JP2006133747A - Microscope device and laser unit - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a microscope device capable of optical path switching between a laser light source and an illuminating optical system of enhancing the reproducibility of an image being observed, and to provide a laser unit. <P>SOLUTION: The microscope device includes laser light sources (1 and 2), illuminating optical systems (21 and 22) for the microscope, which is used to illuminate an object (O) being observed, and a switching mechanism (30) disposed between the laser light source and the illuminating optical path and used to switch an optical path by inserting or extracting a corner cube (17). The switching mechanism (30) is constructed such that a retroreflective optical member is simply inserted or extracted. Accordingly, the brightness of an image being observed hardly decreases despite optical path switching. That is, the reproducibility of the brightness of the image being observed can be enhanced. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

The present invention relates to a microscope apparatus including a laser light source and an illumination optical system and capable of switching an optical path of an illumination optical path, and a laser unit used in the microscope apparatus.
As used herein, “optical path switching” refers to “connecting / disconnecting between a certain incident optical path and a certain outgoing optical path of propagating light”. Are selectively connected to the exit optical path ”,“ selectively connect one of the multiple exit optical paths of the propagation light to the incident optical path ”, and“ in the multiple entrance optical paths of the propagation light ” And one of the plurality of emission paths are selectively connected to each other.

One observation method for observing living cells and the like, and an observation method using a laser light source include confocal observation and total reflection fluorescence observation.
In many sites, it is desirable to use different observation methods depending on the type of observation object and the purpose of observation.
On the other hand, since a laser light source is expensive, if a laser light source for a confocal microscope and a laser light source for a total reflection fluorescent microscope are prepared, the cost increases.

Therefore, a microscope system that shares one laser light source for a plurality of observation methods has been developed (Patent Document 1, etc.).
The microscope main body of this microscope system includes a total reflection fluorescence observation unit (reference numeral 21 in Patent Document 1, etc.) and a confocal observation unit (reference numerals 5, 6, 7, 8, 13, 14 in Patent Document 1). , 15, 16, 17) are set.

These units are connected to a common laser light source (reference numeral 1 of patent document 1) through optical fibers (reference numerals 4 and 3 of patent document 1). A movable mirror for switching the optical path (reference numeral 27 in Patent Document 1) is inserted between the laser light source and the incident ends of the two optical fibers.
By driving the movable mirror, the microscope system can be switched between a state in which laser light is introduced into the illumination optical system for reflected fluorescence observation and a state in which laser light is introduced into the confocal unit.
Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2003-270538 (FIG. 2) JP 2003-228209 A

However, since mechanical backlash can occur in the mechanism for inserting and removing the movable mirror, it is difficult to accurately reproduce the position and posture of the movable mirror at the time of insertion.
In particular, if the reproducibility of the posture of the movable mirror is low, the angle reproducibility of the optical path of the laser beam reflected by the movable mirror is degraded, and the optical path of the laser beam toward the incident end of the optical fiber (located just before the incident end). In addition, the angle reproducibility of the incident light path of the laser beam with respect to the condenser lens is also deteriorated.

The angle of the incident optical path of the laser beam with respect to the condenser lens strongly dominates the incident efficiency of the laser beam with respect to the optical fiber.
For this reason, this microscope system has a problem that the reproducibility of the laser power, that is, the reproducibility of the brightness of the observation image is extremely poor.
Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a microscope apparatus and a laser unit that can switch an optical path between a laser light source and an illumination optical system and can improve the reproducibility of brightness of an observation image. .

The microscope apparatus according to the present invention is disposed between a laser light source, a microscope illumination optical system for illuminating an object to be observed, and the laser light source and the illumination optical system, and switches an optical path by inserting and removing a corner cube. And a switching mechanism for performing the above.
The microscope apparatus according to the present invention may include a plurality of the illumination optical systems, and the switching mechanism may switch a connection destination of the laser light source between the plurality of illumination optical systems.

In the microscope apparatus of the present invention, the plurality of laser light sources, the plurality of illumination optical systems, and the light emission paths of the plurality of laser light sources are integrated and connected to a part of the plurality of illumination optical systems. The switching mechanism may switch a part of connection destinations of the plurality of laser light sources between the other part of the plurality of illumination optical systems and the integration unit.
Further, it is desirable that the switching mechanism sets the posture of the corner cube when the optical path is inserted so that the light incident surface or the light exit surface is inclined with respect to the optical path.

In addition, the microscope apparatus of the present invention includes an optical element that adjusts the intensity of the laser light emitted from the laser light source, and the switching mechanism determines the posture of the corner cube when the optical path is inserted, its light incident surface or light emission. It is desirable to set the surface to be optically non-parallel to the light exit surface of the optical element.
In the switching mechanism, it is desirable that a reflecting member for deflecting the laser light is disposed in at least one of the incident side optical path and the exit side optical path of the corner cube when the optical path is inserted.

Further, at least the laser light source and the switching mechanism are disposed in a laser unit, the illumination optical system is disposed in a microscope main body, and the laser unit and the microscope main body are in a single mode for guiding the laser light. The optical fibers may be coupled with each other.
The illumination optical system may include at least one confocal observation illumination optical system. The illumination optical system may include at least one illumination optical system for total reflection observation. Further, the illumination optical system for total reflection observation may be an illumination optical system for total reflection fluorescence observation.

Further, the illumination optical system may include at least one illumination optical system for light stimulation.
Moreover, the laser unit of the present invention is the laser unit used in the microscope apparatus of the present invention, and includes an optical fiber mount portion to which the optical fiber can be attached and detached.

  According to the present invention, a microscope apparatus and a laser unit that can switch an optical path between a laser light source and an illumination optical system and can improve reproducibility of brightness of an observation image are realized.

[First Embodiment]
Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described.
This embodiment is an embodiment of a microscope system.
FIG. 1 is an external view of the microscope system.
As shown in FIG. 1, the microscope system includes a laser unit 10 and a microscope main body 23. The microscope body 23 is, for example, an inverted microscope. In the microscope main body 23, a total reflection fluorescence observation unit 21 and a confocal observation unit 22 are set.

The total reflection fluorescence observation unit 21 and the confocal observation unit 22 are connected to the laser unit 10 via optical fibers 15 and 16, respectively. These optical fibers 15 and 16 are, for example, single mode fibers having a core diameter of 3.5 μm.
In the laser unit 10, the total reflection fluorescence observation unit 21, and the confocal observation unit 22, the connection location with the optical fibers 15 and 16 is an optical fiber mount portion that detachably supports the optical fiber. .

