WO2004038482A2

WO2004038482A2 - Control unit for a microscope

Info

Publication number: WO2004038482A2
Application number: PCT/EP2003/011611
Authority: WO
Inventors: Heinz Studer; Heinz Zimmermann; Paul GRÄFENHAIN
Original assignee: Leica Microsystems (Schweiz) Ag
Priority date: 2002-10-22
Filing date: 2003-10-20
Publication date: 2004-05-06
Also published as: WO2004038482A3; JP2006504126A; DE10249177A1; EP1563372A2; DE10249177B4

Abstract

Disclosed is a manually actuated control unit for a microscope, comprising at least one control element, especially a control wheel (50, 51, 54), a control key (52a to 52h), and/or a control ball (63), via which a microcontroller of the control unit can be impinged upon by control commands in order to trigger or control a number of functional units of the microscope. A storage device that is assigned to the microcontroller is provided with a first storage area encompassing a custom boot loader, by means of which a software, particularly a software defining a function of the at least one control element, can be loaded into another storage area of the storage unit.

Description

Control unit for microscope

The present invention relates to an operating unit for a microscope according to the preamble of patent claim 1.

Motorized microscopes in which system components or functional units for performing at least one motor-driven function are provided on a microscope body are known. As an example, reference is made to the applicant's commercially available product "Leica DMLA ®". This is a motorized microscope in which important microscope functions, such as, for example, changing the magnification, illuminance setting or focusing, are motorized and The motorized functions can be controlled via a PC or central control electronics, and the microscope can also be controlled by means of an operating device which is separate from the actual microscope body and which has sensors which transmit analog signals via a line Because of the spatial separation of the operating device from the microscope, it can be freely positioned and thus, for example, adapted to the individual body size of the user. For example, the applicant's MZ16A microscope with a CAN bus and a decent one central intelligence. I.e. , Both in the functional units and in the control unit, microprocessors are installed, each of which is loaded with a specially assigned software, which is used both to control the respective Actuators assigned to functional units, and also ensure communication between the units. In order to replace the software in such functional units, the microprocessor must be set to a loading mode by actuating a jumper, ie in terms of hardware. Then the new software is loaded via a serial interface and then the jumper is reset. There is no control as to whether the loaded software belongs to the functional unit or not. In order to change the software, the device must be opened and there is a risk of damage to the device. If the wrong software is loaded, the microscope malfunctions and, if necessary, a complex search for errors. In contrast, the software is burned onto the processor in the control unit. A software change requires the removal of the processor, its deletion and a new burning.

It is also known to equip motorized microscopes of this type with bus systems via which communication between the functional units with one another for carrying out and coordinating the respective microscope functions, as well as between the functional units and the operating element, can be implemented in a simple manner.

The individual functional units of such a motorized microscope generally have an actuator or a command input device and a microcontroller which communicates with the actuator or the command input unit and which is designed or cooperates with a corresponding memory device. A software or firmware controlling the respective function is usually stored in this memory unit and is accessed by the microcontroller to control the actuator assigned to it. In conventional systems, this software or firmware is changed, for example as part of an upgrade. dates, that is, not possible without complex opening of the respective functional unit, in which case the microcontroller must be removed and re-fired, or at least a hardware change must be made by means of a jumper setting.

The object of the invention is to provide a motorized microscope, the operability and manageability of which is improved compared to conventional solutions.

This object is achieved by an operating unit with the features of claim 1 and a microscope equipped with such an operating unit.

The control unit according to the invention is characterized in that it has a microcontroller and a memory area in which a bootstrap loader software or a custom boot loader is stored.

According to the invention, using the provided bootstrap loader software, installation software can be downloaded to the microcontroller of the operating unit in a simple manner. This installation software then enables a simple - purely software-based - update of the software or firmware of the microcontroller of the operating unit, whereby in particular an assignment or definition of the operating elements, in particular the operating wheels or the operating buttons or the operating ball, can be carried out is.

