JP2005316163A - Transmission illumination apparatus for microscope - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a transmission illumination apparatus for a microscope which enables a transparent sample to be observed by giving it moderate shading and which is a relatively thin type. <P>SOLUTION: The transmission illumination apparatus for the microscope is provided with a glass plate 7 for placing the sample 8, a surface light source 10 for emitting almost uniform illumination light towards the glass plate 7 and a light directing member 9 which limits diffusion of illumination light emitted from the surface light source 10 in at least one direction. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a transmission illumination device for a microscope.

  Conventionally, it is known to use a substantially uniform planar light source as a light source for transmitted illumination of a microscope.

  For example, Japanese Patent No. 3194909 discloses a microscope using a flat fluorescent lamp for transmission illumination of the microscope.

  Japanese Examined Patent Publication No. 7-122694 also discloses a planar light source in which LEDs are arranged in an array and a light diffusing plate is arranged between samples.

Further, in order to cover a wide illumination range with a low magnification such as a stereomicroscope, a diffuser plate having a wide surface is used.
Japanese Patent No. 3194909 Japanese Patent Publication No. 7-122694

  However, in such a configuration in which a planar light source having a wide diffusion surface is arranged below the sample, if the distance between the sample and the light emitting surface is relatively short, the incident angle of illumination light incident on the sample is large. A relatively transparent sample is not shaded and cannot be seen well.

  In order to make the sample easy to see with an appropriate shade, the distance L between the sample and the light emitting surface needs to be at least 0.5D, preferably 0.8D or more.

  For this reason, in order to construct a transmission illumination optical system that uses a planar light source and obtains a wide illumination range and appropriate shading, a considerably large height is required.

  The present invention has been made in consideration of such a situation, and the purpose of the present invention is to provide a relatively thin transmission illumination device for a microscope that enables a transparent sample to be observed with an appropriate shadow. Is to provide.

  The present invention is a transmission illumination device for a microscope, an optically transparent sample placement plate for placing a sample, a surface light source that emits substantially uniform illumination light toward the sample placement plate, and illumination light And at least one light directing member that restricts diffusion of at least one direction.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the comparatively thin transmission illuminating device for microscopes which makes it possible to make an appropriate shadow and observe a transparent sample is provided.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[First embodiment]
FIG. 1 schematically shows a microscope incorporating a transmission illumination device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

  The transmission illumination stand 1 as a microscope stand is composed of a base portion 1a arranged in a horizontal direction and a column portion 1b provided upright with respect to the base portion 1a. A focusing device 2 is provided on the support column 1b. The focusing device 2 incorporates a focusing mechanism (not shown), and moves the movable portion 2b up and down relative to the fixed portion 2a according to the operation of the focusing handle 12 by this focusing mechanism. The movable body 2 b of the focusing device 2 is provided with a zoom body 3, and the zoom body 3 can perform zooming according to the operation of the zoom handle 13. An objective lens 4 is provided below the zoom body 3. A lens barrel 5 is provided above the zoom body 3, and an eyepiece 6 for observation is provided on the lens barrel 5.

  Further, a hole 1a1 is provided on the upper surface of the base 1a facing the objective lens 4. A glass plate 7 which is an optically transparent sample mounting plate for mounting the sample 8 is fitted in the hole 1a1. A surface light source 10 that emits substantially uniform illumination light toward the glass plate 7 is provided below the glass plate 7. A power source 11 is connected to the surface light source 10, and a commercial power source (not shown) is connected to the power source 11, and power is supplied to the surface light source 10 by a switch (not shown). One light directing member 9 is provided between the glass plate 7 and the surface light source 10. The light directing member 9 limits the diffusion of illumination light emitted from the surface light source 10 in at least one direction. The light directing member 9 is supported by a holding portion 1a2 formed on the base portion 1a.

  That is, the transmission illumination device of this embodiment is emitted from the glass plate 7 on which the sample 8 is placed, the surface light source 10 that emits substantially uniform illumination light toward the glass plate 7, and the surface light source 10. And a light directing member 9 that restricts diffusion of illumination light in at least one direction.

  In the following description, for the sake of convenience, the left-right direction (perpendicular to the paper surface of FIG. 1) viewed from the spectrographer side is the X direction, and the depth direction (left-right direction of the paper surface of FIG. 1) is the Y direction.

  The light directing member 9 is composed of a single louver film. FIG. 2 is a perspective view schematically showing the structure of the louver film. As shown in FIG. 2, the louver film 9 includes an optically transparent parallel plate-like transparent resin 21, and a plurality of optically opaque microlouvers 22 arranged at equal intervals in the transparent resin 21. It has. The micro louver 22 of the louver film 9 is orthogonal to the surface of the transparent resin 21. Such a louver film is sold by, for example, Sumitomo 3M Limited. The louver film 9 shown in FIG. 2 is drawn in a square shape in order to schematically show the structure, but the shape of the louver film 9 may be a circle or the like according to the shape of the surface light source 10.