An optical path switching unit 30 is mounted on the laser unit 10. Reference numeral 36 denotes a lever for the user to manually switch the optical path.
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an optical system portion of the microscope system. In FIG. 2, a part of the optical system of the microscope body 23 (such as an eyepiece) is omitted.
As shown in FIG. 2, the laser unit 10 includes two laser light sources 1 and 2.

The laser light sources 1 and 2 are, for example, an argon laser (wavelength 488 nm) and a Green-HeNe laser (wavelength 543 nm).
The emission optical paths of the laser light sources 1 and 2 are integrated into a common optical path L via the total reflection mirror M and the dichroic mirror DM and introduced into the optical path switching unit 30.
ND filters ND1 and ND2 made of flat glass are inserted in the emission light path of the laser light source 1 and the emission light path of the laser light source 2, respectively.

  A shutter 3 is disposed in each of the emission light paths before the integration of the laser light sources 1 and 2, and the user individually applies the laser light emitted from the laser light sources 1 and 2 via an operation unit (not shown). Can be blocked / opened. Therefore, the user can limit the light introduced into the optical path L of the optical path switching unit 30 to only laser light having a wavelength of 543 nm, only laser light having a wavelength of 488 nm, or laser light having a wavelength of 543 nm and wavelength 488 nm. Or mixed light with the laser beam.

In the optical path switching unit 30, the corner cube 17, which is a prism having three reflecting surfaces arranged in a corner, the total reflection mirror M, and the optical fibers 15 and 16 are disposed individually immediately before the incident ends 15in and 16in. Two condensing lenses 13 are provided.
The corner cube 17 is disposed at a position where the laser light propagated through the optical path L can be sequentially reflected by the three reflecting surfaces. For this purpose, it is necessary to avoid the incidence of the laser light on the ridgelines of the three reflecting surfaces, so the middle lines of the three reflecting surfaces of the corner cube 17 have a slight distance from the optical path L (hereinafter referred to as 3 mm). .) Is just shifted.

The corner cube 17 is connected to a lever 36 (see FIG. 1), and is inserted into and removed from the optical path L in accordance with the operation of the lever 36.
First, in a state where the corner cube 17 is inserted into the optical path L (a state indicated by a solid line in FIG. 2), the laser light propagated through the optical path L is sequentially reflected by the three reflecting surfaces of the corner cube 17, and then the optical path L The light propagates in the opposite direction along the optical path L ′ that is parallel and away from the optical path L. Thereafter, the laser light enters the incident end 15 in of one optical fiber (hereinafter referred to as the optical fiber 15) through the total reflection mirror M and the condenser lens 13.

On the other hand, in a state where the corner cube 17 is separated from the optical path L (a state indicated by a dotted line in FIG. 2), the laser light propagating through the optical path L passes through the condenser lens 13 without passing through the corner cube 17. The light is incident on the incident end 16in of the fiber (here, the optical fiber 16).
The positions and orientations of the two condenser lenses 13 are such that the incident efficiency of the laser beam to the incident end 15in when the corner cube 17 is inserted and the incident efficiency of the laser beam to the incident end 16in when the corner cube 17 is detached. Are adjusted in advance to be sufficiently high.

The laser beam incident on the incident end 15in propagates through the optical fiber 15 and exits from the exit end 15out, thereby forming a point light source in the unit 21 for total reflection fluorescence observation.
The laser light incident on the incident end 16in propagates through the optical fiber 16 and exits from the exit end 16out, thereby forming a point light source in the confocal observation unit 22.
Here, the total reflection fluorescence observation by the total reflection fluorescence observation unit 21 and the confocal observation by the confocal observation unit 22 will be briefly described.

At the time of total reflection fluorescence observation, the unit 21 for total reflection fluorescence observation is set to an effective state. In this state, the dichroic mirror DM of the total reflection fluorescence observation unit 21 is inserted into the optical path of the microscope main body 23, and the total reflection mirror M of the confocal observation unit 22 is detached from the optical path of the microscope main body 22.
At this time, the laser light emitted from the point light source (exit end 15out of the optical fiber 15) of the unit 21 for total reflection fluorescence observation is reflected by the epi-illumination optical system 21a, the dichroic mirror DM in the unit 21 for total reflection fluorescence observation, Through the objective lens of the imaging optical system 23a in the microscope body 23, the epi-illumination is performed obliquely so that evanescent light is generated near the object to be observed (biological cell labeled with a fluorescent substance) 0 or the boundary of the cover glass. . The fluorescence generated in the object to be observed 0 is detected by the detector 23c via the imaging optical system 23a and the filter f in the microscope body 23.

At the time of confocal observation, the unit 22 for confocal observation is set to an effective state. In this state, the total reflection mirror M of the confocal observation unit 22 is inserted into the optical path of the microscope main body 23, and the dichroic mirror DM of the total reflection fluorescence observation unit 21 is separated from the optical path of the microscope main body 23.
At this time, the laser light emitted from the point light source (the exit end 16out of the optical fiber 16) of the confocal observation unit 22 is collimated lens 22a, dichroic mirror DM, scanner 22c, pupil relay of the confocal observation unit 22. The object to be observed 0 is scanned with a light spot via the lens 22b, the total reflection mirror M, the imaging optical system 23a in the microscope body 23, and the like. The reflected light (fluorescence) generated in the light spot returns to the confocal observation unit 22 through the imaging optical system 23a, and passes through the scanner 22c, the filter f, the confocal lens 22g, and the confocal stop 22h. In the state where excess light is cut, the detector 22i detects the light.

  The image of the object to be observed 0 detected by the total reflection fluorescence observation is displayed on a display (not shown) through the eyepiece of the microscope main body 23 or an image processing device connected to the detector 23c. Further, the image of the object to be observed 0 detected by the confocal observation is displayed on a display (not shown) through an image processing device connected to the detector 22i. In this specification, the elephant observed in this way is called an “observation image”.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating details of the optical path switching unit 30. In order to show the correspondence between each direction in FIG. 3 and each direction in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 described above, a common XYZ orthogonal coordinate system is shown in these drawings. Hereinafter, description will be given using this XYZ orthogonal coordinate system.
3A and 3B are schematic cross-sectional views obtained by cutting the optical path switching unit 30 along the XY plane and the YZ plane. As shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the optical path switching unit 30 has a support member 31 that supports the corner cube 17, an axis that is fixed to the support member 31 and has a center line S that extends in the Z direction. A pedestal 35 and a bearing hole 32a that support the portion 32 and the shaft portion 32 so as to be rotatable around the center line S are provided. A lever 36 is fixed to the shaft portion 32.