The control unit according to the invention is characterized in particular by the fact that it communicates directly with the other (motorized) functional units of the microscope via a bus system, that is to say in particular without the interposition of signal processing units, so that 2004/038482

Control commands given by the control element can be executed directly in the microcontrollers of the respective functional units. Since the control unit according to the invention can be programmed in a particularly simple manner or its control elements can be set, individual use of the control unit by a number of users is possible in a simple manner.

Advantageous embodiments of the control unit according to the invention are the subject of the dependent claims.

The microscope which can be operated via the operating unit has, for example, a motorized zoom unit, a motorized filter wheel, a motorized iris diaphragm, an motorized shutter, a motorized focus, in particular fine focus, a motorized diaphragm, a motorized transmitted light base, a motorized incident light source, a motorized XY table and / or a motorized fluorescence module. The optional combination of such functional units enables the optimal functionality of the microscope according to the invention, all functional units being easily controllable by means of the operating unit according to the invention.

The control unit according to the invention is expediently formed on the side with at least one manually operable wheel, and on the top with at least one manually operable push button. Such a design of the control unit ensures high ergonomics (one-hand operation), and the entire functionality of the microscope can be brought together in a single control unit. As already mentioned, the control unit is connected directly to the bus via which the functional units of the microscope communicate with one another. Using the combination of rotary wheels and buttons , "", "" 2004/038482

is a free configurability of all functional units and the possibility of multiple ^' storage of configurations, such as personal configurations, in a simple manner. It is conceivable, for example, to accomplish the fine movement of a zoom or a focus using respective first and second rotary wheels, and the coarse movement using push buttons. In this way, continuous movements or constant speeds as well as constantly accelerated movements within the scope of the focusing or the zoom device can be realized in a simple manner. Normalized positions can be approached by a simple push of a button or, for example, can be approached to a desired end position by means of a double push of a button. It is also possible to activate default assignments by pressing certain key combinations when switching on (eg right / left switching). Furthermore, a key combination can be used for storing and for calling up a system state assigned to a specific user from a ring buffer. Such key combinations can also be used in particular to identify individual users.

Closures (shutters) provided within the scope of a microscope can also be operated using a push button. Furthermore, continuous pressure on such a pushbutton "dimmer-like" can be used for controllable light sources (increase or decrease in intensity). A filter turret can be actuated in a simple manner by means of two pushbuttons provided for this purpose.

A current status (focus, zoom, filter, iris position, shutter, etc.) can, for example, be saved with just one button using a ring buffer, whereby expediently up to five possible positions can be stored simultaneously (for example in an EEPROM).

An iris diaphragm of a microscope can also be electronically adjusted by means of a rotary wheel, a third rotary wheel in particular being able to be provided for this function.

A software-assisted adaptation of the focusing speed to a current magnification of the microscope is expediently provided.

It is preferred to provide the rotary wheels with a device for inertia-supporting movement, as a result of which, for example, the focus or the zoom can be actuated with inertia. In the case of correspondingly heavy bikes, this can be achieved by moving them independently when there is a strong push.

It is advantageous if the ratio between the travel speed of the X-Y table and the operating speed of the control element depends on the zoom magnification currently set.

The control unit according to the invention can be designed with a built-in magnetic holder in the base plate for possible rest positions on the microscope itself. This enables a particularly simple positioning or fastening of the operating unit to a microscope.

According to a particularly preferred embodiment of the microscope according to the invention, the operating unit is designed to be illuminated. The control unit is designed, for example, with a luminous element (the power supply of which is implemented, for example, via the bus system can) is particularly useful for dark room applications.

According to a preferred embodiment of the control unit according to the invention, at least one control element is arranged in a control unit base surface in such a way that a displacement of the control unit via a support causes this control element to be actuated.