  For the microscope shown in FIG. 1, for example, the louver film 9 is arranged such that the microlouver 22 is parallel to the X direction, as shown in FIG. Such an arrangement is particularly useful when the microscope is a binocular actual microscope, as will be described later.

  Next, the operation of the microscope of the present embodiment configured as described above will be described.

  When the observer looks into the eyepiece lens 6, the focusing handle 12 is rotated, and the zoom body 3 and the objective lens 4 are moved up and down together with the movable portion 2 b of the focusing device 2, whereby the sample 8 on the glass plate 7 is moved. Focus on. Here, by rotating the zoom handle 13 to change the magnification of the zoom body 3, the sample image being observed can be enlarged or reduced within an arbitrary range.

  When a power source 11 switch (not shown) is turned on to supply power to the surface light source 10, diffuse light is emitted from the surface light source 10, and the light transmitted through the louver film 9 illuminates the sample 8 on the glass plate 7. .

  FIG. 3A schematically shows a Y-direction section of the transmission illumination device of the present embodiment, and FIG. 3B schematically shows an X-direction section of the transmission illumination device of the embodiment. Yes. In FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B, the illumination light emitted from the surface light source 10 enters the louver film 9. As shown in FIG. 3A, illumination light having a large incident angle is blocked by the microlouver 22 and does not reach the sample 8 in the Y-direction cross section. For this reason, the sample 8 is illuminated with illumination light having a relatively small incident angle. An arrow indicated by reference numeral 31 in FIG. 3A indicates illumination light having a maximum incident angle that can illuminate the sample 8. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 3B, in the X-direction section, the illumination light emitted from the surface light source 10 is not blocked because it is parallel to the microlouver 22. For this reason, the sample 8 is illuminated with illumination light having an incident angle smaller than the maximum emission angle possible with the surface light source 10, that is, with illumination light having any incident angle emitted from the surface light source 10.

  When illuminated with illumination light having a small incident angle as shown in FIG. 3A, the angles of the refracted light and scattered light by the sample 8 are also limited. For this reason, since the case where refracted light or scattered light does not reach the objective lens 4 occurs, a shadow appears in the observation image of the sample 8. On the other hand, when illuminated with illumination light having a large incident angle as shown in FIG. 3B, the illumination light is incident on the sample 8 at various incident angles, so that the refracted light and scattered light from the sample 8 also have various angles. It occurs in. For this reason, since much light reaches the objective lens 4, it is difficult for the observation image of the sample 8 to be shaded. That is, the image of the sample 8 observed with the eyepiece 6 is an observation image in which a shadow is generated in the Y direction but no shadow is generated in the X direction. The shadow generated in the Y direction enables observation even if the sample 8 is relatively transparent.

  The strength of the shadow can be controlled by the interval (pitch) of the micro louvers 22 of the louver film 9. The finer the pitch, the higher the light shielding effect of the illumination light and the smaller the illumination angle, so that a stronger shadow can be applied to the sample 8.

Here, the length D of the shortest side of the light emitting part of the surface light source 10, the distance L from the sample mounting surface of the glass plate 7, that is, the upper surface to the light emitting surface of the surface light source 10, and the maximum illumination light incident on the sample 8. Assuming that the angle (half-width) is A, in the present embodiment, the following conditional expression L <0.7D
A <0.9 tan ^-1 (D / 2L)
Thus, the sample 8 is shaded and can be observed easily.

L <0.7D
Indicates that the distance between the sample mounting surface and the surface light source 10 is close, and the maximum angle (half-angle) A of illumination light incident on the sample 8 under this state is A <0.9 tan ⁻¹ (D / 2L)
The condition of can be satisfied. That is, the maximum angle A can be reduced by 10% or more by simply disposing the surface light source 10.

  In other words, it is possible to obtain an effect as if the surface light source 10 is disposed far away even though the surface light source 10 is disposed nearby.

  As a specific example, when a surface light source with a diameter of 50 mm is used, the length D of the shortest side of the light emitting portion of the surface light source 10 is 50 mm.

  From L <0.7D, the distance L from the sample mounting surface to the light emitting surface is less than 35 mm.

From A <0.9 tan ⁻¹ (D / 2L), the maximum angle A of illumination light incident on the sample 8 is less than 32 °.

  Therefore, the distance from the sample mounting surface to the light emitting surface is shorter than 35 mm, and the maximum angle A of illumination light when the surface light source 10 is disposed farther than 40 mm is obtained. If the φ50 mm surface light source is simply placed at a position 35 mm away, the maximum angle of illumination light incident on the sample 8 is 35.5 °.

  A binocular stereomicroscope generally has two optical axes with inward angles aligned in the X direction for the right eye and the left eye. In the binocular stereomicroscope, when a shadow is generated in the X direction of the sample 8, the two optical axes have different angles, and therefore the two optical axes have different shadowing methods. As a result, the shadows of the images of the sample 8 observed through the left and right eyepieces 6 are different, which makes it difficult to see. Therefore, for a binocular stereomicroscope, it is preferable that no shadow occurs in the left-right direction (X direction) of the image. That is, when the microscope is a binocular stereomicroscope, the light directing member, that is, the louver film 9, may limit the diffusion of illumination light in the direction perpendicular to the plane including the two optical axes of the binocular stereomicroscope.

