said first and second video outputs to display first and second images, respectively, of the object magnified in accordance with the second and first magnifications, respectively.   
     
     
       2. The method of claim 1, wherein .Iadd.one of .Iaddend.the .[.bending step comprises passing.]. .Iadd.second optical output and the third optical output comprises an inverted image of the object, said method comprising the step of further inverting said one of .Iaddend.the second optical output .[.through a prism.]. .Iadd.and the third optical output.Iaddend.. 
     
     
       3. The method of claim 1, wherein the processing step comprises mixing at least one of said first and second video outputs with analog representations of operator-entered information so as to display the operator-entered information with the corresponding at least one of the first and second images of the object. 
     
     
       4. The method of claim 1, comprising the additional step of producing a hardcopy record of at least one of the first and second images of the object. 
     
     
       5. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of providing an objective comprises selecting one of a plurality of objectives, and wherein each objective comprises a negative-diopter lens with a superimposed positive-diopter lens. 
     
     
       6. The method of claim 1, wherein said objective is a lithography lens. 
     
     
       7. A system for displaying magnified images of an object having respective first and second magnifications, comprising: an objective lens, characterized by the first magnification, through which the image of the object passes to produce an objective optical output having the first magnification;   splitting means for splitting the objective optical output into first and second optical outputs for passage through respective first and second optical paths;   magnifying means disposed in said first optical path for increasing the magnification of the first optical output so as to produce a third optical output characterized by the second magnification;   a first camera disposed in said first optical path and responsive to said third optical output for producing a first video output characterized by the second magnification;   a second camera.[.; bending means for bending.]. .Iadd.disposed in said second optical path and responsive to .Iaddend. the second optical output .[.to direct it toward said second camera, said second camera.]. .Iadd.for .Iaddend.producing a second video output characterized by the first magnification; and   display means responsive to said first and second video outputs for displaying first and second images, respectively, of the object magnified in accordance with the second and first magnifications, respectively.   
     
     
       8. The system of claim 7, wherein the magnifying means comprises a diverging lens for diverging the first optical output to produce a diverged optical output comprising the third optical output. 
     
     
       9. The system of claim 7, wherein .Iadd.one of .Iaddend.the .[.bending means comprises a prism disposed at an end of.]. .Iadd.second optical output and the third optical output comprises an inverted image of the object, said system comprising inverting means for further inverting said one of .Iaddend.the second optical .[.path and adjacent to said second camera.]. .Iadd.output and the third optical output.Iaddend.. 
     
     
       10. The system of claim 7, wherein said objective lens comprises a lithography lens. 
     
     
       11. The system of claim 7, further comprising mixing means connected to at least one of said first and second cameras for mixing at least one of said first and second video outputs with analog representations of operator-entered information so as to display the operator-entered information with the corresponding at least one of the first and second images of the object. 
     
     
       12. The system of claim 11, further comprising operator input means for inputting the operator-entered information, and processing means for processing the operator-entered information so as to provide the operator-entered information to said mixer means. 
     
     
       13. The system of claim 7, comprising photographic printer means operatively associated with said display means for producing a hardcopy record of at least one of the first and second images of the object. 
     
     
       14. The system of claim 7, comprising photographic printer means operatively associated with at least one of said first and second cameras for receiving a direct optical output therefrom, and for producing a hardcopy record of at least one of the first and second images of the object. 
     
     
       15. The system of claim 7, further comprising additional objective lenses and selecting means for selecting one of said objective lenses through which the image of the object passes. 
     
     
       16. The system of claim 15, wherein each objective lens comprises a negative-diopter lens and a superimposed positive-diopter lens. 
     
     
       17. A method for displaying magnified images of an object having respective first and second magnifications, comprising: providing an objective, characterized by the first magnification, through which the image of the object passes to produce an objective optical output having the first magnification;   splitting the objective optical output into first and second optical outputs for passage through respective first and second optical paths;   providing the first optical output via said first optical path to a first camera;   operating the first camera in a reduced-scanning mode so that said first camera effectively further magnifies the first optical output to produce a first video output characterized by the second magnification;   .[.bending.]. .Iadd.providing .Iaddend.the second optical output to .[.direct it toward.]. a second camera which produces a second video output characterized by the first magnification; and   processing said first and second video outputs to display first and second images, respectively, of the object magnified in accordance with the second and first magnifications, respectively.   
     