For example, it is conceivable to use a relative movement in a base plate of the operating unit with respect to a base, for example a laboratory table, to control an XY table of the microscope, this function being carried out by a general switch (proximity sensor) built into the base plate of the operating unit , capacitive switch or the like) or by means of a "mouse-like" ball which is embedded in the base plate of the control unit and which interacts with the control unit when the control unit moves over a base. In this case, it is particularly advantageous to provide, for example, one of the control buttons as a means by means of which a movement of the control unit can be coupled or uncoupled with or from the corresponding movement of the XY table. This simplifies handling of the operating unit according to the invention, since it ensures that the user can set the operating unit in such a way that not every movement of the operating unit over the base leads to a corresponding movement of the XY table of the microscope. This measure can be implemented in particular by simply pressing a button. For this purpose, it can also be expedient to provide a manually operated proximity sensor or proximity switch. According to a further preferred embodiment of the operating unit according to the invention, it has a magnetic holding device, by means of which it can be fixed on a microscope. Such a mounting device, with which a particularly simple attachment to a microscope is realized, has proven to be very advantageous, particularly in everyday laboratory work. The control unit according to the invention is characterized in particular by the fact that all control elements can be actuated manually, ie without removing a hand from the control element. For the first time, an essentially complete operation of all motorized functional units of a microscope is thus realized via an operating unit that can be operated with one hand. Advantageously, the control unit is also designed in the form or type of a computer mouse. Such a shape, which corresponds to the hand of the operator and has curves, has proven to be ergonomically very favorable.

The invention will now be further described with reference to the accompanying drawing.

In this shows

FIG. 1 shows a schematic block diagram of a preferred embodiment of a microscope to which the control unit according to the invention is assigned,

FIG. 2 shows a block diagram of the individual functional units of a microscope according to FIG. 1 that communicate with one another via a bus system, and

Figure 3 shows a preferred embodiment of a control unit according to the invention in plan view, and Figure 4 shows the control unit according to the invention according to Figure 3 in a view from below.

A preferred embodiment of a microscope which can be controlled with the control unit according to the invention is designated overall by 10 in FIG. The microscope 10 has an optics carrier 12, which carries an optical system designated overall by 14.

The microscope 10 has a base 13 which is provided with a motorized x-y table 13a.

The optical system 14 can be moved on a stand 17 by means of a motorized focus device 16.

The optical system 14 has an eyepiece 20, a reflected light illumination, in particular in the form of a fluorescence module 22, with a motorized shutter and a motor-adjustable filter wheel, here specifically for holding at least one fluorescence filter, a motorized zoom 24 and a lens changer 26, which in the the present case carries two optionally usable lenses 28, 30. The lens changer 26 can optionally also be operated by a motor.

Instead of the incident light source of the fluorescence module 22 or in addition to this, a further incident light illumination 32 or a transmitted light base (not shown) can be arranged below the base 13 with a motorized intensity setting.

The components 13, 16, 20, 22, 24, 26, 32 shown represent functional units of the microscope 10. These functional units are connected to one another via a bus system (not shown in detail in FIG. 1) and also to external devices or functional units. 1 shows in particular a manually operable control unit 29 and a computer 33 designed with a universal interface 34 or various interfaces, for example USB1, USB2 or IEEE 1394 or RS 232, as external devices. Both via the control unit 29 and the computer 33 control of the functional units of the microscope 10 can be carried out. A control can also be carried out simultaneously with both units 29, 33.

As already mentioned, the individual functional units of the microscope 10 and the external elements 29, 33 are connected to one another via a bus system. The bus system can be a GAN system, for example. Such a bus system is shown in FIG. 2 and designated 40 overall. Using such a bus system, standardized transmission of information between the individual functional units of the microscope can be implemented in a simple manner. The bus system can be designed as a simple bus system in which various types of information, such as data, control signals or addresses, are successively (serially) transmitted over the same lines. Implementation as a multiple bus system with several individual bus systems, via which only information of the same type is transmitted, is also conceivable.

FIG. 2 shows in particular the motor focus 16, fluorescence module 22 and motor zoom 24 functional units already shown in FIG. 1. The control unit 29, which, as described in FIG. already mentioned, is also connected to the bus system.

