Confocal microscope apparatus and photographing apparatus for confocal microscope

Abstract

A confocal microscope apparatus includes a disk scanner for scanning a specimen with a laser beam, and camera main body for photographing a still image. An exposure time calculation circuit is arranged to generates an exposure time signal for the camera main body. A rotation sensor, a scan track start point/end point determination circuit, and a rotation period calculation circuit are arranged to generate a rotational period signal for the disk scanner. A comparator compares the exposure time signal with the rotational period signal, so that a motor controller and a motor driver control rotation of a motor of the disk scanner by a comparison output from the comparator.

1. A confocal microscope apparatus comprising:
 a light-emitting portion for emitting a light beam with which a specimen to be observed is irradiated;  
 a rotatable disk scanner having a plurality of pinholes formed in a disk for the light beam to pass therethrough between said light-emitting portion and the specimen, said pinholes being arranged to move through a first position facing said light-emitting portion and scan the specimen with the light beam having passed through said pinholes, along with rotation of said disk scanner;  
 a confocal optical system for conjugating said first position and a second position on the specimen to cause the light beam having passed through said pinholes to be radiated onto the specimen, and to cause a light beam from the specimen to form an image on said disk;  
 a camera for photographing a still image of the image formed by said confocal optical system;  
 means for generating an exposure time signal representing an exposure time of said camera;  
 means for generating a rotational period signal representing a rotational period of said disk scanner;  
 means for comparing the exposure time signal with the rotational period signal to generate based on a comparison result a signal concerning at least one certain condition which must be changed among conditions of said disk scanner, said confocal optical system, and said camera;  
 wherein said certain condition comprises a rotational speed of said disk scanner;  
 means for automatically changing said certain condition on the basis of the comparison result; and  
 means for switching whether to control the rotational speed of said disk scanner in association with the exposure time.  
 
     
     
       2. The apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising means for displaying a message for instructing a change of said certain condition on the basis of the comparison result. 
     
     
       3. A confocal microscope apparatus comprising:
 a light-emitting portion for emitting a light beam with which a specimen to be observed is irradiated;  
 a rotatable disk scanner having a plurality of pinholes formed in a disk for the light beam to pass therethrough between said light-emitting portion and the specimen, said pinholes being arranged to move through a first position facing said light-emitting portion and scan the specimen with the light beam having passed through said pinholes, alone with rotation of said disk scanner;  
 a confocal optical system for conjugating said first position and a second position on the specimen to cause the light beam having passed through said pinholes to be radiated onto the specimen, and to cause a light beam from the specimen to form an image on said disk;  
 a camera for photographing a still image of the image formed by said confocal optical system;  
 means for generating an exposure time signal representing an exposure time of said camera;  
 means for generating a rotational period signal representing a rotational period of said disk scanner;  
 means for comparing the exposure time signal with the rotational period signal to generate based on a comparison result a signal concerning at least one certain condition which must be changed among conditions of said disk scanner, said confocal optical system, and said camera;  
 means for automatically changing said certain condition on the basis of the comparison result;  
 wherein said certain condition comprises a rotational speed of said disk scanner; and  
 a rotation sensor for detecting a rotational position of said disk scanner, and wherein the rotational period signal is calculated based on a detection result by said rotation sensor.  
 
     
     
       4. The apparatus according to  claim 3 , further comprising means for selectively multiplying the calculated rotational period signal to compare the multiplied rotational period signal with the exposure time signal. 
     
     
       5. The apparatus according to  claim 3 , further comprising means for displaying a message for instructing a change of said certain condition on the basis of the comparison result. 
     
     
       6. A confocal microscope apparatus comprising:
 a light-emitting portion for emitting a light beam with which a specimen to be observed is irradiated;  
 a rotatable disk scanner having a plurality of pinholes formed in a disk for the light beam to pass therethrough between said light-emitting portion and the specimen, said pinholes being arranged to move through a first position facing said light-emitting portion and scan the specimen with the light beam having passed through said pinholes, alone with rotation of said disk scanner;  
 a confocal optical system for conjugating said first position and a second position on the specimen to cause the light beam having passed through said pinholes to be radiated onto the specimen, and to cause a light beam from the specimen to form an image on said disk;  
 a camera for photographing a still image of the image formed by said confocal optical system;  
 means for generating an exposure time signal representing an exposure time of said camera;  
 means for generating a rotational period signal representing a rotational period of said disk scanner;  
 means for comparing the exposure time signal with the rotational period signal to generate based on a comparison result a signal concerning at least one certain condition which must be changed among conditions of said disk scanner, said confocal optical system, and said camera;  
 wherein said certain condition comprises an intensity of the light beam emitted by said light-emitting portion; and  
 means for automatically changing said certain condition on the basis of the comparison result.  
 