     
       18. The method of claim 17, wherein .Iadd.one of .Iaddend.the .[.bending step comprises passing.]. .Iadd.first optical output and the second optical output comprises an inverted image of the object, said method comprising the step of further inverting said one of the first optical output and .Iaddend.the second optical output .[.through a prism.].. 
     
     
       19. The method of claim 17, wherein the processing step comprises mixing at least one of said first and second video outputs with analog representations of operator-entered information so as to display the operator-entered information with the corresponding at least one of the first and second images of the object. 
     
     
       20. The method of claim 17, comprising the additional step of producing a hardcopy record of at least one of the first and second images of the object. 
     
     
       21. The method of claim 17, wherein the step of providing an objective comprises selecting one of a plurality of objectives, and wherein each objective comprises a negative-diopter lens with a superimposed positive-diopter lens. 
     
     
       22. The method of claim 17, wherein said objective comprises a lithography lens. 
     
     
       23. A system for displaying magnified images of an object having respective first and second magnifications, comprising: an objective lens, characterized by the first magnification, through which the image of the object passes to produce an objective optical output having the first magnification;   splitting means for splitting the objective optical output into first and second optical outputs for passage through respective first and second optical paths;   a first camera disposed in said first optical path, said first camera being operated in a reduced-scanning mode so as to .[.effectively further.]. modify the first optical output and to produce a first video output characterized by the second magnification;   a second camera.[.; bending means.]. .Iadd.disposed in said second optical path .Iaddend.for .[.bending the second optical output to direct it toward said second camera, said second camera.]. producing a second video output characterized by the first magnification; and   display means responsive to said first and second video outputs for displaying first and second images, respectively, of the object magnified in accordance with the second and first magnifications, respectively.   
     
     
       24. The system of claim 23, wherein .Iadd.one of .Iaddend.the .[.bending means comprises a prism disposed at an end of.]. .Iadd.first optical output and the second optical output comprises an inverted image of the object, said system comprising inverting means for further inverting said one of the first optical output and .Iaddend.the second optical .[.path and adjacent to said second camera.]. .Iadd.output.Iaddend.. 
     
     
       25. The system of claim 23, wherein said objective lens comprises a lithography lens. 
     
     
       26. The system of claim 23, further comprising mixing means connected to at least one of said first and second cameras for mixing at least one of said first and second video outputs with analog representations of operator-entered information so as to display the operator-entered information with the corresponding at least one of the first and second images of the object. 
     
     
       27. The system of claim 26, further comprising operator input means for inputting the operator-entered information, and processing means for processing the operator-entered information so as to provide the operator-entered information to said mixer means. 
     
     
       28. The system of claim 23, comprising photographic printer means operatively associated with said display means for producing a hardcopy record of at least one of the first and second images of the object. 
     
     
       29. The system of claim 23, comprising photographic printer means operatively associated with at least one of said first and second cameras for receiving a direct optical output therefrom, and for producing a hardcopy record of at least one of the first and second images of the object. 
     
     
       30. The system of claim 23, further comprising additional objective lenses and selecting means for selecting one of said objective lenses through which the image of the object passes. 
     
     
       31. The system of claim 30, wherein each objective lens comprises a negative-diopter lens and a superimposed positive-diopter lens. 
     
     
       32. A method for displaying magnified images of an object having respective first and second magnifications, comprising: providing an objective, characterized by a given magnification less than said first and second magnifications, through which the image of the object passes to produce an objective optical output having the given magnification;   splitting the objective optical output into first and second optical outputs for passage through respective first and second optical paths;   increasing the magnification of the first optical output in said first optical path to produce a third optical output characterized by the first magnification;   increasing the magnification of the second optical output in said second optical path to produce a fourth optical output characterized by the second magnification;   providing the third optical output to a first camera which produces a first video output characterized by the first magnification;   .[.bending.]. .Iadd.providing .Iaddend.the fourth optical output to .[.direct it toward.]. a second camera which produces a second video output characterized by the second magnification; and   processing said first and second video outputs to display first and second images, respectively, of the object magnified in accordance with the first and second magnifications, respectively.   
     
