JP2004325869A - Microscope - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a microscope wherein the excellent field of illumination in both of low magnification observation and high magnification observation is secured without requiring optical axis adjustment. <P>SOLUTION: In the microscope provided with an illumination optical system 12 irradiating an object to be observed O with an illumination light L1 from a light source 12a via an opening diaphragm 12e, a light diffusion element 12f is disposed on the position of the opening diaphragm 12e. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a microscope provided for a cultured cell observation device in a clean room, for example, and suitable for remote operation, and more particularly to a technique capable of securing a good illumination field at both low magnification observation and high magnification observation.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Microscopes widely used in the medical and biological fields and the like employ Koehler illumination in order to obtain good observation images. The Koehler illumination is configured such that an image of a light source is projected onto a position of an aperture stop provided at a pupil position of a condenser lens, thereby illuminating an observation object evenly in principle. For the purpose of improving this Koehler illumination to achieve more even illumination, Patent Document 1 below discloses a configuration in which a light diffusing element is arranged in an optical path between a light source and an object to be observed. .
[0003]
By the way, in consideration of obtaining a good observation image, in addition to the above-mentioned problem of illumination unevenness, it is also necessary to secure an illumination field (illumination range) in accordance with the magnification.
That is, in microscopic observation, since the objective lens is exchanged according to the magnification, it is necessary to enlarge or reduce the illumination field according to the magnification of each of these objective lenses. For example, as shown in FIG. 5, when a large magnification is used as the objective lens 1, the illumination field may be narrowed, but the value of the angle ω shown in FIG. 5 needs to be increased. On the other hand, when a lens having a small magnification is used as the objective lens 1, the value of the angle ω may be small, but it is necessary to widen the illumination field.
[0004]
For optimal illumination of the high-magnification objective lens 1, it is necessary to increase ω, which is equivalent to increasing the aperture diameter φ in FIG. In order to increase the aperture diameter φ, it is necessary to increase the magnification for projecting the light source to the aperture stop position. However, if the projection magnification is increased, the value of the angle α shown in the figure becomes smaller, and it becomes impossible to widen the illumination field.
Therefore, when performing both low-magnification observation and high-magnification observation, there is inevitably a limitation that the illumination field at the time of low-magnification observation becomes narrow. In order to keep the value of the aperture diameter φ optimal when using the high-magnification objective lens 1 and to increase the angle α when using the low-magnification objective lens 1, the projection magnification from the light source to the aperture stop is required. Is required to be variable for each magnification. However, varying the projection magnification of the light source complicates and enlarges the configuration of the illumination optical system, and is difficult to realize.
[0005]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-9-274138
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
Therefore, in practice, as a method for securing both the NA (numerical aperture) of the high-magnification objective lens 1 and the illumination field of the low-magnification objective lens 1, a part of the lenses constituting the condenser lens is changed to a high-magnification lens. A method is adopted in which observation is performed in the illumination optical path during magnification observation, and switching is performed by removing the light from the illumination optical path during observation at low magnification.
[0007]
However, when such a lens switching operation is used, the optical axis needs to be adjusted each time the lens enters the illumination optical path from outside the illumination optical path. Performing such optical axis adjustment during microscope observation is very troublesome and hinders smooth observation work.
In addition, this microscope may be placed in a clean room where no one can go in and out, and the inside microscope may be remotely controlled from the outside.In this case, the optical axis cannot be manually adjusted. Will be difficult to adopt.
[0008]
The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and it is an object of the present invention to provide means capable of securing a good illuminated field during both low-magnification observation and high-magnification observation without requiring optical axis adjustment.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The present invention employs the following means in order to solve the above problems.
That is, the microscope according to claim 1 is a microscope including an illumination optical system that irradiates illumination light from a light source to an illumination target via an aperture stop, wherein a light diffusing element is provided at a position of the aperture stop. It is characterized by being provided.
According to the microscope of the first aspect, the illumination light emitted from the light source is irradiated on the illumination target after passing through the light diffusing element and the aperture stop. At this time, light incident on the aperture stop from the light source is decomposed by the light diffusing element into light beams having various directions. This makes it possible to increase the diffusion angle of the illumination light from the aperture stop toward the object to be illuminated as compared with a case where the light diffusing element is not placed on the optical path. Therefore, by changing the presence / absence of the light diffusing element or the diffusivity of the light diffusing element, the illuminated field that illuminates the illumination target can be arbitrarily changed. Moreover, the light diffusing element does not adversely affect the optical axis of the illumination optical system even when the light diffusing element is moved in and out of the optical path.
