JP2001154110A - Polarizing unit and microscope to which the polarizing unit is attached - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a polarizing unit by which switching between observation using polarized light and the one without using the polarized light can be performed by one operation and which is economically constituted, and a microscope to which the polarizing unit is attached. SOLUTION: The polarizing unit 7 is provided with an attaching plate 20 to be attached to a microscope main body, a slider 40 which is slidably provided to the plate 20 through a guide mechanism 30 and also whose one end side is positioned inside the main body and the other end side is positioned outside the main body, a pair of polarizers 51 and 52 arranged on the one end side of the slider 40 with specified positional relation, and a turning means 60 turning one polarizer 52 centering an optical axis inside the main body. The switching between the observation using the polarized light and the one without using the polarized light can be performed only by sliding the slider 40, so that the switching can be performed with one operation. Since the pair of polarizers 51 and 52 is assembled to the one unit 7, the number of parts can be reduced than heretofore and an economical constitution can be attained.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a polarizing unit and a microscope to which the polarizing unit is attached, and more particularly, to a polarizing unit detachably attached to a mounting opening provided in a microscope main body and a microscope to which the polarizing unit is attached.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An optical system of a conventional microscope is shown in FIG. In this optical system, illumination light from a light source is reflected by the beam splitter 11, passes through the objective lens 6A, and irradiates an object to be measured. The light reflected from the object to be measured passes through the objective lens 6A, the beam splitter 11, and the tube lens 12 in order, and is guided to the optical path switching mirror 13. By inserting and removing the optical path switching mirror 13 on the optical axis of the objective lens 6A, the direction of the optical axis of the reflected light can be changed, and it is possible to switch between direct observation by visual observation and television observation by image. ing.

More specifically, in the case of television observation, the reflected light is disposed on the optical path by retracting the optical path switching mirror 13 from the optical axis of the objective lens 6A.
The light is irradiated onto the imaging surface 14 of the CD camera, and observation using an image is possible. On the other hand, in the case of direct observation, by inserting the optical path switching mirror 13 on the optical axis of the objective lens 6A, the reflected light reflected by the optical path switching mirror 13 passes through the field lens 15 and becomes a mirror 16 for relay. And is transmitted through the relay lens 17, is bent into a plurality of prisms 18, and is guided to the eyepiece 5A. This enables direct visual observation.

When observing a crystal or a thin section of a mineral using a microscope, polarized light is sometimes used. When observing an object to be measured using polarized light, the polarizer 51 is disposed between the light source and the beam splitter 11, and the analyzer 52 is disposed between the beam splitter 11 and the tube lens 12. By fixing the analyzer 51 and rotating the analyzer 52 around the optical axis, the object to be measured can be observed with polarized light. By the way, the polarizer and the analyzer as described above are not provided as standard in the microscope. Therefore, a slot for inserting a polarizer and a slot for inserting an analyzer are formed in the microscope main body in advance so that the polarizer and the analyzer can be retrofitted.

[0005]

However, in such a structure, the polarizer and the analyzer are formed separately from each other, and two slots must be machined on the microscope body side. The cost was high. Furthermore, during observation without using polarized light, the polarizer and analyzer had to be extracted from each slot, and the operability was poor. When the polarizing unit is removed from the slot, each slot is in an open state, and there is a possibility that dirt, dust, and the like may enter the inside of the microscope main body from each slot.

An object of the present invention is to switch between observation using polarized light and observation not using polarized light in one operation,
It is an object of the present invention to provide a polarizing unit that can be configured economically and a microscope to which the polarizing unit is attached.

[0007]

A polarizing unit and a microscope to which the polarizing unit is attached according to the present invention have the following arrangement to achieve the above object. The polarizing unit according to claim 1, wherein the polarizing unit is a polarizing unit detachably attached to a mounting opening provided in a main body of the microscope, wherein the mounting plate is attached to the mounting opening of the main body, and a guide is provided on the mounting plate. A slider provided slidably through a mechanism and having one end positioned inside the main body and the other end positioned outside the main body, and a pair of polarizers arranged in a predetermined positional relationship on the one end side of the slider; A rotating means for rotating at least one of the pair of polarizers around an optical axis in the main body and having a rotating operation part positioned outside the main body. It is a feature.

