What is claimed is:
1. An auto focus method for a microscope, the microscope being configured such that a relative motion in the Z direction can be achieved between a microscope stage and an objective located in a working position, characterized by the following steps:
a) acquiring an image with a camera during continuous execution of the relative motion in the Z direction between the microscope stage and the objective;
b) determining the Z position, reached by way of the relative motion, at which the image was read out from the camera;
c) calculating a contrast value for the read-out image;
d) storing the Z position reached by way of the relative motion, and the associated contrast value;
e) performing steps a) through d) until a defined final position has been reached by way of the relative motion in the Z direction;
f) ascertaining a continuous contrast value function from the various Z positions, and the contrast value belonging to the respective Z position;
g) calculating, from the continuous contrast value function, a maximum contrast value and the associated Z position; and
h) arriving at the Z position that is associated with the maximum contrast value.
2. The auto focus method as defined in claim 1, wherein the relative motion between the microscope stage and the objective located in the working position is generated by a movement in the Z direction of the microscope stage.
3. The auto focus method as defined in claim 1, wherein the relative motion between the microscope stage and the objective located in the working position is generated by a movement in the Z direction of the objective located in the working position.
4. The auto focus method as defined in claim 1, wherein prior to the continuous movement of the microscope stage in the Z direction and the acquisition of multiple images with the camera, a starting position is arrived at with the microscope stage.
5. The auto focus method as defined in claim 4, wherein during the continuous relative motion between the microscope stage and the objective, and after completion of each image infeed, a trigger signal is generated by a computer and initiates, at a microscope control device, an immediate determination of the instantaneous position of the Z drive generating the relative motion.
6. The auto focus method as defined in claim 1, wherein prior to the continuous movement of the microscope stage, a starting position z1 is arrived at, the starting position z1 being calculated from an instantaneous position z0 of the microscope stage in accordance with the equation z1z0r2, r designating a search region on either side of the instantaneous position z0.
7. The auto focus method as defined in claim 3, wherein prior to the continuous movement of the objective, a starting position z1 is arrived at, the starting position z1being calculated from an instantaneous position z0 of the objective in accordance with the equation z1z0r2, r designating a search region on either side of the instantaneous position z0.
8. A system for adjusting the focus for a microscope comprising: an objective arranged in a working position, a microscope stage, means for generating a relative motion in the Z direction between the objective and the microscope stage; a camera that is connected to the microscope in order to acquire images of a specimen; a microscope control device; a computer that is connected via at least one connection to the microscope control device, means for generating a trigger signal in the computer, wherein the trigger signal indicates a completion of each image infeed by the camera and an instantaneous Z position of the continuous relative motion.
9. The system as defined in claim 8, wherein the relative motion between the objective and the microscope stage is achievable exclusively by way of a motion of the microscope stage in the Z direction; and the microscope stage is equipped with a corresponding Z drive that is controllable via the microscope control device.
10. The system as defined in claim 8, wherein the relative motion between the objective and the microscope stage is achievable exclusively by way of a motion of the objective in the Z direction; and the objective is equipped with a corresponding Z drive that is controllable via the microscope control device.
11. The system as defined in claim 9, wherein the computer and the microscope control device are connected to one another via a first serial cable and a second serial cable; and the computer and the microscope control device (4) communicate via the first serial cable; and the computer transfers the trigger signals to the microscope control device via the second serial cable.
12. The system as defined in claim 11, wherein the trigger signal manifests itself as a signal edge change on a handshake line of the second serial cable.
13. The system as defined in one claims 9, wherein the instantaneous Z position reached by way of the relative motion can be recorded by the microscope control device on a modem status input of a UART serial interface IC.
14. The system as defined in claim 13, wherein the UART initiates an external interrupt in a microcontroller in the microscope control device, the microcontroller being responsible for control of the Z drive.
15. The system as defined in claim 14, wherein the instantaneous position of the Z drive can be stored in a data field that is implemented in a memory unit provided in the microscope control device.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A method for non-invasive treatment of skin tissue of human or animal targets, the method comprising the steps of:
providing at least one light source to produce light radiation in one or more wavelengths, wherein the light radiation is non-invasively applied or directed to the skin tissue to be absorbed thereof for sterilization, bio-stimulation, andor photo-rejuvenation; and
providing a high frequency ultrasonic imaging module, operatively coupled to the light source, to provide a high-resolution ultrasonic image revealing inner structural information of the skin tissue, wherein the inner structural information of the skin tissue is utilized to control and optimize a plurality of parameters of the light source and to evaluate the effectiveness of the phototherapy procedure;
wherein the ultrasonic frequency of the high frequency ultrasonic imaging module ranges from about 20 MHz to about 100 MHz.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of parameters of the light source comprise light intensity, wavelength, spot size, duration time, repetition rate, and duty cycle.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein the inner structural information of the skin tissue comprises skin thickness, average skin density, and location of any pockets with skin damage.