  Further, in the absence of the louver film 9, illumination light having a large incident angle in both the X direction and the Y direction is incident on the sample 8, so that the image is not shaded. In order to obtain the same incident angle as in FIG. 3A without the louver film 9, the distance between the surface light source 10 and the sample 8 must be increased. In order to provide an appropriate shadow, when the size of the light emitting surface of the surface light source 10 is D, it is necessary to separate the light source by 0.5D or more, preferably 0.8D or more.

  Thus, even if the distance between the surface light source 10 and the sample 8 is increased, shadows are attached to all of the X direction and the Y direction, so that a difference occurs in the images observed through the left and right eyepieces 6 in the observation with the binocular stereomicroscope. So hard to see.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, even if the surface light source 10 is arranged near the sample 8 by the louver film 9, an appropriate shadow is applied to the image of the sample 8. For this reason, even a relatively transparent sample can be observed. Moreover, since the thickness of the base part 1a of the transmission illumination stand 1 can be reduced, a large movement in the vertical direction in the work of replacing the sample 8 or the like can be reduced, and excellent workability can be obtained.

  In addition, in work such as sample manipulation while observing, the position of the hand can be lowered and the eye point can also be lowered, so that it is possible to reduce the observer's fatigue.

  Furthermore, since the sample 8 is shaded only in the Y direction, even when applied to a binocular stereomicroscope, it is not difficult to see and optimal illumination is obtained.

  In addition, since the method of shading by the louver film 9 does not depend on the size of the surface light source 10, even when the sample 8 is large, by increasing the surface light source 10, a wide range of illumination with less unevenness that produces an appropriate shadow can be obtained. It becomes possible.

[First modification]
In the above-described embodiment, the louver film 9 in which the micro louver 22 as shown in FIG. 2 is vertically used is used. However, as shown in FIG. The louver film 9 can be used. That is, in this modification, the micro louver 41 of the louver film 9 is inclined with respect to the surface of the transparent resin 21.

  FIG. 5 schematically shows a cross section in the Y direction of the transmission illumination device of the present modification including the louver film shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 5, it is possible to perform an oblique illumination method in which the illumination light 51 is obliquely applied to the sample 8 to emphasize the shadow more.

  As a conventional general oblique illumination method, a method of deflecting a mirror arranged in an illumination optical system and a method of inserting a slit on an illumination optical path are known. If the mirror and the slit are arranged in the vicinity of the conjugate position with respect to the pupil of the observation optical system, the brightness unevenness of the field of view is small and the effect of oblique illumination can be obtained. However, in a microscope equipped with a zooming device, the conjugate position with respect to the pupil of the observation optical system moves greatly with zooming, so that it is impossible to obtain uneven oblique illumination in all usage conditions. is there.

  According to the present modification, in addition to the advantages of the present embodiment, it is possible to perform the oblique illumination that provides a stronger shadow in a state without unevenness.

[Second modification]
In the above-described embodiment, the light directing member 9 is configured by a single louver film and the diffusion of illumination light is limited only in the Y direction. However, in order to give an appropriate shadow also in the X direction, The member 9 may be composed of a plurality of louver films stacked on each other.

  As described above, in the binocular stereomicroscope, it is preferable that no shadow is generated in the left-right direction (X direction) of the image. For this reason, when the microscope is a binocular stereomicroscope, the light directing member 9 formed by stacking a plurality of louver films is used for the illumination light in the X direction parallel to the plane including the two optical axes of the binocular stereomicroscope. It is preferable to limit the diffusion of illumination light in the Y direction perpendicular to the plane including the two optical axes of the binocular stereomicroscope more than the diffusion.

  FIG. 6A schematically shows a Y-direction cross section of the transmission illumination device of this modification, and FIG. 6B schematically shows an X-direction cross section of the transmission illumination device of this modification. Yes. 7A is a plan view of the upper louver film 9b shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, and FIG. 7B is a plan view of FIG. FIG. 6B is a plan view of the lower louver film 9a shown in FIG. 6B, and FIG. 7C is shown in FIG. 7A and the louver film 9b shown in FIG. 7B. A state in which the louver film 9a is overlaid is shown.

  As shown in FIGS. 6 (a) and 6 (b), the light directing member 9 is composed of two louver films, and as shown in FIGS. 7 (a) to 7 (c), The microlouver of one louver film 9a is parallel to the plane including the two optical axes of the binocular stereomicroscope (that is, the X direction), and the microlouver of the other louver film 9b is the two optical axes of the binocular stereomicroscope. The distance between the microlouvers parallel to the plane including the two optical axes of the binocular stereomicroscope (ie, the X direction) is orthogonal to the plane including the two optical axes of the binocular stereomicroscope. It is narrower than the distance between the micro louvers.