     
       33. The method of claim 32, wherein the step of increasing the magnification of the second optical output comprises passing the second optical output through a Barlow lens. 
     
     
       34. The method of claim 32, wherein .Iadd.at least one of .Iaddend.the .[.bending step comprises passing.]. .Iadd.third optical output and the fourth optical output comprises an inverted image of the object, said method comprising the step of further inverting said at least one of the third optical output and .Iaddend.the fourth optical output .[.through a prism.].. 
     
     
       35. The method of claim 32, wherein the objective comprises a lithography lens. 
     
     
       36. The method of claim 32, wherein the processing step comprises mixing at least one of said first and second video outputs with analog representations of operator-entered information so as to display the operator-entered information with the corresponding at least one of the first and second images of the object. 
     
     
       37. The method of claim 32, comprising the additional step of producing a hardcopy record of at least one of the first and second images of the object. 
     
     
       38. The method of claim 32, wherein the step of providing an objective comprises selecting one of a plurality of objectives, and wherein each objective comprises a negative-diopter lens with a superimposed positive-diopter lens. 
     
     
       39. A system for displaying magnified images of an object having respective first and second magnifications, comprising: an objective lens, characterized by a given magnification less than the first and second magnifications, through which objective lens the image of the object passes to produce an objective optical output having the given magnification;   splitting means for splitting the objective optical output into first and second optical outputs for passage through respective first and second optical paths;   first magnifying means disposed in said first optical path for magnifying the first optical output to provide a third optical output characterized by the first magnification;   second magnifying means disposed in said second optical path for magnifying the second optical output to provide a fourth optical output characterized by the second magnification;   a first camera disposed in said first optical path and responsive to said third optical output for producing a first video output characterized by the second magnification;   a second camera.[.; bending means.]. .Iadd.disposed in said second optical path and responsive to said fourth optical output .Iaddend.for .[.bending the fourth optical output to direct it toward said second camera, said second camera.]. producing a second video output characterized by the second magnification; and   display means responsive to said first and second video outputs for displaying first and second images, respectively, of the object magnified in accordance with the first and second magnifications, respectively.   
     
     
       40. The system of claim 39, wherein the first magnifying means comprises a diverging lens for diverging the first optical output to produce a diverged optical output comprising the third optical output. 
     
     
       41. The system of claim 39, wherein said second magnifying means comprises a Barlow lens. 
     
     
       42. The system of claim 39, wherein said objective lens comprises a lithography lens. 
     
     
       43. The system of claim 39, wherein g .[.the bending means comprises a prism disposed at an end of.]. .Iadd.at least one of the third optical output and the fourth optical output comprises an inverted image of the object, said system comprising inverting means for further inverting said at least one of the third optical output and .Iaddend.the .[.second.]. .Iadd.fourth .Iaddend.optical .[.path and adjacent to said second camera.]. .Iadd.output.Iaddend.. 
     
     
       44. The system of claim 39, further comprising mixing means connected to at least one of said first and second cameras for mixing at least one of said first and second video outputs with analog representations of operator-entered information so as to display the operator-entered information with the corresponding at least one of the first and second images of the object. 
     
     
       45. The system of claim 44, further comprising operator input means for inputting the operator-entered information, and processing means for processing the operator-entered information so as to provide the operator-entered information to said mixer means. 
     
     
       46. The system of claim 39, comprising photographic printer means operatively associated with said display means for producing a hardcopy record of at least one of the first and second images of the object. 
     
     
       47. The system of claim 39, comprising photographic printer means operatively associated with at least one of said first and second cameras for receiving a direct optical output therefrom, and for producing a hardcopy record of at least one of the first and second images of the object. 
     
     
       48. The system of claim 39, further comprising additional objective lenses and selecting means for selecting one of said objective lenses through which the image of the object passes. 
     
     
       49. The system of claim 48, wherein each objective lens comprises a negative-diopter lens and a superimposed positive-diopter lens.