JP2000075216A - Optical observation apparatus having manual variable power mechanism - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain an optical observation apparatus having a manual variable power mechanism which is capable of transmitting the magnification information currently under use by the image signal outputted from a CCD camera and does not require an electrical magnification detecting means and electric wiring. SOLUTION: This observation apparatus is constituted by providing the image plane of an objective lens 1 with a superposing means for superposing magnification information and connecting the images superposed with the magnification information by a relay variable power lens system and introducing the superposed images to an observation means. Further, the manual variable power mechanism 100 and the magnification information superposing means 2 are interlocked. The magnification information superposing means 2 is capable of superposing the information varying with each of the magnification to be used on the observed images. The magnification currently under use and the magnification information thereof correspond one to one by interlocking the manual variable power mechanism 100 and the magnification information superposing means 2. Then, the transmission of the magnification information currently under use may be transmitted by the image signal of the observed images and the optical observation apparatus having the manual variable power mechanism which is simple in the constitution and is inexpensive may be provided without requiring the electrical magnification detecting means and the electrical wiring.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an optical observation apparatus such as a measuring microscope, and more particularly, to an optical apparatus having an objective lens and a variable power lens for changing an observation magnification by a manual variable power mechanism, and capable of optically recognizing magnification. Related to an objective observation device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 6 is a block diagram of an optical system of a conventional optical observation device. The conventional optical system includes an objective lens 11, a zoom mechanism 200, a CCD camera 16, and the like. The zoom mechanism 200 includes a turret mechanism 12, a first zoom lens 13a, a second zoom lens 13b, and the like. You. The turret mechanism 12 is rotatable about an axis 20,
A light-shielding plate 14 is attached to the outer peripheral portion. Further, outside the outer peripheral portion of the turret mechanism 12, photo interrupters 15a and 15b are provided.

When the first variable power lens 13a is inserted into the optical path 17, the photo interrupter 15a
4 is located at a position where
b is disposed at a position where the light shielding plate 14 enters when the second variable power lens 13b is inserted into the optical path 17.

Therefore, in the conventional zoom mechanism 200, when the photo interrupter 15a is shielded from light, the first
It can be electrically recognized that the magnification becomes the magnification by the variable power lens 13a, and that the magnification becomes the second magnification lens 13b when the photo interrupter 15b is shielded from light.

An optical observation device provided with such a magnification changing mechanism 200 is used when an image signal output from the CCD camera 16 is input to an image processing device (not shown) and an image of the observation object 19 is measured. You. In this case, if the detection signals of the photo interrupters 15a and 15b are input to the image processing device, the magnification currently used can be recognized, and various corrections such as magnification correction can be automatically performed. Note that magnification correction refers to a process of improving the measurement accuracy by multiplying a dimension measured by the image processing apparatus by a correction coefficient when the magnification of the first variable power lens 13a or the like is not the specified magnification.

[0006]

However, according to the prior art as described above, in order to recognize the magnification currently in use and to automatically perform magnification correction and the like, the optical interrupter 15a is provided to the optical observation device. , 15b, etc., and photointerrupters 15a, 15b
It is necessary to provide a set of electrical wiring for connecting the image processing apparatus and the image processing apparatus, and an electrical magnification reading means, and to be able to select them.

In many cases, the image processing apparatus is provided as a dedicated board and is built in a personal computer. Therefore, the personal computer is provided with a magnification reading I / O port separately from an image signal I / O port output from the CCD camera 16. It is necessary to take measures such as incorporating a / O port or a device equivalent thereto, or connecting a separately prepared magnification reading device to a personal computer via a communication line or the like.

[0008] These means do not cause any problem if they are an electric power varying mechanism. That is, an optical observation apparatus having an electric zoom mechanism requires a relatively large-scale mechanism such as a zoom motor and a motor drive circuit, and also requires a zoom command I / O port and the like. Even if the number of I / O ports for magnification reading increases by one channel, it does not become a large burden. However, in an optical observation apparatus having a manual zooming mechanism, which must be provided at a low cost, there is a problem that these additional mechanisms impose a heavy burden on cost.

The present invention has been made in view of such a problem, and can transmit information of a magnification currently in use by an image signal output from the CCD camera 16, and requires an electric magnification detecting means and electric wiring. It is an object of the present invention to provide an optical observation device provided with a manual zooming mechanism that does not require the zooming.