According to the present invention, first, one polarizing unit is mounted on the mounting opening of the microscope main body via the mounting plate. Switching between observation using polarized light and observation not using polarized light is performed by sliding a slider provided with a pair of polarizers with respect to a mounting plate via a guide mechanism. When performing observation using polarized light, the slider is slid to the microscope main body side, and a pair of polarizers is inserted on the optical axis in the main body. In this state, for example, the other polarizer is fixed, and one of the polarizers is rotated about the optical axis by the rotation means, so that the measured object can be observed with polarized light. Therefore, switching between observation using polarized light and observation without polarized light can be performed by one operation of sliding the slider, and operability can be improved. Further, since the polarizer and the analyzer are incorporated in one polarizing unit, the number of components can be reduced as compared with the conventional case, and the structure can be made economically. Furthermore, since the guide mechanism and the slider to be slid on the guide mechanism are pre-installed in one polarizing unit, it is more rattled than the conventional case where the polarizer and the analyzer are directly inserted into the slot of the microscope body and slid. Can be reduced,
Operability can be improved.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the polarization unit according to the first aspect, the rotating means is provided to hold an outer periphery of the one polarizer and to be rotatable with respect to the slider. A holder, a rotator rotatably provided on the other end of the slider, the rotator provided on the shaft of the rotator and rotating the rotator by operating the holder, and the holder And a transmission means for connecting the rotor to the holder and transmitting the rotation of the rotor to the holder. According to this invention, when the rotator is rotated by operating the rotation operation unit, the rotation is transmitted to the holder holding the one polarizer via the transmission means, and the polarizer is moved along the optical axis. It is rotated around. Therefore, for example, by using a belt or the like as the transmitting means, the rotating means can be easily configured. Further, since the rotating operation part is located outside the microscope main body, the operation can be easily performed. Further, since a holder, a rotator and a belt are used as the rotating means, one of the polarizers held by the holder can be slightly rotated.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the polarizing unit according to the first or second aspect, the slider is formed in a box shape, and a part of the rotary operation portion is removed inside the slider. Wherein the rotating means is housed. According to this invention, since the slider is formed in a box shape, for example, even if the slider opening through which the slider is inserted is formed in the mounting plate, the slider itself can close the slider opening. In addition, it is possible to prevent dust and dirt from entering the microscope main body, and do not adversely affect optical components and the like inside the main body. Moreover, since the rotating means is housed inside the box-shaped slider, it is possible to prevent the smoothness of the rotating means from being impaired due to the entry of dust and dirt.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the polarizing unit according to any one of the first to third aspects, one of the two side surfaces parallel to the sliding direction of the slider is provided with one of the side surfaces. One of the pair of polarizers is arranged, and the guide mechanism holds both side surfaces parallel to the sliding direction of the slider and a length of a side that holds the one side surface of the slider. However, the slider is formed to be shorter than a length of a side for holding a side surface opposite to the one side surface of the slider. According to the invention, in the guide mechanism, the length of the side holding the side surface of the slider on which one of the polarizers is arranged is shorter than the length of the side holding the side surface of the slider on which the one polarizer is not arranged. Since it is formed, it is possible to retract the pair of polarizers to a position where they do not interfere with the optical system of the microscope main body, while sufficiently ensuring the slidability of the slider and the straightness during sliding.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a microscope having a main body having a mounting opening to which a mounting plate of the polarizing unit according to any one of the first to fourth aspects can be mounted. It is. According to the present invention, it is only necessary to form one mounting opening for mounting the mounting plate of the polarizing unit on the microscope main body, so that the cost can be reduced as compared with the conventional case where two slots are formed on the microscope main body.

A microscope according to a sixth aspect of the present invention is the microscope according to the fifth aspect, wherein a lid is detachably provided in the mounting opening. According to the present invention, when the polarizing unit is detached from the microscope main body, the lid is attached to the mounting opening, so that when the polarizing unit is not used, or when the storage unit is stored, dust, dirt, etc. Can be prevented from entering.

[0014]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In FIG. 1, a microscope 1 includes a main body 2 having a substantially C-shaped side surface in which a plurality of optical components are mounted, a mounting table 4 held at a lower end of the main body 2 and movable in a three-dimensional direction. It has. A binocular tube 5 having an eyepiece 5A is mounted on the front surface of the upper end of the main body 2, and an objective lens section 6 having a plurality of types of objective lenses 6A having different magnifications is mounted on the lower surface of the upper end of the main body 2. (Not shown). By rotating the objective lens section 6, the objective lens 6A can be selectively arranged at the optical axis position.

