Automontage Microscope

In general, the extreme magnification and wide lens apertures used in microscopy result in images with only a thin slice of the sample in focus.  The Automontage microscope is able to create images with a much greater depth of field than would normally be possible.

Instead of focusing the microscope directly, the user turns a knob that is connected to a computer, and the computer controls a motor that moves the optics up and down.  With software, the user sets the front and back focus points.  The program then automatically moves the microscope through the range of focus in equal steps.  Usually 10 to 30 slices are captured for a single sample.  The software then analyzes each image to find its most detailed areas, and merges all the slices together to create a single image with the entire sample in focus.

The Automontage is a dissecting scope, meaning that each eye follows a different optical path to the sample, resulting in true stereo field of view with depth perception.  This can be seen through the eyepieces, but the camera only captures a monocular view.