[0010]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the microscope according to the first aspect, the position of the light diffusing element can be switched to any one of on the optical path of the illumination light and outside the optical path. It is characterized by the following.
According to the microscope of the second aspect, the light diffusing element is inserted into and removed from the optical path, or is appropriately selected from a plurality of light diffusing elements having different diffusivities and put into the optical path. With the configuration described above, a desired illumination field can be obtained.
[0011]
The microscope according to claim 3 is the microscope according to claim 2, further comprising a plurality of objective lenses that receive light from the illumination target illuminated by the illumination optical system. A plurality of the light diffusing elements having a corresponding diffusivity are provided.
According to the microscope according to the third aspect, when adjusting the illumination field using the light diffusing element, when observing using the objective lens having a relatively small magnification, in conjunction with this, A light diffusing element having a large diffusivity is selected and arranged at an aperture stop position. When observation is performed using an objective lens having a relatively large magnification, a light diffusing element having a small diffusivity is selected and arranged at an aperture stop position in conjunction with the observation. Thus, the adjustment of the illumination field required by the objective lens used can be easily performed by selecting the light diffusing element.
[0012]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
An embodiment of the microscope of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings, but it is needless to say that the present invention is not limited to these embodiments. FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a cultured cell observation device including the microscope of the present embodiment. FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view showing an illumination optical system and an imaging optical system provided in the microscope. FIG. 3 is a view showing an illumination field obtained by the microscope, and is a view taken in the direction of arrows AA in FIG. FIG. 4 is a view showing a light diffusing element provided in the illumination optical system of the microscope, and is a view taken along the line BB in FIG.
[0013]
As shown in FIG. 1, the cultured cell observation device according to the present embodiment is schematically configured to include a microscope 10 and a robot 20 arranged in a clean room R, and a terminal device 30 arranged outside the clean room R. .
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the microscope 10 includes a sample table 11 (not shown in FIG. 2) on which an observation object (illumination target) O mounted on a glass plate 11 a is mounted, and An illumination optical system 12 for irradiating the observation object O mounted on the object with illumination light, an imaging optical system 13 for forming an image of the observation object O illuminated by the illumination optical system 12, and a casing for accommodating these components. 14 is provided.
[0014]
Although not shown, the sample stage 11 has an X stage for moving the position of the mounted observation object O in the X-axis direction (the left-right direction on the paper of FIG. 2) and a Y-axis direction (a direction perpendicular to the paper of FIG. 2). It is composed of a Y stage to be moved and a Z stage to be moved in the Z-axis direction (up and down direction in FIG. 2). Each of the X stage, the Y stage, and the Z stage is provided with a motor connected to the terminal device 30 via the wiring C1 shown in FIG. 1, and remotely controls the positioning of the observation object O from outside the clean room R. It is possible to do with.
[0015]
As shown in FIG. 2, the illumination optical system 12 includes a lamp 12a, which is a light source, and a collector lens 12b for imaging illumination light L1 emitted from the lamp 12a at a pupil position of the condenser lens 12d. A mirror 12c that deflects the illumination light at a substantially right angle is disposed between the mirror 12c and the condenser lens 12d. Further, at the pupil position of the condenser lens 12d, there are provided an aperture stop 12e having a variable aperture diameter and a light diffusing element 12f.
[0016]
The light diffusing element 12f is composed of an optical element having a light scattering property, such as a holographic element, frosted glass, frost, and opal glass, and scatters the illumination light L1 incident on the pupil of the condenser lens 12d in a plurality of directions to provide illumination. It has a function of expanding the angle at which the light L1 is emitted from the pupil. As a result, the illumination light L1 is emitted from the aperture stop 12e at a wider angle than the angle at which the illumination light L1 is incident on the aperture stop 12e of the condenser lens 12d, as compared with a case where the light diffusing element 12f is not inserted into the optical path. A wide illumination range can be obtained.
[0017]
The light diffusing element 12f is provided in a plurality of types according to the imaging magnification of the imaging optical system 13 side. In the present embodiment, for example, four types (four sheets) indicated by reference numerals 12f1 to 12f4 in FIG. 4 are provided, and are annularly arranged at equal angular intervals in one light diffusion element holding member 12g. .
