JP2007286173A - Objective lens - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an objective lens having an adjustment mechanism for preventing the optical axis of an optical element from being displaced or inclined in relation to an objective lens during the movement of the optical element in the direction of the optical axis. <P>SOLUTION: The objective lens includes: a cylindrical fixed part which is fixed to a revolver and holds a lens composing the objective lens; a cylindrical adjustment part which is fitted on the outside of the fixed part and incorporates the optical element that corrects the optical characteristic of the objective lens; and a moving mechanism which moves in relation to the fixed part in the direction of the optical axis of the optical element of the adjustment part, wherein the adjustment part or the fixed part has a pressing member which brings the adjustment part and fixed part into firm contact with each other by applying pressure to them in a direction almost perpendicular to the optical axis of the objective lens. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an objective lens having a mechanism capable of adjusting the position of each optical element in the optical axis direction of the objective lens.

As an objective lens used in a microscope or the like, for example, as described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-145222, a movement mechanism that can rotate around the optical axis is provided, and an aberration correction lens that is movable in the optical axis direction is provided. Things are listed.
JP 2004-145222 A

  In the above prior art, there is a description of an aberration correction lens that can change the position of the optical element in the optical axis direction. In such a case, the light of the objective lens is moved along with the movement of the aberration correction lens in the optical axis direction. In some cases, the optical axis of the aberration correction lens with respect to the axis may rattle or fall.

  The present invention provides a cylindrical adjustment portion having a cylindrical fixing portion that is fixed to a revolver and holds a lens constituting an objective lens, and an optical element that is attached to the fixing portion and that corrects the optical characteristics of the objective lens. An adjustment mechanism that adjusts the position of the optical element in the optical axis direction, and the adjustment unit or the fixing part. And an objective lens with an adjusting mechanism, characterized in that it has a pressing member that presses the adjusting portion and the fixing portion by pressing in a direction substantially perpendicular to the optical axis of the objective lens (claim 1). .

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, when the adjustment part which has an optical element with respect to an objective lens is moved to an optical axis direction, the wobbling of the optical axis of an objective lens and an optical element can be prevented.

Hereinafter, the structure of the objective lens according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view showing an objective lens according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

The objective lens according to the present embodiment includes an adjustment portion 1 and a fixing portion 2, a steel ball 4, a leaf spring 5, a leaf spring holding screw 6, and an adjustment portion fixing screw 7.
The adjusting unit 1 holds an aberration correcting lens, and is a cylindrical member having lenses 9a and 9b at the tip thereof, and is an outer cylinder that is the outermost in the objective lens. Inside the adjustment unit 1, there is provided a fixed unit 2 that is an inner cylinder to which a plurality of lenses 10 a, 10 b, 10 c, and 10 d constituting a basic objective lens are mounted. Furthermore, an installation part 11 for installing an objective lens is provided at one end of the fixed part 2 with respect to a revolver (not shown). Therefore, the fixing member 2 is fixed to the revolver.

  Further, in the fixing portion 2, a screw portion 13 is formed on the outer wall on the more distal end side adjacent to the installation portion 11. The screw portion 13 is rotatably engaged with the screw portion 1a provided in the circumferential direction of the inner wall at the other end opposite to the tip portion provided with the lenses 9a and 9b in the adjusting portion 1. In the present invention, the screw portions 1a and 13 are referred to as a moving mechanism.

  By this screwing, the adjusting unit 1 can rotate the fixed unit 2 around the optical axis of the objective lens as a rotation axis. As a result, the lens interval 3 between the lens (lens 9b in the present embodiment) provided at the tip of the adjustment unit 1 and the lens (lens 10a in the present embodiment) provided at the tip of the fixing unit 2 is adjusted. Aberration correction can be performed. As described above, since the adjusting portion 1 and the fixing portion 2 are in contact with each other at the fitting portion 1b so as to be movable in the optical axis direction through a slight gap, the gap between the adjusting portion 1 and the fixing portion 2 does not play. As a result, the play causes a shift of the optical axes of both lenses.