As shown in FIG. 5, an optical system is formed inside the main body 2 by arranging a plurality of optical components at predetermined positions. This optical system is the same as the optical system of the conventional microscope, and thus the description is omitted.

Returning to FIG. 1, a mounting opening 2A is formed on the side surface of the upper end of the main body 2 of the microscope 1, and a lid 2B is detachably provided in the mounting opening 2A. . Instead of the lid 2B, a polarizing unit 7 described later is used.
Can be attached to the attachment opening 2A.

2, 3 and 4, the polarizing unit 7 is provided with a mounting plate 20 mounted on the mounting opening 2A of the main body 2 and slidably mounted on the mounting plate 20 via a guide mechanism 30. A slider 40 having one end inside the main body 2 and the other end outside the main body 2, a pair of polarizers 51 and an analyzer 52 as a pair of polarizers arranged at one end of the slider 40 with a predetermined positional relationship.
And the analyzer 52 with the optical axis (objective lens 6A) in the main body 2.
(An optical axis passing through).

The mounting plate 20 has a slider opening 20A through which the slider 40 is inserted. Mounting plate 20
The polarizing unit 7 is attached to the main body 2 of the microscope 1 by attaching the to the mounting opening 2A of the main body 2 with a screw or the like.

The guide mechanism 30 includes a slider opening 20A.
And a pair of substantially U-shaped sliding members 32 attached to the inner surface of the holding member 31 and opened in directions facing each other. And Holding member 3
One surface of a substantially L-shaped bracket 33 is fixed to the lower surface of the bracket 1, and the other surface of the bracket 33 is fixed to the mounting plate 20. Thereby, the holding member 31 is fixed to the mounting plate 20.

The slider 40 is formed in a box shape.
The pair of sliding members 32 of the guide mechanism 30 are slidably held on both sides by sliding on the mounting plate 20. One end of the slider 40 (body 2
The polarizer 51 and the analyzer 52 are arranged in a predetermined positional relationship on the side located inside the main body 2 when attached to the main body 2). Specifically, the polarizer 51 is fixed to a polarizer holding plate 41 that protrudes downward from the side surface of the slider 40 via a holder 51A that holds the outer periphery. On the other hand, the analyzer 52 is rotatably provided on the slider 40 via the rotating means 60 in a direction parallel to the sliding direction of the slider 40 and in a direction perpendicular to the polarizer 52.

A stopper 70 is formed to prevent the slider 40 from slipping out of the guide mechanism 30 when the slider 40 is slid. This retaining means 70 is
A sliding groove 71 formed along the sliding direction of the slider 40; and a screw 7 screwed into the upper surface of the holding member 31 of the guide mechanism 30 and having a head slidably engaged with the sliding groove 71.
And 2.

The rotating means 60 holds the outer periphery of the analyzer 52 and a holder 61 rotatably provided on the slider 40.
A gear 62 as a rotor rotatably provided on the other end side of the slider 40 (a side positioned outside the main body 2 when attached to the main body 2), and provided on a shaft of the gear 62 and operated. A rotating operation part 63 for rotating the gear 62,
It has a timing belt 64 as a transmission means for connecting the holder 61 and the gear 62 and transmitting the rotation of the gear 62 to the holder 61. The rotation means 60 excluding the rotation operation part 63 is housed inside the slider 40 formed in a box shape.

On the outer periphery of the holder 61, teeth corresponding to the teeth of the timing belt 64 are formed. Further, the timing belt 64 is formed in a ring shape, and is wrapped around the outer periphery of the holder 61 and the gear 62.

In this embodiment, when the polarizing unit 7 is mounted on the main body 2 of the microscope 1, the slider 40 holding the polarizer 51 and the analyzer 52 slides on the mounting plate 20 via the guide mechanism 30. By doing so, the polarizer 51 and the analyzer 52 are inserted into and removed from predetermined positions of the optical system inside the main body 2 (see FIG. 5). For this reason, the guide mechanism 30 ensures the slidability of the slider 40 and the straightness at the time of sliding while ensuring the polarizer 51 and the analyzer 52.
Is formed in a shape that can be retracted to a position that does not interfere with the optical system. Specifically, the guide mechanism 30
The length of the side holding the side surface of the slider 40 on which the polarizer 51 is disposed is equal to the length of the slider 4 on which the polarizer 51 is not disposed.
It is formed shorter than the length of the side holding the 0 side surface.