[0010]

The object of the present invention is to provide a superimposing means for superimposing magnification information in a visual field, to guide an image on which the magnification information is superimposed to an imaging means, and to change the magnification of a manual magnification mechanism. This is achieved by changing the magnification information accordingly. According to the present invention, the magnification information superimposing means superimposes magnification information different for each use magnification in the field of view, and includes the magnification information in the captured image, so that the magnification signal currently used is determined by the image signal of the observation image. It is possible to provide an optical observation apparatus which can transmit information, does not require an electric magnification detecting means and electric wiring, has a simple configuration, and has an inexpensive manual zooming mechanism.

An object of the present invention is to provide an optical observation apparatus which forms an image of an observation object with an objective lens, changes the magnification by a manual magnification mechanism having a magnification lens, converts the image into an image signal by an image pickup means, and displays the image signal. In the above, the manual zooming mechanism is achieved by providing an optical observation apparatus characterized by having a magnification information superimposing mechanism for displaying the magnification information in the field of view of the imaging means.

According to the present invention, the manual zooming mechanism has a magnification information superimposing mechanism for displaying the magnification information in the field of view of the imaging means. Therefore, the magnification used is identified by image processing of the captured image. be able to. Therefore, it is possible to provide an optical observation apparatus having a simple and inexpensive manual zooming mechanism, which does not require an electrical magnification detecting means and electrical wiring.

In the optical observation apparatus of the present invention,
The manual scaling mechanism changes the magnification in multiple stages, and the magnification information superimposing mechanism switches the transparent plate in conjunction with the scaling operation.

According to the present invention, since the transparent plate is switched in synchronization with the scaling operation of the manual scaling mechanism to transmit magnification information, the operation for causing the image processing apparatus to recognize the magnification switching after switching the magnification is performed. No need to do. For this reason, the operation of recognizing the magnification switching is not forgotten, and there is no possibility that an error occurs in the measurement result, and the reliability of the measurement can be improved.

Further, in the optical observation apparatus of the present invention,
The manual zooming mechanism has a zoom mechanism to perform zooming in a stepless manner, and the magnification information superimposing mechanism includes a first transparent plate on which a first pattern is drawn at a position on the image plane of the objective lens. , Second
And a second transparent plate on which the first pattern and the second pattern are drawn, and the first and second transparent plates are interlocked with the zooming operation of the zoom mechanism.
The overlapping degree of the first and second patterns is changed according to the magnification.

According to the present invention, even in an optical observation apparatus having a zoom mechanism, the magnification used by image processing of a picked-up image can be identified. Instead, it is possible to provide an optical observation apparatus having a simple and inexpensive manual zooming mechanism.

[0017]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. However, such an embodiment does not limit the technical scope of the present invention.

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an optical system of an optical observation device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The optical system according to the present embodiment includes an objective lens 1, a manual zooming mechanism 100, a CCD camera 6 serving as an imaging unit, and the like.
Numeral 0 is composed of a magnification information superimposing mechanism 2, a reversing type 2 variable magnification mechanism 3, a manual dial 8, and the like.

An image of the observation object 9 is generated on the image plane of the objective lens 1, and the magnification information superposition mechanism 2 is placed on the image plane position of the objective lens 1.
Is provided. The magnification information superimposing mechanism 2 includes a reticle 2A that is a transparent plate on which marks, numerals, and the like serving as magnification information are drawn.
2B, magnification information is added to the observation image captured by the CCD camera 6.

The reversing type variable power mechanism 3 is a relay lens (hereinafter, referred to as a lens) combining lenses 3a and 3b having different focal lengths.
Relay lens 3a, 3b), and the image plane position and CC of the objective lens 1 in which the magnification information superimposing mechanism 2 is provided.
It is arranged so that the position where the D camera 6 is placed is conjugate.

The lens 3a of the reversing type 2 variable power mechanism 3,
A center axis 3c is attached to the center of the lens 3a, 3b of the lens barrel (not shown) that houses the relay lens 3b.
a and 3b can be reversed around the central axis 3c. Therefore, assuming that the magnification of the arrangement of the relay lenses 3a and 3b shown in FIG. 1 is M, a two-stage zoom mechanism in which the magnification when the relay lenses 3a and 3b are inverted is 1 / M can be configured.