     
     
       7. The apparatus according to  claim 6 , further comprising means for changing the intensity of the light beam when the rotational speed of said disk scanner falls outside a reference range. 
     
     
       8. The apparatus according to  claim 7 , further comprising photometric means for measuring the intensity of the light beam from the specimen, and wherein the exposure time signal is calculated based on a detection result by said photometric means. 
     
     
       9. The apparatus according to  claim 6 , further comprising means for displaying a message for instructing a change of said certain condition on the basis of the comparison result. 
     
     
       10. An apparatus for photographing a confocal image in cooperation with a microscope, comprising:
 a light-emitting portion for emitting a light beam with which a specimen to be observed is irradiated;  
 a rotatable disk scanner having a plurality of pinholes formed in a disk for the light beam to pass therethrough between said light-emitting portion and the specimen, said pinholes being arranged to move through a first position facing said light-emitting portion and scan the specimen with the light beam having passed through said pinholes, along with rotation of said disk scanner;  
 an optical system portion for forming, in cooperation with an optical system portion of said microscope, a confocal optical system for conjugating said first position and a second position on the specimen to cause the light beam having passed through said pinholes to be radiated onto the specimen, and to cause a light beam from the specimen to form an image on said disk;  
 a camera for photographing a still image of the image formed by said confocal optical system;  
 means for generating an exposure time signal representing an exposure time of said camera;  
 means for generating a rotational period signal representing a rotational period of said disk scanner;  
 means for comparing the exposure time signal with the rotational period signal to generate based on a comparison result a signal concerning at least one certain condition which must be changed among conditions of said disk scanner, said confocal optical system, and said camera;  
 wherein said certain condition comprises a rotational speed of said disk scanner;  
 means for automatically changing said certain condition on the basis of the comparison result; and  
 means for switching whether to control the rotational speed of said disk scanner in association with the exposure time.  
 
     
     
       11. The apparatus according to  claim 10 , further comprising means for displaying a message for instructing a change of said certain condition on the basis of the comparison result. 
     
     
       12. An apparatus for photographing a confocal image in cooperation with a microscope, comprising:
 a light-emitting portion for emitting a light beam with which a specimen to be observed is irradiated;  
 a rotatable disk scanner having a plurality of pinholes formed in a disk for the light beam to pass therethrough between said light-emitting portion and the specimen, said pinholes being arranged to move through a first position facing said light-emitting portion and scan the specimen with the light beam having passed through said pinholes, along with rotation of said disk scanner;  
 an optical system portion for forming, in cooperation with an optical system portion of said microscope, a confocal optical system for conjugating said first Position and a second position on the specimen to cause the light beam having passed through said pinholes to be radiated onto the specimen, and to cause a light beam from the specimen to form an image on said disk;  
 a camera for photographing a still image of the image formed by said confocal optical system;  
 means for generating an exposure time signal representing an exposure time of said camera;  
 means for generating a rotational period signal representing a rotational period of said disk scanner;  
 means for comparing the exposure time signal with the rotational period signal to generate based on a comparison result a signal concerning at least one certain condition which must be changed among conditions of said disk scanner, said confocal optical system, and said camera;  
 wherein said certain condition comprises a rotational speed of said disk scanner;  
 means for automatically changing said certain condition on the basis of the comparison result; and  
 a rotation sensor for detecting a rotational position of said disk scanner, and wherein the rotational period signal is calculated based on a detection result by said rotation sensor.  
 
     
     
       13. The apparatus according to  claim 12 , further comprising means for selectively multiplying the calculated rotational period signal to compare the multiplied rotational period signal with the exposure time signal. 
     
     
       14. The apparatus according to  claim 12 , further comprising means for displaying a message for instructing a change of said certain condition on the basis of the comparison result. 
     
