Patent · US Active

Imaging a sample in a sample holder

US11442260B2 · kind B2 · utility

0Cited by

13References

14Claims

0Family size

Assignee

TECAN TRADING AG · CH

Inventors

Andreas Erlbacher · Abtenau, AT
Markus Schurf · Bergen, DE
Josef Grassl · Lebach, DE
Alexander KASER · Puch bei Hallein, AT

Key dates

Filing date	Jul 23, 2018
Grant date	Sep 13, 2022
Priority date	—
Expiry date	Aug 23, 2040

Classification

Technology area (CPC G)Physics
CPC primaryG02B21/365
WIPO fieldOptics
WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A system 100 and method are provided for imaging a sample in a sample holder. For providing autofocus, a 2D pattern is projected onto the sample holder 050 via an astigmatic optical element 120. Image data 172 of the sample is acquired by an image sensor 140 via magnification optics 150. A difference in sharpness of the two-dimensional pattern in the image data is measured along a first axis and a second axis. Based on the difference, a magnitude and direction of defocus of the camera subsystem is determined with respect to the sample holder. This enables the sample holder, and thereby the sample, to be brought into focus in a fast and reliable manner.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.