A pulley 4a and a manual dial 8 are coaxially provided on the center shaft 3c. By rotating the manual dial 8, the reversing two-magnification mechanism 3 can be reversed. Further, a belt 5 is hung on the pulleys 4a, 4b, 4c. The above-mentioned reticles 2A and 2B are connected to the belt 5, and when the magnification is switched by rotating the manual dial 8, the reticles 2A and 2B at the image plane position of the objective lens 1 are simultaneously displayed.
B moves horizontally and switches, and the magnification information superimposed on the observation image also switches.

The CCD camera 6 converts the image of the observation object 9, on which the magnification information is superimposed by the magnification information superimposing mechanism 2, and is scaled by the reversing type two-magnification mechanism 3, into an image signal. Output. Therefore, since the image signal output from the CCD camera 6 includes the magnification information currently in use together with the image signal of the observation object 9, the image processing device identifies the magnification information such as the above-mentioned marks and numerals. Magnification recognition can be performed.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, CC
Since the magnification information currently in use can be transmitted by the image signal output from the D camera 6, an optical magnification having a simple and inexpensive manual magnification changing mechanism without the need for an electric magnification detecting means and electric wiring is required. An observation device can be provided.

Further, according to the present embodiment, since the image processing apparatus can directly recognize the magnification by the image processing, an operation for causing the image processing apparatus to recognize the magnification switching after switching the magnification, for example, pressing a magnification switch There is no need to perform such a troublesome operation as twice. For this reason, it is possible to improve the reliability of the measurement, without forgetting the operation of recognizing the magnification switching and without causing a measurement error due to the measurement based on the incorrect magnification information.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of the magnification information superimposing mechanism 2 in the optical observation apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2A, a field frame 2a is provided on a low-magnification reticle 2A, and a part of the field frame 2a is painted black to form a magnification information writing area 30a. A white circle mark 31a representing a low magnification is provided in a part of 30a. Further, as shown in FIG. 2B, a field frame 2b is provided on the reticle 2B for high magnification, and a white triangular mark 31b indicating high magnification is provided in a part of the magnification information writing area 30b painted black.

Here, magnification information writing areas 30 provided on the reticles 2A and 2B as well as the field frames 2a and 2b.
a, 30b, white circle mark 31a, white triangle mark 31b
Is different from the above-mentioned reversing type 2 variable magnification mechanism 3
This is because the range of the field of view imaged by the CCD camera 6 differs depending on the difference in magnification. In other words, the sizes of the field frames 2a, 2b, etc. are in inverse proportion to the ratio of the magnification.

As described above, since the sizes of the field frames 2a, 2b and the like differ in inverse proportion to the ratio of the magnification corresponding to the low magnification and the high magnification, as shown in FIG.
Frame 33 and magnification information writing area 3 displayed on
No. 4 has the same size regardless of the difference in magnification. For this reason, the image processing apparatus can easily identify the white circle mark 35 in the magnification information writing area 34 and recognize the magnification. The image processing apparatus detects the edge 36 of the observation object 9 in the caliper 37 on the monitor screen 32,
The position is detected.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of an optical system of an optical observation apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention. The second embodiment is an example of a four-stage variable-magnification system, and the description of the same parts as in the first embodiment, which is a two-stage variable-magnification system, is omitted, and different parts will be described.

The reversing type 4 variable power mechanism 40 combines lenses 3a, 3b, 3d, and 3e having different focal lengths, and forms a relay lens (relay lens 3) composed of the lenses 3a and 3b.
a, 3b) and the optical axis of a relay lens composed of lenses 3d, 3e (relay lenses 3d, 3e) are orthogonal to each other. Then, similarly to the first embodiment, the image plane position of the objective lens 1 provided with the magnification information superimposing mechanism 41 and the position where the CCD camera 6 is placed are conjugated.

A center axis 3f is attached to the reversing type four-magnification mechanism 40 at the intersection of the optical axes of the two sets of relay lenses.
It can be rotated by 0 degrees. For this reason, if the magnification of the arrangement of the relay lenses 3a and 3b shown in FIG. 3 is M and the magnification of the arrangement of the relay lenses 3d and 3e is N, the reversing four-magnification mechanism 40 is rotated and arranged by 90 degrees. , And a four-stage magnification changing mechanism having magnifications of M, 1 / M, N, and 1 / N.