  As shown in FIG. 6A, the diffusion of illumination light in the Y direction is limited only by the louver film 9a and is not affected by the louver film 9b. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 6B, the diffusion of illumination light in the X direction is not affected by the louver film 9a, but is limited only by the louver film 9b. As a result, the surface of the binocular stereomicroscope that includes the two optical axes (that is, the Y direction) is larger than the incident angle of the illumination light in the direction parallel to the plane that includes the two optical axes of the binocular stereomicroscope (that is, the X direction). The incident angle of the illumination light in the orthogonal direction becomes smaller.

  In this modification, in addition to controlling the shadow in the Y direction, it is possible to control the shadow in the X direction. Therefore, it is possible to optimally illuminate a wider variety of samples 8 depending on the purpose.

[Third modification]
FIG. 8 schematically shows a cross section in the X direction of the transmission illumination device of the present modification. FIG. 9A is a plan view of the upper louver film 9b shown in FIG. 8, and FIG. 9B is a plan view of the lower louver film 9a shown in FIG. 9 (c) shows a state in which the louver film 9b shown in FIG. 9 (a) and the louver film 9a shown in FIG. 9 (b) are overlapped, and FIG. FIG. 9A shows a state in which the louver film 9b shown in FIG. 9A and the louver film 9a shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the light directing member 9 of the present modification is composed of two louver films 9 a and 9 b that are stacked on each other, as in the second modification. However, unlike the second modification, the two louver films 9a and 9b are both planes including the two optical axes of the binocular stereomicroscope (see FIGS. 9A and 9B). That is, the microlouver is inclined with respect to the X direction). As a result, the combined pattern of the micro louvers of the two louver films 9a and 9b is the pattern shown in FIG. 9 (c). Further, the two louver films 9a and 9b are both rotatable around the illumination optical axis perpendicular to the light emitting surface of the surface light source 10, and the two louver films 9a and 9b are changed by changing the two louver films 9a and 9b with respect to the X direction. The composite pattern of the micro louvers of the louver films 9a and 9b can be changed to the pattern shown in FIG. 9D, for example. That is, the degree of illumination light diffusion limitation, that is, the incident angle of illumination light can be changed variously. As a result, it is possible to change the way in which shadows are applied.

  Further, in the transmission illumination device of this modification, a diffusion plate 81 is provided between the glass plate 7 and the light directing member 9. The diffusing plate 81 diffuses the illumination light to such an extent that it does not substantially affect the diffusion limiting effect of the illumination light by the light directing member 9. By providing the diffusing plate 81, it is possible to hide the moire fringes generated by the overlapping of the two louver films 9a and 9b. Further, even when the light directing member 9 and the sample 8 are close to each other, the louver line can be made invisible. This eliminates the need to use louver films 9a and 9b having a particularly fine pitch, improving the degree of freedom in selecting the pitch of the micro louvers.

[Second Embodiment]
FIG. 10A schematically shows a cross section in the X direction of the main part of the transmission illumination device of the second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 10B shows the transmission illumination of the second embodiment of the present invention. A cross section in the Y direction of the main part of the apparatus is schematically shown. 10 (a) and 10 (b), members indicated by the same reference numerals as those shown in FIG. 1 are similar members, and detailed description thereof is omitted.

  The transmitted illumination device of the present embodiment further includes a rotation mechanism that rotates the light directing member 9 around an axis perpendicular to the illumination optical axis perpendicular to the light emitting surface of the surface light source 10. As shown in FIG. 10A and FIG. 10B, this rotating mechanism roughly includes a frame 101 that holds the light directing member 9, a shaft 102 fixed to the frame 101, and a shaft 102. The bearing 103 is configured to be rotatably supported, and the operation knob 104 is provided at the end of the shaft 102.

  In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, the light directing member 9 is composed of a single louver film in which the microlouver is orthogonal to the surface of the transparent resin. The louver film 9 is held by a frame 101. The frame 101 is fixed to the end of the shaft 102. The shaft 102 is rotatably held by the bearing 103. An operation knob 104 is provided at the other end of the shaft 102. A screw 105 is screwed into the shaft 102. The screw 105 cooperates with a groove 106 provided in the bearing 103 to play a role of restricting the amount of rotation and preventing it from coming off. A hole 107 is provided in the bearing 103, and a ball 108, a spring 109, and a screw 110 are inserted into the hole 107. The ball 108 is pressed against the shaft 102 by the force of the spring 109, so that the rotation of the shaft 102 can be kept at an arbitrary angle.

  Next, the operation of the transmission illumination apparatus of the present embodiment configured as described above will be described.

  FIG. 11A schematically shows a cross section in the Y direction in a state where the louver film is parallel to the glass plate in the transmission illumination device of the present embodiment, and FIG. 11B shows the transmission of the present embodiment. The Y direction section of the state where the louver film was tilted to the maximum with respect to the glass plate in the lighting device is schematically shown.

  As shown in FIG. 11A, in the state where the light directing member, that is, the louver film 9 is parallel to the glass plate 7, the diffusion of the illumination light 111 emitted from the surface light source 10 is moderately regulated by the louver film 9. The sample 8 is irradiated. As a result, the observation image of the sample 8 can be observed with an appropriate shadow. The louver film 9 can be tilted with respect to the glass plate 7 by operating and rotating the operation knob 104.