An opening 12 is provided on a side surface of the adjustment unit 1, and a steel ball 4 is installed in the opening 12 as an interposed member.
A leaf spring 5 is provided on the outer wall surface of the adjusting unit 1 as a spring member having a spring property as a pressing member. The center of the leaf spring 5 in the longitudinal direction is fixed to the adjusting portion 1 by a holding screw 6. Then, both ends of the leaf spring 5 are in contact with a part of the steel ball 4 provided in the opening 12 of the adjusting portion 1, and the steel ball 4 is further pressed in the optical axis direction by the leaf spring 5 and the steel ball 4. Is in contact with the outer wall of the fixed portion 2 to press the fixed portion 2 in the optical axis direction. In the present embodiment, the leaf spring 5, the opening 12, the steel ball 4, and the holding screw 6 are referred to as a pressing member.

  In the present embodiment, a total of four openings 12 and steel balls 4 are provided, two each on the BB cross section (not shown in FIG. 2 (1)) having the same shape as the AA cross section. There are two contact positions between the steel ball 4 and the fixed portion 2 on the one cross section, and an angle formed by a straight line connecting each contact position from the center of the optical axis (first opening (12a) -optical axis (O ) -An angle formed by a line connecting the second openings (12b) is preferably less than 180 degrees.

  This is a condition for effectively using the action of the leaf spring 5 on the outer periphery of the adjusting portion 1 with respect to the fixed portion 2, and is a condition for pressing more efficiently. However, depending on the structure of the leaf spring 5 and the installation position of the leaf spring 5, this angle condition may not be satisfied.

  Further, as described above, the present embodiment has a configuration in which two openings are provided in the optical axis direction. This is a condition for fixing the adjusting unit 1 while maintaining a good positional relationship with the fixing unit 2. That is, more stable pressurization is possible by pressing the fixed portion 2 at two positions in the optical axis direction. However, when the size of the slight gap between the inner wall of the adjustment unit 1 and the outer wall of the fixing unit 2 is very small, the number of pressurization points in the optical axis direction may be one.

  Most preferably, as in the present embodiment, two pressure points are provided in one cross section (a plane perpendicular to the optical axis), and in the optical axis direction as shown in FIG. In this configuration, stress is applied at two positions. As a result, the backlash in the rotational direction can be more accurately suppressed, and a smooth position adjustment without backlash can be realized.

  In the present embodiment, the adjustment unit fixing screw 7 is provided in a direction that coincides with the resultant force of the four pressure points applied to the fixing unit 2. Therefore, the amount by which the adjusting unit 1 is displaced from the fixing unit 2 when the adjusting unit 1 is fixed to the fixing unit 2 can be minimized.

Next, a method for using the objective lens described in this embodiment will be described.
In a state in which the fixing portion 2 is installed inside the adjustment portion 1, a steel ball is installed in each opening provided in the adjustment portion 1, and steel is already provided by the leaf spring 5 already installed in the adjustment portion 1 by the holding screw 6. The ball 4 is pressed in a state where it does not fall out of the opening. In this state, the adjustment unit 1 is rotationally moved with respect to the fixed unit 2 to position the adjustment unit 1 at a desired position. As described above, the adjusting unit 1 is positioned while the adjusting unit 1 is pressed by the leaf spring 5 in a direction substantially perpendicular to the optical axis with respect to the fixing unit 2. No play of 2 occurs.

  And if the adjustment part 1 is positioned, the adjustment part fixing screw 7 will be tightened in the direction substantially perpendicular | vertical with respect to an optical axis, and positioning will be complete | finished. Thereby, the position of the adjustment part 1 with respect to the fixing part 2 is fixed.

  In the present embodiment, since the steel ball is used as the interposition member installed in the opening, when the adjustment unit 1 is moved, the frictional force with respect to the fixed unit 2 is reduced and smooth movement is possible. However, the interposed member is not limited to a steel ball. For example, if the friction with the fixed portion is sacrificed to some extent, it may not be spherical and may be a member having a locality corresponding to the locality of the outer wall of the fixed portion. Alternatively, it may be a member shaped simply like a quadrangular prism, and a lubricant may be added to reduce the frictional force. Further, the steel ball and the leaf spring may be integrated.

  According to the above-described embodiment, the adjusting unit 1 is always pressed against the fixed unit 2 with the same pressure as that at the time of positioning. However, it is not always necessary to press against the fixed portion 2 at the time of positioning with the pressing force at the time of positioning. Good.