A pulley 4a and a manual dial 8 are coaxially provided on the center shaft 3f. By rotating the manual dial 8, the reversing type four-magnification mechanism 40 can be rotated. The belt 5 has a magnification M, 1 / M, N, 1 /
N types of reticles 2A, 2B, 2C, 2D
When the magnification is switched by rotating the manual dial 8, the reticle 2A, 2B, 2C, 2
D moves horizontally and switches, and the magnification information superimposed on the observation image also switches.

The CCD camera 6 includes a magnification information superimposing mechanism 41.
The magnification information is superimposed on the image, and the image of the observation object 9 scaled by the reversing type 4 zoom mechanism 40 is converted into an image signal, which is output to an image processing device (not shown). Therefore, the CCD camera 6
Since the image signal output from the camera includes the magnification signal currently in use together with the image signal of the observation object 9, no electric magnification detection means and electric wiring are required, and the above-described mark is used by the image processing apparatus. Magnification information such as numbers and numbers can be identified to perform magnification recognition.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, CC
Since four types of magnification information can be transmitted by the image signal output from the D camera 6, the configuration is simplified and inexpensive, and a manual magnification mechanism that does not require an additional operation for recognizing the magnification. Can be provided.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of an optical system of an optical observation apparatus according to a third embodiment of the present invention. The third embodiment is an example of a stepless zooming system using a zoom mechanism 50, and the description of the same parts as those of the first or second embodiment, which is a multistage zooming system, is omitted, and different portions are described. Will be described.

The zoom mechanism 50 has a zoom optical system in which a fixed lens 53 and lenses 52 and 53 moving along the optical axis are combined. The zoom mechanism 50 is provided with threaded shafts 54 and 55 parallel to the optical axis.
The nuts 56, 57 to which 2 is attached are screwed into the screws of the shafts 54, 55. By rotating the shafts 54 and 55 via a belt 68 and pulleys 69a, 69b, 69c and 69d by a manual operation mechanism (not shown), the lens 5 is rotated.
1 and 52 are moved. Thus, the image of the observation object 9 captured by the CCD camera 6 can be scaled steplessly.

The magnification information superimposing mechanism 60 is provided at the image plane position of the objective lens 1. The magnification information superimposing mechanism 60 is configured by superposing stepless variable magnification reticles 61 and 62. The stepless variable magnification reticles 61 and 62 include connecting members 70a and 70
b attached to the belt 68 via the zoom mechanism 50
A in the plane perpendicular to the optical axis in conjunction with the zooming operation of
Move in opposite directions. In addition, FIG.
FIGS. 4 (2) and 4 (3) show high magnification, medium magnification,
The schematic arrangement of the zoom mechanism 50 and the magnification information superimposing mechanism 60 at low magnification is shown.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of a stepless magnification type magnification information superimposing mechanism 60 according to this embodiment. The field frame and magnification information of the stepless magnification type magnification information superimposing mechanism 60 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5A shows a stepless variable magnification reticle 6.
1 is a schematic view of FIG. In the stepless variable magnification reticle 61, a left side portion 63 and a bottom side portion 64 of a field frame are drawn on a transparent plate 70, and an auxiliary index 65 serving as magnification information is drawn on the bottom side portion 64. The distance between the intersection of the left side portion 63 and the bottom side portion 64 of the visual field frame and the auxiliary index 65 is a. FIG.
FIG. 2B is a schematic view of the stepless variable magnification reticle 62.
In the stepless variable magnification reticle 62, a right side portion 67 and an upper side portion 66 of a field frame are drawn on a transparent plate 71.

FIG. 5C shows an arrangement and a field frame of the stepless variable magnification type information superimposing mechanism 60 at a high magnification. The stepless zooming reticles 61 and 62 move in parallel in the directions of arrows B and C in conjunction with the zooming operation of the zoom mechanism 50, and the field frame at the high magnification is a left side portion 63 and a bottom side portion of the field frame. 64 and a visual field range (A × B) composed of the right side part 67 and the upper side part 66. In this case, the auxiliary index 65 is substantially at the center of the bottom of the field frame, and a / A is approximately 1/2.