When the lever 36 is operated, the movement is transmitted to the corner cube 17 through the shaft portion 32 and the support member 31, and the corner cube 17 rotates around the center line S of the shaft portion 32. By this rotation, the corner cube 17 is inserted into and removed from the optical path L.
The optical path switching unit 30 is also provided with limiting pins 34a and 34b for limiting the range of rotation of the corner cube 17. The limiting pin 34a defines the position of the corner cube 17 when inserted, and the limiting pin 34b defines the position of the corner cube 17 when detached.

The optical path switching unit 30 is also provided with a pressing mechanism 33a that presses the support member 31 against the limit pin 34a during insertion, and a pressing mechanism 33b that presses the support member 31 against the limit pin 34b when detached.
The pressing mechanism 33a functions to prevent the positional deviation in the rotational direction of the corner cube 17 during insertion.

The pressing mechanism 33b functions to prevent a positional deviation in the rotational direction of the corner cube 17 at the time of separation.
The optical path switching unit 30 is also provided with a fixing ring 40 fixed to the shaft portion 32 and a spring 33 c interposed between the fixing ring 40 and the pedestal 35.
The fixing ring 40 and the spring 33c function to prevent the corner cube 17 from being displaced in the Z direction.

In the optical path switching unit 30 having the above configuration, the corner cube 17 is configured such that the middle lines (dotted line portions) of the three reflecting surfaces are inclined by a slight angle δ with respect to the optical path L and the optical path L ′, as shown in FIG. It is desirable that
At this time, as shown on the left side of FIG. 4, the front and back surfaces (which are planes) of the ND filters ND1 and ND2, and the entrance surface SA and the exit surface SA ′ of the corner cube 17 are optically non-parallel. And has an opening angle by δ.

  By inclining the corner cube 17 in this manner, the optical paths of the laser beams are surely three-dimensionally crossed to interfere with each other (for example, a part of the laser beams propagating through the optical path L and the laser beams propagating through the optical path L ′). Interference with a part) can be prevented. Further, by tilting in this way, it is possible to reliably avoid a situation in which a part of the laser light reflected from the corner cube 17 is incident on the laser light source 1 or the laser light source 2 again. Incidentally, when re-incidence occurs, there arises a problem that the output of the laser light source 1 or the laser light source 2 becomes unstable.

When the corner cube 17 is tilted, a part of the laser light incident on the corner cube 17 is reflected by the incident surface SA and the exit surface SA ′ of the corner cube 17 and becomes extra light. It is possible to avoid the situation of interference by returning to the injection part.
The extra light is, for example, return light reflected by the incident surface SA of the corner cube 17 or return light reflected in order by the three reflecting surfaces and the exit surface SA ′ after passing through the incident surface SA.

Although the extra light may be generated in the present embodiment, in the present embodiment, the light travels in a direction shifted from the emission light path of the laser light sources 1 and 2, and thus interference is avoided.
Further, when the corner cube 17 is tilted, a part of the laser light incident on the corner cube 17 is reflected by the incident surface SA and the exit surface SA ′ of the corner cube 17 and becomes extra light. It is also possible to avoid a situation where the laser beam interferes with the necessary laser light after being reflected by the reflecting surface.

The extra light is, for example, the three reflected surfaces, the exit surface SA ′, the three reflecting surfaces, and the return light reflected in order from the incident surface SA after passing through the incident surface SA of the corner cube 17.
The extra light may be generated in the present embodiment, but in the present embodiment, the light travels in a direction deviated from the optical path of the laser light, so that interference is avoided.
Incidentally, if the value of δ is too large, the three reflecting surfaces of the corner cube 17 may not be able to reflect the laser light, so the value of δ is set to a reasonably small value.

However, if the value of δ is too small, the amount of deviation between the extra light and the necessary laser light is too small to prevent interference reliably. For example, when the laser diameter is 1 mm and the shift amount between the midline of the corner cube 17 and the optical path L is 3 mm, the value of δ must be 3 ° or more.
Therefore, in the present embodiment, the value of δ is set to 4 ° in order to reflect the laser light three times at the corner cube 17 and to reliably avoid the interference phenomenon described above.

The user of the microscope system having the above-described configuration simply switches the optical path between the laser light sources 1 and 2 and the total reflection fluorescence observation unit 21 and the confocal observation unit 22 only by operating the lever 36. That is, switching of units used for observation can be performed.
In particular, in this microscope system, the unit 21 for total reflection fluorescence observation and the unit 22 for confocal observation are set in the same microscope main body 23. Therefore, the same observation object 0 is obtained by these two types of observation methods. It is possible to observe the points.

Next, the effect of this microscope system will be described.
Here, the reproducibility of the brightness of the observation image when switching the optical path of the present microscope system is compared with the angularity of the brightness of the observation image when switching the optical path of the microscope system (conventional example) of Patent Document 1.
For comparison, the following conditions apply to both microscope systems:
Optical fiber mode: single mode,
Optical fiber core diameter: 3.5 μm,
The focal length of the condenser lens just before the incident end of the optical fiber: 3.5 mm
First, the reproducibility of the brightness of the observation image of the conventional example is examined.

The conventional movable mirror has a posture error of at least about 1 minute. This is because the attitude error of a general high-precision movable mirror is about 1 minute.
This attitude error causes a tilt in the optical path of the laser light reflected by the movable mirror. Specifically, when the amount of attitude error of the movable mirror is Δ, a tilt of 2 × Δ occurs in the optical path.
Therefore, a tilt of about 2 minutes can occur in the optical path of the laser beam of the conventional example.

Even if an attitude error occurs in the movable mirror, the optical path does not shift. Even if a position error occurs in the movable mirror, neither tilt nor shift occurs in the optical path.
The tilt of the optical path of the laser light strongly dominates the incident efficiency of the laser light with respect to the optical fiber. In fact, a tilt of about 2 minutes attenuates its incident efficiency by about 40%.
Therefore, the brightness of the observation image of the conventional example may be reduced to 60% of the maximum by switching the optical path. For this reason, the reproducibility of the brightness of the observation image of the conventional example is low.

Next, the reproducibility of the brightness of the observation image of this microscope system is examined.
As shown in FIG. 5A, the corner cube 17 of the microscope system has a posture error (an error in the rotation direction around the center line S) of about 5 minutes. Although this posture error can be suppressed to some extent by the action of the pressing mechanism 33a (see FIG. 3), it is roughly estimated to be about 5 minutes.

