JP2005284284A - Disconnectable/interchangeable fine adjustable focus knob for microscope - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a microscope whose stage is arranged to be fit to user's dominant hand. <P>SOLUTION: The disconnectable/interchangeable adjustment knob for a microscope is fixed on an adjustment means by magnetic force. The microscope includes at least one focusing means for focusing an object plane. The focusing means includes first and second adjustment means. The adjustment means are coaxial and independently rotatably adjustable. The second adjustment means is disconnectably fastenable to the focusing means. In a preferred embodiment, the first adjustment means comprises a coarse focus adjustment knob and the second adjustment means has a fine focus adjustment knob. The second adjustment means preferably includes magnetic means adapted for mating engagement with a magnetically attractable means combined with a rotatable focus drive means of the focusing means. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present application relates generally to a microscope, more particularly to a microscope stage operating mechanism, and more particularly to a mechanism for adjusting the longitudinal movement of the microscope stage.

  This application is a continuation-in-part of US patent application 10/721695 filed November 25, 2003 and US patent application 10/733628 filed December 11, 2003.

  As is widely known, a microscope is an optical instrument used for observation, examination, and research of minute objects. Various types of various microscopes are known that best fit a particular application. These microscope types include, but are not limited to, compound microscopes, stereo microscopes, confocal microscopes, inverted microscopes, and laser microscopes.

  For a long time, microscopes have used a stage to hold the sample in the optical path. The observation target is manipulated by moving the stage back and forth, left and right, and up and down. Conventionally, the left, right, front, back, and top and bottom axes are referred to as the x-axis, y-axis, and z-axis, respectively.

  Often the focus adjustment mechanism is operated by adjusting the height of the stage. Changes in the height of the sample allow the microscope user to focus on different depths within the sample's z-axis for observation.

  In order to adjust the position on the x-axis or the y-axis, the user must use a stage control mechanism capable of such movement. Normally, both the x-axis and y-axis adjustments are performed by a single mechanism. This mechanism is also placed on one side of the stage below the stage.

  Since various microscope users utilize these mechanisms, both a right-handed stage and a left-handed stage are required. The position of the stage control mechanism is on the side of the stage that matches the user's dominant hand. To further complicate the problem, right-handed and left-handed users use a single microscope in the laboratory.

  Manufacture of a product becomes difficult because the configuration of the stage must be matched with the hand of the microscope user. Each microscope must be either left-handed or right-handed. After completion of assembly, changing the structure requires considerable time for disassembly and reassembly, and it is also necessary to add all stage configurations. This problem also requires the microscope manufacturer to maintain inventory of left-handed and right-handed stage assemblies.

  As a result, the Applicant has developed a microscope with a stage drive assembly that can be easily removed and secured to the opposite side of the microscope stage as desired by the microscope user. Such a microscope is described in an application filed at the same time as the present application, and the name of the invention of that application is “exchangeable microscope stage drive assembly”, which is incorporated herein by reference.

  The development of the replaceable stage drive assembly also creates a need for a microscope focus adjustment knob that can be easily removed and secured to the opposite side of the microscope / microscope stage.

  The present invention relates to a microscope having at least one adjusting means which influences the parameters of the microscope. In a preferred embodiment, the adjusting means comprises at least one focusing means for focusing on the object plane. This focus adjusting means includes a coarse adjustment knob and a fine adjustment knob. The coarse and fine focus adjustment knobs are coaxial and can be rotated and adjusted independently of each other. The fine focus adjustment knob can be removably attached to the focus adjustment means. In a preferred embodiment, the fine focus adjustment knob has magnet means, which interlocks with the complementary magnet attraction means of the rotatable focus drive means of the focus adjustment means. In a preferred embodiment, the microscope has at least two adjustment means, for example focus adjustment means placed on opposite sides of the microscope.

  Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide improved means for adjusting microscope parameters.

  Another object of the present invention is to provide a means for improving the focus adjustment of a microscope that can be easily set by a user.

  It is a further object of the present invention to provide an improved means for adjusting the focus of a microscope which can be easily changed by the user's dominant hand.

  These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art upon reading the detailed description of the invention with reference to the drawings and the appended claims. The nature and aspects of operation of the present invention will be more clearly described in the following detailed description in view of the accompanying drawings.