Examples of other components which can be connected to the bus system 40 include a functional unit for adjusting the diaphragm and a handwheel. A functional unit "display" for displaying system-specific information can also not be shown in FIG In order to illustrate the possibility of arbitrarily equipping a microscope with such functional units, two further functional units are shown in FIG. 2, each of which is provided with reference number 21.

The control element 29 communicating directly with the bus system enables particularly simple and effective control of all the functional units with one hand. In contrast to conventional solutions, multiple controls are not necessary. This effectively reduces the number of microscope components compared to conventional solutions.

In Figure 2, the structure of the individual functional units is also shown schematically. A denotes a microcontroller, and b denotes a memory device b assigned to microcontroller a. The respective functional units also have an actuator, which is shown purely schematically as the frame surrounding the microcontroller and the memory device and is designated by c. It is also possible to connect the functional units to other applications, not shown, via further bus systems. This is illustrated in FIG. 2 by way of example using the double arrows 41-44, this being, for example, a universal serial bus (USB) or an IEEE bus (“Firewire”), in particular especially using an RS232 interface.

The structure shown is explained in detail using the example of motor focus 16. The motor focus 16 has a microcontroller 16a and a memory device 16b. The storage device 16b is divided into a first area 16b 'in which a bootstrap software and possibly an operating system is stored. A second area 16b ″ contains control software for the motor focus in a current version. Finally, the third area 16b '' 'contains calibration data which are necessary or expedient for the operation of the motor focus within the scope of the microscope according to the invention.

The other functional units shown have a similar structure, so that a detailed description of the respective microcontrollers or memory devices is dispensed with here. The microcontroller 29a, the memory device 29b including the memory areas 29b ', b'',b'' ¹ and the actuator 29c are each explicitly designated for the operating unit 29.

According to the invention, it is particularly simple to download an update of the control software of the functional units into the respective memory areas b ″. This is again explained using the motor focus 16.

The bootstrap loader software contained in the memory area 16b 'represents a relatively small program, by means of which more extensive software applications can be loaded into their respective memory areas, in the present case the control software area 16b''. For this it is only necessary to run the bootstrap loader program using a corresponding input command, for example can be fed into the system via the computer 33 to activate. Subsequently, an updated version of the control software for the motor focus 16, for example also loaded onto the computer 33, can be downloaded into the area 16b ″ of the memory device 16b.

In contrast to conventional solutions, opening a function control unit for software updates is no longer necessary.

An installation software used in connection with the bootstrap loader software described is able to automatically recognize a respective motorized functional unit of the microscope. By means of the customized boot loader used according to the invention and via any bus, the corresponding application software or a required or desired update can be carried out, which can be done automatically or interactively.

The areas b 'and b' '' are preferably designed as protected storage areas.

A preferred embodiment of the control unit 29 according to the invention is shown in FIG. 3. The control unit 29 is designed here in the form of a computer mouse.

Two control wheels 50, 51 and a number of control buttons or buttons 52a to 52h can be seen. Although these control wheels or buttons can be assigned functions in any way, reference is made below to a preferred assignment option. The control wheels 50, 51, 52 are easily accessible from above for a user in the lateral sections of the control element 29 formed. It is preferred that the control wheel 50 is used for fine adjustment of the motor focus 16. A possibly appropriate rough setting can be carried out by actuating at least one of the keys 52a to 52h. The control wheel 51 is expediently used to adjust the motor zoom 24, with a fine adjustment and a corresponding key actuation of at least one of the keys 52a to 52h advantageously also being carried out here by means of the control wheel 51.

Finally, a third control wheel 54 can be seen in FIG. 3, which is arranged in the rear area of the control unit. This control wheel 54 is preferably used for the incremental control of an iris diaphragm.

Certain microscope positions can be stored using at least one key, for example key 52a. This button can also be used to implement a toggle function for switching between certain stored positions.

The control unit 29 can be connected to the bus 40 via a line 60 (see also FIG. 1) or wirelessly.