FIG. 5D shows an arrangement and a field frame of the stepless variable magnification type magnification information superposing mechanism 60 at the middle magnification. FIG. 5 (4)
As shown in (1), the visual field range (A × B) at the time of medium magnification is larger than at the time of high magnification, and a / A is smaller than at the time of high magnification.

FIG. 5 (5) shows an arrangement and a field frame at a low magnification of the stepless variable magnification type information superimposing mechanism 60. FIG. 5 (5)
As shown in the figure, the field of view (A × B) at low magnification is larger than that at medium magnification, and a / A is smaller than that at medium magnification.

As described above, since the size of the visual field range (A × B) changes in inverse proportion to the magnification ratio in conjunction with the zooming operation of the zoom mechanism 50, the image captured by the CCD camera 6 is displayed on the monitor screen. The size is substantially the same regardless of the magnification of the zoom mechanism 50, as in FIG. Also, a
Since / A also changes continuously in conjunction with the zooming operation of the zoom mechanism 50, magnification information is superimposed on the image captured by the CCD camera 6, and the magnification of the zoom mechanism 50 is identified by an image processing device (not shown). Can be.

As described above, even in the stepless variable magnification system using the zoom mechanism 50, the magnification at the time of use can be identified by image processing without attaching an electric magnification detection means. There is no need to provide an electric wiring between the processing devices, and the configuration can be simplified and an inexpensive optical observation device can be provided.

In addition to the above embodiments, it is also possible to superimpose a number or the like corresponding to the magnification on the observation image as magnification information and directly read the magnification by character recognition in the image processing apparatus. Further, magnification information can be included in the observation image based on the difference in color, and the magnification used can be identified by identifying the color with a color camera.

In this embodiment, the variable power mechanism and the magnification information superimposing mechanism are linked by a belt and a pulley, or a screw and a nut, but the link mechanism is a gear train and a rack and pinion, a cam, and a cam. Needless to say, a mechanism, a link mechanism, or a combination thereof may be used.

[0046]

As described above, according to the present invention, C
The image captured by the CD camera is processed by the image processing device, so that the magnification information of the optical observation device equipped with a manual zooming mechanism can be detected in real time without the need for an additional device such as an electric magnification detection unit. can do.

Therefore, as compared with the apparatus using magnification detecting means such as a photo-interrupter, the overall configuration of the apparatus is simplified, and an optical observation apparatus having an inexpensive manual zoom mechanism can be provided.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an optical system of an optical observation device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of a magnification information superimposing mechanism according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of an optical system of an optical observation device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an operation explanatory view of an optical observation device according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of a stepless magnification information superimposing mechanism according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram of an optical system of a conventional optical observation device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1, 11 Objective lens 2 Magnification information superimposing mechanism 3 Reversing type 2 variable power mechanism 4a, 4b, 4c Pulley 5 Belt 6, 16 CCD camera 12 Turret mechanism 13a, 13b Variable power lens 14 Light shielding plate 15a, 15b Photo interrupter

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. An optical observation apparatus which forms an image of an observation object by an objective lens, changes the magnification by a manual magnification mechanism having a magnification lens, and converts the image into an image signal by an image pickup means and displays the image signal. An optical observation apparatus, wherein the magnification mechanism has a magnification information superimposing mechanism for displaying the magnification information in the field of view of the imaging means. 2. The objective lens according to claim 1, wherein the magnification information superimposing mechanism is provided with a transparent plate on the image plane of the objective lens, wherein the magnification information is different corresponding to the magnification of the variable power lens. An optical observation apparatus, wherein the imaging means is provided on an image plane of the variable power lens conjugate with the image plane of (1). 3. The optical system according to claim 2, wherein the manual zooming mechanism zooms in and out in multiple stages, and the magnification information superimposing mechanism switches the transparent plate in conjunction with the zooming operation. Observation device. 4. The manual magnification changing mechanism according to claim 2, wherein the manual magnification changing mechanism has a zooming mechanism to change the magnification in a stepless manner, and the magnification information superimposing mechanism moves the first magnification at a position on the image plane of the objective lens. A first transparent plate on which a pattern is drawn and a second transparent plate on which a second pattern is drawn are superposed and arranged, and the first and second transparent plates are interlocked with the zooming operation of the zoom mechanism. An optical observation apparatus, wherein the degree of superposition of a plate is changed, and the overlap between the first and second patterns changes according to the magnification.