As shown in FIG. 5A, a position error of about 0.02 mm is generated in the Y direction in the corner cube 17 of the microscope system. This position error corresponds to a backlash in the Y direction of the shaft portion 32.
As shown in FIG. 5B, a position error of about 0.02 mm occurs in the Z direction in the corner cube 17 of the microscope system. Although this position error is suppressed to a certain extent by the action of the spring 33c, the occurrence of this level is unavoidable.

However, since the corner cube 17 has a property of retroreflecting incident light, even if an attitude error and a position error occur in the corner cube 17, no tilt occurs in the optical path L ′ of the laser beam, and only a shift occurs. It is. That is, the angle reproducibility of the optical path L ′ is kept high.
For example, when the posture error of the corner cube 17 is 1 °, a shift of 0.1 mm occurs in the optical path L ′. When the position error amount of the corner cube 17 is Δ, a shift of 2 × Δ occurs in the optical path L ′.

  Therefore, in the optical path L ′ of the microscope system, a shift of about 0.01 mm occurs due to a posture error of the corner cube 17 of about 5 minutes, and a position error of about 0.02 mm in the Y direction of the corner cube 17 results in about 0.1 mm. A shift of 04 mm occurs, and a position error of about 0.02 mm in the Z direction of the corner cube 17 can cause a shift of about 0.04 mm. Considering all of these, a shift of about 0.05 mm can occur in the optical path L ′ of the microscope system.

However, the shift of the optical path L ′ does not significantly affect the incident efficiency of the laser light with respect to the optical fiber 15 (see FIG. 3). In fact, a shift of about 0.05 mm attenuates its incident efficiency by only about 5%.
Therefore, the brightness of the observation image of this microscope system is reduced only to 95% of the maximum by switching the optical path. For this reason, the reproducibility of the brightness of the observation image of this microscope system is high.

As described above, in the present microscope system, the optical system that moves for switching the optical path is only the reflective optical system having retroreflectivity (here, the corner cube 17), and therefore the angle of the optical path L ′ of the laser light when the unit is switched. Reproducibility is high. Therefore, the reproducibility of the brightness of the observation image when the units are switched is also high.
In particular, since the corner cube 17 which is a commercially available single element is used as a reflective optical system having retroreflectivity, the retroreflectivity can be easily and reliably obtained without aligning the three reflecting surfaces. Obtainable.

In addition, since the posture of the corner cube 17 is optimized (tilted by an appropriate angle δ), the above-described interference phenomenon can be reliably avoided. Therefore, the reproducibility of the brightness of the observation image is reliably increased.
Note that the mechanism for connecting the corner cube 17 and the lever 36 in the microscope system is not limited to that shown in FIG. 3. For example, if the corner cube 17 can be inserted into and removed from the optical path, the corner cube 17 can be used. Alternatively, a slide mechanism for sliding 17 may be used.

In this microscope system, a plurality of reflecting surfaces arranged to have retroreflectivity may be used instead of the corner cube 17. However, it is preferable to use a corner cube that is a commercially available single element because retroreflectivity can be obtained easily and reliably.
In the present embodiment, the optical system that moves for switching the optical path is a set of reflective optical systems (one corner cube 17) having retroreflectivity, but the whole is fixed to each other. If present, a plurality of sets of retroreflective optical systems (a plurality of corner cubes 17) may be used.

In addition, a plurality of reflecting surfaces arranged at an angle other than 90 ° may be used as long as the angle reproducibility of the optical path of propagating light is maintained.
[Second Embodiment]
Hereinafter, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described.
This embodiment is an embodiment of a microscope system. Here, only differences from the first embodiment will be described.

FIG. 6 is an external view of the microscope system.
As shown in FIG. 6, the difference is that the unit 21 for total reflection fluorescence observation and the unit 22 for confocal observation are set in different microscope bodies 23 and 23 '.
In this microscope system, the laser light sources 1 and 2 can be shared by different microscope main bodies 23 and 23 '.

However, similarly to the microscope system of the first embodiment, the user can operate the total reflection fluorescence observation unit 21 and the confocal observation unit 2 and the laser light sources 1 and 2 only by operating the lever 36. It is possible to switch between optical paths (that is, switch the microscope used for observation).
In this microscope system, as in the microscope system of the first embodiment, the optical system that moves for switching the optical path is only a reflective optical system (here, the corner cube 17) having retroreflectivity. The angle reproducibility of the optical path of the laser beam at the time of switching is high. Therefore, the reproducibility of the brightness of the observation image when the microscope is switched is also high.

[Third Embodiment]
The third embodiment of the present invention will be described below.
This embodiment is an embodiment of a microscope system. Here, only differences from the first embodiment or the second embodiment will be described.
FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating the present microscope system. In FIG. 7, elements other than the laser unit 10 are omitted. FIG. 7A is an external view of the laser unit 10, and FIG. 7B is a diagram illustrating an optical system portion of the laser unit 10.

As shown in FIG. 7, the difference is that an optical path switching unit 30 ′ is mounted on the laser unit 10 instead of the dichroic mirror DM. That is, the two optical path switching units 30 and 30 ′ are mounted on the laser unit 10 of the microscope system.
The optical path switching unit 30 ′ is an optical path switching unit for performing optical path switching between the two laser light sources 1 and 2 and the optical path switching unit 30.

Hereinafter, the optical path switching unit 30 ′ will be described in detail.
The optical path switching unit 30 ′ has shutters for laser light emitted from a lever 36 ′ and a corner cube 17 ′ for manual switching of the optical path by the user, and from one laser light source (here, the laser light source 1). 3 is provided with a total reflection mirror M ′ that reflects on the back side of 3.
The corner cube 17 ′ is arranged at a position where the laser light reflected by the total reflection mirror M ′ can be sequentially reflected by the three reflecting surfaces. The corner cube 17 ′ is connected to a lever 36 ′, and is inserted into and removed from the optical path in accordance with the operation of the lever 36. The mechanism for connecting the corner cube 17 ′ and the lever 36 ′ is the same as that of the optical path switching unit 30 (see FIG. 3).

