Motion-blur-free microscopic video shooting based on frame-by-frame intermittent tracking

We develop a motion-blur-free microscope for shooting non-blurred videos of moving objects by implementing a frame-by-frame intermittent tracking method with a microscopic high-speed tracking system that controls the position of the objective lens using high-frame-rate video processing. With our tracking method, the control target alternates at several hundred hertz, according to the camera´s shutter state. The apparent speed of the target object in the captured images is maintained at zero to suppress motion blur when the shutter is open, and the camera´s position returns to its home position when the shutter is closed. Our motion-blur-free microscope can shoot non-blurred 512×512 images at 125 fps with frame-by-frame intermittent tracking for objects moving unidirectionally. Compared with the degradation in video that was recorded without tracking, our method reduces image degradation from motion blur 1/40 times or less without decreasing the exposure time when a 10× objective lens is attached. Its performance is verified by showing the experimental results from several moving scenes in microscopic view.