The light-diffusing element holding member 12g has a disk shape as shown in the figure, and a through-hole 12g1 for passing the illumination light L1 is provided at a portion where each of the light-diffusing elements 12f1 to 12f4 is arranged. Is formed. The light-diffusing element holding member 12g can be rotated around its central axis 12g2 by a motor (not shown). This makes it possible to select only one of the light diffusing elements 12f1 to 12f4 and position it in the optical path between the condenser lenses 12d shown in FIG. A motor for rotating the light-diffusing element holding member 12g is also connected to the terminal device 30 via the wiring C1, and any one of the light-diffusing elements 12f1 to f4 is provided from outside the clean room R. Remote control for selecting one and arranging it in the optical path is possible. That is, the position of each of the light diffusing elements 12f1 to 12f4 can be switched to either on the optical path of the illumination light L1 or outside the optical path.
[0018]
Each of the light diffusing elements 12f1 to 12f4 has a different diffusivity from each other. As shown in FIG. 3, the illumination field, which is the illumination range of the observation object O, is set to an area of any size indicated by reference symbols R1 to R4. It is possible to change to. That is, the light diffusing element 12f has a gradually increasing diffusion rate in the order of 12f1, 12f2, 12f3, and 12f4. When the light diffusing element 12f1 is selected, the smallest illumination field R1 and light diffusing element 12f1 are selected. When 12f2 is selected, the illumination field R2 is wider than the illumination field R1. When the light diffusing element 12f3 is selected, the illumination field R3 is wider than the illumination field R2, and when the light diffusing element 12f4 is selected. It is possible to obtain an illumination field R4 wider than the field R3. Reference numeral R0 shown in the figure is an illumination field when the light diffusing element 12f is removed from between the condenser lenses 12d, and is smaller than the illumination field R1. Therefore, it is possible to substantially select the illumination field of five sizes R0 to R4.
Since the light diffusing elements 12f1 to 12f4 are not lenses, the optical axes between the condenser lenses 12d are not disturbed even when the light diffusing elements 12f1 to 12f4 are moved in and out of the optical path.
[0019]
The light diffusing element 12f having the above configuration is provided at the position of the aperture stop 12e as shown in FIG. The “position of the aperture stop 12e” here indicates the vicinity of the pupil position of the condenser lens 12d. Since the light diffusing element 12f has a characteristic of scattering incident light in a specific direction, when the light diffusing element 12f is arranged at a position other than the pupil position of the condenser lens 12d, it is projected to the pupil position of the condenser lens 12d. The effect of enlarging the image of the lamp 12a becomes significant, and the effect of expanding the illumination field is lost. Therefore, even if a plurality of light diffusing elements 12f having different light scattering characteristics are replaced at positions other than the pupil position of the condenser lens 12d, the illumination field cannot be changed.
[0020]
The imaging optical system 13 includes an objective lens 13a on which the transmitted light L2 of the observation object O illuminated by the illumination optical system 12 is incident, a mirror 13b transmitting the transmitted light L2 passing through the objective lens 13a, and an imaging lens 13c. , An eyepiece 13d, and a CCD camera 13e that receives the transmitted light L2 after passing through the eyepiece 13d.
For example, five objective lenses 13a having different magnifications are annularly arranged at equal angular intervals from each other (only one of them is shown in FIG. 2), and a motor (not shown) is driven. Thus, one of these five is selected and arranged coaxially with the optical axis of the transmitted light L2. This selection operation is performed by remote operation of the terminal device 30 via the wiring C1.
[0021]
The CCD camera 13e is connected to the terminal device 30 via the wiring C2, and can transmit a light receiving signal. In the terminal device 30, a light receiving signal obtained via the wiring C2 is converted into an image and displayed on the monitor 30a by a control device provided therein. Therefore, it is possible to observe the microscope image of the observation object O from outside the clean room R.
[0022]
As shown in FIG. 1, the robot 20 includes a base 21 on which a plurality of observation objects O are placed, and a robot hand 22 fixed on the base 21. The robot 20 is connected to the terminal device 30 via a wiring C3, and remotely controls the robot hand 22 from outside the clean room R to move the observation object O from the base 21 to the microscope 10 and to move the microscope The observation object O can be moved from 10 to the base 21.