First, in a state where the corner cube 17 ′ is inserted in the optical path (a state indicated by a solid line in FIG. 7), the laser light emitted from the laser light source 1 is reflected on the three reflecting surfaces of the total reflection mirror M ′ and the corner cube 17 ′. After sequentially reflecting, the light is introduced into the optical path L of the optical path switching unit 30.
On the other hand, in the state where the corner cube 17 ′ is separated from the optical path (the state indicated by the dotted line in FIG. 7), the laser light emitted from the laser light source 2 passes through the total reflection mirror M and does not pass through the corner cube 17 ′. The light is directly introduced into the optical path L of the optical path switching unit 30.

Therefore, the user of the present microscope system simply operates the lever 36 of the optical path switching unit 30 ′ to switch the optical path between the laser light sources 1 and 2 and the optical path switching unit 30 (that is, the light source used for observation). Switching).
In the optical path switching unit 30 ′, as in the optical path switching unit 30, the optical system that moves for switching the optical path is only a reflective optical system having retroreflectivity (here, the corner cube 17 ′). The angle reproducibility of the optical path L of the laser light at the time of switching the light source is high. Therefore, the reproducibility of the brightness of the observation image at the time of switching the light source is also high.

[Fourth Embodiment]
The fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described below.
This embodiment is an embodiment of an optical switching device.
FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an optical system portion of the present optical switching device.
The switching device includes a lever (not shown), a corner cube 17, a total reflection mirror M, one input port 50in, and two output ports 50out-1 and 50out-2.

The condensing lens 13 is disposed in each of the input port 50in and the output ports 50out-1 and 50out-2.
A single-mode optical fiber exit end can be connected to the input port 50in, and a single-mode optical fiber entrance end can be connected to the output ports 50out-1 and 50out-2.

  The corner cube 17 and the total reflection mirror M are arranged similarly to those in the optical path switching unit 30 of the first embodiment (see FIG. 2). The corner cube 17 is connected to a lever (not shown), and is inserted into and removed from the optical path in accordance with the operation of the lever. The mechanism for connecting the corner cube 17 and a lever (not shown) is the same as that of the optical path switching unit 30 (see FIG. 3).

First, in a state where the corner cube 17 is inserted in the optical path (a state indicated by a solid line in FIG. 8), the output port 50out-1 is effective.
On the other hand, in a state where the corner cube 17 is detached from the optical path (a state indicated by a dotted line in FIG. 8), the output port 50out-2 is effective.
Therefore, the user of this optical switching device performs optical path switching (that is, switching of the output port) between the input port 50in and the output ports 50out-1 and 50out-2 only by operating a lever (not shown). be able to.

In the present optical switching device, since the optical system that moves for switching the optical path is only a reflective optical system having retroreflectivity (here, the corner cube 17), the angle of the optical path of the laser light when the output port is switched. High reproducibility. Therefore, the reproducibility of the light amount of the laser light at the time of switching the output port is also high.
If a total reflection mirror that bends the optical path of the laser beam is added to the optical switching device, the positional relationship between the input port 50in and the output ports 50out-1 and 50out-2 can be changed to various ones.

Further, the mechanism for connecting the lever and the corner cube 17 in the present optical switching device is not limited to that shown in FIG. 3, and if the corner cube 17 can be inserted into and removed from the optical path, for example, the corner cube can be used. Alternatively, a slide mechanism for sliding 17 may be used.
[Fifth Embodiment]
Hereinafter, a fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described.

This embodiment is an embodiment of an optical switching device.
FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an optical system portion of the present optical switching device.
This switching device includes a lever (not shown), two corner cubes 17 and 17 ', two total reflection mirrors M and M', two input ports 50in-1, 50in-2, two output ports 50out-1, 50out-2 is provided.

A condensing lens 13 is disposed at each of the input ports 50in-1, 50in-2 and the output ports 50out-1, 50out-2.
An input end of a single mode optical fiber can be connected to each of the input ports 50in-1 and 50in-2 and the output ports 50out-1 and 50out-2.
The corner cube 17 and the total reflection mirror M are arranged similarly to those in the optical path switching unit 30 of the first embodiment (see FIG. 2). The corner cube 17 is connected to a lever (not shown), and is inserted into and removed from the optical path according to the operation of the lever. The mechanism for connecting the corner cube 17 and a lever (not shown) is the same as that of the optical path switching unit 30 (see FIG. 3).

  The corner cube 17 'and the total reflection mirror M' are arranged in the same manner as those in the optical path switching unit 30 'of the first embodiment (see FIG. 7). The corner cube 17 'is connected to a lever (not shown), and is inserted into and removed from the optical path according to the operation of the lever. The mechanism for connecting the corner cube 17 ′ and a lever (not shown) is the same as the mechanism for connecting the corner cube 17 of the optical path switching unit 30 and the lever 36.

First, in a state where the corner cube 17 ′ is inserted in the optical path (a state indicated by a solid line in FIG. 9), the input port 50in-1 is valid.
Further, in a state where the corner cube 17 ′ is detached from the optical path (a state indicated by a dotted line in FIG. 9), the input port 50in-2 is effective.
Further, in a state where the corner cube 17 is inserted in the optical path (a state indicated by a solid line in FIG. 9), the output port 50out-1 is effective.

Further, in a state where the corner cube 17 is separated from the optical path (a state indicated by a dotted line in FIG. 9), the output port 50out-2 is effective.
Therefore, in a state where the corner cube 17 ′ is inserted in the optical path and the corner cube 17 is inserted in the optical path, the input port 50in-1 and the output port 50out-1 are connected.

When the corner cube 17 ′ is inserted into the optical path and the corner cube 17 is detached from the optical path, the input port 50in-1 and the output port 50out-2 are connected.
In addition, when the corner cube 17 ′ is detached from the optical path and the corner cube 17 is inserted into the optical path, the input port 50in-2 and the output port 50out-1 are connected.

In addition, when the corner cube 17 ′ is detached from the optical path and the corner cube 17 is detached from the optical path, the input port 50in-2 and the output port 50out-2 are connected.
Therefore, the user of the present optical switching device simply switches the optical path between the input ports 50in-1 and 50in-2 and the output ports 50out-1 and 50out-2 (that is, the input) only by operating a lever (not shown). Port switching and output port switching).

  In the present optical switching device, the optical system that moves for switching the optical path is only a reflective optical system having retroreflectivity (here, the corner cubes 17 'and 17). The angle reproducibility of the optical path of the laser beam at the time of switching is high. Therefore, the reproducibility of the light quantity of the laser beam at the time of switching the input port and the output port is also high.