  As shown in FIG. 11B, in the state where the louver film 9 is tilted to the maximum extent, the illumination light 112 is applied obliquely to the sample 8 to emphasize the shadow more than in the state of FIG. Incident illumination can be performed. By operating the operation knob 104, the louver film 9 can be held with an arbitrary inclination between the state shown in FIG. 11A and the state shown in FIG. 11B. The effect of oblique illumination corresponding to is obtained.

  As described above, in this embodiment, the intensity of the shadow applied to the sample 8 can be continuously adjusted to an arbitrary amount by adjusting the inclination of the louver film 9. Thereby, the sample 8 can be observed with an optimal shadow.

[Modification]
In the embodiment described above, the light directing member 9 is configured by the single louver film illustrated in FIG. 2, but is configured in the same manner as the first to third modifications of the first embodiment. Also good. In that case, in addition to the advantages described in the first to third modifications of the first embodiment, any shadow adjustment can be made according to the state of the sample 8, so that a wider variety of samples 8 can be obtained. It becomes possible to adapt.

[Third embodiment]
FIG. 12 schematically shows a cross section in the X direction of the main part of the transmission illumination device of the third embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 13 is a top view of the turret shown in FIG. 12 and 13, members indicated by the same reference numerals as those shown in FIG. 1 are the same members, and detailed description thereof is omitted.

  In FIG. 12 and FIG. 13, the transmitted illumination device of this embodiment selectively selects one of four light directing members 9A, 9B, 9C, and 9D and four light directing members 9A, 9B, 9C, and 9D. And a switching mechanism disposed between the glass plate 7 and the surface light source 10. This switching mechanism includes a turret 121 that is rotatably supported by a shaft 122 with respect to the base portion 1a. Between the turret 121 and the base portion 1a, a spacer 123 is provided for restricting backlash when the turret 121 rotates. The turret 121 is provided with, for example, four holes 124A, 124B, 124C, and 124D. Frames 125A, 125B, 125C, and 125D holding the light directing members 9A, 9B, 9C, and 9D are dropped and held in the holes 124A, 124B, 124C, and 124D, respectively.

  The turret 121 can be rotated by operating the operation part 126 protruding from the base part 1a. A plunger 127 is provided on the base portion 1a. The plunger 127 includes a ball 128 and a spring 129, and the ball 128 is pressed against the outer peripheral surface of the turret 121 by the spring 129. The turret 121 has a click groove 130 on the outer peripheral surface, and the rotation of the turret 121 is restricted when the ball 128 falls into the click groove 130. In a state where the ball 128 has fallen into the click groove 130, one of the four light directing members 9 </ b> A, 9 </ b> B, 9 </ b> C, and 9 </ b> D is appropriately disposed between the glass plate 7 and the surface light source 10. When an arbitrary force is applied to the operation unit 126 at a certain level or more, the ball 128 is moved by being pushed by the slope of the click groove 130, so that the turret 121 rotates and another light directing member is interposed between the glass plate 7 and the surface light source 10. When it comes, the ball 128 falls into the click groove 130 again, and the rotation of the turret 121 is restricted.

  For example, the light directing members 9A and 9C are composed of a single louver film shown in FIG. 2, and as shown in FIG. 12, the louver film 9A is arranged in parallel to the glass plate 7, and the louver film 9C The glass plate 7 is disposed so as to be inclined. In the state of FIG. 12, since the louver film 9A is disposed between the glass plate 7 and the surface light source 10, the image of the sample 8 can be observed with an appropriate shadow. When the turret 121 is rotated by operating the operation unit 126 from this state and the louver film 9C is disposed between the glass plate 7 and the surface light source 10, the louver film 9C tilted with respect to the glass plate 7 provides oblique illumination. A stronger shadow can be attached to the image of the sample 8 and observed.

  The light directing members 9B and 9D are not particularly shown, but are composed of, for example, a louver film similar to the light directing members 9A and 9C, and may be disposed to be inclined with respect to the glass plate 7 at an angle different from that of the louver film 9C. . By doing so, the louver films 9B, 9C, and 9D have different oblique illumination, and the image of the sample 8 can be observed with shadows having different strengths.

  In addition, the light directing members 9A, 9B, 9C, and 9D are not necessarily arranged in all of the holes 124A, 124B, 124C, and 124D, and appropriate holes may be used as they are. By doing so, it is also possible to switch between the observation with no shadow by the louver film 9 and the observation with no shadow by the louver film 9.

  The light directing members 9 </ b> A, 9 </ b> B, 9 </ b> C, and 9 </ b> D may be configured similarly to the first to third modifications of the first embodiment, in addition to the configuration described here. By doing so, louver films having various optical characteristics can be switched and used, so that more various illuminations can be performed.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the light directing members 9A, 9B, 9C, and 9D having different optical characteristics can be switched and used, so that the optimal illumination for various samples 8 can be performed by one transmission illumination. It becomes possible to carry out with an apparatus.