[0023]
The terminal device 30 is a personal computer, and performs remote operation of the robot 20, remote operation of the microscope 10, and display and recording of an observation image obtained by the microscope 10 based on a user's input operation or program. Is possible.
At the time of remote control of the microscope 10, the focus adjustment of the imaging optical system 13, the enlargement magnification adjustment by exchanging the objective lenses 13 a, the illumination field adjustment performed in conjunction with the enlargement magnification adjustment, and the like can be performed. Has become. In the illumination field adjustment, the terminal device 30 selects an optimal illumination field determined according to the selected magnification of the objective lens 13a from the illumination fields R0 to R4, and selects any one of the illumination fields R1 to R4. In this case, the terminal device 30 selects any one of the light diffusing elements 12f1 to 12f4 corresponding thereto and instructs the microscope 10 to do so. Thereby, the objective lens 13a of the magnification selected by the user and the light diffusing element 12f capable of securing an illumination field according to the magnification of the objective lens 13a are paired to perform the observation execution position (shown in FIG. 2). Position).
When the one with the highest magnification is selected among the objective lenses 13a, the smallest illumination field R0 is secured by removing all the light diffusing elements 12f from the optical path.
[0024]
The microscope 10 of the present embodiment described above employs a configuration in which the light diffusing element 12f is provided at the position of the aperture stop 12e. According to this configuration, the size of the illuminated field can be arbitrarily changed, so that it is possible to secure a favorable illuminated field with a simple configuration during both low-magnification observation and high-magnification observation. I have. Moreover, since the light diffusing element 12f used for adjusting the illumination field does not adversely affect the optical axis of the illumination optical system 12 even when the optical element 12f is moved in and out of the optical path, it is not necessary to adjust the optical axis. And
The microscope 10 of the present embodiment employs a configuration including the light diffusing elements 12f1 to 12f4 having a diffusivity corresponding to the magnification of each objective lens 12a. According to this configuration, the illumination fields R0 to R4 can be selected in conjunction with the magnification of the objective lens 12a, so that the utilization efficiency of the illumination light L1 can be increased.
[0025]
【The invention's effect】
The microscope according to claim 1 of the present invention employs a configuration in which a light diffusing element is provided at the position of the aperture stop. According to this configuration, the illuminated field can be arbitrarily changed, so that a good illuminated field can be secured with a simple configuration during both low-magnification observation and high-magnification observation. Moreover, the light-diffusing element used for adjusting the illumination field does not adversely affect the optical axis of the illumination optical system even when the optical element is moved in and out of the optical path, so that the optical axis adjustment can be made unnecessary. .
[0026]
Further, the microscope according to claim 2 employs a configuration in which the position of the light diffusing element can be switched either on the optical path of the illumination light or outside the optical path. According to this configuration, a desired illumination field can be easily obtained without using a complicated configuration.
[0027]
The microscope according to claim 3 includes a plurality of objective lenses that capture light from an illumination target, and a plurality of the light diffusing elements having a diffusivity corresponding to each magnification of the objective lenses. Adopted. According to this configuration, the illumination field can be selected in conjunction with the magnification of the objective lens, so that the utilization efficiency of the illumination light can be increased.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an explanatory view showing a cultured cell observation device provided with a microscope of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view showing an illumination optical system and an imaging optical system provided in the microscope.
FIG. 3 is a view showing an illumination field obtained by the microscope, and is a view taken in the direction of arrows AA in FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is a view showing a light diffusing element provided in the illumination optical system of the microscope, and is a view taken along the line BB of FIG. 2;
FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram for explaining an illumination optical system provided in a conventional microscope.
[Explanation of symbols]
Reference Signs List 10 Microscope 12 Illumination optical system 12a Light source 12e Aperture stop 12f, 12f1, 12f2, 12f3, 12f4 Light diffusing element 13a Objective lens L1 Illumination Light O: Observed object (lighting object)

Claims (3)

In a microscope having an illumination optical system that irradiates illumination light from a light source to an illumination target via an aperture stop,
A microscope, wherein a light diffusing element is provided at a position of the aperture stop. The microscope according to claim 1,
A microscope, wherein the position of the light diffusing element is switchable on either the optical path of the illumination light or outside the optical path. The microscope according to claim 2,
A plurality of objective lenses that receive light from the illumination target illuminated by the illumination optical system are provided,
A microscope comprising a plurality of the light diffusing elements each having a diffusivity corresponding to each magnification of the objective lens.

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