Next, the operation of the present embodiment will be described. When performing measurement using polarized light, first, the lid 2B is removed from the mounting opening 2A on the side surface of the main body 2 of the microscope 1. Next, the side of the polarizing unit 7 on which the polarizer 51 and the analyzer 52 are arranged is inserted into the mounting opening 2A of the main body 2, and the mounting plate 20 of the polarizing unit 7 is mounted to the mounting opening 2A with screws or the like. When the slider 40 of the polarization unit 7 is slid backward, the polarizer 51 is disposed between the light source and the beam splitter 11, and the analyzer 52 is disposed between the beam splitter 11 and the tube lens 12 (see FIG. 5). . In this state,
Since the analyzer 52 is rotated about the optical axis by rotating the rotation operation section 63 of the rotation means 60, the object to be measured can be observed with polarized light.

On the other hand, when measuring without using polarized light,
By sliding the slider 40 of the polarization unit 7 toward the user, the polarizer 51 and the analyzer 52 are retracted from the optical axis, and the object to be measured can be observed without using polarized light. The polarizer 51 and the analyzer 52 may be retracted from the optical axis by removing the polarization unit 7 from the main body 2.

According to the above-described embodiment, the following effects can be obtained. That is, in the present embodiment, switching between observation using polarized light and observation without using polarized light is performed by the slider 40 provided with the polarizer 51 and the analyzer 52.
Is made to slide with respect to the mounting plate 20 via the guide mechanism 30. When performing observation using polarized light, the slider 40 is slid to the main body 2 side of the microscope 1, and the polarizer 51 and the analyzer 52 are inserted on the optical axis in the main body 1. In this state, the analyzer 52 is
Is rotated about the optical axis of the objective lens 6A, whereby the object to be measured can be observed with polarized light. Therefore, switching between observation using polarized light and observation without using polarized light can be performed by one operation of sliding the slider 40, and operability can be improved. Further, since the polarizer 51 and the analyzer 52 are incorporated in one polarizing unit 7, the number of parts can be reduced as compared with the conventional case, and the structure can be made economically. Furthermore, since the guide mechanism 30 and the slider 40 that is slid on the guide mechanism 30 are pre-installed in one polarization unit 7, it is possible to slide the polarizer and the analyzer directly into the slot of the microscope main body as in the related art, and to slide. The rattling can be reduced, and the operability can be improved.

In the rotating means 60, when the gear 62 is rotated by operating the rotating operation part 63, the rotation is transmitted to the holder 61 holding the analyzer 52 via the timing belt 64, and 52 is rotated about the optical axis. Therefore, the rotating means 60 can be easily configured. Further, since the rotation operation section 63 is located outside the main body 2 of the microscope 1, the operation can be easily performed. Further, the rotating means 60
Has a holder 61, a gear 62 and a timing belt 6
Since the analyzer 4 is used, the analyzer 52 held by the holder 61 can be rotated little by little.

Since the slider 40 is formed in a box shape, even if the slider opening 20A through which the slider 40 is inserted is formed in the mounting plate 20, the slider 40 itself can close the slider opening 20A. In addition, it is possible to prevent dust, dirt, and the like from entering the main body 2, and do not adversely affect optical components and the like inside the main body 2. Moreover, since the turning means 60 is housed inside the slider 40 formed in a box shape, it is possible to prevent the smoothness of the turning means 60 from being impaired by, for example, dust or dust.

The length of the guide mechanism 30 on the side holding the side surface of the slider 40 on which the polarizer 51 is disposed is equal to the length of the polarizer 5.
1 is shorter than the length of the side holding the side surface of the slider 40 where the slider 1 is not disposed, so that the slidability of the slider 40 and the straightness at the time of sliding are sufficiently ensured while the polarizer 51 and the analyzer 52 are maintained. Can be retracted to a position where it does not interfere with the optical system in the main body 2.