According to the present embodiment, even if the adjusting unit 1 is moved for positioning the adjusting unit 1 with respect to the fixing unit 2 in the optical axis direction, it is possible to prevent the adjusting unit 1 and the fixing unit 2 from rattling.
In FIGS. 1 and 2, the example in which the lenses 9 a and 9 b are provided as the optical elements attached to the adjustment unit 1 has been described. However, instead of the lenses 9 a and 9 b, a half mirror or a mirror may be provided.

In the present embodiment, the example in which the adjusting unit 1 is mounted on the outer peripheral portion of the fixed unit 2 as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the adjusting unit is not limited thereto. 1 may be installed inside the fixed portion 2.
(Second Embodiment)
The difference between the present embodiment and the first embodiment is that a wire spring 8 is used as a pressing member, and the attachment mechanism of this wire spring 8 is different. In this embodiment, the first embodiment is used. Opening and steel balls were unnecessary.

This embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. In addition, the same code | symbol is employ | adopted about the same member as 1st Embodiment.
As shown in FIG. 2, in this embodiment, a recess is provided in at least a part of the outer wall of the fixed portion 2 in the circumferential direction, and a dog-shaped wire spring 8 is installed in the recess.

  A top portion at a substantially central position in the longitudinal direction of the wire spring 8 is in contact with the inner wall of the adjusting portion 1. The arm portion extending from the top has a bow shape, the middle portion of the arm portion is in contact with the outer wall of the fixing portion 2 (actually, the bottom portion of the recess formed in the fixing portion 2), and both ends are the adjustment portions 1 In contact with the inner wall. As a result, the inner wall of the adjusting portion 1 presses the outer wall of the fixed portion 2 via the wire spring 8, so that the positions of the adjusting portion 1 and the fixed portion 2 are not displaced, and play between them can be prevented.

  According to the present embodiment, in addition to the effects of the first embodiment, it is possible to adopt a simpler configuration than the configuration of the first embodiment. Therefore, the object of the present invention can be achieved at a lower manufacturing cost than that of the first embodiment.

  Furthermore, if the wire spring 8 is incorporated between the fixed portion 1 and the adjusting portion 2 as in the present embodiment, space saving can be achieved and the objective lens can be reduced in size.

These are the schematics of the objective lens in connection with 1st Embodiment. These are the schematic diagrams of the objective lens in connection with 2nd Embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Adjustment part, 1a, 13 ... Screw part (movement mechanism), 1b ... Fitting part 2 ... Fixing part, 3 ... Lens distance, 4 ... Steel ball, 5 ... Leaf spring, 6 ... Plate spring holding screw, 7 ... Adjusting part fixing screw, 8 ... Wire spring, 11 ... Installing part on the revolver

Claims (6)

A cylindrical fixing portion that holds a lens that is fixed to the revolver and constitutes the objective lens;
A cylindrical adjustment unit that is mounted on the fixed unit and has an optical element that corrects the optical characteristics of the objective lens therein,
An adjustment mechanism that adjusts the position of the optical element in the optical axis direction, the moving part performing movement in the optical axis direction of the optical element of the adjustment unit with respect to the fixed part;
With the adjusting mechanism, the adjusting unit or the fixing unit includes a pressing member that presses the adjusting unit and the fixing unit by pressing in a direction substantially perpendicular to the optical axis of the objective lens. Objective lens.   The objective lens with an adjusting mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the pressing member includes a spring member having a spring property.   The pressing member presses both the adjusting portion and the fixed portion in a direction substantially perpendicular to the optical axis and toward the optical axis, or the fixed portion is substantially pressed with respect to the optical axis. Pressurizing in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis and the adjusting unit pressurizing in a direction substantially perpendicular to the optical axis and in a direction opposite to the optical axis. The objective lens with an adjusting mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the portion is pressure-bonded. The pressing member includes an opening provided in the adjustment unit;
Installed in the opening, one end of which is in contact with the pressing member, and the other end of which is in contact with the fixed portion, and the fixed portion is added in a direction substantially perpendicular to the optical axis and toward the optical axis. The objective lens with an adjustment mechanism according to claim 1, further comprising an interposed member capable of being pressed.   5. The objective lens with an adjustment mechanism according to claim 4, wherein contact positions between the interposition member and the fixing portion are set at a plurality of locations in a cross section perpendicular to the optical axis. 6. The objective lens with an adjusting mechanism according to claim 5, wherein there are two contact positions, and an angle formed by a straight line connecting each contact position from the optical axis center is less than 180 degrees.