  Initially, although the present invention relates to a “removable / replaceable microscope fine focus knob”, the assignee of the present application also made other improvements to the microscope, and those improvements are described in US patent application “Replaceable Microscope Stage Drive Assembly”. ”,“ Microscope transport means ”,“ ergonomically placed object adjustment control ”,“ shielded ergonomic microscope stage ”and“ microscope illumination assembly ”, which are assigned by the Applicant. Filed at the same time as the present application, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference.

  In the following detailed description of the invention, components with the same reference number on different drawings are to be construed as specifying the same component in the present invention in each drawing. Although the invention is described based on what is presently considered to be the preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the claimed invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. In the following description, “top”, “bottom”, “front”, “back”, “left”, “right”, their derivatives and sequence words are as shown in FIG. Should be interpreted with reference to the field of view with the microscope in front.

  The present invention relates generally to adjusting means for setting microscope parameters. In a preferred embodiment, the adjusting means includes a microscope focus adjusting means, and the focus adjusting means includes a coarse focus adjusting knob and a fine focus adjusting knob for moving the microscope stage in the vertical direction. In a preferred embodiment, the focusing means are located on both sides of the microscope, i.e. the right and left sides, and the fine focusing knobs of the respective focusing means can then be removed as appropriate and attached to the opposite focusing means. Can do. In a preferred embodiment, the fine focus adjustment knob is removably secured to the focus drive means of the focus adjustment means, and one of the fine focus adjustment knobs has a greater axial length than the other. Therefore, preferably the present invention provides a fine focus adjustment having a large axial length that can be easily exchanged from one side of the microscope to the other, depending on the orientation of the microscope in which the user has installed a replaceable stage drive mechanism. It is intended to be used with a microscope having the above-described interchangeable stage drive mechanism such as a knob. However, it should be understood that the present invention can be used with a microscope that does not have a replaceable stage drive mechanism.

  Referring to the drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates the general configuration of a microscope 10. In FIG. 1, a microscope 10 includes a mounting stand 12 to which various elements of the microscope are attached. In the example shown in the drawing, the observation body 14 is a binocular, and includes a main body and two eyepieces 16. Although the observing body is not particularly relevant to the present invention, the present invention can also be used with a microscope configured with any type of observing body (monocular, binoculars, 3 glasses, video, etc.). The objective lens 18 is installed on the rotary turret 20. The microscope 10 further comprises a replaceable microscope stage system 22 that is attached to the stand 12. The replaceable microscope stage system 22 includes a slide mount 25, a stage 24, and a drive mechanism 26. The slide mount 25 is integrated with the stage system 22 and moves a slide 28 that holds a sample to be observed. The coarse focus adjustment knob 30 and the short and long fine focus adjustment knobs 32 and 34 can rotate independently of each other, that is, the coarse focus adjustment knob 30 rotates independently of the fine focus adjustment knobs 32 and 34. Is possible. In one embodiment, the coarse focus adjustment knob 30 is adapted for rotation of the coarse focus drive shaft 45, and the fine focus adjustment knobs 32 and 34 are adapted for rotation of the fine focus drive shaft 43, and the fine focus drive shaft is adapted. 43 is coaxial with the coarse focus drive shaft 45 (see FIG. 13). In use, coarse focus adjustment knob 30 and short and long fine focus adjustment knobs 32 and / or 34 rotate one or more drive shafts 43 and 45 (see FIG. 13) to move stage 24 upward and downward. Move down. The vertical movement of the stage 24 moves the slide 28 into the optical path of the microscope that focuses on the object plane. Coarse focus adjustment knob 30 and short and long focus adjustment knobs 32 and 34 are shown installed on both sides of stand 12.

  Referring to FIG. 2, the microscope 10 has a replaceable stage system 22, which is arranged so that the microscope user can suitably move the stage drive mechanism 26 from one side of the microscope to the opposite side by the user's dominant hand. Has been. In addition, the microscope 10 is also ergonomically designed to prevent and / or minimize forward bending when the microscope user adjusts the x, y or z axis stage position with one hand. As a result, to prevent the user from “bending”, when the stage / sample is placed in the “center” position and aligned with the optical beam path, the longitudinal axis and coarse and fine focus of the stage drive mechanism 26 The longitudinal axes of the adjustment knobs 30, 32 and 34 intersect each other. Further, when the stage drive mechanism 26 is in such a position, the stage drive mechanism does not move outside the periphery of the coarse focus adjustment knob 30 as the stage moves forward or backward.

