Patent US5892218A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5892218A
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Cytological system autofocus integrity checking apparatus
Assignee: TriPath Imaging Inc
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Filing: 1997-03-20
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Granted: 1999-04-06
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Expires: 2017-03-20
Abstract
Abstract An automated method for checking cytological system autofocus integrity. The automated method includes the steps of checking focus illumination integrity, checking focus camera Modulation Transfer Function, checking focus camera position integrity, and checking closed loop accuracy. Checking focus illumination integrity includes checking focus illumination system integrity, and checking a focus noise floor level. Checking focus camera position integrity includes checking focus camera longitudinal separation, and checking focus camera lateral separation. Checking focus camera position integrity includes checking focus filter frequency response.
Inventors
- 👤 William E. Ortyn
- 👤 Jon W. Hayenga
- 👤 Louis R. Piloco
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 07:45
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N7/00; H04N7/18; H04N7/183; G; G02; G02B; G02B21/00; G02B21/24; G02B21/241; G02B21/244; G02B7/00; G02B7/28; G02B7/36; H04N7/181; H04N7/188
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
118 words
A method for testing a focus noise floor in a system including a focus camera, further including a focus camera filter, the method comprising the steps of: (a) positioning an objective over a nominal clear area of a calibration plate; (b) acquiring an image of a uniformly illuminated clear field of the nominal clear area of the calibration plate; (c) acquiring noise scores for each video line of the focus camera filter; (d) processing the noise scores from the focus camera filter to determine a maximum noise score value for the focus camera filter as a focus noise floor for the focus camera; and (e) comparing the focus noise floor for the focus camera to a predetermined limit.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
118 words
A method for testing a focus noise floor in a system including a focus camera, further including a focus camera filter, the method comprising the steps of: (a) positioning an objective over a nominal clear area of a calibration plate; (b) acquiring an image of a uniformly illuminated clear field of the nominal clear area of the calibration plate; (c) acquiring noise scores for each video line of the focus camera filter; (d) processing the noise scores from the focus camera filter to determine a maximum noise score value for the focus camera filter as a focus noise floor for the focus camera; and (e) comparing the focus noise floor for the focus camera to a predetermined limit.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of: (a) checking a mean illumination level for the focus camera against limits; and (b) checking a coefficient of variation of illumination for the focus camera against limits.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the focus camera filter further comprises an electronic filter.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the focus camera comprises a plus focus camera.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 4 wherein the focus camera filter further comprises a plus focus camera filter.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 5 further comprising the step of acquiring a plurality of focus noise floor levels for a focus plus response.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the focus camera comprises a minus focus camera.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 7 wherein the focus camera filter further comprises a minus focus camera filter.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 8 further comprising the step of acquiring a plurality of focus noise floor levels for a focus minus response.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of optimizing the image for focus processing.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 10 wherein the step of optimizing the image for focus processing further comprises the step of filtering out objects that do not have a characteristic frequency content of cellular nuclei.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
167 words
A method for testing a focus noise floor level in a system including a plus focus camera and a minus focus camera, further including a plus focus camera filter and a minus focus camera filter, the method comprising the steps of: (a) positioning an objective over a nominal clear area of a calibration plate; (b) checking a mean illumination level for the plus focus camera and the minus focus camera against limits; (c) checking a coefficient of variation of illumination for the plus focus camera and the minus focus camera against limits; (d) acquiring an image; (e) acquiring noise scores for each video line of the plus focus camera filter and the minus focus camera filter; (f) processing the noise scores from the plus focus camera filter and the minus focus camera filter to determine a maximum noise score value for each focus camera filter as a focus noise floor for each camera; and (g) comparing the focus noise floor for each camera to a predetermined limit.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
167 words
A method for testing a focus noise floor level in a system including a plus focus camera and a minus focus camera, further including a plus focus camera filter and a minus focus camera filter, the method comprising the steps of: (a) positioning an objective over a nominal clear area of a calibration plate; (b) checking a mean illumination level for the plus focus camera and the minus focus camera against limits; (c) checking a coefficient of variation of illumination for the plus focus camera and the minus focus camera against limits; (d) acquiring an image; (e) acquiring noise scores for each video line of the plus focus camera filter and the minus focus camera filter; (f) processing the noise scores from the plus focus camera filter and the minus focus camera filter to determine a maximum noise score value for each focus camera filter as a focus noise floor for each camera; and (g) comparing the focus noise floor for each camera to a predetermined limit.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 12 wherein the plus focus camera filter further comprises an electronic filter.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 12 wherein the minus focus camera filter further comprises an electronic filter.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 12 further comprising the step of optimizing the image for focus processing.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 15 wherein the step of optimizing the image for focus processing further comprises the step of filtering out objects that do not have a characteristic frequency content of cellular nuclei.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 12 further comprising the step of acquiring a plurality of focus noise floor levels for a focus plus response.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 12 further comprising the step of acquiring a plurality of focus noise floor levels for a focus minus response.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-04-05 | 2002-10-05 | 2003-04-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-04-05 | 2006-10-05 | 2007-04-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-04-05 | 2010-10-05 | 2011-04-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |