JP2011007871A - Stereoscopic microscope - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a stereoscopic microscope configured for a user to see the right and left observation images of observation optical systems with the same brightness, in epi-bright-field observation.SOLUTION: The stereoscopic microscope includes: two observation optical systems by which the observation images of a sample are guided respectively; one illumination optical system by which illumination light from a light source, with which the sample is irradiated, is guided; an optical path division means which is arranged on the optical axis of each of two observation optical systems and guides the illumination light to each of the two observation optical systems from the illumination optical system; and an optical element which is arranged on the optical axis of at least one of the observation optical systems and adjusts the reflected light from the sample of the illumination light.

Description

  The present invention relates to a stereomicroscope.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is a stereomicroscope in which illumination light is incident on two observation optical systems using a two-branch fiber light guide when incident light field observation is performed with a stereomicroscope (for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2007-264075 A

  However, if the illumination light of one light source is branched by the fiber light guide, an illumination optical system is required for each of the branched illumination lights, the number of parts increases, the size of the apparatus increases, and the cost increases. In addition, since there are two illumination optical systems, it is difficult to make the left and right observation images the same brightness by matching the brightness of each observation optical system and to balance the left and right observation images so that they look the same. It was.

  The present invention has been made in view of such problems, and provides a stereomicroscope in which the observation images of the left and right observation optical systems can be viewed with the same brightness in the incident bright field observation using one illumination optical system. Let it be an issue.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, a stereomicroscope according to the present invention includes two observation optical systems to which an observation image of a specimen is guided, and one illumination optical system to which illumination light from a light source that irradiates the specimen is guided, An optical path dividing means arranged on each optical axis of the two observation optical systems and guiding the illumination light from the illumination optical system to the sample via the two observation optical systems, and at least of the observation optical system And an optical element arranged on one optical axis for adjusting the reflected light from the specimen of the illumination light.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a stereomicroscope in which the observation images of the left and right observation optical systems can be viewed with the same brightness in the incident bright field observation using one illumination optical system.

It is a schematic diagram which shows the structure of the whole stereomicroscope based on 1st Embodiment. It is a schematic diagram which shows the structure of the whole stereomicroscope based on 2nd Embodiment. In the microscope which concerns on 2nd Embodiment, it is a schematic diagram which shows the structure of the optical system of the state switched to the cube for fluorescence observation.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In each embodiment, the specimen is premised on observing a specular sample with little light scattering.

(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating the overall configuration of the stereomicroscope according to the first embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the stereomicroscope 1 (hereinafter abbreviated as the microscope 1) according to the first embodiment includes a stage 7 on which a specimen 4 is placed, an objective lens 10 and a zoom mirror in order from the specimen 4. A body 13, an optical path dividing device 16, and a binocular tube 19 are provided. The zoom lens body 13 includes two afocal zoom systems 31L and 31R. The optical path splitting device 16 is a cube having an optical member, and is supported by a known rotating turret (not shown). The optical path splitting device 16 will be described in detail later. Illumination light guided by the fiber light guide 22 from the light source device (not shown) is guided to the optical path splitting device 16 via the illumination optical system 25.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the microscope 1 includes left and right observation optical systems 28L and 28R. The left observation optical system 28L has an objective lens 10 that is common to the left and right, an afocal zoom system 31L provided in the zoom lens 13, an imaging lens 34L and an eyepiece 37L provided in the binocular tube 19 in order from the sample 4 side. And. The afocal zoom system 31L includes an aperture stop 40L. The right observation optical system 28 </ b> R has the same configuration as the left observation optical system 28 </ b> L, and is provided in the left and right objective lens 10, the afocal zoom system 31 </ b> R provided in the zoom lens body 13, and the binocular tube 19. The imaging lens 34R and the eyepiece lens 37R, and an aperture stop 40R are provided.

  The illumination optical system 25 includes a fiber light source (hereinafter abbreviated as a light source) 43, a collector lens 46, a field stop 52, and a field lens 55 in order from the light source side. The collector lens 46 and the field lens 55 constitute a parallel system. The light source 43 and the aperture stop 40L of the observation optical system 28L are in a conjugate position. Further, the field stop 52 of the illumination optical system 25 and the observation surface of the specimen 4 are in a conjugate position. An optical path splitting device 16 is disposed after the illumination optical system 25. The optical path splitting device 16 is disposed between the binocular tube 19 and the zoom lens body 13. The optical path splitting device 16 includes a left optical path splitting element 58L and a right optical path splitting element 58R in order from the light source 43 side.

  Illumination light is introduced into the left observation optical system 28L by an optical path dividing element 58L from between the afocal zoom system 31L and the imaging lens 34L. Similarly, in the right observation optical system 28R, illumination light is introduced from between the afocal zoom system 31R and the imaging lens 34R by the optical path dividing element 58R. In the first embodiment, the optical path splitting elements 58L and 58R use half mirrors (hereinafter, the optical path splitting elements are referred to as half mirrors). The two half mirrors 58L and 58R have the same light transmittance, and the ratio of light transmission to reflection is 1: 1.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the optical axis SL of the illumination optical system 25, the optical axis IL of the left observation optical system 28L, and the optical axis IR of the right observation optical system 28R are on the paper surface of FIG. That is, these three optical axes SL, IL, and IR are all on the same plane. The illumination light is introduced into the microscope 1 from one optical axis side of the observation optical systems 28L and 28R (on the left optical axis IL side in the first embodiment). Hereinafter, with reference to FIG. 1, the progress of the illumination light emitted from the light source 43 and the change in the amount of light accompanying the progress will be described.

  The illumination light emitted from the light source 43 is guided to the illumination optical system 25 on a plane including the optical axis IL of the left observation optical system 28L and the optical axis IR of the right observation optical system 28R, and travels toward the optical axes IL and IR. Go straight ahead. Then, the light passes through the collector lens 46 and the field lens 55, is guided into the optical path splitting device 16, and intersects the optical axis IL. A left half mirror 58L is disposed at a position where the optical axis SL of the illumination light intersects the optical axis IL. Half of the light emitted from the light source 43 is reflected by the half mirror 58L and travels toward the specimen 4. That is, the amount of light reflected from the left half mirror 58L and directed to the specimen 4 is ½ of the total amount of illumination light emitted from the light source 43. The remaining half of the light passes through the half mirror 58L along the optical axis SL, travels straight toward the right optical axis IR, and intersects the optical axis IR. A right half mirror 58R is disposed at a position where the optical axis SL of the illumination light intersects with the optical axis IR. Half of the light transmitted through the left half mirror 58L is reflected by the half mirror 58R and travels toward the specimen 4. That is, the amount of light reflected by the right half mirror 58R and directed to the sample 4 is ¼ of the total amount of illumination light emitted from the light source 43. Then, ½ of the light transmitted through the left half mirror 58L along the optical axis SL, that is, ¼ of the total light amount, is transmitted through the right half mirror 58R along the optical axis SL. The light transmitted through the right half mirror 58R along the optical axis SL is absorbed by the light reducing member 61 and prevents stray light in the apparatus.

  In this way, half of the total amount of illumination light emitted from the light source 43 is incident on the left observation optical system 28L, and 1/4 of the total amount of light is incident on the right observation optical system 28R. There will be a two-fold difference in the brightness of the illumination light between the observation optical system 28L and the right observation optical system 28R.