In the main body 2 of the microscope 1, only one mounting opening 2A for mounting the mounting plate 20 of the polarizing unit 7 may be formed, and the mounting opening 2A can be formed at the same time when the main body 2 is formed. 2 on the microscope body like
It can be cheaper than forming one slot.

When the polarizing unit 7 is detached from the main body 2 of the microscope 1, the cover 2B is attached to the mounting opening 2A, so that the observing operation without using the polarizing unit 7 or the storage can be performed. It is possible to prevent dust and dirt from entering.

It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and modifications and improvements as long as the object of the present invention can be achieved are included in the present invention. For example,
In the above-described embodiment, the microscope 1 that irradiates the object to be measured with illumination light from above, that is, the microscope 1 that can be observed by epi-illumination, is used.
A so-called microscope capable of observation by transmission illumination may be used. In such a case, the analyzer is arranged between the beam splitter and the tube lens by the polarizing unit 7,
By arranging the polarizing unit 7 and a separate polarizer between the light source and the device under test, it becomes possible to observe the device under test using polarized light by transmitted illumination.

In the above embodiment, the analyzer 52 is rotatable and the polarizer 51 is fixed with respect to the slider 40. However, the analyzer 52 may be fixed and the polarizer 51 may be rotatable. Both the polarizer 51 and the analyzer 52 may be rotatable.

In the above-described embodiment, the polarizer 51 and the analyzer 52 are attached to one slider 40 of the polarization unit 7. For example, two sliders slidable on an attachment plate are provided, and the polarizer is attached to these sliders. And an analyzer may be attached. In such a case, since the analyzer and the polarizer are independent, each can be inserted into and removed from the optical path, and can be used together with, for example, another optical element.

In the above embodiment, the microscope 1 having the optical system as shown in FIG. 5 is described. However, the microscope according to the present invention is not limited to this, and is a microscope having an existing optical system. There may be.

[0037]

According to the polarizing unit of the present invention and the microscope to which the polarizing unit is attached, one polarizing unit is provided with a pair of polarizers, so that switching between observation using polarized light and observation not using polarized light is performed by one. Operable and economical to configure.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall perspective view showing a microscope according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an overall perspective view showing a polarizing unit attached to the microscope of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line III-III in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line IV-IV in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a plan view schematically showing an optical system of a conventional microscope.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Microscope 2 Main body 2A Mounting opening 2B Lid 7 Polarizing unit 20 Mounting plate 30 Guide mechanism 40 Slider 51,52 Polarizer and analyzer which are a pair of polarizers 60 Rotating means 61 Holder 62 Gear which is a rotor 63 Rotation Operation unit 64 Timing belt as transmission means

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A polarizing unit detachably mounted in a mounting opening provided in a main body of a microscope, comprising: a mounting plate mounted in the mounting opening of the main body; and a sliding mechanism mounted on the mounting plate via a guide mechanism. A slider which is provided so as to be capable of being provided, one end of which is located inside the main body and the other end of which is located outside the main body; a pair of polarizers which are arranged in a predetermined positional relationship on the one end side of the slider; and a pair of polarizers A polarizing unit, comprising: rotating means for rotating at least one of the polarizers around an optical axis in the main body, and a rotating operation part of the polarizer being located outside the main body. . 2. The polarization unit according to claim 1, wherein the rotation unit holds an outer periphery of the one polarizer and is rotatably provided with respect to the slider.
A rotor rotatably provided on the other end side of the slider, the rotating operation unit provided on the shaft of the rotor and rotating the rotor by operating the holder, the holder and the rotor And a transmitting means for transmitting the rotation of the rotor to the holder. 3. The polarization unit according to claim 1, wherein the slider is formed in a box shape, and the rotation unit excluding a part of the rotation operation unit is housed therein. A polarizing unit, characterized in that: 4. The polarizing unit according to claim 1, wherein one of the two side surfaces parallel to the sliding direction of the slider is provided with one of the pair of polarizers. The guide mechanism holds both side surfaces parallel to the sliding direction of the slider, and the length of the side holding the one side surface of the slider is the same as that of the one side of the slider. A polarizing unit characterized in that it is formed shorter than the length of the side that holds the side opposite to the side. 5. A microscope comprising a main body having a mounting opening to which the mounting plate of the polarizing unit according to claim 1 can be mounted. 6. The microscope according to claim 5, wherein a lid is detachably provided in the mounting opening.