  In a microscope in such an arrangement, when the microscope user positions the long fine adjustment focus adjustment knob 34 and the stage drive mechanism 26 on the same side of the microscope, the two structures are “virtual” of the stage drive mechanism 26 of FIG. As shown in the figure, it is easy to interfere with each other. As a result, the microscope user must be able to easily move the fine focus adjustment knobs 32 and 34 from one of the microscopes to the other in order to adapt to the newly arranged stage drive mechanism 26.

  As shown in FIGS. 3-8, the fine focus adjustment knobs 32 and 34 should be easily removable and secured as appropriate on the right, left, or opposite sides of the desired microscope. In a preferred embodiment, the fine focus adjustment knob is removably fixable to the rotatable focus drive means 36, which comprises a hub placed on each side of the microscope stand. The rotatable focus drive means 36 rotates independently of the coarse focus adjustment knob 30 and cooperates with a fine focus drive shaft 43 (see FIG. 13) of a vertical stage drive mechanism (not shown) to vertically move the microscope stage. Move. Therefore, the rotatable focus driving means 36 greatly affects the accurate focus adjustment to the sample. In a preferred embodiment, the rotatable focus drive means 36 is made of a material attracted by a magnetic force, such as ferromagnetic stainless steel, and has an outer periphery 40. The rotatable focus drive means 36 has one or more securing means 38, in this case comprising a plurality of pin receiving means, aligned with the fine focus adjustment knobs 32 and 34 and removably secured thereto. .

  As shown in FIGS. 4, 6 and 8, in a preferred embodiment, the fine focus adjustment knob can be removably secured to the rotatable focus drive means so that the stage height can be accurately adjusted. Preferably, the fine focus adjustment knobs 32 and 34 are made of non-ferromagnetic material and have a band portion 42. The band portion 42 is adapted to fit to the outer periphery 40 of the rotatable focus driving means 36. The fine focus adjustment knobs 32 and 34 further have one or more fitting and fixing means 44, which in this case comprise a plurality of pin means arranged and configured to mate with the fixing means 38. A magnet 46 is fixed near the end of each fitting fixing means 44. The magnet 46 exerts an attractive force between the fine focus adjustment knob and the rotatable focus drive means so that the fine focus adjustment knob remains sufficiently fixed and the rotatable focus drive means is rotatable. Therefore, the user can easily move to the desired side of the microscope and reset it.

  With reference to FIGS. 9-12 of another embodiment of the present invention, the microscope stage can be adjusted on the same side of the microscope so that adjustment of the microscope stage in the x, y and z axes, and more particularly fine focusing, can be performed on the same side of the microscope. A fine movement focus adjustment knob 33 located on the same side as the stage drive mechanism 26 is provided. As more clearly shown in FIGS. 9, 10 and 12, a fine focus adjustment knob 33 is shown disposed on the same side as the stage drive mechanism 26 of the microscope. The fine focus adjustment knob 33 is substantially similar to the fine focus adjustment knobs 32 and 34 except that the width of the band portion 32 of the fine focus adjustment knob 33 is smaller than that of the fine focus adjustment knobs 32 and 34. Since the width of the band portion 32 of the fine adjustment focus adjustment knob 33 is small, the knob can be more easily and ergonomically fitted between the focus drive means 36 and the stage drive mechanism 26. Thus, x, y and z axis stage adjustments can be performed on the same side of the microscope with one hand. It should be understood that the band portion 32 may further be inclined so that the fine focus adjustment knob 33 forms a truncated cone. In addition, FIGS. 9 to 12 illustrate that the surface of the fine focus adjustment knob 33 is substantially jagged, but the surface of the fine focus adjustment knob 33 may be formed by other means so as to be easily gripped. Or it may be a flat surface to distinguish it from the coarse focus adjustment knob.

