Digital microscope

A digital microscope is a variation of a traditional optical microscope that uses optics and a digital camera to output an image to a monitor, sometimes by means of software running on a computer. A digital microscope often has its own in-built LED light source, and differs from an optical microscope in that there is no provision to observe the sample directly through an eyepiece. Since the image is focused on the digital circuit, the entire system is designed for the monitor image. The optics for the human eye are omitted. Digital microscopes range from, usually inexpensive, USB digital microscopes to advanced industrial digital microscopes costing tens of thousands of dollars. The low price commercial microscopes normally omit the optics for illumination (for example Köhler illumination and phase contrast illumination) and are more akin to webcams with a macro lens. An optical microscope can also be fitted with a digital camera. An early digital microscope was made by a company in Tokyo, Japan in 1986, which is now known as Hirox Co. LTD. It included a control box and a lens connected to a computer. The original connection to the computer was analog through an S-video connection. Over time that connection was changed to FireWire 800 to handle a large amount of digital information coming from the digital camera. Around 2005 they introduced advanced all-in-one units that did not require a computer, but had the monitor and computer built-in. Then in late 2015 they released a system that once again had the computer separate, but connected to the computer by USB 3.0, taking advantage of the speed and longevity of the USB connection. This system also was much more compacted than previous models with a reduction in the number of cables and physical size of the unit itself. The invention of the USB port resulted in a multitude of USB microscopes ranging in quality and magnification. They continue to fall in price, especially compared with traditional optical microscopes.