  In addition, since the light directing members 9A, 9B, 9C, and 9D can be exchanged together with the frames 125A, 125B, 125C, and 125D, it is possible to obtain an observation image with a shadow of an arbitrary combination according to the purpose.

  In this embodiment, the turret 121 includes four holes 124A, 124B, 124C, and 124D. However, the number of holes can be arbitrarily increased or decreased by increasing the size of the turret 121. Is also possible.

  The embodiments of the present invention have been described above with reference to the drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments, and various modifications and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. Also good.

[Conclusion]
The present invention includes a transmission illumination device for a microscope listed in the following items.

  1. A transmission illumination device for a microscope according to the present invention includes an optically transparent sample mounting plate for mounting a sample, a surface light source that emits substantially uniform illumination light toward the sample mounting plate, and an illumination light And at least one light directing member that restricts diffusion in at least one direction.

2. Another transmission illumination device for a microscope according to the present invention is the length D of the shortest side of the light-emitting portion of the surface light source and the distance from the sample mounting surface of the sample mounting plate to the light-emitting surface of the surface light source. L and the maximum angle (half angle) A of the illumination light incident on the sample are:
L <0.7D
A <0.9 tan ^-1 (D / 2L)
Is satisfied.

  3. Another transmission illumination device for a microscope according to the present invention includes the one light directing member arranged between the sample placing plate and the surface light source in the first item.

  4). Another transmission illumination device for a microscope according to the present invention is the transmission illuminating device according to the third item, wherein the light directing member is composed of a single louver film, and the louver film includes an optically transparent parallel plate-like transparent resin and a transparent resin. And a number of optically opaque microlouvers arranged at equal intervals in the resin.

  5). Another transmitted illumination device for a microscope according to the present invention is the fourth aspect, wherein the microlouver of the louver film is orthogonal to the surface of the transparent resin.

  6). Another transmission illumination device for a microscope according to the present invention is the transmission illumination device for a microscope according to item 5, wherein the microscope is a binocular stereomicroscope, and the light directing member transmits illumination light in a direction perpendicular to the plane including the two optical axes of the binocular stereomicroscope. Limit diffusion.

  7). Another transmitted light illumination device for a microscope according to the present invention is such that the microlouver of the louver film is inclined with respect to the surface of the transparent resin.

  8). Another transmission illumination device for a microscope according to the present invention is the transmission illumination device for a microscope according to item 7, wherein the microscope is a binocular stereomicroscope, and the light directing member transmits illumination light with respect to a direction perpendicular to a plane including the two optical axes of the binocular stereomicroscope. Limit diffusion.

  9. Another transmission illumination device for a microscope according to the present invention is the diffusion plate disposed between the sample mounting plate and the light directing member according to the fourth item, and is substantially effective in limiting the diffusion of illumination light by the light directing member. A diffusion plate is further provided for diffusing the illumination light to such an extent that the illumination light is not affected.

  10. Another microscope transmission illumination device according to the present invention, in the third item, the light directing member is composed of a plurality of louver films, and the plurality of louver films are stacked on each other. An optically transparent parallel plate-like transparent resin and a number of optically opaque microlouvers arranged at equal intervals in the transparent resin are provided.

  11. Another transmission illumination device for a microscope according to the present invention is the transmission illumination device for a microscope according to item 10, wherein the microscope is a binocular stereomicroscope, and the light directing member transmits illumination light in a direction parallel to a plane including two optical axes of the binocular stereomicroscope. The diffusion of the illumination light in the direction orthogonal to the plane including the two optical axes of the binocular stereomicroscope is limited more than the diffusion.

  12 Another transmission illumination device for a microscope according to the present invention is the transmission illuminating device according to item 11, wherein the light directing member is composed of two louver films, and the micro louver of one louver film has two optical axes of a binocular stereomicroscope. The microlouver of the other louver film is parallel to the plane containing the two optical axes of the binocular stereomicroscope and parallel to the plane containing the two optical axes of the binocular stereomicroscope. Is smaller than the interval between the microlouvers orthogonal to the plane including the two optical axes of the binocular stereomicroscope.

  13. Another transmitted light illuminating device for a microscope according to the present invention is the illuminating optical axis perpendicular to the light-emitting surface of the surface light source, wherein the light directing member is composed of two louver films in item 11. The microlouver is inclined with respect to a plane including two optical axes of the binocular stereomicroscope.

  14 Another transmission illumination device for a microscope according to the present invention is the diffusion plate disposed between the sample mounting plate and the light directing member according to the thirteenth item, and is substantially effective in limiting the diffusion of illumination light by the light directing member. A diffusion plate is further provided for diffusing the illumination light to such an extent that the illumination light is not affected.

  15. Another transmitted light illumination device for a microscope according to the present invention further includes a rotation mechanism that rotates the light directing member around an axis perpendicular to the illumination optical axis perpendicular to the light emitting surface of the surface light source.

  16. Another transmitted light illuminating device for a microscope according to the present invention is the light directing member according to item 15, wherein the light directing member is formed of a single louver film, and the louver film is formed of an optically transparent parallel plate-like transparent resin and a transparent resin. And a number of optically opaque microlouvers arranged at equal intervals in the resin.

