AUTOFOCUS SYSTEM AND AUTOFOCUS METHOD FOR FOCUSING ON A SURFACE

摘要

An autofocus system includes an imaging device, a lens system and a focus control actuator that is configured to change a focus position of the imaging device in relation to a stage. The electronic control unit is configured to control the focus control actuator to a plurality of predetermined focus positions, and activate the imaging device to obtain an image at predetermined positions and then apply a spatial filter to the obtained images. This generates a filtered image for the obtained images. The control unit determines a focus score for the filtered images such that the focus score corresponds to a degree of focus in the obtained images. The control unit identifies a best focus position by comparing the focus score of the filtered images, and controls the focus control actuator to the best focus position corresponding to the highest focus score.

主权项

1. A microscope autofocus system comprising:
a microscope including
a stage configured to support a sample;a stage actuator configured to selectively move a stage along at least one axis;an imaging device configured to generate image data representing the sample; and
an objective lens between the stage and the imaging device, the objective lens configured to direct an optical image of the sample to the imaging device; and an electronic control unit including a processor, the electronic control unit being configured to: generate a stage actuator control signal to move the stage to a plurality of predetermined positions along a stage range of motion; obtain image data sets representing an image of the sample from the imaging device, the image data sets associated with the predetermined stage positions; apply a spatial filter to of the image data sets corresponding to the predetermined positions thereby generating a filtered image for each of the obtained images; determine a focus score for each of the filtered images, the focus score of the filtered images corresponding to a degree of focus in the obtained images; identify a best focus position selected from the stage range of motion by comparing the focus score of each of the filtered images; and control the stage actuator to move the stage to the best focus position.