     
       15. An apparatus for photographing a confocal image in cooperation with a microscope, comprising:
 a light-emitting portion for emitting a light beam with which a specimen to be observed is irradiated;  
 a rotatable disk scanner having a plurality of pinholes formed in a disk for the light beam to pass therethrough between said light-emitting portion and the specimen, said pinholes being arranged to move through a first position facing said light-emitting portion and scan the specimen with the light beam having passed through said pinholes, along with rotation of said disk scanner;  
 an optical system portion for forming, in cooperation with an optical system portion of said microscope, a confocal optical system for conjugating said first position and a second position on the specimen to cause the light beam having passed through said pinholes to be radiated onto the specimen, and to cause a light beam from the specimen to form an image on said disk;  
 a camera for photographing a still image of the image formed by said confocal optical system;  
 means for generating an exposure time signal representing an exposure time of said camera;  
 means for generating a rotational period signal representing a rotational period of said disk scanner;  
 means for comparing the exposure time signal with the rotational period signal to generate based on a comparison result a signal concerning at least one certain condition which must be chanted among conditions of said disk scanner, said confocal optical system, and said camera; and  
 means for automatically changing said certain condition on the basis of the comparison result; and  
 wherein said certain condition comprises an intensity of the light beam emitted by said light-emitting portion.  
 
     
     
       16. The apparatus according to  claim 15 , further comprising means for changing the intensity of the light beam when the rotational speed of said disk scanner falls outside a reference range. 
     
     
       17. The apparatus according to  claim 16 , further comprising photometric means for measuring the intensity of the light beam from the specimen, and wherein the exposure time signal is calculated based on a detection result by said photometric means. 
     
     
       18. The apparatus according to  claim 15 , further comprising means for displaying a message for instructing a change of said certain condition on the basis of the comparison result. 
     
     
       19. A confocal microscope apparatus comprising:
   a light - emitter which emits a light beam with which a specimen to be observed is irradiated;        a rotatable disk having a plurality of openings for the light beam to pass through to obtain a confocal effect;        a confocal optical system which condenses the light beam having passed through the openings, condenses a light beam from the specimen, and conjugates an observation surface of the specimen and the openings;        a camera which takes an image of the specimen formed by the confocal optical system;        an exposure time controller which determines an exposure time of the camera;        a rotational period signal generator which generates a rotational period signal representing a rotational period of the rotatable disk;        a disk controller which changes a rotational speed of the rotatable disk based on a comparison result between the exposure time of the camera and the rotational period of the rotatable disk; and        a switch which switches whether or not the disk controller changes the rotational speed of the rotatable disk.     
     
     
       20. The apparatus according to  claim 19 , further comprising a display which displays a message for instructing a change of the rotational speed of the rotatable disk based on the comparison result between the exposure time of the camera and the rotational period of the rotatable disk. 
     
     
       21. A confocal microscope apparatus comprising:
   a light - emitter which emits a light beam with which a specimen to be observed is irradiated;        a rotatable disk having a plurality of openings for the light beam to pass through to obtain a confocal effect;        a confocal optical system which condenses the light beam having passed through the openings, condenses a light beam from the specimen, and conjugates an observation surface of the specimen and the openings;        a camera which takes an image of the specimen formed by the confocal optical system;        an exposure time controller which determines an exposure time of the camera;        a rotational sensor which detects a position of the rotatable disk;        a rotational period calculator which calculates a rotational period of the rotatable disk based on a detection signal from the rotational sensor; and        a disk controller which changes a rotational speed of the rotatable disk based on a comparison result between the exposure time of the camera and the rotational period of the rotatable disk.     
     
     
       22. The apparatus according to  claim 21 , further comprising a multiplier which selectively multiplies the calculated rotational period to compare the rotational period with the exposure time. 
     
     
       23. The apparatus according to  claim 21 , further comprising a display which displays a message for instructing a change of the rotational speed of the rotatable disk based on the comparison result between the exposure time of the camera and the rotational period of the rotatable disk. 
     
     
       24. A confocal microscope apparatus comprising:
   a light - emitter which emits a light beam with which a specimen to be observed is irradiated;        a rotatable disk having a plurality of openings for the light beam to pass through to obtain a confocal effect;        a confocal optical system which condenses the light beam having passed through the openings, condenses a light beam from the specimen, and conjugates an observation surface of the specimen and the openings;        a camera which takes an image of the specimen formed by the confocal optical system;        an exposure time controller which determines an exposure time of the camera;        a rotational period signal generator which generates a rotational period signal representing a rotational period of the rotatable disk; and        a light - emitter controller which changes an intensity of the light beam emitted by the light - emitter and passed through the openings of the rotatable disk based on a comparison result between the exposure time of the camera and the rotational period of the rotatable disk.     
     
     
       25. The apparatus according to  claim 24 , further comprising an intensity controller which changes the intensity of the light beam when a rotational speed of the rotatable disk falls outside a reference range. 
     
     
       26. The apparatus according to  claim 25 , further comprising a photometer which measures the intensity of the light beam from the specimen, and wherein the exposure time of the camera is calculated based on a detection result by the photometer. 
     