  17. In another sixteenth aspect of the invention, the micro louver of the louver film is orthogonal to the surface of the transparent resin.

  18. In another embodiment of the transmission illumination device for a microscope according to the present invention, the microscope is a binocular stereomicroscope, and the light directing member transmits illumination light in a direction perpendicular to a plane including two optical axes of the binocular stereomicroscope. Limit diffusion.

  19. In another transmission illumination device for a microscope according to the present invention, the micro louver of the louver film is inclined with respect to the surface of the transparent resin in the sixteenth item.

  20. Another transmission illumination device for a microscope according to the present invention is the transmission illumination device for a microscope according to item 19, wherein the microscope is a binocular stereomicroscope, and the light directing member transmits illumination light in a direction perpendicular to a plane including two optical axes of the binocular stereomicroscope. Limit diffusion.

  21. Another transmission illumination device for a microscope according to the present invention is the diffusion plate disposed between the sample mounting plate and the light directing member according to the sixteenth aspect, and is substantially effective in limiting the diffusion of illumination light by the light directing member. A diffusion plate is further provided for diffusing the illumination light to such an extent that the illumination light is not affected.

  22. Another microscope illuminating device of the present invention is the transmission illumination device for a microscope according to item 15, wherein the light directing member is composed of a plurality of louver films, and the plurality of louver films are stacked on each other. An optically transparent parallel plate-like transparent resin and a number of optically opaque microlouvers arranged at equal intervals in the transparent resin are provided.

  23. Another transmission illumination device for a microscope according to the present invention is the transmission illumination device for a microscope according to item 22, wherein the microscope is a binocular stereomicroscope, and the light directing member is a unit for illuminating light in a direction parallel to a plane including two optical axes of the binocular stereomicroscope. The diffusion of the illumination light in the direction orthogonal to the plane including the two optical axes of the binocular stereomicroscope is limited more than the diffusion.

  24. In another transmission illuminating device for a microscope according to the present invention, the light directing member is composed of two louver films in Item 23, and the micro louver of one louver film has two optical axes of a binocular stereomicroscope. The microlouver of the other louver film is parallel to the plane containing the two optical axes of the binocular stereomicroscope and parallel to the plane containing the two optical axes of the binocular stereomicroscope. Is smaller than the interval between the microlouvers orthogonal to the plane including the two optical axes of the binocular stereomicroscope.

  25. Another microscope transmission illumination device according to the present invention is the transmission illumination device for a microscope according to item 23, wherein the light directing member is composed of two louver films, and both the two louver films are perpendicular to the light emitting surface of the surface light source. The microlouver is inclined with respect to a plane including two optical axes of the binocular stereomicroscope.

  26. Another transmission illumination device for a microscope according to the present invention is the diffusion plate disposed between the sample mounting plate and the light directing member according to Item 25, and is substantially effective in limiting the diffusion of illumination light by the light directing member. A diffusion plate is further provided for diffusing the illumination light to such an extent that the illumination light is not affected.

  27. Another microscope transmission illumination device according to the present invention is the first embodiment, wherein the plurality of light directing members and one of the plurality of light directing members are selectively disposed between the sample mounting plate and the surface light source. Switching mechanism.

  28. Another transmission illumination device for a microscope according to the present invention is the transillumination device for a microscope according to item 27, wherein at least one light directing member is composed of a single louver film, and the louver film is an optically transparent parallel plate-like transparent resin. And a large number of optically opaque microlouvers arranged at equal intervals in the transparent resin.

  29. In another transmission illumination device for a microscope according to the present invention, the micro louver of the louver film is orthogonal to the surface of the transparent resin in Item 28.

  30. In another transmitted light illumination device for a microscope according to the present invention, the louver film is disposed so as to be inclined with respect to the sample mounting plate in the item 29.

  31. Another transmission illumination device for a microscope according to the present invention is the transmission illumination device for a microscope according to Item 29, wherein the microscope is a binocular stereomicroscope, and the light directing member transmits illumination light in a direction perpendicular to a plane including two optical axes of the binocular stereomicroscope. Limit diffusion.

  32. In another transmission microscope illumination device of the present invention according to Item 28, the microlouver of the louver film is inclined with respect to the surface of the transparent resin.

  33. Another transmitted light illumination device for a microscope according to the present invention is the transmission illumination device for a microscope according to Item 32, wherein the microscope is a binocular stereomicroscope, and the light directing member transmits illumination light in a direction perpendicular to a plane including the two optical axes of the binocular stereomicroscope. Limit diffusion.

  34. Another transmission illumination device for a microscope according to the present invention is the diffusion plate disposed between the sample mounting plate and the light directing member in Item 28, and substantially prevents the illumination light from being diffused by the light directing member. A diffusion plate is further provided for diffusing the illumination light to such an extent that the illumination light is not affected.

  35. Another microscope transmission illumination device according to the present invention is the transmission illumination device for a microscope according to Item 27, wherein the at least one light directing member is composed of a plurality of louver films, and the plurality of louver films are stacked on each other. The film includes an optically transparent parallel plate-like transparent resin and a number of optically opaque microlouvers arranged at equal intervals in the transparent resin.