If a total reflection mirror that bends the optical path of the laser beam is added to the optical switching device, the positional relationship between the input ports 50in-1, 50in-2 and the output ports 50out-1, 50out-2 can be varied. Can be changed.
Further, the mechanism for connecting the lever and the corner cube 17 or the lever and the corner cube 17 ′ in the present optical switching device is not limited to that shown in FIG. 3, and the corner cube 17 can be inserted into and removed from the optical path. In this case, for example, a slide mechanism for sliding the corner cube 17 may be used.

[Others]
In addition, in the optical path switching unit or the optical switching device of each of the embodiments described above, if a motor and a motor control circuit are mounted instead of the lever, the optical path switching can be motorized.
In the first embodiment, the second embodiment, and the third embodiment, the microscope system sharing the laser light source for total reflection fluorescence observation and confocal observation has been described. However, between the light source and the illumination optical system. The present invention can also be applied to other microscope systems that require optical path switching.

In this microscope system, a microscope system composed of one laser light source and one microscope, for example, a microscope system for photoactivation that gives a stimulus to a specific portion in a cell by a laser beam, and the same observation as one laser light source. A microscope system comprising a plurality of microscopes of the method is also included.
FIG. 10 shows an example in which the present invention is applied to a microscope system including two laser units 10 and 10 ′ and one confocal observation unit 22 ′.

  The laser unit 10 is, for example, a laser unit that includes laser light sources (laser light sources 1 and 2) in the visible light region, as in the laser unit of the first embodiment, and the laser unit 10 ′ has a different laser light source ( For example, a laser unit provided with a near-infrared laser light source). These two laser units 10 and 10 'are connected to a confocal observation unit 22' via optical fibers 16 and 15, respectively. On the incident side of the confocal unit 22 ', an optical path switching unit 30' similar to that in the above-described embodiment is provided. The laser unit used for confocal observation is switched by the optical path switching unit 30 '. Therefore, in this microscope system, the reproducibility of the brightness of the observation image when the laser unit is switched is high.

  The optical switching device (optical path switching unit) of each of the above embodiments can be connected to a single mode optical fiber, but the present invention also applies to an optical switching device (optical path switching unit) connectable to a multimode optical fiber. Is applicable. However, the demand for the angle reproducibility of the optical path is stricter in the single mode optical fiber, so that the utility of the present invention is higher.

In each of the above embodiments, optical fibers are used for several propagation paths. However, if the propagation paths can be secured stably, some or all of the optical fibers are replaced with a medium (refractive index). Needless to say, it may be replaced with a propagation path made of only uniform air or glass.
In each of the above embodiments, it is needless to say that part or all of the propagation path made of only the medium may be replaced with an optical fiber.

The propagation light of the optical switching devices of the fourth and fifth embodiments is laser light, but may be light other than laser light (light with low coherence). However, since the demand for the angle reproducibility of the optical path is stricter with laser light, the utility of the present invention is higher.
Moreover, in each embodiment mentioned above, the total reflection mirror was arrange | positioned at the entrance side or exit side of the corner cube 17. The total reflection mirror functions to deflect the incident optical path or the outgoing optical path of the corner cube 17 and to separate both optical paths. This function can be similarly obtained when the total reflection mirror is disposed on either the incident side or the exit side of the corner cube 17. Therefore, in each embodiment mentioned above, it is possible to make the arrangement | positioning relationship (light incident order) of a total reflection mirror and the corner cube 17 reverse.

In each of the above-described embodiments, the total reflection mirror can be omitted when it is not necessary to separate the incident optical path and the exit optical path of the corner cube 17.
The above supplementary matters for each embodiment can be similarly applied to each embodiment described below.
[Sixth Embodiment]
The sixth embodiment of the present invention will be described below.

This embodiment is an embodiment of a microscope system. Here, only differences from the first embodiment (FIG. 2) will be described.
FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an optical system portion of the microscope system. In FIG. 11, a part of the optical system of the microscope main body 23 is omitted.
The object to be observed 0 of the present system is a biological cell or the like that is pre-labeled with a fluorescent substance, as in the first embodiment. However, this system assumes a fluorescent material (DAPI) having an excitation wavelength of 408 nm and a fluorescent material (PA-GFP) whose characteristics are changed by light stimulation with a wavelength of 408 nm.

In the microscope main body 23, a unit 21 ′ for light stimulus illumination is set instead of the unit 21 for total reflection fluorescence observation. The unit for light stimulation illumination 21 ′ and the unit for confocal observation 22 are connected to the laser unit 10 via optical fibers 15 and 16, respectively.
A laser light source 101 is added to the laser unit 10. The laser light source 101 is, for example, a blue laser that emits laser light having a wavelength of 408 nm. Such a laser light source 101 is effective when confocal fluorescence observation is performed on the observation object 0 labeled with DAPI, and is also effective when light stimulation is applied to the observation object 0 labeled with PA-GFP. It is.

As with the laser light sources 1 and 2, the shutter 3 and the ND filter ND3 are also inserted on the emission side of the laser light source 101. The ND filter ND3 is also made of flat glass, like the ND filters ND1 and ND2.
In the laser unit 10, the emission optical paths of the three laser light sources 1, 2, 101 are integrated into a common optical path L by the total reflection mirror M and the two dichroic mirrors DM. In FIG. 11, a symbol P indicates an integrated portion. The integrated optical path L is connected to the incident end 16 in of the optical fiber 16 via the condenser lens 13.

Therefore, the user of the present system selects all or a part of the three types of laser light sources 1, 2, 101 by appropriately operating the three shutters 3 and connects them to the confocal observation unit 22. be able to.
For example, when the laser light source 1 is connected to the confocal observation unit 22, it is possible to perform confocal fluorescence observation using laser light having a wavelength of 488 nm as excitation light. Further, when the laser light source 2 is connected to the confocal observation unit 22, it is possible to perform confocal fluorescence observation using laser light having a wavelength of 543 nm as excitation light. Further, when the laser light source 101 is connected to the confocal observation unit 22, it is possible to perform confocal fluorescence observation using laser light having a wavelength of 408 nm as excitation light.

Further, in the laser unit 10 of the present system, the optical path switching unit 70 is disposed between the integrated portion P and the ND filter ND3. In the optical path switching unit 70, the corner cube 17, the total reflection mirror M, and the condenser lens 13 are arranged. The place where the condenser lens 13 is arranged is immediately before the incident end 15 in of the optical fiber 15.
The optical path switching unit 70 inserts and removes the corner cube 17 with respect to the emission optical path of the laser light source 101. The insertion / removal mechanism is the same as that of the optical path switching unit 30 of the first embodiment, and a lever for the user to operate is also provided. According to the insertion / removal mechanism, the connection destination of the laser light source 101 is switched between the incident end 15in of the optical fiber 15 and the integrated portion P.