     
       27. The apparatus according to  claim 24 , further comprising a display which displays a message for instructing a change of the intensity of the light beam based on the comparison result between the exposure time of the camera and the rotational period of the rotatable disk. 
     
     
       28. An apparatus which forms a confocal image in cooperation with a microscope, comprising:
   a light - emitter which emits a light beam with which a specimen to be observed is irradiated;        a rotatable disk having a plurality of openings for the light beam to pass through to obtain a confocal effect;        a confocal optical system which condenses the light beam having passed through the openings, condenses a light beam from the specimen, and conjugates an observation surface of the specimen and the openings;        a camera which takes an image of the specimen formed by the confocal optical system;        an exposure time controller which determines an exposure time of the camera;        a rotational period signal generator which generates a rotational period signal representing a rotational period of the rotatable disk;        a disk controller which changes a rotational speed of the rotatable disk based on a comparison result between the exposure time of the camera and the rotational period of the rotatable disk; and        a switch which switches whether or not the disk controller changes the rotational speed of the rotatable disk.     
     
     
       29. The apparatus according to  claim 28 , further comprising a display which displays a message for instructing a change of the rotational speed of the rotatable disk based on the comparison result between the exposure time of the camera and the rotational period of the rotatable disk. 
     
     
       30. An apparatus which forms a confocal image in cooperation with a microscope, comprising:
   a light - emitter which emits a light beam with which a specimen to be observed is irradiated;        a rotatable disk having a plurality of openings for the light beam to pass through to obtain a confocal effect;        a confocal optical system which condenses the light beam having passed through the openings, condenses a light beam from the specimen, and conjugates an observation surface of the specimen and the openings;        a camera which takes an image of the specimen formed by the confocal optical system;        an exposure time controller which determines an exposure time of the camera;        a rotational sensor which detects a position of the rotatable disk;        a rotational period calculator which calculates a rotational period of the rotatable disk based on a detection signal from the rotational sensor; and        a disk controller which changes a rotational speed of the rotatable disk based on a comparison result between the exposure time of the camera and the rotational period of the rotatable disk.     
     
     
       31. The apparatus according to  claim 30 , further comprising a multiplier which selectively multiplies the calculated rotational period to compare the rotational period with the exposure time. 
     
     
       32. The apparatus according to  claim 30 , further comprising a display which displays a message for instructing a change of the rotational speed of the rotatable disk based on the comparison result between the exposure time of the camera and the rotational period of the rotatable disk. 
     
     
       33. An apparatus which forms a confocal image in cooperation with a microscope, comprising:
   a light - emitter which emits a light beam with which a specimen to be observed is irradiated;        a rotatable disk having a plurality of openings for the light beam to pass through to obtain a confocal effect;        a confocal optical system which condenses the light beam having passed through the openings, condenses a light beam from the specimen, and conjugates an observation surface of the specimen and the openings;        a camera which takes an image of the specimen formed by the confocal optical system;        an exposure time controller which determines an exposure time of the camera;        a rotational period signal generator which generates a rotational period signal representing a rotational period of the rotatable disk; and        a light - emitter controller which changes an intensity of the light beam emitted by the light - emitter and passed through the openings of the rotatable disk based on a comparison result between the exposure time of the camera and the rotational period of the rotatable disk.     
     
     
       34. The apparatus according to  claim 33 , further comprising an intensity controller which changes the intensity of the light beam when a rotational speed of the rotatable disk falls outside a reference range. 
     
     
       35. The apparatus according to  claim 34 , further comprising a photometer which measures the intensity of the light beam from the specimen, and wherein the exposure time of the camera is calculated based on a detection result by the photometer. 
     
     
       36. The apparatus according to  claim 33 , further comprising a display which displays a message for instructing a change of the intensity of the light beam based on the comparison result between the exposure time of the camera and the rotational period of the rotatable disk. 
     
     
       37. A method for controlling a rotatable disk applied to a confocal microscope including a disk scanner, said method comprising:
   switching between a first control method and a second control method,        wherein in the first control method, a rotational speed of the rotatable disk is changed based on a comparison result between an exposure time of a camera and a rotational period of the rotatable disk, and        in the second control method, the rotational speed of the rotatable disk is not changed.     
     
     
       38. A method for controlling an intensity of an irradiation light beam, which is applied to a confocal microscope including a disk scanner, said method comprising:
   changing an intensity of the irradiation light beam, which is passed through a rotatable disk, based on a comparison result between an exposure time of a camera and a rotational period of the rotatable disk.