  36. Another transmission illumination device for a microscope according to the present invention is the transmission illumination device for a microscope according to Item 35, wherein the microscope is a binocular stereomicroscope, and the light directing member is configured to transmit illumination light in a direction parallel to a plane including two optical axes of the binocular stereomicroscope. The diffusion of the illumination light in the direction orthogonal to the plane including the two optical axes of the binocular stereomicroscope is limited more than the diffusion.

  37. Another microscope transmission illumination device of the present invention is the transmission illumination device for a microscope according to Item 36, wherein the light directing member is composed of two louver films, and the micro louver of one louver film has two optical axes of a binocular stereomicroscope. The microlouver of the other louver film is parallel to the plane containing the two optical axes of the binocular stereomicroscope and parallel to the plane containing the two optical axes of the binocular stereomicroscope. Is smaller than the interval between the microlouvers orthogonal to the plane including the two optical axes of the binocular stereomicroscope.

  38. In another thirty-sixth transmission illumination device of the present invention, the light directing member is formed of two louver films in Item 36, and the two louver films are both illumination optical axes perpendicular to the light emitting surface of the surface light source. The microlouver is inclined with respect to a plane including two optical axes of the binocular stereomicroscope.

  39. Another transmission illumination device for a microscope according to the present invention is the diffusion plate disposed between the sample mounting plate and the light directing member according to Item 38, and is substantially effective in limiting the diffusion of illumination light by the light directing member. A diffusion plate is further provided for diffusing the illumination light to such an extent that the illumination light is not affected.

1 schematically shows a microscope incorporating a transmission illumination device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view schematically showing the structure of the louver film shown in FIG. 1. The cross section of the transmission illumination apparatus of 1st embodiment of this invention is shown typically. It is a perspective view showing typically the structure of the louver film in the first modification of the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 schematically shows a cross section in the Y direction of a transmission illumination device including the louver film shown in FIG. 4. The cross section of the transmission illuminating device in the 2nd modification of 1st embodiment of this invention is shown typically. FIG. 7 is a plan view of the louver film shown in FIG. 6. The X direction cross section of the translucent illuminating device in the 3rd modification of 1st embodiment of this invention is shown typically. FIG. 9 is a plan view of the louver film shown in FIG. 8. The cross section of the principal part of the transmission illumination apparatus of 2nd embodiment of this invention is shown typically. FIG. 11 schematically illustrates a cross section of the transmission illumination device illustrated in FIG. 10. The X direction cross section of the principal part of the transmission illuminating device of 3rd embodiment of this invention is shown typically. FIG. 13 is a top view of the turret shown in FIG. 12.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Transmission illumination stand, 1a ... Base part, 1a1 ... Hole part, 1a2 ... Holding part, 1b ... Supporting part, 2 ... Focusing device, 2a ... Fixed part, 2b ... Movable part, 3 ... Zoom main body, 4 ... Objective Lenses, 5 ... Lens barrel, 6 ... Eyepiece, 7 ... Glass plate, 8 ... Sample, 9 ... Light directing member, 9a ... Louver film, 9b ... Louver film, 9A ... Light directing member, 9B ... Light directing member, 9C Light directing member, 9D Light directing member, 10 Surface light source, 11 Power source, 12 Focusing handle, 13 Zoom handle, 21 Transparent resin, 22 Microlouver, 41 Microlouver, 51 Illumination light , 81 ... Diffuser, 101 ... Frame, 102 ... Shaft, 103 ... Bearing, 104 ... Operation knob part, 105 ... Screw, 106 ... Groove, 107 ... Hole, 108 ... Ball, 109 ... Spring, 110 ... Screw, 111 ... Illumination light, 112 ... Bright light, 121 ... Turret, 122 ... Shaft, 123 ... Spacer, 124A ... Hole, 124B ... Hole, 124C ... Hole, 124D ... Hole, 125A ... Frame, 125B ... Frame, 125C ... Frame, 125D ... Frame, 126 ... operation unit, 127 ... plunger, 128 ... ball, 129 ... spring, 130 ... click groove.

Claims (4)

An optically transparent sample mounting plate for mounting the sample;
A surface light source that emits substantially uniform illumination light toward the sample mounting plate;
A transmission illumination device for a microscope, comprising: at least one light directing member that restricts diffusion of illumination light in at least one direction. In Claim 1, the length D of the shortest side of the light emission part of a surface light source, the distance L from the sample mounting surface of a sample mounting plate to the light emission surface of a surface light source, and the maximum angle of the illumination light which injects into a sample (Half-width) A is
L <0.7D
A <0.9 tan ^-1 (D / 2L)
Satisfying the requirements of the microscope transmission illumination device.   The transmission illumination device for a microscope according to claim 1, comprising a single light directing member disposed between the sample mounting plate and the surface light source.   The microscope transmission according to claim 1, comprising: a plurality of light directing members; and a switching mechanism that selectively places one of the plurality of light directing members between the sample mounting plate and the surface light source. Lighting device.

Images