  In a further embodiment of the present invention, a rotatable focus drive means recessed in the coarse focus adjustment knob 30 can be provided and can be rotated independently to reduce damage to the fragile focus drive / gear mechanism inside the microscope. It can be configured to prevent. Referring to FIGS. 13 and 14, the microscope of the present invention includes a coarse adjustment knob 30, a rotatable focus drive means 48, wherein the means 48 fits into the coarse adjustment knob 30 and is relative to the coarse adjustment knob 30. It is independently rotatable and has a fine focus adjustment knob 49. In this embodiment, the rotatable focus drive means 48 has a planar outer surface that can be secured to the fine focus drive shaft 43, which is coaxial with the coarse focus drive shaft 45. The rotatable focus drive means 48 may be fixed to the fine focus drive shaft 43 by a fixing screw 41. The outer surface or surface of the rotatable focus drive means 48 does not have pin receiving means, and preferably has a magnetic force so that the magnet 46 fixed to the pin 44 of the fine focus adjustment knob 49 is attracted and fixed by the magnetic force thereto. It may be formed from a substance to be sucked. The magnetic attraction between the magnet 46 of the fine adjustment focus adjustment knob 49 and the surface of the rotatable focus drive means 48 attracted by the magnetic force becomes a force that allows the microscope user to finely adjust the target surface of the microscope with the rotation knob 49. . However, the magnetic force between the magnet 46 and the rotatable focus drive means 48 also causes the fine focus adjustment knob 49 to slide at this limit point when the upper and lower focus adjustment limits of the focus are reached. Therefore, the fine focus adjustment knob rotates on the fine focus driving means when the upper limit and the lower limit of the focus are reached, so that, for example, it occurs when the objective lens of the microscope reaches the slide surface. Damage to the delicate focus drive / gear mechanism inside the microscope can be prevented.

  Finally, the preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises a magnetically attractive material to provide easy movement of the fine focus adjustment knob from one end of the microscope to the other, although other suitable materials and configurations achieve similar results. It will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that substitutions can be made. For example, the fine focus adjustment knob and / or the rotatable focus drive means may include a hook and loop type fastener to removably secure the fine focus adjustment knob to the rotatable focus drive means. , Springed ball / detent assemblies, clutch assemblies, press fits, and the like. Other means can be used to idle the focus adjustment knobs on their drive means when the upper and lower limits of the microscope focus are reached. In addition, although a long fine focus adjustment knob related to a narrow width fine focus adjustment knob is mainly illustrated in the present specification, the various fine focus adjustment knobs of the present invention can be used interchangeably as desired by the user. The merchant should understand.

  Accordingly, the objectives of the present invention are achieved efficiently and modifications and variations of the present invention will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and such modifications are within the scope of the claims of the present invention.

1 is a front perspective view of a typical composite microscope configured for use with the replaceable microscope stage drive assembly and replaceable fine focus adjustment knob of the present invention. FIG. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the back of the microscope of FIG. 1, further illustrating, by phantom lines, an operational obstruction between the replaceable microscope drive assembly and the fine focus adjustment knob. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a coarse focus knob and a rotatable focus driving means according to the present invention. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a long fine focus adjustment knob according to the present invention. FIG. 4 is a front view of the coarse focus adjustment knob and the rotatable focus drive means of FIG. 3. FIG. 5 is a rear view of the long fine movement focus adjustment knob of FIG. 4. It is a perspective view of the coarse focus adjustment knob and rotatable focus drive means of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a short fine focus adjustment knob of the present invention arranged to be secured to the side of the microscope opposite the long fine focus adjustment knob. FIG. 3 is a front view of an optional embodiment of the microscope of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a rear perspective view of an optional embodiment of the microscope of the present invention. It is a perspective view of the coarse focus adjustment knob and rotatable focus drive means of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the removable fine focus adjustment knob of the present invention. FIG. 6 is an exploded view of another alternative embodiment of the removable fine focus adjustment knob of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a perspective view of another alternative embodiment of the removable fine focus adjustment knob of the present invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Microscope, 12 ... Mounting stand, 14 ... Observation body, 16 ... Eyepiece, 18 ... Objective lens, 20 ... Turret, 22 ... Stage system, 24 ... -Stage, 25 ... Slide mount, 26 ... Drive mechanism, 28 ... Slide, 30 ... Coarse knob, 32, 34 ... Fine knob, 36 ... Focus drive means, 38 ..Fixing means, 40 ... outer periphery, 42 ... band portion, 43, 45 ... focus drive shaft, 46 ... magnet, 48 ... focus drive means, 49 ... focus adjustment knob

Claims (32)