It should be pointed out that all functional units, which were explained with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, can expediently be controlled by correspondingly pressing the keys 52a to 52h.

The integration of control wheels or rotary wheels 50, 51, the control wheel or knurled ring 54 and the buttons 52a to 52h in only one control unit and their special arrangement allows all functions to be controlled with one hand without the operator having to remove his hand from the control unit. must decrease. The simple software update enables the operating elements to be assigned individually, depending on the equipment of the device, in particular in accordance with the existing functional units or components of the microscope or the wishes of the user, it being possible in particular to take into account whether right-handed or left-handed operation is desired.

Finally, reference is made to FIG. 4, in which a view of the operating unit according to FIG. 3 is shown from below. The control wheels 50, 51 and 54 already shown with reference to FIG. 3 can be seen. In the base plate 62 of the control unit 29 there is a recess 61 in which a control ball 63 is arranged. The control ball 63 protrudes with respect to the base plate 62 in such a way that when the base plate moves over a base (“mouse-like”), it can perform a rotary movement via which a functional unit of the microscope, in particular an XY table, can be actuated. The combination of such an operating element provided on the underside of the operating unit with the large number of operating elements on the upper side of the operating unit, which have been described in detail with reference to FIG. 3, enables complete operation of all essential motorized functional units of a microscope. In FIG. 4, magnets 64 can also be seen, which are embedded in the base plate 62 and represent a magnetic mounting of the operating unit for mounting on a microscope. LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

10 microscope

12 optics carrier 14 optical system

13 base

13a motorized x-y table

16 motorized focus device, motor focus

a designates a microcontroller b designates a memory device c designates an actuator

16a microcontroller 16b memory device

16b 'first area of the memory device 16b' 'second area, control software area of the memory device 16b' '' third area of the memory device

17 tripod

20 eyepiece

21 additional functional units

22 fluorescent module 24 motorized zoom

26 lens changer

28 lens

29 manually operable control unit

29a microcontroller of the control unit

29b memory device of the control unit 29b ', b'',b' ¹ 'memory areas 29c actuator of the control unit

30 lens Reflected light computer universal interface bus system -44 double arrows

, 51 control wheels a-52h control buttons, buttons, third control wheel, knurled ring, cable, recess in the base plate, control unit base, control ball, element, magnets

Claims

claims

1. Manually operable operating unit for a microscope, with at least one operating element, in particular an operating wheel (50, 51, 54), an operating button (52a to 52h) ι - and / or an operating ball (63), via which a microcontroller of the operating unit with Control commands for controlling or controlling a number of microscope function units can be acted on, characterized in that a memory device assigned to the microcontroller has a first memory area which is equipped with a custom boot loader, using which software, in particular a function of the at least one Software defining control elements, can be loaded into a further memory area of the memory unit.

2. Control unit according to claim 1, characterized in that it communicates with the microscope function units via a BUS system (40), in particular a CAN-BUS system.

3. Control unit according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that it is designed to be illuminated.

4. Control unit according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by a ring buffer device, by means of which a number of individual user settings of the functions assigned to the functional units can be stored.

5. Control unit according to one of the preceding claims or the preamble of claim 1, characterized in that at least one control element (63) is arranged in a control unit bottom surface (62) such that a displacement of the control unit via a

Document causes an actuation of the at least one control element (63).

6. Control unit according to claim 5, characterized in that the control element 60 formed in the control unit bottom surface is a control ball which communicates with an XY table of the microscope in such a way that a movement of the control unit via a base corresponds to a corresponding movement of the XY table of the microscope, means (52a to 52h) being provided, by means of which a movement of the operating unit can be coupled or uncoupled either with or from the corresponding movement of the XY table.

7. Operating unit according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by a magnetic mounting device (64) by means of which it can be fixed on a microscope.

8. Control unit according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that all control elements can be actuated manually without removing a hand from the control element.

9. Control unit according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is designed like a computer mouse.

10. Microscope, characterized by an operating unit according to one of the preceding claims.