  The light reflected by the right half mirror 58R and directed to the sample 4 is guided to the observation optical system 28R and reaches the sample 4. Since the specimen 4 is a specular sample with little light scattering, the light reaching the specimen 4 is reflected by the specimen 4 and enters the left observation optical system 28L on the opposite side. Then, the light passes through the half mirror 58L along the optical axis IL via the objective lens 10 and the afocal zoom system 31L. Since the transmittance of the half mirror 58L is ½, the light further reduced here and transmitted through the half mirror 58L along the optical axis IL becomes 1/8 of the illumination light emitted from the light source. The light transmitted through the half mirror 58L along the optical axis IL is observed as an image through the imaging lens 34L and the eyepiece lens 37L.

  On the other hand, the light reflected by the left half mirror 58L and directed to the specimen 4 is guided to the observation optical system 28L and reaches the specimen 4. The light reaching the sample 4 is reflected by the sample 4 and enters the right observation optical system 28R. Then, the light passes through the half mirror 58R along the optical axis IR via the objective lens 10 and the afocal zoom system 31R. Since the transmittance of the half mirror 58R is ½, the light further reduced here and transmitted through the half mirror 58R along the optical axis IR becomes ¼ of the illumination light emitted from the light source 43. .

  A neutral density filter 64 is disposed on the imaging lens 34R side of the right half mirror 58R. The light transmittance of the neutral density filter 64 in the first embodiment is ½. The light that has passed through the half mirror 58R along the optical axis IR passes through the neutral density filter 64. Therefore, the light passing through the neutral density filter 64 is 1/8 of the illumination light emitted from the light source. Thus, the amount of light reflected by the sample 4 and transmitted through the right half mirror 58R and the neutral density filter 64 along the optical axis IR, and reflected by the sample 4 and transmitted through the left half mirror 58L along the optical axis IL. It becomes equal to the amount of light. The light transmitted through the neutral density filter 64 is observed as an image through the imaging lens 34R and the eyepiece lens 37R.

  In the microscope 1 according to the first embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, the half mirrors 58 </ b> L and 58 </ b> R, the neutral density filter 64, and the neutral density member 61 are provided in the cube 67 as one unit, and the optical path splitting device 16 is configured. is doing. In the first embodiment, a plurality of cubes including cubes 67 (cubes other than cube 67 are not shown) are attached to a turret (not shown). The other cube is provided with an optical member having a configuration different from that of the cube 67, such as a neutral density filter having a different light transmittance. The cube 67 and other cubes can be inserted into and removed from the observation optical systems 28L and 28R by rotating the turret. The rotation axis T of the turret is located in the vicinity of the side surface opposite to the light source side of the cube 67 on the plane including the optical axes IL and IR (see FIG. 1).

  The cube 67 may be inserted into and removed from the observation optical systems 28L and 28R by a slider method instead of the turret method. In this case, the slider is moved in a direction that intersects at a substantially right angle with respect to the plane including the optical axes IL and IR (front side or back direction with respect to the plane of FIG. 1).

  With such a configuration, the microscope 1 according to the first embodiment has the same image observed by the two observation optical systems 28L and 28R by one light source 43 and one illumination optical system 25, that is, an observation image. There can be no difference in brightness. As a result, the observer can perform stereoscopic observation without discomfort. In addition, it is easy to switch to a cube having other optical elements. Further, since the light source 43 and the illumination optical system 25 are provided one by one, the increase in the size of the apparatus is suppressed, and the space occupancy and cost are advantageous.

  In addition, although the light transmittance of the neutral density filter 64 in 1st Embodiment is determined based on the light quantity of the return light in case a sample is a mirror surface sample, you may enable it to change light transmittance. Then, the brightness of the images observed by the two observation optical systems 28L and 28R is the same by adjusting the light transmittance and the light amount of the return light to the observation optical systems 28L and 28R that differ depending on the light scattering state of the specimen. Can be. Further, when taking an observation image with a camera, if the camera is installed in the observation optical system provided with the neutral density filter 64, specimens in various brightness states can be taken.

(Second Embodiment)
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the second embodiment, the same components as those in the first embodiment will be described using the same reference numerals.

  FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the overall configuration of the microscope 100 according to the second embodiment. The microscope 100 according to the second embodiment is different from the first embodiment in the configuration of the optical path splitting device 16. Other configurations, that is, the illumination optical system 25, the observation optical systems 28L and 28R, the turret (not shown), and the like are the same as those in the first embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 2, in the second embodiment, the left half mirror 73L is arranged at a position where the optical axis SL of the illumination optical system 25 and the optical axis IL of the left observation optical system 28L intersect, and the optical axis SL. The right half mirror 73R is disposed at a position where the optical axis IR of the right observation optical system 28R intersects. A neutral density filter 76 is disposed on the imaging lens 34L side of the left half mirror 73L. The half mirrors 73L, 73R, the neutral density filter 76, and the light reducing member 61 that absorbs the light transmitted through the half mirror 73R are provided in the cube 70 to form the optical path dividing device 16.

  The illumination light emitted from the light source 43 is guided to the illumination optical system 25 on a plane including the optical axis IL of the left observation optical system 28L and the optical axis IR of the right observation optical system 28R, and travels toward the optical axes IL and IR. Go straight ahead. Then, it is guided to the optical path splitting device 16 and first intersects with the optical axis IL and then intersects with the optical axis IR.

  In the second embodiment, the ratio of light transmission and reflection of the left half mirror 73L is 2: 1. The ratio of light transmission and reflection of the right half mirror 73R is 1: 1. As described above, in the second embodiment, the light transmittances of the half mirrors 73L and 73R are different on the left and right. In this way, the amount of illumination light guided to the left and right observation optical systems 28L and 28R is made the same.

  One half of the light emitted from the light source 43 is reflected by the half mirror 73L and travels toward the specimen 4. That is, the amount of light that is reflected by the half mirror 73 </ b> L and travels toward the specimen 4 is 1/3 of the total amount of illumination light emitted from the light source 43. The remaining 2/3 light passes through the half mirror 73L along the optical axis SL of the illumination optical system 25, travels straight toward the right optical axis IR, and intersects the optical axis IR. Then, half of the light transmitted through the left half mirror 73L along the optical axis SL is reflected by the half mirror 73R toward the specimen 4. That is, the amount of light reflected by the right half mirror 73R and traveling toward the sample 4 is 1/3 of the total amount of illumination light emitted from the light source 43. The remaining half of the light transmitted through the left half mirror 73L, that is, 1/3 of the total amount of illumination light emitted from the light source 43, passes through the right half mirror 73R along the optical axis SL. The light transmitted through the right half mirror 73R is absorbed by the light reducing member 61 and prevents stray light in the apparatus.

  With such a configuration, the observation optical systems 28L and 28R are both guided to the specimen 4 with a light amount that is 1/3 of the total light amount from the light source 43. That is, in the second embodiment, the left and right observation optical systems 28L and 28R can be made to have no difference in illumination intensity.

  The light reflected by the left half mirror 73L and directed to the specimen 4 is guided to the left observation optical system 28L and reaches the specimen 4. The light reaching the sample 4 is reflected by the sample 4 and enters the right observation optical system 28R. Then, the light passes through the half mirror 73R along the optical axis IR via the objective lens 10 and the afocal zoom system 31R. Here, the light transmitted through the half mirror 73R along the optical axis IR becomes 1/6 of the illumination light emitted from the light source 43. The light transmitted through the half mirror 73R along the optical axis IR is observed as an image through the imaging lens 34R and the eyepiece lens 37R.

  On the other hand, the illumination light reflected by the right half mirror 73R and directed to the specimen 4 is guided to the observation optical system 28R and reaches the specimen 4. The light that reaches the specimen 4 is reflected by the specimen 4 and enters the left observation optical system 28L on the opposite side. Then, the light passes through the half mirror 73L along the optical axis IL through the objective lens 10 and the afocal zoom system 31L. Here, the light transmitted through the half mirror 73L along the optical axis IL becomes 2/9 of the illumination light emitted from the light source 43.