  11, when the corner cube 17 is inserted into the optical path (dotted line), the laser light source 101 → the shutter 3 → the ND filter ND3 → the corner cube 17 → the total reflection mirror M → the condensing lens 13 → the incident end. An optical path passing through 15 inches in order is formed. Further, when the corner cube 17 is detached from the optical path (solid line), an optical path passing through the laser light source 101 → the shutter 3 → the ND filter 3 → the integrated portion P in this order is formed.

Therefore, the user of this system appropriately operates the lever (not shown) of the optical path switching unit 70 to change the connection destination of the laser light source 101 from the confocal observation unit 22 to the light stimulus for light stimulus illumination. It is possible to switch to the illumination unit 21 ′.
When the laser light source 101 is connected to the unit for light stimulation illumination 21 ′, it is possible to give a light stimulus to a specific location on the observation object 0 with a laser beam having a wavelength of 408 nm. Even when the laser light source 101 is being used for light stimulation, the other laser light sources 1 and 2 can be connected to the confocal observation unit 22.

  Therefore, the user of this system can observe the object 0 with some laser light sources 1 and 2 while observing the object 0 with confocal fluorescence at a desired timing. Light stimulation can be given. Therefore, the confocal fluorescence observation can be performed on the change of the observation object 0 due to the light stimulus. Such observation is effective for the observation object 0 labeled with PA-GFP.

In addition, if there is no need for light stimulation, the laser light source 101 can be used for confocal fluorescence observation like the other laser light sources 1 and 2. This observation by the laser light source 101 is effective for the observation object 0 labeled with DAPI.
Hereinafter, the unit 21 ′ for light stimulation illumination will be briefly described.
The unit for light stimulation illumination 21 ′ converts the laser light emitted from the emission end 15 out of the optical fiber 15 into parallel light by the collimator lens 21 a ′, reflects it by the dichroic mirror DM, and introduces it into the optical path of the microscope main body 23. . The laser light is condensed on one point of the object to be observed 0 through the objective lens of the imaging optical system 23a in the microscope body 23, and gives a light stimulus thereto.

  The dichroic mirror DM of the unit for light stimulation illumination 21 ′ has a property of reflecting only light having the same wavelength as the laser light source 101 (light having a wavelength of 408 nm) and transmitting light having other wavelengths. Further, the dichroic mirror DM deviates from the optical path of the microscope main body 23 as necessary. Further, the position where the light stimulus is given on the object to be observed 0 can be changed by a mechanism (not shown).

[Seventh Embodiment]
The seventh embodiment of the present invention will be described below.
This embodiment is an embodiment of a microscope system. Here, differences from the sixth embodiment (FIG. 11) will be mainly described.
FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an optical system portion of the microscope system. In FIG. 12, a part of the optical system of the microscope body 23 is omitted.

The difference is that instead of the confocal observation unit 22, a total reflection fluorescence observation unit 21 is set. The total reflection fluorescence observation unit 21 is as described in the first embodiment. The total reflection fluorescence observation unit 21 is connected to the laser unit 10 via the optical fiber 16 in the same manner as the confocal observation unit 22 of the sixth embodiment.
Therefore, according to the present system, while a part of the laser light sources 1 and 2 observes the observation object 0 with total reflection fluorescence, the other part of the laser light sources 101 gives a light stimulus to the observation object 0. It is possible to observe the time change of the observation object 0 at the time. If there is no need for light stimulation, the laser light source 101 can also be used for total reflection fluorescence observation like the other laser light sources 1 and 2.

  In the present embodiment, a system in which the unit 21 for total reflection fluorescence observation and the unit 21 ′ for light stimulus illumination are connected to the laser unit 10 will be described. In the sixth embodiment described above, the system for confocal observation is used. The system in which the unit 22 and the unit for light stimulation illumination 21 ′ are connected to the laser unit 10 has been described. Similarly to these systems, a system in which the total reflection fluorescence observation unit 21 and the confocal observation unit 22 are connected to the same laser unit 10 may be configured.

In this case, the total reflection fluorescence observation unit 21 may be connected to the optical fiber 15 side, and the confocal observation unit 22 may be connected to the optical fiber 16 side. According to this connection, the laser light source 101 (blue laser) can be used for total reflection fluorescence observation as necessary.
[Eighth Embodiment]
The eighth embodiment of the present invention will be described below.

This embodiment is an embodiment of a laser unit. Here, differences from the laser unit of the sixth embodiment will be mainly described.
FIG. 13 is a diagram showing the laser unit 10.
In the laser unit 10, the optical path switching unit 80 is configured to be movable in parallel. Therefore, the laser unit 10 is provided with a mechanism (not shown) for translating the optical path switching unit 80 and a lever (not shown) for the user to drive the mechanism.

The arrangement location of the optical path switching unit 80 is switched between the three arrangement locations A, B, and C by parallel movement. The arrangement location A is between the ND filter ND3 and the integrated location P, the arrangement location B is between the ND filter ND1 and the dichroic mirror DM1, and the arrangement location C is the ND filter ND2 and the total reflection mirror M. Between.
The optical path switching unit 80 includes a corner cube 17, an insertion / removal mechanism that inserts / removes the corner cube 17 into / from the optical path, and a lever (not shown) for the user to drive the mechanism. Mirrors MA, MB, and MC for deflecting the exit optical path of the corner cube 17 are fixed near the locations A, B, and C, respectively. These mirrors MA, MB, and MC are arranged on a straight line formed by extending the incident optical path of the condenser lens 13 immediately before the incident end 15 in.

  Among these, the mirror MA is a dichroic mirror that reflects the laser light (wavelength 408 nm) emitted from the laser light source 101 and transmits at least the laser light (wavelength 488 nm, 543 nm light) emitted from the laser light sources 1 and 2. is there. The mirror MB is a dichroic mirror that reflects the laser light (light with a wavelength of 488 nm) emitted from the laser light source 1 and transmits the laser light (light with a wavelength of 543 nm) emitted from the laser light source 2. The mirror MC is a total reflection mirror that reflects the laser light (wavelength 543 nm) emitted from the laser light source 2.