  A removable and replaceable adjustment knob, wherein the adjustment knob can be fixed to the adjustment means by magnetic force.   2. An adjustment knob according to claim 1, wherein the adjustment means comprises a rotatable shaft.   The adjusting knob according to claim 1, wherein the adjusting means is interlocked with each other by a magnetic attractive force.   The adjustment knob of claim 1, wherein the adjustment means comprises focus adjustment means.   A microscope comprising an adjustment means and a removable and replaceable adjustment knob, the adjustment knob being fixed to the adjustment means by magnetic force.   6. The microscope according to claim 5, wherein the adjusting means comprises a rotatable shaft.   The microscope according to claim 5, wherein the adjustment knob is interlocked with the adjustment means by a magnetic attractive force.   The microscope according to claim 5, wherein the adjusting means comprises a focus adjusting means.   The microscope according to claim 5, further comprising second adjusting means.   The microscope according to claim 9, wherein the second adjusting means is a second focus adjusting means.   The microscope according to claim 9, wherein the removable and replaceable adjustment knob is magnetically fixed to the second adjustment means.   A microscope having adjustment means comprising a first adjustment knob and a detachable adjustment knob, wherein the first adjustment knob and the detachable adjustment knob are coaxial and rotatable independently of each other.   The microscope according to claim 12, wherein the adjusting means comprises a focus drive means having a rotatable shaft.   The microscope according to claim 12, wherein the removable adjustment knob is removably fixed to the focus driving means.   First means operatively disposed to prevent movement of the removable adjustment knob axially separate from the focus drive means, and a second allowing rotation of the focus drive means with the removable adjustment knob. 14. A microscope according to claim 13, wherein the removable adjustment knob is fixable to the focus drive means by means.   The microscope according to claim 15, wherein the first means is a magnet.   17. A microscope according to claim 16, wherein the second means comprises pin means extending in the axial direction of the removable adjustment knob and pin receiving means extending in the axial direction of the focus driving means in combination therewith.   The microscope according to claim 17, wherein one of the pin means and the pin receiving means is formed of a magnetic material, and the other of the pin means and the pin receiving means is formed of a substance that is magnetically attracted.   The microscope according to claim 18, wherein the focus driving means is functionally arranged to move the microscope stage in the vertical direction.   20. A microscope according to claim 19, comprising at least two adjustment means and two removable adjustment knobs arranged on opposite sides of the microscope.   21. The microscope of claim 20, wherein one of the removable adjustment knobs has a greater axial length than the other. First focus adjustment means having a first removable adjustment knob and first focus drive means;
A microscope having a second removable adjustment knob and second focus adjustment means having second focus drive means,
Here, each of the first and second removable adjustment knobs is removable and selectively lockable with either of the first and second focus drive means, and the first and second adjustment knobs A microscope in which one has an axial length greater than the other axial length.   23. A microscope according to claim 22, wherein each of the first and second removable adjustment knobs can be removably secured to the first and second focus drive means by magnetic attraction therebetween.   23. Each of the first and second removable adjustment knobs can be removably secured to each of the first and second focus drive means by pin means and pin receiving means. Microscope. The first and second removable adjustment means are respectively connected to the first and second focus driving means, respectively to the first and second adjustment means, and to the first and second focus driving means. Can be fixed removably by means of pin means and pin receiving means extending in the axial direction;
25. The microscope according to claim 24, wherein one of the pin means and the pin receiving means is made of a magnetic material and the other is made of a magnetic attractive material.   The microscope according to claim 22, wherein the first and second focus driving means are arranged on opposite sides of the microscope. First focus adjustment means having a first coarse focus adjustment knob and a first removable fine focus adjustment knob;
Second focus adjustment means having a second coarse focus adjustment knob and a second removable fine focus adjustment knob; and
A microscope coupled to an interchangeable stage drive assembly comprising at least first and second focus drive means; wherein the first and second removable fine focus adjustment knobs are the first and second focus drive knobs. A microscope which can be fixed to each of the two focus driving means in a removable and replaceable manner.   The at least first and second focus drive means are disposed on opposite sides of the microscope, and one of the first and second removable fine focus adjustment knobs is axially greater than the other axial length. 28. A microscope according to claim 27 having a length.   29. The microscope according to claim 28, wherein each of the detachable fine movement focus adjustment knobs can be appropriately detachably fixed to at least each of the first and second focus driving means by a magnet attracting force therebetween.   30. Each of the first and second fine focus adjusting means can be detachably fixed as appropriate to at least each of the first and second focus driving means by a pin means and a pin receiving means. The microscope described.   Each of the first and second removable fine focus adjustment knobs includes at least first and second focal points by means of pin means and pin receiving means extending in the axial direction of the first and second focus drive means, respectively. The microscope according to claim 30, wherein the microscope is removably fixed to the driving means, and one of the pin means and the pin receiving means is formed of a magnetic material and the other is formed of a magnetic attractive material.   One of the removable fine focus adjustment knobs has a smaller axial length than the other and the removable fine movement located on the same side of the microscope as the microscope stage drive and having a smaller axial length than the other 30. A microscope according to claim 28, wherein the focusing knob is operatively arranged to focus on the object plane.

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