  In the second embodiment, as described above, the neutral density filter 76 is disposed on the imaging lens 34L side of the left half mirror 73L. By disposing the neutral density filter 76, the brightness of the left and right observation images does not differ due to the difference in light transmittance between the left and right half mirrors 73L and 73R. The light transmittance of the neutral density filter 76 in the second embodiment is the ratio of the light transmittance of the half mirrors 73L and 73R, and is 3/4. Therefore, the light transmitted through the neutral density filter 76 is 1/6 of the illumination light emitted from the light source 43. Thus, the light reflected by the sample 4 and transmitted through the left half mirror 73L and the neutral density filter 76 along the optical axis IL, and the light reflected by the sample 4 and transmitted through the right half mirror 73R along the optical axis IR. The amount of light is equal to light. The light transmitted through the neutral density filter 76 is observed as an image through the imaging lens 34L and the eyepiece lens 37L.

  As described above, in the second embodiment, the light amount of illumination light is the same in the two observation optical systems 28L and 28R using one light source 43 and one illumination optical system 25, that is, there is no difference in illumination intensity, and further observation is performed. There can be no difference in image brightness. As a result, as in the first embodiment, the observer can perform stereoscopic observation without a sense of incongruity.

  The light transmittance of the neutral density filter 76 in the second embodiment is also determined based on the amount of return light when the specimen is a specular sample. However, the light transmittance is the same as in the first embodiment. May be changed.

  Next, in the second embodiment, a case where the cube 70 inserted into the observation optical systems 28L and 28R is replaced with another cube 79 will be described.

  FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration of an optical system in a state in which a turret (not shown) is rotated and the cube 70 is switched to another cube 79 in the microscope 100 according to the second embodiment. The other cube 79 is provided with an optical member for fluorescence observation.

  As shown in FIG. 3, an excitation filter 82 is disposed on the cube 79 between the field lens 55 and the left half mirror 85 </ b> L on the optical axis SL of the illumination optical system 25. As described above, since the excitation filter 82 is arranged on the light source side of the cube 79, light having a wavelength selected by the excitation filter 82 is incident on the cube 79.

  The cube 79 is provided with half mirrors 85L and 85R at positions where the optical axis SL of the illumination optical system 25 intersects the left optical axis IL and the right optical axis IR, respectively. Light excited by the excitation filter 82 is incident on the left and right observation optical systems 28L and 28R by the half mirrors 85L and 85R. The two half mirrors 85L and 85R have the same light transmittance, and the ratio of light transmission to reflection is 1: 1. Accordingly, ½ of the excitation light is incident on the left observation optical system 28L, and ¼ of the excitation light is incident on the right observation optical system 28R. Thus, when switching to the cube 79, the brightness of the illumination light in the left observation optical system 28L and the right observation optical system 28R is twice the difference. Although there is a difference in brightness between the left and right observation optical systems 28L and 28R, since the sample 4 is irradiated with excitation light from two directions, the sample 4 can be excited evenly even if it is three-dimensional. it can. The light transmitted through the half mirror 85R along the optical axis SL is absorbed by the light reducing member 61. Further, a barrier filter 88L is disposed on the imaging lens 34L side of the left half mirror 85L, and a barrier filter 88R is disposed on the imaging lens 34R side of the right half mirror 85R.

  Fluorescence from the specimen 4 emitted by the excitation light irradiation enters the afocal zoom systems 31L and 31R via the objective lens 10, respectively. The fluorescence transmitted through the afocal zoom system 31L is transmitted through the half mirror 85L, is then wavelength-selected by the barrier filter 88L, and is observed by the observer through the imaging lens 34L and the eyepiece lens 37L. Similarly, the fluorescence transmitted through the afocal zoom system 31R is transmitted through the half mirror 85R, and then the excitation wavelength is removed by the barrier filter 88R, and is observed by the observer through the imaging lens 34R and the eyepiece lens 37R.