In the example illustrated in FIG. 13, when the optical path switching unit 80 is disposed at the location A, the optical path sequentially passes through the laser light source 101 → the shutter 3 → the ND filter ND3 → the corner cube 17 → the mirror MA → the condensing lens 13 → the incident end 15in. Can be formed. That is, the laser light source 101 can be connected to the optical fiber 15.
Further, when the optical path switching unit 80 is arranged at the arrangement location B, an optical path is formed through the laser light source 1 → the shutter 3 → the ND filter ND1 → the corner cube 17 → the mirror MB → the mirror MA → the condenser lens 13 → the incident end 15in. can do. That is, the laser light source 1 can be connected to the optical fiber 15.

When the optical path switching unit 80 is arranged at the arrangement location C, the laser light source 2 → the shutter 3 → the ND filter ND2 → the corner cube 17 → the mirror MC → the mirror MB → the mirror MA → the condensing lens 13 → the incident end 15in. An optical path can be formed. That is, the laser light source 2 can be connected to the optical fiber 15.
Even if the optical path switching unit 80 is disposed at any of the locations A, B, and C, if the corner cube 17 in the optical path switching unit 80 is removed from the optical path (dotted line), the laser light sources 1, 2 and 101 are removed. It becomes possible to connect to the optical fiber 16 side.

Therefore, if the present laser unit 10 is applied to the microscope system of the sixth embodiment (FIG. 11) or the seventh embodiment (FIG. 12), the user selects the laser light source used for light stimulation as the laser light sources 1 and 2. , 101 can be selected.
In the laser unit 10, if the amount of deviation when the optical path switching unit 80 moves in parallel is suppressed to 0.05 mm or less, the amount of laser light is attenuated by about 5% at the maximum at the time of switching.

In the laser unit 10 of the present embodiment, the number of the optical path switching units 80 is 1, but as shown in FIG. 14, it may be the same as the number of laser light sources (here, 3). In this case, a mechanism for moving the optical path switching unit 80 in parallel is unnecessary.
Further, in the laser unit 10 of the present embodiment, the parallel movement target is the optical path switching unit 80 (that is, the corner cube 17 and the insertion / removal mechanism). However, as shown in FIG. Only the cube 17 may be used. In that case, the insertion / removal mechanism may be omitted, and the location of the corner cube 17 may be switched between the four locations A, B, C, and D. The arrangement location D is a location that deviates from all the optical paths.

  The optical path switching unit or the optical switching device of each of the above embodiments can be used for an optical path switching unit of an optical apparatus such as a biological microscope, an industrial microscope, an industrial product inspection device, or a laser processing device. It can also be used as an optical communication module.

1 is an external view of a microscope system according to a first embodiment. It is a figure which shows the optical system part of the microscope system of 1st Embodiment. 3 is a diagram showing details of the optical path switching unit 30. FIG. It is a figure which shows the attitude | position of the corner cube. It is a figure for examining the brightness of the observation image of the microscope system of 1st Embodiment. It is an external view of the microscope system of 2nd Embodiment. It is a figure explaining the microscope system of 3rd Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the optical system part of the optical switching apparatus of 4th Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the optical system part of the optical switching apparatus of 5th Embodiment. It is a figure which shows another example which applied this invention to the microscope system. It is a figure which shows the optical system part of the microscope system of 6th Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the optical system part of the microscope system of 7th Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the laser unit of 8th Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the modification of 8th Embodiment. It is a figure which shows another modification of 8th Embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

0 Object 1, 2 Laser source 10, 10 ′ Laser unit 23, 23 ′ Microscope main body 21 Total reflection fluorescence observation unit 22, 22 ′ Confocal observation unit M, M ′ Total reflection mirror DM Dichroic mirror 15 , 16 Optical fibers 15in, 16in Entrance end 15out, 16out Exit end 17, 17 'Corner cube 36, 36' Lever 21a Epi-illumination optical system 22a Collimating lens 22b Pupil relay lens 23a Imaging optical system 22c Scanner f Filter 22g Confocal lens 22h Confocal stops 22i, 23c Detector 31 Support member 32 Shaft 35 Base 32a Bearing holes 34a, 34b Limiting pins 33a, 33b Pushing mechanism 40 Fixing ring 33c Spring 50in Input port 50out Output port

Claims (12)

A laser light source;
An illumination optical system for a microscope for illuminating an object to be observed;
A microscope apparatus comprising: a switching mechanism that is disposed between the laser light source and the illumination optical system and performs optical path switching by inserting and removing a corner cube. The microscope apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
A plurality of illumination optical systems;
The switching mechanism is
The microscope apparatus characterized in that the connection destination of the laser light source is switched between the plurality of illumination optical systems. The microscope apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
A plurality of the laser light sources;
A plurality of the illumination optical systems;
An integration means for integrating the emission optical paths of the plurality of laser light sources and connecting to a part of the plurality of illumination optical systems;
The switching mechanism is
A microscope apparatus characterized in that a part of connection destinations of the plurality of laser light sources is switched between another part of the plurality of illumination optical systems and the integration unit. In the microscope apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The switching mechanism is
The microscope apparatus, wherein the posture of the corner cube at the time of optical path insertion is set so that the light incident surface or the light exit surface is inclined with respect to the optical path. The microscope apparatus according to claim 4,
An optical element for adjusting the intensity of laser light emitted from the laser light source;
The switching mechanism is
The microscope apparatus, wherein the posture of the corner cube at the time of optical path insertion is set so that the light incident surface or the light exit surface is optically non-parallel to the light exit surface of the optical element. In the microscope apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
The switching mechanism is
A microscope apparatus, wherein a reflecting member for deflecting the laser light is disposed in at least one of an incident side optical path and an exit side optical path of the corner cube when the optical path is inserted. In the microscope apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6,
At least the laser light source and the switching mechanism are arranged in a laser unit,
The illumination optical system is disposed in a microscope body,
The microscope apparatus, wherein the laser unit and the microscope body are coupled by a single mode optical fiber to guide the laser beam. In the microscope apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7,
In the illumination optical system,
A microscope apparatus, comprising at least one confocal observation illumination optical system. In the microscope apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 8,
In the illumination optical system,
A microscope apparatus comprising at least one illumination optical system for total reflection observation. The microscope apparatus according to claim 9,
The illumination optical system for total reflection observation is:
A microscope apparatus characterized by being an illumination optical system for total reflection fluorescence observation. In the microscope apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 10,
In the illumination optical system,
A microscope apparatus comprising at least one illumination optical system for light stimulation. It is the said laser unit used for the microscope apparatus of Claim 7, Comprising: The optical fiber mount part which can attach or detach the said optical fiber is provided. The laser unit characterized by the above-mentioned.

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