  Thus, in the fluorescence observation cube, the illumination light amounts incident on the left and right observation optical systems SL and SR are different. However, regarding the fluorescence to be observed, since the transmittance of the left and right half mirrors 85L and 85R is the same, there is no difference in brightness that the observer feels with the left and right eyes. Therefore, even if the brightness of the illumination light is different between the left and right observation optical systems 28L and 28R, it is possible to observe without any sense of incongruity.

  As described above, in the second embodiment, fluorescence observation is performed using the illumination optical system 25 as it is when observing a specular sample simply by exchanging cubes without providing a separate illumination system for fluorescence observation. it can. Further, since the light source 43 and the illumination optical system 25 are provided one by one, the increase in the size of the apparatus is suppressed, and the space occupancy and cost are advantageous.

  In the fluorescence observation cube 79, a dichroic mirror may be arranged instead of the right half mirror 85L. In this case, if a neutral density filter having a light transmittance of 1/2 is further provided on the imaging lens 34 side of the dichroic mirror, the brightness of the left and right observation images can be made the same.

  Although the first and second embodiments have been described above, the cube 67 used in the first embodiment, the cube 70 used in the second embodiment, and the cube 79 for fluorescence observation are provided in the same turret or slider. Also good. Then, it becomes possible to deal with more various observation methods with one microscope.

  Moreover, the light transmittance of a half mirror and a light reduction member is not limited to the light transmittance in the said embodiment. If the brightness of the observed image is the same, there are many combinations.

  Thus, the configuration of the present invention is not limited to this embodiment, and can be changed as appropriate.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1,100 Stereomicroscope 4 Specimen 7 Stage 10 Objective lens 13 Zoom lens body 16 Optical path dividing device 19 Binocular tube 22 Fiber light guide 25 Illumination optical system 28L, 28R Observation optical system 31L, 31R Afocal zoom system 34L, 34R Imaging lens 37L, 37R Eyepiece 40L, 40R Aperture stop 43 Fiber light source 46 Collector lens 52 Field stop 55 Field lenses 58L, 58R, 73L, 73R, 85L, 85R Optical path splitting element (half mirror)
61 Dimming member 64, 76 Neutral filter 67, 70, 79 Cube 82 Excitation filter 88L, 88R Barrier filter

Claims (8)

Two observation optical systems to which the observation images of the specimen are respectively guided;
One illumination optical system that guides illumination light from a light source that irradiates the specimen;
Optical path dividing means arranged on the respective optical axes of the two observation optical systems and guiding the illumination light from the illumination optical system to the specimen via the two observation optical systems,
A stereomicroscope comprising: an optical element disposed on at least one optical axis of the observation optical system and configured to adjust reflected light from the specimen of the illumination light.   The optical axis of the illumination optical system is in the same plane as the plane including the optical axes of the two observation optical systems, and the illumination light emitted from the light source is divided into one observation optical system and then the other The stereoscopic microscope according to claim 1, wherein the stereoscopic microscope is divided into a plurality of observation optical systems.   3. The stereomicroscope according to claim 1, wherein each of the optical path dividing means has the same light transmittance.   3. The entity according to claim 1, wherein the optical path dividing unit has different light transmittances so that the amount of the illumination light guided to each of the two observation optical systems is the same. microscope.   5. The entity according to claim 1, wherein the optical element has a light transmittance that adjusts the observation image guided to each of the two observation optical systems to have the same brightness. microscope.   6. The stereomicroscope according to claim 5, wherein the light transmittance of the optical element can be changed.   The stereomicroscope according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the optical path dividing means and the optical element form a unit and can be inserted into and removed from the observation optical system.   8. The stereomicroscope according to claim 7, wherein the unit includes an excitation filter on the light source side, and the optical element is a filter that selects a predetermined wavelength of reflected light from the sample.

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